The Case for Linear Exhaustion
I'd love to use Exhaustion in 5e to better effect.
As a GM I could present players with potential boons at the risk of suffering Exhaustion or add more effects and monster abilities that confer Exhaustion. The problem, however, is the scaling of effects; level 1 is almost meaningless, while level 3 is incredibly punitive.
My alternative is a more linear take on exhaustion that interacts more directly with combat mechanics and scales gradually. It's also far easier to remember, in my experience.
Exhaustion
Condition
Some special abilities and environmental hazards, such as starvation and the long-term effects of freezing or scorching temperatures, can lead to a special condition called exhaustion. An effect can give a creature one or more levels of exhaustion, as specified in the effect's description.
Exhaustion is measured in ten levels. A creature that exceeds an exhaustion level of 10 dies instantly. While a creature has one or more levels of exhaustion, it experiences the following effects:
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d20 Tests Reduced. Whenever the creature makes an ability check, attack roll or saving throw, it subtracts its exhaustion level from the roll.
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Spell Save DCs Reduced. The creature reduces its spell save DC by its exhaustion level.
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Speed Reduced. The creature's speed is reduced by 2 feet for each level of exhaustion affecting it. When moving on a grid, its movement speed is rounded down to the nearest multiple of 5 feet. For example, a creature with a movement speed of 30 feet would have its speed reduced to 28 feet with one level of exhaustion, but its movement on a grid would be limited to 25 feet.
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Ending Exhaustion. When a creature's exhaustion level reaches 0, it is no longer exhausted.
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