Dragodar
2018-04-03, 06:56 PM
If you're anything like me, you tend to DM for players who like their sauce. My groups love to drink while we play DnD, and that often translates into their characters going to pubs to drink, carouse, and engage in drinking games. Try as I might, I could not find any thorough and well designed rules for alcohol consumption and drunkenness for 3.5 DnD, so I decided to make my own.
These rules may seem slightly complicated, but they are meant to simulate real drinking as accurately as possible, and real drinking is an extremely inexact science. Even with all our current knowledge of how alcohol effects the human body, their are still a lot of mysteries surrounding various tolerances, apparent genetic advantages, and other variables. So yes, these rules are somewhat complicated. Which means, unless drinking is a significant part of your DnD campaign, these rules probably aren't worth implementing in your game.
But for those of you with players like mine, I figured I would share these rules, because you'll be using them. A lot. Good luck, have fun, and please drink responsibly. Without further ado:
Rules for Alcohol Consumption, Tolerance, and Hangovers
Drinking Mechanics
A "Drink" is defined as 12 oz of beer, 5 oz of wine, or 1.5 oz of liquor.
Every character has a tolerance modifier that is added onto every roll for drunkenness. Your tolerance modifier is equal to your CON modifier + any circumstantial bonuses.
+1 for males
-1 for females
===
+2 for dwarves
-2 for gnomes
===
+1 for genetic advantage
-1 for genetic disadvangtage
===
+1 or 2 for experienced drinkers or very experienced drinkers
-1 or 2 for inexperienced drinkers or very inexperienced drinkers
===
+1 or 2 for above average physical mass or particularly large physical mass
-1 or 2 for below average physical mass or particularly small physical mass
The DC for drunkenness increases for every drink you've had in a given hour. The DC starts at 10, and increases as follows for each additional drink within the hour:
10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 23, 31, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100...
If it's been at least an hour since any given drink, that drink no longer counts against the DC. After a failed roll, the next DC is the same as the previous, rather than increasing.
For example, if Dragodar has one drink, he rolls against DC 10. If he has another drink before that hour is out, he rolls against DC 11. If he has a third before it's been an hour since his first, he rolls against DC 13.
But then, if it's been over an hour since his first drink when he has his fourth drink, the first drink no longer counts toward the DC, so rather than rolling against DC 15, he would roll against DC 13 yet again.
His fifth drink would be rolled against a DC 15, assuming it's less than an hour after his second drink (the DC 11 drink). If he fails this check, he increases one stage in drunkenness (see below) and the DC for his sixth drink is 15 yet again, since he just failed his last check.
Assuming he succeeds this time, the DC increases as normal, to DC 18, for his next drink, and to DC 23 for the one after that. As long as he continues to fail, the DC remains the same.
Each stage of drunkenness carries with it a temporary ability modifier, and some also come with Conditions and saves against vomiting. Roll 1d20 against this DC and add your tolerance modifier. Every time you fail, increase in drunkenness by one stage:
Social (+2 Diplomacy)
Tipsy (+2 Will Saves against fear, +2 Diplomacy)
Dizzy (-2 DEX // +2 Will Saves against fear, +2 Diplomacy)
Wasted (-2 DEX, WIS // +2 Will Saves against fear)
Hammered (-4 DEX, CON, WIS // +2 Will Saves against fear // DC 10 save to avoid vomiting1)
Smashed (-4 DEX, CON, INT, WIS // Sickened Condition // DC 15 save to avoid vomiting)
Blackout (-6 DEX, CON, INT, WIS, CHA // Nauseated Condition // DC 20 save to avoid vomiting)
Passout (-8 STR, DEX, CON, INT, WIS, CHA // DC 20 to avoid Unconscious Condition2 // DC 10 save to avoid vomiting)
Once a character stops drinking, every hour that passes moves the character one stage lower in drunkenness. If the character remains unconscious as they recover from drunkenness, the DC for vomiting does not go back to 20 and then 15, but instead continues to lower by 5 for every stage (10 at Passout, 5 at Blackout, 0 at Smashed).
Note: for prepubescent drinkers or extreme lightweights, slightly different rules apply.
Every drink counts as two drinks, and must divided into two separate rolls. One check must be made for each half of the drink.
A failed check does not prevent the DC from increasing on the next check; for prepubescents and extreme lightweights, the DC increases as normal even after a failure.
