Everyone knows them: Those players who have to lick every magical artifact in Dungeons & Dragons and are not shy about any curse. Here are therefore 10 curses that you would even consider wanting to have yourself.
What are curses in Dungeons & Dragons? Curses are a great tool in Dungeons & Dragons to loosen up the story a bit, to give players tasks that require teamwork, or to “punish” cheeky players without directly taking away their fun. We all know those players who can’t walk past a magical artifact or a mummy without at least taking a look at it.
However, curses require a bit of sensitivity from the dungeon master, as there are no concrete, summarized rules about them, as in a chapter of a rulebook. Instead, you’ll encounter smaller rules that relate to specific spells, magical items, or the abilities of various opponents or creatures. They usually involve temporary physical changes, increased vulnerabilities, or value deficits and can often be ended by spells like “Break Curse” or “Greater Restoration.”
For this reason, curses offer great potential, as dungeon masters can introduce them at will to provide players with incentives for exciting role-playing phases and creative teamwork… only to end the whole thing a bit later.
It is important to ensure that the curses handed out are not too frustrating and match the respective player type, to prevent any dissatisfaction. Additionally, there should always be a feasible way for the group to get rid of it – if in doubt, the dungeon master should intervene and provide assistance. The origin of the curse can be a spell, a magical item, or a deal with a fae being or something similar.
Therefore, we provide you with 10 ideas that primarily focus on role-playing and are entertaining enough that you would want to have them yourself. With all the suggestions, you can, of course, consider whether you want to add other penalties and how you want the group to dissolve it.
Perhaps you also know more from your campaigns that you absolutely want to share or more ideas come to you from our suggestions. Feel free to write them to us in the comments!
Curse of Ruthless Honesty
Do you have bards, warlocks, or rogues among you who do not take the truth very seriously? Or have you just committed a series of crimes and could soon be caught? Then this curse is for you!
It loosens your tongue and prevents you from lying. Of course, you can also opt for silence, but how long will that last? Here you have to get creative about how you can still conceal the truth. Or you let it out and see what happens. Optionally, you can add the possibility that it is still possible to lie, but then you have to expect a negative consequence, such as damage or similar penalties.
