== New Curse Afflictions ==
	by John Eure

* The background *

When we redesigned the Curse spells, the idea was that the RC would
approve as many afflictions as it could come up with.  We initially
approved 7 afflictions, based on the disads Gullibility, Honesty, Lame,
Mute, Overconfidence, Peaceful, and Weakness.  The 2 that we thought were
most powerful (Peaceful and Weakness) were made the defaults.  Now, I'd
like to expand the number of afflictions.  With 5 more afflictions to
choose from, players will get new options for customizing their
characters.


* The new afflictions *

First, there are some more disads that we can use.  I'd suggest Courage,
Cowardice, Dishonesty, and Illiteracy.  The last two are primarily
role-playing disads, which aren't very useful in combat, but the first two
can definitely be useful.  Courage is somewhat similar to Rootfoot, in
that you can't leave a battle, and so can be useful in stopping enemies
from running away.  Cowardice can be used to the opposite effect, in
making sure opponents run away.

(A note:  Curse isn't designed to be an efficient combat spell.  Its main
power is that its effects never wear off - they need to be dispelled.  
Thus, many of the combat effects of Curses can be approximated with 3rd
level spells that last 5 minutes.  Those spells are more efficient in the
short run, but they lack the long-term "oomph" that Curses have.)

Second, we can add a non-disad affliction.  While we don't have any at the
moment, I think that's just because they're harder to come up.  (In fact,
the Curse spell specifically allows them.)  The one I have in mind is
tentatively entitled "Cripple Arm".

What the affliction does is prevent the target from attacking with the
specified arm.  I'm comparing it to the 6th level spell Shatter Limb,
which completely takes out the limb and counts for critical bleeding.  
Both spells ignore protection, remove offensive capability, and require a
5th level spell to fix.  Cripple Arm doesn't cause bleeding, and gives the
target a bit more chance to survive, but is otherwise similar.  (The basic
idea is tendinitis.  I've had something similar, and it sucked.  I
couldn't get full power with the arm, although I could still move it
around just fine.)

Because I've received some negative feedback about Cripple Arm, I'm 
breaking it off into a separate proposal, so that it doesn't affect the 
rest.


* The paths not taken *

I've chosen not to propose to add Law-Abiding, because I think it could
mess up a number of character concepts.  Not Uncivilized Behavior, because 
that's skating close to a violation of the Player Conduct Code.  Not Fear 
of Magic or Distrust of Clergy, because they'd REALLY screw over mages and 
clerics, respectively.  I wouldn't object to a Phobia or two, provided 
someone came up with a good one that's at the right power level.


* The proposal *

1) Add Courage, Cowardice, Dishonesty, and Illiteracy

-- New Curse affliction:  Courage
	"You are cursed with the disadvantage of Courage.  This spell
effect lasts until dispelled.
	Courage:  You may never flee or surrender once you have entered a
battle.  You may, however, choose not to enter a battle in the first
place."

-- New Curse affliction:  Cowardice
	"You are cursed with the disadvantage of Cowardice.  This spell
effect lasts until dispelled.
	Cowardice:  You will never fight (or engage in any other
potentially dangerous activity) unless you are confident that you can do
so without being physically injured, by having protection.  If you lose
enough hits of protection to become wounded by another strike, you will
disengage from combat, and will flee or yield if attacked.  If it is not
possible to flee and your enemy will not honor a surrender, you will fight
only until you have an opportunity to run away."

-- New Curse affliction:  Dishonesty
	"You are cursed with the disadvantage of Dishonesty.  This spell
effect lasts until dispelled.
	Dishonesty:  You will lie pathologically and frequently to
everyone you know, including your friends.  You revel in telling a good
lie that confuses and hurts others, regardless of who they are."

-- New Curse affliction:  Illiteracy
	"You are cursed with the disadvantage of Illiteracy.  This spell
effect lasts until dispelled.
	Illiteracy:  You cannot read.  You are not allowed to read
anything that you encounter in-game.  Out-of-game text, such as
state-of-being scrolls and other instructions, you (the player) can still
read."


2) Add Cripple Arm

-- New Curse affliction:  Cripple Arm
	"One of your arms (chosen by the caster) becomes crippled.  You
may not attack with any weapon held by that arm, although you may still
use it to defend yourself.  You may not use the arm in any other activity
that requires physical strength.  This spell effect lasts until
dispelled."