Negative conditions apply to prepubescents and extreme lightweights two full drunkenness stages earlier, so they would be Sickened when Wasted, Nauseated when Hammered, and Unconscious when Smashed.
All other modifiers and rules apply as normal.
1 Saves to avoid vomiting are rolled as 1d20 + tolerance modifier. When required, a save to avoid vomiting must be made every round until the save is failed. Once vomiting occurs, the character need not vomit again for one hour. If after one hour, the new stage of drunkenness still calls for a save to avoid vomiting, the character must once again make saves against vomiting until the save is failed and vomiting occurs. However, if after one hour the new stage of drunkenness does not call for a save against vomiting, the character is in the clear... at least, until they drink more alcohol.
2 When Passout level is reached, the character must make a FORT save against DC 20 to avoid falling Unconscious, every ten minutes for as long as Passout level drunkenness persists.
Hangover Mechanics
When a character falls asleep while drunk, they typically wake up hungover.
To determine if your character wakes up with a hangover, roll 1d20 + your tolerance modifier against DC 15 + the maximum level of drunkenness they achieved within the last 12 hours.
A hungover character is affected by the Dazzled Condition for a number of hours equal to the maximum level of drunkenness they achieved within the last 12 hours minus 3 (eg 2 hours for Hammered, 4 hours for Blackout). They are also affected by the Sickened Condition (with a slight difference3) for a number of hours equal to the maximum level of drunkenness they achieved within the last 12 hours.
3 Rather than receiving a -2 penalty to all attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks, the character who is hungover receives a penalty equal to the negative of the maximum level of drunkenness they achieved within the last 12 hours minus 4, with a minimum of 1 (eg -1 for Wasted, -1 for Hammered, -2 for Smashed, -3 for Blackout, etc)
Carousing Mechanics
(based heavily on a post from Jeff's Gameblog (http://jrients.blogspot.com/2008/12/party-like-its-999.html); thanks Jeff!)
If a PC is hanging around with nothing better to do, they can make a Carousing Roll and spend 100 gp times the roll on liquor and/or lechery. In villages the PC may roll a d4. In towns the PC may roll a d4 or a d6. In cities the PC may roll a d8 or lower. And in metropolises the PC may roll up to a d10. If the die roll is equal to or less than the character’s level, the result is a rousing good time and no harm done.
Rolling above the character’s level indicates things got out of hand one way or another and the poor sucker must roll d20 and consult the chart below. If a character cannot afford the carousing they have rolled, they also must consult the chart. Fellow PCs can chip in to cover a character’s bar tab, but henchmen only do so to avoid the imprisonment of the PC and then only if a loyalty check is successful.
All saves and ability checks are called "Carousing Checks" and are DC 10 + character level of the PC in question.
Hangover from hell. For the duration of a full day after Carousing, the PC is Hungover to the worst degree (-4 penalty on all Sickened-related rolls), and is affected by the Dazzled Condition for a number of hours equal to the maximum level of drunkenness they achieved within the last 12 hours (NOT minus 3 as normal).
•
Make a fool of yourself in public. Succeed on CHA check or gain a reputation in this town as a drunken lout.
•
Gain local reputation as the life of the party. Roll CHA check.
If you fail, all future carousing in this town costs double due to barflies, freeloaders, mooches, and other parasites.
If you succeed, all future carousing in this town costs half due to everyone wanting to buy your drinks.
•
Involved in random brawl. Succeed on STR check or wake up 1d4 hit points short, with all the aches, pains, bruises, bloody lips, and black eyes that come with.
•
Minor misunderstanding with local authorities. Roll CHA check. Success indicates a fine of (your Carousing Roll x 25gp). Failure or (inability to pay fine) indicates d4 days in the clink.
•
Major misunderstanding with local authorities. Imprisoned until fines and bribes totaling (your Carousing Roll x 500 gp) are paid. All weapons, armor, and magic items confiscated.
•
Insult local person of authority or rank. A successful CHA check indicates the personage is amenable to some sort of apology and reparations. A failure indicates that they will not soon forget your insult.
•
Romantic entanglement. Roll WIS check to avoid nuptials. If check fails, you are legally married. If check succeeds, roll a d6.
=
1-3) Scorned lover
4-6) Angered parents
•
You fall head over heels for your latest dalliance, despite your best efforts. Roll a d8.
=
1) Your beloved loves you back! Do I hear wedding bells?
2) Your beloved is not interested in your advances. It was just a one night stand for them.
