Conditions

The world does not only wound the body.
  The standard conditions of the game account for physical harm, restraint, and impairment. They describe what happens when a creature is blinded, poisoned, or brought to the edge of death. Those rules remain in full effect. They are the foundation. The conditions presented here exist to cover what those rules do not.
  These are states brought on by forces that are harder to measure and more difficult to ignore. Lingering effects that take hold over time. Pressures that do not fade at the end of a turn. Influences that alter behavior, perception, or control in ways that cannot always be resolved through simple action economy.
  Some represent strain. The slow wearing down of a person pushed beyond what they were meant to endure. Others reflect exposure to substances, environments, or phenomena that leave a mark long after the initial contact. A few are more invasive. They impose themselves on a creature’s thoughts, instincts, or sense of self. These conditions are not interchangeable with the standard set.
  They are designed to be applied with intent. Many of them persist beyond a single encounter. Some require specific actions, time, or intervention to remove. Others escalate if left untreated. They are meant to create consequences that extend beyond immediate danger and force players to consider what happens after the fight is over. Because of this, they require clarity at the table.
  Players should understand how these conditions function before they appear in play. They should know what triggers them, what they do, and how they can be addressed. These are not surprise penalties. They are systems that shape decisions and define risk. The goal is not to punish. The goal is to track what the base game leaves abstract. Fatigue that does not vanish with a rest. Fear that lingers. Corruption that spreads. Influence that takes hold slowly rather than all at once.
  Used correctly, these conditions give weight to experience. They make the world feel consistent and reactive. They ensure that what happens to a character matters beyond the moment it occurs. Used carelessly, they become clutter. Apply them deliberately. Keep them consistent. And make sure they are doing something the core system does not already handle.