Shadowfell Despair Table

Despair

Just being in the Shadowfell prompts feelings of hopelessness, loss, gloom, and despair. As
often as the DM wishes (typically 2-3 times an in-game day), the DM will call on all characters to
make a WISDOM saving throw (DC 10 +2 for each existing trait of despair on a character). A
character that fails the Wisdom save then rolls on the Shadowfell Despair Table and earns a
minor trait of despair. If a character previously had a minor trait of despair, the DM rolls a d100.
26+ = the character gains another minor trait of despair. 1-25 = an existing minor trait is
intensified into a major trait. Minor traits of despair can be overcome with a DC 15 Wisdom
saving throw at the end of each Long Rest. Minor traits can also be recovered through the
Lesser Restoration spell. Major traits of despair have festered and have set in deep within a
character’s psyche. Major traits of despair can only be recovered through a Greater Restoration
spell or when a character accomplishes a milestone. This could be a campaign milestone or a
leveling milestone. (Note: these milestones are few and far between in this campaign)

Flaws

Some of the effects of Major traits of despair can create new flaws for characters to RP. Even
when the major despair is overcome, THE FLAWS REMAIN! This is the nature of the
Shadowfell slowly corrupting and twisting the character into a being of sorrow, malice, gloom, or
hopelessness. Any character who RPs these flaws well or RPs them in-combat in such a way
that may not always be optimal play, such a character can be rewarded GM Inspiration (a single
use to reroll any d20 of your choosing, never fades)

Overcoming Despair

When despair is overcome, a character feels a renewed sense of purpose and drive. A
character that overcomes a trait of despair (both minor and major) that previously weighed on
his/her shoulders gains a temporary buff that lasts until the next time the character takes a Long
Rest. A character may overcome multiple traits of despair after a single rest, but a character can
only benefit from one "Despair Overcome" per day. If a character overcomes multiple despairs
in a single day, the player can choose which "Despair Overcome" buff gives the character the
drive and determination for that day. (Note: most of these buffs are major enhancements for a
single day) If a character acquires a new despair trait while he/she has a "Despair Overcome"
buff, that character can not receive the same despair trait related to that buff. When the despair
die is rolled and the new trait matches the type of the "Despair Overcome" buff, no despair is
afflicted and no reroll occurs to try to inflict a new despair.
Shadowfell Despair Table
Minor Despair Major Despair
1 - Distracted 2 - Absentminded
You take a -5 penalty to all -5 penalty is now replaced
Initiative rolls and Perception with Disadvantage on
checks. Initiative and Perception
checks. Must make DC 10
CON check each turn to
maintain concentration on a
spell. Can’t use passive
perception.
You gain the flaw - “I am
preoccupied to the extent of
being unaware of my
immediate surroundings.”
2 - Sluggish 3 - Exhausted
You can not make opportunity As Sluggish except you move
attacks at half speed.
Your speed is reduced by 5 ft
3 - Fatalistic 4 - Death’s Touch
You have disadvantage on As Fatalistic, AND you
death saving throws always have 1 failed death
saving throw
Vulnerability to Necrotic
damage
Your skin begins turning grey,
giving in to the Dark Powers
You gain the flaw - “What’s
the point? We’re all going to
die sooner or later. This
seems as good a time as any”
4 - Hopeless 5 - Despondent
You take a -2 penalty to all -2 penalty is now replaced
saving throws with you have disadvantage
on all saving throws
Despair Overcome
1 - Graceful
2 - Alert and Observant
You gain advantage on
Perception checks
You gain advantage on
Initiative checks
You can’t be surprised
3 - Spiritful
Your speed increases by 10 ft
You gain 1 additional bonus
action each turn. This can be
used to Dash or Disengage.
4 - Full of Life
You gain Levelx5 temporary
hit points. These hit points
recover fully between short
rests, and only deplete at the
end of the day.
The next time you would drop
to 0 hit points, you drop to 1
hit point instead.
5 - Hopeful
You have advantage on all
saving throws