3-8) Your beloved is already married.
•
Dirty debauchery. You couldn’t really see the rash in the candlelight. Roll CON check to avoid venereal disease.
•
Target of lewd advances turns out to be a witch. FORT save versus Baleful Polymorph (Carousing DC) or you’re literally a swine.
•
Wake up stark naked in a random local temple. Roll a d6.
=
1-4) The clerics are majorly pissed off
5-6) They smile and thank you for stopping by. Yikes.
•
Minor gambling losses. Roll the dice as if you Caroused again to see how much you lose.
•
Major gambling binge. Lose all your gold, gems, and jewelry. Roll WIS check for each magic item in your possession. Failure indicates it’s gone.
•
New tattoo! Roll a d8.
=
1-2) It’s actually pretty cool. Player may pick a design.
3-4) It’s really lame, but entertainingly so. A funny story from a crazy night.
5) It's unrecognizably bad. Nothing more than an absolute blight on your skin.
6) It could have been badass, but something is goofed up or misspelled.
7) It says something insulting, crude, stupid, or otherwise embarrassing in an unknown language.
8) It says something insulting, crude, stupid, or otherwise embarrassing in Common tongue.
•
Beaten and robbed. Lose all your personal effects and reduced to half hit points. Ouch.
•
You’ve been initiated into some sort of secret society or weird cult, though you’re not sure how it happened. Did you really make out with an emu, or was that just the drugs?
Roll INT check to remember the signs and passes associated with this secret cult.
•
Invest all your spare cash (50% chance all gems and jewelry, too) in some smooth-tongued merchant’s scheme. Roll a d6.
=
1-4) It’s bogus. You lose your money.
5) It’s bogus and the Law thinks you’re in on it.
6) Actual money making opportunity returns d% profits in 3d4 months.
•
You asked your god(s) to get you out of some stupid mess, while in a drunken stupor. Turns out they heard you! Now as repayment for saving your sorry ass, you’re under the effects of a Quest spell.
•
Accidentally start a conflagration. Roll d6 twice.
=
1-2) Burn down your favorite inn.
3-4) Some other den of ill repute is reduced to ash.
5-6) A big chunk of town goes up in smoke.
=
1-2) No one knows it was you.
3-4) Your fellow carousers know you did it.
5) Someone else knows, perhaps a blackmailer.
6) Everybody knows it was you. Better get moving.
These rules may seem slightly complicated, but they are meant to simulate real drinking as accurately as possible, and real drinking is an extremely inexact science. Even with all our current knowledge of how alcohol effects the human body, their are still a lot of mysteries surrounding various tolerances, apparent genetic advantages, and other variables. So yes, these rules are somewhat complicated. Which means, unless drinking is a significant part of your DnD campaign, these rules probably aren't worth implementing in your game.
But for those of you with players like mine, I figured I would share these rules, because you'll be using them. A lot. Good luck, have fun, and please drink responsibly. Without further ado:
Rules for Alcohol Consumption, Tolerance, and Hangovers
Drinking Mechanics
A "Drink" is defined as 12 oz of beer, 5 oz of wine, or 1.5 oz of liquor.
Every character has a tolerance modifier that is added onto every roll for drunkenness. Your tolerance modifier is equal to your CON modifier + any circumstantial bonuses.
+1 for males
-1 for females
===
+2 for dwarves
-2 for gnomes
===
+1 for genetic advantage
-1 for genetic disadvangtage
===
+1 or 2 for experienced drinkers or very experienced drinkers
-1 or 2 for inexperienced drinkers or very inexperienced drinkers
===
+1 or 2 for above average physical mass or particularly large physical mass
-1 or 2 for below average physical mass or particularly small physical mass
The DC for drunkenness increases for every drink you've had in a given hour. The DC starts at 10, and increases as follows for each additional drink within the hour:
10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 23, 31, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100...
If it's been at least an hour since any given drink, that drink no longer counts against the DC. After a failed roll, the next DC is the same as the previous, rather than increasing.
For example, if Dragodar has one drink, he rolls against DC 10. If he has another drink before that hour is out, he rolls against DC 11. If he has a third before it's been an hour since his first, he rolls against DC 13.
But then, if it's been over an hour since his first drink when he has his fourth drink, the first drink no longer counts toward the DC, so rather than rolling against DC 15, he would roll against DC 13 yet again.
