Dysgeusia

July 20, 2022
Limitless Heroics Cover: As our heroes fight the hydra, we see just some of the variety of symptoms represented in this book. The paladin has a prosthetic arm to assist with their amputation. The barbarian rages from their wheelchair, providing mobility for their paralyzed legs. The ranger, whose body is more accustomed to an aquatic environment just as someone in the real world may be more comfortable in a quieter or darker sensory environment, finds ways to compensate and keep fighting. The wizard’s vitiligo may not be thought of as a disability, nor should it be, yet many in the real world experience severe discrimination due to unusual skin pigment — how many celebrities, corporate executives, or politicians do you know with visibly irregular skin?

You have an altered sense of taste. Choose or roll on the following table.

1d20 Taste Alteration
1–5 Amplification
6–10 Disruption
11–13 Discrimination Modification
14–20 Sensitivity

Amplification. Your sense of taste is more sensitive than most. This gives you a +(IE) on Wisdom (Perception) checks involving taste but a −(IE) penalty on Constitution saving throws against taste and smell-related effects.

Disruption. Your sense of taste is less sensitive than most. This gives you a −(IE) penalty on Wisdom (Perception) checks involving taste but a +(IE) benefit on Constitution saving throws against taste and smell-related effects.

Discrimination Modification. You taste things differently than other people. Sour foods may taste sweet — mild, spicy. This gives you a −(IE) penalty on Wisdom (Perception) checks involving taste but a +(IE) benefit on Constitution saving throws against taste and smell-related effects. The player and GM should discuss the exact effect on you and any resulting changes to rolls.

Sensitivity. You are extremely sensitive to (IE) types of tastes. Roll on the following table for each type:

d6 Taste
1 Sweet
2 Sour
3 Bitter
4 Salty
5–6 Spicy

If you eat a food that even mildly fits into the corresponding taste category, you must succeed on a DC 5 + (IE) Constitution saving throw or become obsessed with finding another food or drink to cleanse and can do nothing else until then or until (IE) d20 minutes has passed, at which point your mouth has naturally washed out the flavor.

Real-world Examples

GI Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Diabetes, Dementia

Assistive Options

Some people find it helpful to lick a food first to determine the taste. This will normally not trigger a strong reaction but give a sense of how it might affect you. Note that many cultures would find this behavior rude or strange.

Magical Assistance

The Prestidigitation spell can alter the flavor of food.