Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) (5e Disease)

Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)

SVT is a mostly harmless heart condition, that can however lead to dizziness and tiredness, which makes for a good roleplay element and complication in battle, which is always fun solving.

Contracting SVT

SVT happens in episodes. The DM picks a time when an episode should happen (episodes can happen because of physical exertion, emotional upset, stress, lack of sleep, consumption of alcohol or caffeine, or for no particular reason) and rolls a d20. If the number is higher than the DC (listed in the Effects), the player is safe and an episode does not occur. If, however, the number is lower than the DC, the player gets an appropriate level of exhaustion (also listed in the Effects). If the player is already exhausted, their level of exhaustion goes up by the number of levels. In stages 2 and 3, there are also other effects, depending on the number rolled (listed in Effects). If the DM rolls a natural 1, the player gets the listed level of exhaustion for one minute/2 turns (1 turn in stage 3) when in combat and then passes out. During this time the player cannot get rid of the episode. Each turn/minute, the player gets a chance to roll a d20. If they spend their turn/minute doing anything else than breathing exercise and meditation, they have a disadvantage on the roll. If they perform any physical exertion in the round/minute, they cannot perform the roll. If the number they roll is higher than the DC (listed in Effects), the episode stops and they get rid of the exhaustion state (their exhaustion level goes down by the initial amount if they have more than said number of levels). If they roll a number lower than the DC, the episode continues. Frequent SVT episodes may weaken the heart and (very rarely) lead to a cardiac arrest or other serious problems, but that should not happen in D&D unless you want your character dead, as SVT cannot be cured in a medieval setting. The character does not change between stages; the stage of character's SVT is chosen when creating the character and does not change.

The effects and everything else can of course be changed however you want. Especially if you also have SVT and your experiences differ from mine or from my made-up nonsense regarding the higher stages.

Effects

Stage 1:

Very unfrequent episodes

DC = 10

One level of exhaustion (adds to one's current level, if they are already exhausted)

If rolled a nat1: one minute/2 turns of exhaustion (level 1/+1 level), then unconsciousness.

Stage 2:

Somewhat frequent episodes

DC = 15

One level of exhaustion (adds to one's current level, if they are already exhausted)

If rolled lower than 5: Two levels of exhaustion (adds to one's current level, if they are already exhausted)

If rolled a nat1: one minute/2 turns of exhaustion (level 2/+2 levels), then unconsciousness.

Stage 3:

Frequent episodes

DC = 15

One level of exhaustion (adds to one's current level, if they are already exhausted)

If rolled lower than 10: Two levels of exhaustion (adds to one's current level, if they are already exhausted)

If rolled lower than 5: Three levels of exhaustion (adds to one's current level, if they are already exhausted)

If rolled a nat1: one minute/1 turn of exhaustion (level 3/+3 levels), then unconsciousness.

When unconscious, the player doesn't roll to save the episode anymore. Once the player wakes up from unconsciousness, they no longer have the episode.

DISCLAIMER: These effects are completely made up and may not line up with reality (They almost surely don't). My case of SVT is represented by Stage 1, which is, from what I've read, the most common one (of course, in reality, there are no stages, the severeness of SVT varies, but it is usually harmless and not life-threatening, corresponding to Stage 1.) I have also never fallen unconscious from SVT, so information on that may be wrong too.

Treatment

SVT cannot be cured in a medieval setting. Curing it would require heart surgery. Even curing it by magic would require knowing what causes the problem in the first place.

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