Alcoholic Scientist (5e Background)

Alcoholic Scientist

You are a brilliant scientist, well-known for your advancements and contributions to a field of your choice. You have a tutored many a bright-eyed student, sending them on their way to becoming as intelligent as yourself. Your students are also quite familiar with the sight of you passed out, facedown, on your desk, several empty flasks scattered amongst your notes. As long as you can remember, though that isn't saying much, you have been an avid enjoyer of alcohol, despite your scientific background. Do you drink to cope with stress? Or is it merely a tool to help unlock the secrets of the world? Do you regulate your alcoholism, and only drink when working, or has it completely spiraled out of control, requiring your colleagues and students to care for you after another one of your drunken benders?

Skill Proficiencies: Perception, Investigation

Tool Proficiencies: Tinker’s tools and Calligrapher's supplies

Equipment: A backpack, a set of lab coats, a bedroll, a pouch containing 15 gp, lab notes on the experiment, three flasks of alcohol, three empty flasks, an ink bottle, a feather pen, and a chess set.

Feature: Intoxicated Teacher

You drink. A lot. No, really, you have a serious problem. Unfortunately in terms of your recovery, you've found that drinking, to a certain extent, helps organize your slightly scattered mind, and makes previously difficult to understand concepts easier to parse and work through. While drunk, your character is somehow able to find just the right words to explain any concept related to your scientific domain, no matter how complicated, in simple enough terminology that anyone listening will be able to garner at least a basic understanding of it.

Suggested Characteristics

d8	Personality Trait
1	I’m fascinated by technology.
2	I don’t understand the role of religion.
3	I often enjoy analyzing the people around me.
4	I always have a plan for what to do when things go wrong.
5	I'll settle for nothing less than perfection.
6	I can't help but grow excited over the possibility of a new student.
7	I am utterly serene, even in the face of disaster.
8	I use polysyllabic words to convey the impression of great erudition.

d6	Ideal
1	Sincerity. There's no good pretending to be something I'm not. (Neutral)
2	Aspiration. I'm determined to make something of myself. (Any)
3	Creativity. The world is in need of new ideas and bold action. (Chaotic)
4	Respect. People deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. (Good)
5	Logic. Emotions must not cloud our sense of what is right and true, or our logical thinking. (Lawful)
6	Knowledge. The path to power and self-improvement is through knowledge. (Neutral)

d6	Bond
1	I am often considered a disgrace to the scientific community due to my bad habits.
2	I ruined my colleagues' research while I was drunk. I'll do whatever it takes to replace it.
3	The university where I learned my trade is the most important place in the world to me.
4	It is my duty to protect my students, no matters how many drinks I've had.
5	I work to preserve a library, university, alchemical lab, or monastery.
6	I owe a debt I can never repay to the people who helped me with my alcoholism.

d6	Flaw
1	I'm as stubborn as a mule, and refuse to admit I have a problem.
2	I am infamous for showing up to serious events completely wasted.
3	My curiosity always made me a bit oblivious to danger. That lack of awareness is only magnified when I'm tipsy.
4	I suffer from racing thoughts; a few drinks slows my mind down enough to focus.
5	I feel horrible guilt surrounding my addiction, and try to hide it whenever possible.
6	If I were forced to pick between my research or feeding my cravings, I'd choose the booze any day.

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