Addiction

Systems and Tools

Addiction

Player characters (PCs) who frequently turn to alcohol and drugs, may develop substance addiction and withdrawal symptoms. Addiction will clear over time if the PC halts the substance consumption.

Addictive Substances

Addictive substances on Avlis are divided in two groups.

Alcohol

On Avlis, consuming alcohol can result in a blanket addiction. Any alcoholic drink can contribute to the addiction, regardless of the drink's name or Bartending system classification (Beer, Wine or Spirits).

Alcohol can have varying potency, with some Avlis races being more susceptible to the effect of specific alcoholic beverages than others.

Alcohol (Beer, Wine, Spirits)
Deglosian Spirits
Fey Wine
Grainshots
Nanshaquist
Nemeril's Brew
Orcish Apple Cider

Note: Fey Wine has unique side effects. FOIG!

Drugs

On Avlis, your player character can develop a distinct addiction to each of these drugs.

Example: Fero Greenstone has been consuming Mind's Eye Elxir and Wizard's Spice for a while. They stop consuming Mind's Eye Elixir and eventually their addiction to the Elixir goes away. They have not stopped consuming Wizard's Spice however, and remain addicted to the Spice.

Brownsmoke Seeds
Bloodfury Crystals
Kao Kao Powder
Mind's Eye Elixir
Wizard's Spice

Note: Mellowsmoke is not an addictive substance on Avlis.

Addiction Mechanism

The more alcohol or drugs your player character consumes over time, the stronger the addiction.

Addiction severity manifests through withdrawal symptoms. Addiction recovery is possible over time.

Addiction Severity

Each intake of an addictive substance (e.g. each bottle of alcohol) increases the addiction severity by 1, going from 1 to 99.

Within a few minutes after entering an In Game area, an addicted PC may experience withdrawal symptoms (1d100, must roll higher than addiction severity level or symptoms will manifest).

Addiction Severity Level

Mild (1-25):

"You are feeling a mild craving for <substance name>".

No In Game effect

Strong (26-50):

"You are feeling a strong craving for <substance name>."

Your player character will gasp in pain and emote: Nauseous.

-2 to ability score

Intense (51-75):

"You are feeling an intense craving for <substance name>."

Your player character will gasp in pain and emote: Start Shaking.

-4 to ability score

Extreme (76-99):

"You are feeling an extremely painful craving for <substance name>."

Your player character will gasp in pain and emote: Shakes Uncontrollably, Eyes are Bloodshot.

-8 to ability score

The ability score decrease will depend on the addictive substance (e.g. alcohol addicts will experience Wisdom decrease).

Addiction Recovery

If the PC stops their alcohol or drug intake, the addiction severity will decrement after each completed Rest cycle (withdrawal symptoms will go from Extreme, to Intense, Strong, Mild, then stop altogether).

60 RL days after the last intake of an addictive substance, the addiction flag will clear. i.e. complete recovery is possible as long as consumption does not resume during that period.

Substance Effects

As alcohol is a common Avlis commodity, this section covers its effects in detail.

Alcohol Effects

Alcohol addiction will increase Charisma and decrease Wisdom ability scores, for a limited time after imbibing.

Being drunk, in itself, carries what some might perceive as benefits, as well as drawbacks:

+5 temporary hit points

+1 Bludgeoning resistance for up to 5 damage

+1 Piercing resistance for up to 5 damage

+1 Slashing resistance for up to 5 damage

-1 Intelligence, Wisdom or Dexterity ability score, depending on the type of alcoholic drink

-10% movement speed decrease

Progressive decrease in skill points such as Concentration, Discipline, Hide, Listen, Lore, Move Silently, Parry, Search, Spellcraft, Spot, depending on the alcohol intoxication level.

Alcohol Intoxication

Weak Constitution may lead to alcohol intoxication.

The potency of the alcoholic drink is a factor, as well as the number of drinks consumed (with each consecutive drink, the risk of intoxication increases by 1d2).

Alcohol Intoxication Level

1-2:

"You feel a very light, but pleasant, buzz from the alcohol"

No In Game effect

3:

"You feel a moderate, but pleasant, buzz from the alcohol"

25% chance of Daze

4:

"You feel a heavy buzz from the alcohol, and your inhibitions lessen"

50% chance of Daze, 25% chance of Confusion

5:

"You feel a severe buzz from the alcohol, and your inhibitions disappear"

50% chance of Confusion, 25% chance of Sleep

6:

"You feel sickened from your alcohol consumption"

50% chance of Sleep, 25% chance of alcohol poisoning

7:

"You feel extremely ill from your alcohol consumption"

50% chance of alcohol poisoning, 25% chance of Blindness

8:

"You feel overcome with a horrible feeling of alcohol sickness"

100% chance of alcohol poisoning, 50% chance of Blindness, 25% chance of passing out

9:

"You feel dangerously intoxicated"

100% chance of alcohol poisoning, 50% chance of passing out, 25% chance of death

10:

"You feel dangerously intoxicated"

100% chance of alcohol poisoning, 50% chance of death; else, 100% chance of passing out

11:

This level of intoxication causes instant death.

Alcohol poisoning on Avlis results in 1d6 ability score decrease for Constitution, Dexterity, Strength. It is obvious to onlookers (e.g. "Morran the Black is suffering from alcohol poisoning").

Alcohol Hangover

With each few levels of alcohol intoxication, the odds of hangover will increase, as will its duration and severity (expressed in movement speed decrease).

Hangover is obvious to onlookers (e.g. "Buzz the Brave appears to be hungover").

Drug Effects

Increased ability scores and other effects sought by drug users are temporary, and come at a cost. Each substance categorized as an Avlis drug has a different effect. FOIG!