Malaise (2E)

A touched creature which fails its saving throw falls ill with an unpleasant non-magical malaise. The caster may choose one of two effects at casting:

During the onset time, no symptoms are apparent. The creature is not especially (i.e. magically) infectious, though DM judgment prevails on checks for any creature in close and/or prolonged contact with the victim during the onset time.

Creatures suffering from the cold effect have a nasty head cold, complete with headaches, runny nose, post-nasal drip, and a cough. In addition to being generally irritable, affected creatures receive a -1(5%) on all rolls. Spellcasters suffering from a cold must make either an INT or WIS check to successfully complete spells.

Creatures suffering from the flu effect have not only have truly whopping cold-like symptoms, but a nasty stomach bug as well. Such creatures are weak and generally miserable, and prefer bed rest to all other alternatives. Those that insist on heroically performing other actions are able, but find themselves at -4(20%) on all rolls. Spellcasters must pass INT/WIS -4 checks to get spells off properly.

DM common sense should carry the day in adjudicating victims' actions (i.e. a flu-ridden fighter could strap on armor and fight heroically once during the day to defend his friends, but he *really* isn't going to feel like dungeon crawling all day). Victims which completely ignore their illness may be subject to longer durations and/or more severe effects, at the DM's option. Conversely, bed rest and care under someone who passes a healing profiency check halves the duration, and a cure disease spell eliminates the malaise immediately.

From Matt Devney mdevney@ford.com, 27 Aug 1999

Malaise should not have cold/flu. It should have things like “malady of weakness and lethargy.” Should be played up – blurred vision, loss of balance, etc