Alcohol has a very bad effect on the developing brain of the fetus. In some areas, the brain may never totally mature. In addition to reduced learning capabilities, a person has little or no sense of "right or wrong". He/she has little sense of time, so that a potential long jail term means little to him/her, and he/she doesn't see the benefits of saving money today to spend next year, or to study today for a test next week. These symptoms can range anywhere from almost unnoticeable to very pronounced, and facial disfigurement (small, misshapen eyes and a flatter nasal area) can even occur.
Some Fetal Alcohol Syndrome victims are somewhat socially inept. Not in a "nerdy" manner, but they seem to be unable to have healthy friendships. They are attracted to dangerous elements, such as the other troublemakers (unable to separate right from wrong, etc). They can't seem to resist peer pressure, and if pressured, will drink, steal, etc.. Their work ethic is bad, unable to see the future as imminent. The awful thing is, it's not their fault!
Therefore, if a woman drinks at ANY time during pregnancy (even if she doesn't know she's pregnant) and if she consumes even a small amount of alcohol, there is a risk of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The more often she drinks, the greater the risk and the greater the possible effects. The player should roll 1d100 when the baby is born, with a cumulative possibility of having Fetal Alcohol Syndrome of +5% for every time the mother had two or more alcoholic drinks (in one sitting) during the pregnancy. If the result is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, then the GM has two options in deciding on the results:
| Die Roll | Effect |
|---|---|
| 01-03 | Intelligence is 4d4. |
| 04-06 | Intelligence is 3d4. |
| 07-09 | Intelligence is 2d4. |
| 10-12 | Intelligence is 1d4. |
| 13-15 | Wisdom is 4d4. |
| 16-18 | Wisdom is 3d4. |
| 19-21 | Wisdom is 2d4 |
| 22-24 | Wisdom is 1d4 |
| 25-27 | Strength is 4d4 |
| 28-30 | Strength is 3d4 |
| 31-33 | Strength is 2d4 |
| 34-36 | Strength is 1d4 |
| 37-39 | Some facial disfigurement. Charisma is 4d4 |
| 40-42 | Some facial disfigurement. Charisma is 3d4 |
| 43-45 | Extreme facial disfigurement. Charisma is 2d4 |
| 46-48 | Extreme facial disfigurement. Charisma is 1d4 |
| 49-51 | Weak. Constitution is 4d4 |
| 52-54 | Weak. Constitution is 3d4 |
| 55-57 | Very Weak. Constitution is 2d4 |
| 58-60 | Very Weak. Constitution is 1d4 |
| 61-63 | Learns at 1/4 speed |
| 64-66 | Learns at 1/2 speed |
| 67-69 | Learns at 3/4 speed |
| 70-72 | Cannot have a lawful alignment |
| 73-75 | Must have a chaotic alignment |
| 76-78 | Must have a neutral alignment |
| 79-81 | Unable to save money, destitute. Always gets rid of money |
| 82-84 | Unable to save money, poor. Wastes money on frivolous things |
| 85-87 | Never able to cast spells |
| 88-90 | 2d20+8 % magic resistance. Roll ignoring any result above 87 |
| 91-93 | Two problems. Roll twice ignoring any result above 87 |
| 94-96 | Three problems. Roll thrice ignoring any result above 87 |
| 97-99 | Four problems. Roll four times ignoring any result above 87 |
| 00-00 | Five problems. Roll five times ignoring any result above 87. |
| Die Roll | Effects |
|---|---|
| 1 | Intelligence penalized -1d4 |
| 2 | Wisdom penalized -1d4 |
| 3 | Strength penalized -1d4 |
| 4 | Some facial disfigurement. Charisma penalized -1d4 |
| 5 | Weaker. Constitution penalized 1d4 |
| 6 | Learns at 1/4 speed |
| 7 | Cannot have a lawful alignment |
| 8 | Must have a chaotic alignment |
| 9 | Must have a neutral alignment |
| 10 | Unable to save money, poor. Wastes money on frivolous things |
| 11 | Never able to cast spells |
| 12 | 2d20+8 % magic resistance. |
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Ch10-Fetal-Alcohol.php -- Revised: January 27, 2021.