Affliction max stage rule

[Farabor]

Couldn't find this answered elsewhere....in the affliction rules is the following:

"If a failure or critical failure would increase the stage beyond the highest listed stage, the affliction instead repeats the effects of the highest stage."

My question is, lets say the max level is 3 and you fail at 3 and would go to 4. Do you go to condition stage 4 that has the EFFECTS of stage 3 (So you still need to recover from a stage 4 affliction), or does your stage number stay at 3?

[masda_gib]

I'd say you stay at stage 3. Because the text says "would increase" and not "increases" which means it doesn't actually increase, I think (non-native speaker here though...).

[Baarogue]

masda_gib wrote:

I'd say you stay at stage 3. Because the text says "would increase" and not "increases" which means it doesn't actually increase, I think (non-native speaker here though...).

Yeah, that's an accurate interpretation of the wording, especially when combined with, "the affliction instead repeats the effects of the highest stage." (emphasis mine)

"instead" indicates that it doesn't raise a stage, but stays at the highest stage and repeats its effects.