Out of all the features of 5e, Exhaustion is probably one of my absolute favorites.

From the Basic rules, pg 107:

QuoteSome special abilities and environmental hazards, such as starvation and the long-term effects of freezing or scorching temperatures, can lead to a special condition called exhaustion. Exhaustion is measured in six levels. An effect can give a creature one or more levels of exhaustion, as specified in the effect's description.

Level Effect

1 Disadvantage on ability checks
2 Speed halved
3 Disadvantage on attack rolls and saving throws
4 Hit point maximum halved
5 Speed reduced to 0
6 Death

Those more familiar than I with earlier editions of D&D could probably point out that these rules aren't new or whatever. But this is the first time that I've really noticed them (didn't in 3e back in the day, when they would've really been useful). Anyway...

What I really like about these rules is the simplicity and flexibility. Travel, either through forced marches or harsh environments, can be measured through exhaustion. Note the fact that you can only recover (or lower) your exhaustion is via a long rest (provided that they have food and drink).

I kind of see this mechanic as being the solution to many ambiguities or conditions not covered by the ones in the rulebook. For example: Poisons. I could see almost all of them causing a level of Exhaustion on a fail. Or if the heroes are in a prolonged or war-like battle that lasts days. The sky's the limit. So far, from the three games that I've run, I've really like this. I've used it for arduous travel and from a poison effect.

I know some people don't like how a long rest fixes everything. Well, it doesn't fix exhaustion if the heroes have more than one level of it! This rule seems to "fix" that issue as well.

Frankly a lot of house rules out there on the web seem to complicate the game. I mean, by my standards, anyhow. I like 5e because it feels rules-light enough to be flexible and to promote improvisation. I don't want multiple sub-systems for different status conditions. I want to keep it simple.

What about you? Do you like this rule? Have you used it yet?

Yeah, i like it. It seems (so far) to be very under-utilised.

In fact, i think it's almost ready-made to take over as this edition's Level Drain - but they chose otherwise.

I may very well use Exhaustion as Level Drain.

In a very tight, Cog & Gear system, it would be kind of weird and dissociated.
In a loose system, it's broadly applicable.

Get a nasty internal poison or wasting disease? Fail a save vs. Poison/Disease every day or take a level of Exhaustion.  Do this until you are healed or you die.

Need an additional Second Wind, Action Surge or Superiority die to save the day?  Take it, and a level of Exhaustion.

Drowning? There you go.  Once you start drowning, it takes 6 rounds. Done.

Wraiths don't level drain, they automatically give you one Exhaustion Level on a successful hit, and if it's a Barrow Wight, you save every round while fighting it or take a Level.

Just a great mechanic, and one that does lend itself well to Old School play if you have players who accept Exhaustion when the GM says they do other then when a book does.

Of course I've been doing the exact same thing with Fatigue in MRQII/Legend/RQ6 for a few years now, but it's good WotC saw the light.

One thing I see that is kind of funny is that there is no magical cure for exhaustion.

There is a low level spell revivify that can bring someone back from the dead, but there is no cure for being a bit run down except normal rest.

Sort of funny and awesome all at the same time.

Quote from: Exploderwizard;789699One thing I see that is kind of funny is that there is no magical cure for exhaustion.

There is a low level spell revivify that can bring someone back from the dead, but there is no cure for being a bit run down except normal rest.

Sort of funny and awesome all at the same time.

Bring back Dispel Exhaustion.  Although really I don't see Exhaustion as a Cause, I see it as an Effect.

Cure the Poison, Cure the Disease, Heal the Wound, Remove the Fear - all of those are how you get rid of specific Exhaustion effects.

Enter the Bard or Warlord.  Inspire to remove the effects of Exhaustion temporarily.  Combine with the Fighter uses above and a group of warriors inspired by a skald singing the warsong of their clan is going to be invincible for a time, until they all drop down dead.

Quote from: Necrozius;789690Out of all the features of 5e, Exhaustion is probably one of my absolute favorites.

So, if you have suffered from 4 levels of exhaustion you suffer all these effects:

1 Disadvantage on ability checks
2 Speed halved
3 Disadvantage on attack rolls and saving throws
4 Hit point maximum halved

Are these cumulative effects?  Otherwise, it seems a bit...meh.

Quote from: ZWEIHÄNDER;789721So, if you have suffered from 4 levels of exhaustion you suffer all these effects:

1 Disadvantage on ability checks
2 Speed halved
3 Disadvantage on attack rolls and saving throws
4 Hit point maximum halved

Are these cumulative effects?  Otherwise, it seems a bit...meh.

Yes, they are all cumulative. When you lose a level of exhaustion you only get relief from the effects of THAT level.

Quote from: Exploderwizard;789724Yes, they are all cumulative. When you lose a level of exhaustion you only get relief from the effects of THAT level.

Yessir! The rest of the Exhaustion entry from the current Basic Rules:

QuoteIf an already exhausted creature suffers another effect that causes exhaustion, its current level of exhaustion increases by the amount specified in the effect's description.

A creature suffers the effect of its current level of exhaustion as well as all lower levels. For example, a creature suffering level 2 exhaustion has its speed halved and has disadvantage on ability checks.

An effect that removes exhaustion reduces its level as specified in the effect's description, with all exhaustion effects ending if a creature's exhaustion level is reduced below 1.

Finishing a long rest reduces a creature's exhaustion level by 1, provided that the creature has also ingested some food and drink.

Hell, you can even use it to represent wounds, you know actual damage not the hair away from death yesterday and full HPs today.

Quote from: CRKrueger;789762Hell, you can even use it to represent wounds, you know actual damage not the hair away from death yesterday and full HPs today.

I'd been considering doing Constitution damage for the same effect, but honestly this seems easier to deal with and more varied in the effects. The penalties hit hard enough that one or two levels could really hurt somebody. Maybe give them one exhaustion level for each death save they fail. Or if you're really mean, a level for each time they roll the death save.

They're fabulous! Love 'em. My PCs now carry a bucket of water, because a waterskin only holds 1/2 gal. and you need 1 gal/day water, (and buckets look  fashionable, ).

Quote from: Opaopajr;789798They're fabulous! Love 'em. My PCs now carry a bucket of water, because a waterskin only holds 1/2 gal. and you need 1 gal/day water, (and buckets look  fashionable, ).

Okay, well, my interest in the rules isn't to appease some micro-management-realism mini-game. I just like the simplicity of Exhaustion rules for other consequences than HP damage, level drain or death.

Besides, magic and other such stuff can remove exhaustion too. Hell, a rousing speech from a Bard or a Lord could remove it. Why? Cause I'm the GM and that would be cool.

I like it. I've actually been re-reading Exalted 1st Edition this week so I can run a game for my group, and it reminds me of the wound levels in that game. This, however, could easily be ported to any game and makes great sense. I'll likely use it at some point.

Also, this:

Quote from: Necrozius;789822Besides, magic and other such stuff can remove exhaustion too. Hell, a rousing speech from a Bard or a Lord could remove it. Why? Cause I'm the GM and that would be cool.