Why aren't there good alcohol rules for D&D?

[The_Universe]

I suspect that there aren't a lot of alcohol rules in the core D&D books because their target audience includes kids. I'm sure that's not the only reason, but I bet it plays a role in the decision-making.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Man, Whizbang, you're like a man in a bar who just said he's outta whiskey, and he's got three bartenders handing him the same drink...

No, I'm the guy at the bar being offered the one drink over and over, where I'm looking for a comparison between brands.

 

[Henry]

You can't imagine a scenario where the players get into a barroom brawl, with some (or all) of the combatants impaired and want to know how badly they're impaired? You can't imagine a scenario where, in the midst of a celebratory banquet, the party spellcaster must cast a difficult spell to deal with a surprise encounter, where the cost of failure is incredibly high? You can't imagine someone playing an alcoholic dwarven barbarian, who gets himself good and drunk before raging? You can't imagine novice heroes looking for a potion hidden among alcohol, with the young heroes getting drunker and drunker, as they give each drink "just a sip" to see if it's alcoholic or not?

All of the above is covered in TFT.

Also, another scenario: Remember Marion Ravenwood drinking the Nepalese Sherpa under the table in Raiders of the Lost Ark? And winning a good sum of money? I could definitely see that replayed in a d20 Modern or Grim Tales game!

 

[Warehouse23]

Whizzy-- this is why they invented (public) house rules. Impaired drunken brawl? -1 or -2 to hit, +1 to AC (limbered up a bit, aye? It helps folks like me dance, so....), and some form of pain tolerance (maybe acting normally until -2 hp).

Looking for a drinking contest? Set subdual damage dealt by each shot/pint/bottle and a fort save for half damage. Last drinker conscious wins.

What's the fun of knocking back a few brews at the gaming table if you can't invoke Rule 0 and explain the effects of wine on your PCs?

 

[Henry]

Unfortunately, I don't own the Taverner's Trusty Tome.

No, I'm the guy at the bar being offered the one drink over and over, where I'm looking for a comparison between brands.

True. There's also not a lot of choices out there - probably about a half dozen or so that I vaguely remember.

 

[atom crash]

You can't imagine a scenario where the players get into a barroom brawl, with some (or all) of the combatants impaired and want to know how badly they're impaired? You can't imagine a scenario where, in the midst of a celebratory banquet, the party spellcaster must cast a difficult spell to deal with a surprise encounter, where the cost of failure is incredibly high? You can't imagine someone playing an alcoholic dwarven barbarian, who gets himself good and drunk before raging?

that's what the +2/-2 circumstance modifier is for.

You can't imagine novice heroes looking for a potion hidden among alcohol, with the young heroes getting drunker and drunker, as they give each drink "just a sip" to see if it's alcoholic or not? You can't imagine that alcoholic dwarf from before, now adventuring in a "dry" culture, and wrestling with his addiction and risking imprisonment, or worse, as he tries to brew his own alcohol?

now you've given me some wicked ideas my campaign.

Especially in a city campaign, where taverns are usually nearby, I think this would be tremendously useful rules. D&D is more than kicking in doors, killing stuff and looting the bodies.

Now you're talking crazy stuff, man! You must be drinking again.

 

[tetsujin28]

The best way to simulate alcohol is to drink lots of it whilst playing. And you guys call yourselves roleplayers?

 

[atom crash]

The best way to simulate alcohol is to drink lots of it whilst playing. And you guys call yourselves roleplayers?

Now this is something I can agree with. Another drink, all around! This one's on me!

 

[reveal]

The first thing I thought after reading the thread title was TFT. I'm glad I'm not the only one.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

that's what the +2/-2 circumstance modifier is for.

If you can't earn more than a -2 modifier drinking, you're not trying hard enough.