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I'm currently running a game where part of the adventure will be monster/treasure hunting in one of the worst places possible to one's nose: a landfill. What kinds of penalties should I put for the characters when it comes to stench? I remember Boxed Nightmares having an adventure in the sewer, but I can't remember if there were penalties for being in the sewer. What would you think is fair for negatives with skills/combat in a landfill or any other place dealing with stench?

Meh....make them save the same as if they were under the influence of one of those "Stench Of The Dead" Spells, only make them save physically (M.E., P.E., whatever), as opposed to making a magic save.

Give 'em penalties for retching and whatnot (drop the number of attacks, maybe they get a penalty to hit based on burning eyes, etc.).......

....but, perhaps, you could try to house rule a way for them to get "used to it" after a time based again on ME/PE (after all, since this is a physically-induced awful smell, they could eventually adapt as opposed to magical stench, which would have to be saved against every time no matter how many times the spell was encountered before).

If real-world Coroners and Forensic Investigators can get used to it after a time, then so can the players.


Unless, of course, somebody knows/remembers where there are canon Game Penalties for adventuring under these adverse conditions.

Thanks, and I was thinking the same thing about getting used to it. But I found my Boxed Nightmares and the possible penalties and saves against stench, so this'll work too. Thank you! Any other thoughts?

My first thought was to look up the penalties for skunk spray in TMNT or After The Bomb.
I think Cornholio's idea was better.

Well having spent a few months smelling the poo pond at Khandahar Air Field I can garentee garuntee promise you that the penatlies would be roughly the same as having a skunk spray you, but not in the eyes/face. Even then that's probably too high.

There is also the listed penalities in Dead reign, I think civ gone, that deals with the sewers and there unique aroma vs player pcs

sudden thougt.... a penalty to Detect Ambush and tracking for smell environments

Also check DR:Civ. gone for disease/infection - you don't want to get all cut up in a landfill! I'm guessing you've already considered the landfill's other denizens; rats, mice, tectonic entities etc..