A revised exhaustion system inspired by Unearthed Arcana, adapted for long-term play and survival tension.
Core Principles
- Exhaustion applies a cumulative penalty to all d20 checks and saving throws, as well as to Spell Save DCs.
- The system includes 10 levels of exhaustion. Upon reaching Level 10, the character dies instantly.
- At Level 5, movement is halved and restricted to 5ft increments.
Sources of Exhaustion
- Harsh environments or starvation
- Going without sleep or food
- Certain magical effects or curses
- Being knocked unconscious and revived:
- Make a DC 10 Constitution saving throw each time this occurs.
- On a failure, gain 1 level of exhaustion.
Recovery
- A long rest reduces exhaustion by 1 level.
- Greater Restoration can reduce exhaustion by 1 level (as per your Remove Curse homebrew, magical costs may apply).
- If a character reaches 5 levels of exhaustion, long rests alone no longer help. You must:
- Use magical means, or take 10 days of uninterrupted downtime to fully recover.
| Level | Penalty (Checks, Saves, Spell DC) | Extra penalties |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | -1 | |
| 2 | -2 | |
| 3 | -3 | |
| 4 | -4 | |
| 5 | -5 | Movement halved |
| 6 | -6 | |
| 7 | -7 | |
| 8 | -8 | |
| 9 | -9 | |
| 10 | -10 | Death, no saves |