Mutated Corruption and Mental Deformities

In my last post I laid out my updated Death and Dismemberment system. It is pretty deadly and awesome... blood and severed body parts everywhere. Into this system is folded my psychic/fatigue damage system. Fatigue damage can come from either normal exhaustion, subdual damage, or torture; or it can be the result of failed/risky casting of magic spells, muffed reading of sorcerous scrolls, or the summoning of Outsiders.

In my last post I referenced my upcoming  Mutated Corruption and Mental Deformity tables. These tables are used as directed by other systems/tables. These are both Level I tables. Once a character has rolled a specific result, the next time they roll on either of these tables and get the same result they will be directed to another, Level II table. The character will not roll again, they will use the same die result. The idea being that the specific mutation or insanity has worsened/become more intense. e.g. A Rorgar the Super Sorcerer miscasts a spell, as a result he must roll for Mutated Corruption. He rolls a 4 on the Mutated Corruption (Level I) table, resulting in horrific boils. The next time Rorgar miscasts, he is compelled to roll on the same table. He rolls a 4 again. Since he is already covered in horrific boils, he keeps the result of 4, but shifts the result from the Level I table to the Level II table. Rorgar's boils have become even more horrific; they continually ooze and have a putrid odor. Level II tables are not written yet. They will come when I need them. Additionally, as character suffers greater mental and physical damage they may eventually reach a point where they become too mutated and corrupted to be played as a PC, i.e. they have become a big ball of mindless slime. At this point, they will either be retired or become an NPC who will be controlled by the DM. 

SYSTEM
As directed by other systems, roll a d20 on one of the tables below.

MUTATED CORRUPTION (LEVEL I): 
Roll 1d20
1 Stubby tail: Passable.
2 1d3 extra nipples: Passable.
3 1d4 extra toes: Passable.
4 Horrific boils cover body: Passable.
5 Vast, strange birthmark below neckline: Passable.
6 Webbed hands and feet: -1 CHA, +30' swimming rate.
7 Loss all body hair: -1 CHA, +1 DEX.
8 Rooster/chicken feet and legs: double cost for footwear, -1 CHA, +1 STR.
9 Psychically active acne/nodules cover face/head: -1 CHA, +1 INT or WIS (50/50 chance).
10 Exotically-colored irises/pupils: -1 CHA, 30' infravision.
11 New internal organs grow, bulge, and shift position: -1 CHA, +1 CON
12 Bloated and gassy: -1 CHA
13 Withered arm (new arm or old arm - 50/50 chance): -1 STR and -1 CHA , hand-directed telekinesis Character LVL x 10 lbs weight and times a day
14 Neck gill vents: -1 CHA, can hold breath twice as long underwater.
15 1d3 tentacles: -1 CHA, functions as extra limb, apparel needs alteration.
16 Exotic-hued Skin: -1 CHA, +1 CON, talks compulsively of “the Other Realms”
17 Third eye: -2 CHA, can use a single 1st LVL MU spell 1/2 character LVL times a day.
18 Rotted nose, opening allows on-lookers to see massive pulsating brain: -2 CHA, +1 INT and WIS.
19 Third leg: -2 CHA, +30' movement.
20 Hardened bone spikes in arm: -2 CHA, +1 CON, 1d4+1 damage.

MENTAL DEFORMITIES (LEVEL I):
Roll 1d8
1
Psychobabble. There is a 25% chance that this character will begin shouting in a manic, incoherent manner each time she opens her mouth to speak (much as though she was speaking in tongues). This condition will persist for 1d6 turns. Strangely, religious zealots and the insane will understand the character just fine.
2

Mumbler. The character is unable to speak in anything beyond a quiet mumble. Creatures of INT 11 and higher can understand the character if within five feet (all others will not be able to make out what is being said).
3
Compulsive Contrarian. The character compulsively disagrees with any direct suggestion, assertion and even basic statement of fact verbally presented to her. Oddly, however, that character is still free to act in any manner that she chooses, even contradicting her verbal contradiction.
4
Imposter Syndrome. The character actively believes that she is a fraud and not really the character everyone else believes them to be.
5
Phobia. The character develops a single, persistent and deeply irrational phobia as per the LL's discretion (list of top d100 phobias). The character must make a save vs. magic spells/mind control to avoid fleeing when confronted with her phobia.
6
Secondary Brain. The character develops a second brain with its own distinctive personality, alignment, and mannerisms that on occasion hinders his thought processes. Once per month the brain will attempt to wrest control from the primary persona (save vs. magic spells/mind control to resist). If successful the secondary personality will assert itself. Once per day the primary brain can attempt to regain control by rolling another saving throw. The secondary brain will eventually lose control after a week has passed.
7
Hoarder. The character becomes possessed by possessions. She will habitually pick up seemingly worthless small objects from adventure locales. Any living space will become quickly cluttered with bric-à-brac. The character must roll under their WIS on 3d6 to sell or toss any particular worthless item picked up during a session.
8

Narcissism. The character becomes consumed by an inflated (yet brittle) sense of self. The character considers himself to be clearly superior to those around him, frequently (and habitually) asserting his opinion. Criticism directed toward him will make him alternately despondent and moody. Any discussion of leisure time activities and hobbies will exacerbate symptoms.

CLOSING
I want to thank Chris Kutalik for his inspriration. The tables above were (98%) ripped right from one of his great mini-campaigns, The Misty Isles of the Eld. Misty Isles and pretty much anything Chris has in print are among the best products out there in the DIY/OSR D&D scene. His blog, The Hill Cantons, has been a constant inspiration. Do not just reda his newer content. Start at the beginning and mine all of his great posts.

I am trying to pull together a bunch of data on Cosmology and Alignment, but it is probably going to have to wait. My next post will probably be focused on my arcane spell casting system. I am sticking with classic spell levels but I am also going to add a spell casting roll with miscasts and some pretty horrible results (see the above tables).