His fifth drink would be rolled against a DC 15, assuming it's less than an hour after his second drink (the DC 11 drink). If he fails this check, he increases one stage in drunkenness (see below) and the DC for his sixth drink is 15 yet again, since he just failed his last check.
Assuming he succeeds this time, the DC increases as normal, to DC 18, for his next drink, and to DC 23 for the one after that. As long as he continues to fail, the DC remains the same.
Each stage of drunkenness carries with it a temporary ability modifier, and some also come with Conditions and saves against vomiting. Roll 1d20 against this DC and add your tolerance modifier. Every time you fail, increase in drunkenness by one stage:
Social (+2 Diplomacy)
Tipsy (+2 Will Saves against fear, +2 Diplomacy)
Dizzy (-2 DEX // +2 Will Saves against fear, +2 Diplomacy)
Wasted (-2 DEX, WIS // +2 Will Saves against fear)
Hammered (-4 DEX, CON, WIS // +2 Will Saves against fear // DC 10 save to avoid vomiting1)
Smashed (-4 DEX, CON, INT, WIS // Sickened Condition // DC 15 save to avoid vomiting)
Blackout (-6 DEX, CON, INT, WIS, CHA // Nauseated Condition // DC 20 save to avoid vomiting)
Passout (-8 STR, DEX, CON, INT, WIS, CHA // DC 20 to avoid Unconscious Condition2 // DC 10 save to avoid vomiting)
Once a character stops drinking, every hour that passes moves the character one stage lower in drunkenness. If the character remains unconscious as they recover from drunkenness, the DC for vomiting does not go back to 20 and then 15, but instead continues to lower by 5 for every stage (10 at Passout, 5 at Blackout, 0 at Smashed).
Note: for prepubescent drinkers or extreme lightweights, slightly different rules apply.
Every drink counts as two drinks, and must divided into two separate rolls. One check must be made for each half of the drink.
A failed check does not prevent the DC from increasing on the next check; for prepubescents and extreme lightweights, the DC increases as normal even after a failure.
Negative conditions apply to prepubescents and extreme lightweights two full drunkenness stages earlier, so they would be Sickened when Wasted, Nauseated when Hammered, and Unconscious when Smashed.
All other modifiers and rules apply as normal.
1 Saves to avoid vomiting are rolled as 1d20 + tolerance modifier. When required, a save to avoid vomiting must be made every round until the save is failed. Once vomiting occurs, the character need not vomit again for one hour. If after one hour, the new stage of drunkenness still calls for a save to avoid vomiting, the character must once again make saves against vomiting until the save is failed and vomiting occurs. However, if after one hour the new stage of drunkenness does not call for a save against vomiting, the character is in the clear... at least, until they drink more alcohol.
2 When Passout level is reached, the character must make a FORT save against DC 20 to avoid falling Unconscious, every ten minutes for as long as Passout level drunkenness persists.
Hangover Mechanics
When a character falls asleep while drunk, they typically wake up hungover.
To determine if your character wakes up with a hangover, roll 1d20 + your tolerance modifier against DC 15 + the maximum level of drunkenness they achieved within the last 12 hours.
A hungover character is affected by the Dazzled Condition for a number of hours equal to the maximum level of drunkenness they achieved within the last 12 hours minus 3 (eg 2 hours for Hammered, 4 hours for Blackout). They are also affected by the Sickened Condition (with a slight difference3) for a number of hours equal to the maximum level of drunkenness they achieved within the last 12 hours.
3 Rather than receiving a -2 penalty to all attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks, the character who is hungover receives a penalty equal to the negative of the maximum level of drunkenness they achieved within the last 12 hours minus 4, with a minimum of 1 (eg -1 for Wasted, -1 for Hammered, -2 for Smashed, -3 for Blackout, etc)
Carousing Mechanics
(based heavily on a post from Jeff's Gameblog (http://jrients.blogspot.com/2008/12/party-like-its-999.html); thanks Jeff!)
If a PC is hanging around with nothing better to do, they can make a Carousing Roll and spend 100 gp times the roll on liquor and/or lechery. In villages the PC may roll a d4. In towns the PC may roll a d4 or a d6. In cities the PC may roll a d8 or lower. And in metropolises the PC may roll up to a d10. If the die roll is equal to or less than the character’s level, the result is a rousing good time and no harm done.
