New status effects?

[Morrus]

Following on from my thread about 4E status effect, I thought I'd branch out a separate discussion.

Do you think there's room in 4E for more status effects?

I'm thinking that some more colourful, interesting, fun status effects could be created. Sure, they have to be a detriment to the target (or, at least, an advantage for the guy/monster inflicting them) [side note - or do they?] but perhaps they could be more entertaining than the standard effects, and even introduce new tactical decision opportunities.

I'm at a loss to think of what they might be, though. My thought is to plunder the 3E spell lists. These have things like "Confused". This is probably not a great example, as it's an effect which takes away the player's decision-making process, but serves as an example of a status effect built into a 3E spell, and suggests that the 3E spells may contain a myriad of such things which could be mined for ideas.

Or maybe the spells aren't a good place to look for inspiration - can anyone think of cool new status effects to add to your 4E game?

 

[ExploderWizard]

Considering "confused" in 4E means being mind controlled for a round, I'm not sure if it is really any different that what's already there.

Actual confusion would be cool, but random actions are unpredictable and therefore unfun.

 

[Roger]

Something to replace the Hidden/Invisible statuses, which can be a bit cumbersome.

Naked, or at least Pantsless, comes up often enough.

Hapless, which would be slightly-less lethal than Helpless.

Off-Balance: lose your minor action.



Cheers,
Roger

 

[RangerWickett]

Enraged - If at any point during your turn you have an unused standard action and are within charge range of an enemy, you must use your standard action to charge an enemy.

Frenzied - As above, but any creature, not just enemies.

 

[malraux]

Fear type effects would be nice. Something that forces you to spend your move action to move away, but leaves your standard action in place.

 

[ExploderWizard]

Enraged - If at any point during your turn you have an unused standard action and are within charge range of an enemy, you must use your standard action to charge an enemy.

Frenzied - As above, but any creature, not just enemies.

Universal trigger for either of the above; hit your opponent in the ear with a slushball.

 

[cdrcjsn]

Befuddled - limited to at-will powers.

Dizzy - lose move action and can't shift.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Pacified: You cannot perform an action that deals damage, or help another perform an action that deals damage (e.g. flanking). If hit by an opponent, you get an immediate saving throw against the condition.

 

[Morrus]

Most of these seem to be remaining in the "You cannot do X" paradigm.

Maybe it's not possible to add staus effects which don't say "you are now not allowed to do X"; that's a definie possibility. Although I like Rangerwickett's suggestions - although they do limit your actions, they don't remove actions (in the sense of removing a standard, move, or minor action).

I'm wondering if this can be done while retaining the player's full turn of "doing stuff" - a move, a standard, and a minor.

 

[Mentat55]

What about a status effect that demands you take your actions in a predetermined order -- for example, you act in minor->move->standard on your turn, or the opposite.

Not sure what that condition would be, but it could potentially apply a constraint to a target without eliminating any actions per se.