D&D 5E - Addictive Drugs

A while back somebody asked for addictive drug ideas for their campaign. Here’s what I built - I modified rules for addiction to fit it more into the theme for 5E, magic, and situational awareness. Here are a couple of addictive drugs ideas that avoids just simple bonuses:

Enimat – the processed powder of a relatively common flower in grassland regions, usually compressed into pills. Powerful stimulant but incredibly addictive, usually highly illegal.

• Effects – +10 Speed, immune to effects of exhaustion; lasts 2 hours.

• Addiction – Upon each dose roll for an addiction saving throw, Wisdom vs DC 10+number of doses previously not resisted (max 10) to resist. Upon each long rest, roll for an addiction saving throw, identical to above; success removes 1 DC from the next addiction save, failure results in +1 exhaustion.

• DC 10-13 – works as expected. Permanent +1 to exhaustion for addicts at this stage.

• DC 14-16 – drug is less effective, +5 speed, can double dose to attain the +10. Permanent -2 to all Charisma checks and +2 to exhaustion for addicts at this stage.

• DC 17-20 – drug is less effective, +0 speed, can double dose to attain the +5 or triple for +10. Permanent -4 to all Charisma checks and +3 to exhaustion for addicts at this stage.

Pipeweed – a common plant which grows best in temperate regions, dried and smoked in a pipe. A favorite of wizards for its calming effect, but popular among many classes and regions.

• Effects – advantage on concentration saves, ritual spells only take 5 extra minutes; lasts 4 hours.

• Addiction – upon each dose roll for an addiction saving throw, Wisdom vs DC5+number of doses previously not resisted (max 10) to resist. Upon each long rest, roll for an addiction saving throw, identical to above; success removes 1 DC from the next addiction save, no penalty for failure.

• DC 5-7 – disadvantage on concentration and not able to cast rituals if not consumed at least once in the last 24 hours.

• DC 8-14 – effects only last 3 hours, disadvantage on concentration and not able to cast rituals if not consumed at least once in the last 12 hours.

• DC 15 – effects last only 2 hours, disadvantage on concentration and not able to cast rituals if not consumed at least once in the last 6 hours, and permanent disadvantage against disease even once addiction ends; this effect can be cured though Greater Restoration or similar spell.

Elven Pipeweed – a rare lichen which grows on the trees in some jungles and forests, dried and smoked in a pipe. Produces a numbing as well as minor hallucinogenic effect, usually illegal.

• Effects – resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, slashing, force, and thunder damage, -2 initiative, weakness to psychic damage; lasts 2 hours.

• Addiction – upon each dose roll for an addiction saving throw, Wisdom vs DC8+number of doses previously not resisted (max 10) to resist. Upon each long rest, roll for an addiction saving throw, identical to above; success removes 1 DC from the next addiction save, failure results in -2 initiative for day.

• DC 8-10 – works as expected. -2 to initiative persists 2 more hours beyond end of effects.

• DC 11-15 – works as expected, but -4 initiative and disadvantage on reflex saves which both last 2 more hours beyond end of effects.

• DC 16-18 - works as expected, but -6 initiative, disadvantage on reflex saves, and slowed, all three of which both last 2 more hours beyond end of effects.

Drakeroot – a clear nectar distilled from the rare and usually poisonous drakeroot plant which screams when it is harvested. Intense sedative effect and powerfully addictive.

• Effects – user falls immediately asleep and cannot be woken for 8 hours, counts as taking a long rest but all hit dice are recovered.

• Addiction – upon each dose roll for an addiction saving throw, Wisdom vs DC10+number of doses previously not resisted (max 10) to resist. Upon each long rest made without Drakeroot, roll for an addiction saving throw, identical to above; success removes 1 DC from the next addiction save, no penalty on failure.

• DC 10-12 – works as expected, however no hit dice are recovered during long rests without Drakeroot.

• DC 13-16 – works as expected, however no hit dice and only half of total missing HP and spell slots recovered during long rests without Drakeroot.

• DC 17-20 – works as expected, however without Drakeroot the character is unable to have a long rest or gain any of its benefits except to roll an addiction saving throw, instead taking the exhaustion penalty for not resting.