Rolling above the character’s level indicates things got out of hand one way or another and the poor sucker must roll d20 and consult the chart below. If a character cannot afford the carousing they have rolled, they also must consult the chart. Fellow PCs can chip in to cover a character’s bar tab, but henchmen only do so to avoid the imprisonment of the PC and then only if a loyalty check is successful.
All saves and ability checks are called "Carousing Checks" and are DC 10 + character level of the PC in question.
Hangover from hell. For the duration of a full day after Carousing, the PC is Hungover to the worst degree (-4 penalty on all Sickened-related rolls), and is affected by the Dazzled Condition for a number of hours equal to the maximum level of drunkenness they achieved within the last 12 hours (NOT minus 3 as normal).
•
Make a fool of yourself in public. Succeed on CHA check or gain a reputation in this town as a drunken lout.
•
Gain local reputation as the life of the party. Roll CHA check.
If you fail, all future carousing in this town costs double due to barflies, freeloaders, mooches, and other parasites.
If you succeed, all future carousing in this town costs half due to everyone wanting to buy your drinks.
•
Involved in random brawl. Succeed on STR check or wake up 1d4 hit points short, with all the aches, pains, bruises, bloody lips, and black eyes that come with.
•
Minor misunderstanding with local authorities. Roll CHA check. Success indicates a fine of (your Carousing Roll x 25gp). Failure or (inability to pay fine) indicates d4 days in the clink.
•
Major misunderstanding with local authorities. Imprisoned until fines and bribes totaling (your Carousing Roll x 500 gp) are paid. All weapons, armor, and magic items confiscated.
•
Insult local person of authority or rank. A successful CHA check indicates the personage is amenable to some sort of apology and reparations. A failure indicates that they will not soon forget your insult.
•
Romantic entanglement. Roll WIS check to avoid nuptials. If check fails, you are legally married. If check succeeds, roll a d6.
=
1-3) Scorned lover
4-6) Angered parents
•
You fall head over heels for your latest dalliance, despite your best efforts. Roll a d8.
=
1) Your beloved loves you back! Do I hear wedding bells?
2) Your beloved is not interested in your advances. It was just a one night stand for them.
3-8) Your beloved is already married.
•
Dirty debauchery. You couldn’t really see the rash in the candlelight. Roll CON check to avoid venereal disease.
•
Target of lewd advances turns out to be a witch. FORT save versus Baleful Polymorph (Carousing DC) or you’re literally a swine.
•
Wake up stark naked in a random local temple. Roll a d6.
=
1-4) The clerics are majorly pissed off
5-6) They smile and thank you for stopping by. Yikes.
•
Minor gambling losses. Roll the dice as if you Caroused again to see how much you lose.
•
Major gambling binge. Lose all your gold, gems, and jewelry. Roll WIS check for each magic item in your possession. Failure indicates it’s gone.
•
New tattoo! Roll a d8.
=
1-2) It’s actually pretty cool. Player may pick a design.
3-4) It’s really lame, but entertainingly so. A funny story from a crazy night.
5) It's unrecognizably bad. Nothing more than an absolute blight on your skin.
6) It could have been badass, but something is goofed up or misspelled.
7) It says something insulting, crude, stupid, or otherwise embarrassing in an unknown language.
8) It says something insulting, crude, stupid, or otherwise embarrassing in Common tongue.
•
Beaten and robbed. Lose all your personal effects and reduced to half hit points. Ouch.
•
You’ve been initiated into some sort of secret society or weird cult, though you’re not sure how it happened. Did you really make out with an emu, or was that just the drugs?
Roll INT check to remember the signs and passes associated with this secret cult.
•
Invest all your spare cash (50% chance all gems and jewelry, too) in some smooth-tongued merchant’s scheme. Roll a d6.
=
1-4) It’s bogus. You lose your money.
5) It’s bogus and the Law thinks you’re in on it.
6) Actual money making opportunity returns d% profits in 3d4 months.
•
You asked your god(s) to get you out of some stupid mess, while in a drunken stupor. Turns out they heard you! Now as repayment for saving your sorry ass, you’re under the effects of a Quest spell.
•
Accidentally start a conflagration. Roll d6 twice.
=
1-2) Burn down your favorite inn.
3-4) Some other den of ill repute is reduced to ash.
5-6) A big chunk of town goes up in smoke.
=
1-2) No one knows it was you.
3-4) Your fellow carousers know you did it.
5) Someone else knows, perhaps a blackmailer.
6) Everybody knows it was you. Better get moving.