5 - Unconcerned
You take a -5 penalty to all
skill checks
6 - Fearful
You have disadvantage on all
CHA checks. You begin each
combat with the “Frightened”
condition, which you can
shake off with a DC 10 WIS
Save.
7 - Weakness
You have disadvantage on all
STR and CON checks and
saves
8 - Mistrustful
Disadvantage on all CHA
checks and Saves.
You gain the flaw - “I don’t
believe I can make a
difference to anyone or
anything”
6 - Incompetence
You have disadvantage on all
skill checks.
You gain the flaw “I find it
difficult to execute tasks, no
matter the size or difficulty.”
7 - Cowardice
As Fearful, except the WIS
Save to shake “Frightened”
increases to 15
If an ally goes down in your
presence, you must make a
DC 15 WIS Save or take the
Dash action on your next turn
to attempt to flee the battle.
You gain the flaw “I am
terrified by any potential
danger, every shadow is a
hideous monster trying to get
me!”
8 - Frail
As weakness, AND you have
vulnerability to bludgeoning,
piercing, and slashing
damage
11 - Paranoid
As Mistrustful, AND you
cannot move to within 5 ft of
an ally at ANY time. In the
most dire of circumstances
(say someone dieing), a WIS
save can negate this
temporarily
6 - Skillful
You have advantage on all
ability/skill checks
7 - Bravery
You have advantage on all
Wisdom and Charisma
saves.
You begin at the top of the
Initiative order with no need
to roll.
If any ally goes down in your
presence, you immediately
get a free turn to act.
8 - Hardened
You have advantage on all
STR and CON checks and
saves
You have resistance to
bludgeoning, piercing, and
slashing damage
11 - Trustworthy
Advantage on all CHA and
WIS checks and saves.
When an ally within 5 ft of
you takes damage or is
targeted, you can direct that
target towards yourself,
resisting all damage taken

9 - Trembling
You have a -2 penalty to all
attack rolls
You have disadvantage on all
DEX and WIS checks and
saves
10 - Jealous
You can not use the help
action to aid an ally in any
manner.
You regard every kill as
yours, and berate allies who
take your kills
11 - Madness
Disadvantage on all INT,
WIS, and CHA saves
12 - Reckless
You can not take the Dodge
action
Your AC is -2
You gain the flaw “I feel like
everyone is planning to betray
me or kill me. There’s only
one person I can trust, and
only I can see this special
friend!”
12 - Scared Stiff
As trembling, AND you begin
each combat with the
“Stunned” condition. Nothing
can prevent this. At the end
of your turn, the condition
fades.
You gain the flaw “When fear
takes me, I retreat to the
deepest recesses of my
mind, thinking about the most
horrible outcomes possible.”
13 - Covetous
As Jealous, AND you only
attack one target at a time.
That target is YOURS! You
can not switch targets until
the first target you hit with a
spell or attack is DEAD! If
you hit multiple targets, you
choose which one is your
Covetous target.
You gain the flaw “Everything
is mine. The treasure, the
kills, the glory, all of it! No
one can take it from me!”
14 - Delusional
As Madness, AND you
always try to attack the most
threatening target first,
thinking you can take it out
without anyone’s help.
You gain the flaw “I can’t tell
what’s real anymore.”
15 - Bloodthirsty
As Reckless, AND you
always charge FIRST into
battle. You act at the top of
and making any saves with
advantage
12 - Resolute
Advantage on all DEX, CHA,
and WIS checks and saves.
You can not be charmed,
feared, or frightened.
You gain advantage on all
attack rolls
13 - Ally
You grant +5 to Help actions,
in addition to granting
advantage
One use per encounter - You
can “taunt” a single enemy to
turn their attention to you for
a turn, no check required.
14 - Insightful
Advantage on all INT, WIS,
and CHA checks
You can use a Bonus Action
to immediately learn any fact
about a single creature
(example, AC, Saving throws,
weaknesses, vulnerabilities)
15 - Wrathful
You gain advantage on all
attacks rolls
Al hits do an extra d6 of
the initiative order, and damage of the weapon’s type
immediately use all of your once per turn
movement to run towards the
fray.
You gain the following flaw
“I’ve discovered I really like
killing people in the most
gruesome and horrifying
ways possible.”