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Simic Scientist

Source: Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica (5e 2014).

Clades and Projects Researcher Simic Guild Spells Suggested Characteristics Personality Traits Ideals Bonds Flaws Contacts Simic Contacts Non-Simic Contacts Imagine a perfect world: one in which nature and civilization exist in harmony, adapted to each other; one in which life is shaped to match its environment and the environment is shaped to match life. That's the world you have been trying to grow in the laboratories of the Simic Combine. Nature is all about adaptation, evolution, and balance - but for it to keep up with the pace of advancing civilization, nature needs some help from biomancers and terraformers. If, along the way, you happen to create super-soldiers and mutant monsters that can bolster the combine's defenses against the schemes and ambitions of the other guilds, so much the better. Source: Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica

Benefits

Feature Details
Skill Proficiencies Arcana
Medicine
Languages Two of your choice
Equipment A Simic insignia
a set of commoner's clothes Value:5sp Weight:3lbs
a book Value:25gp Weight:5lbs of research notes
an ink pen Value:2cp Weight:0
a bottle of squid ink Value:10gp Weight:0
a flask of oil Value:1sp Weight:1lb (made from blubber)
a vial of acid Value:25gp Weight:1lb (derived from digestive juices)
a vial of fish scales
a vial of seaweed
a vial of jellyfish stingers
a glass bottle Value:2gp Weight:2lbs of unidentified slime
and a pouch Value:5sp Weight:1lb containing 10gp (Azorius 1-zino coins) Features Clades
Projects As a Simic researcher
you are part of a clade - a diverse group of individuals combining disparate talents in pursuit of a common goal - or a researcher on a specialized
short-term project focused on addressing an immediate need. You can roll a d6 or choose from the options in the Research Options table to determine your area of research. d6 Clade/Project 1 Hull Clade
focused on protection
durability 2 Fin Clade
focused on movement 3 Gyre Clade
focused on cyclical patterns
metamagic 4 Guardian Project
focused on creating guard monsters
super soldiers 5 Crypsis Project
focused on intelligence
counterintelligence 6 Independent research in a new area Researcher When you attempt to learn or recall a magical or scientific fact
if you don't know that information
you know where
from whom you can obtain it. Usually
this information comes from a Simic laboratory
or sometimes from an Izzet facility
a library
a university
or an independent scholar or other learned person or creature. Knowing where the information can be found doesn't automatically enable you to learn it; you might need to offer bribes
favors
or other incentives to induce people to reveal their secrets. Your DM might rule that the knowledge you seek is secreted away in an inaccessible place
or that it simply can't be found. Unearthing the deepest secrets of the multiverse can require an adventure or even a whole campaign. Simic Guild Spells Prerequisite: Spellcasting or Pact Magic class feature For you
the spells on the Simic Guild Spells table are added to the spell list of your spellcasting class. (If you are a multiclass character with multiple spell lists
these spells are added to all of them.) Simic Guild Spells Spell Level Spell Cantrip Acid Splash
Druidcraft 1st Detect Poison
Disease
Expeditious Retreat
Jump 2nd Alter Self
Enhance Ability
Enlarge/Reduce 3rd Gaseous Form
Water Breathing
Wind Wall 4th Freedom of Movement
Polymorph 5th Creation When your magic causes physical alterations in yourself or others
the result often displays the characteristics of fish
amphibians
or other water-dwelling creatures. Blue-green eddies of magical energy sometimes accompany your spellcasting
forming spirals that reflect the mathematical perfection of nature. Suggested Characteristics The bizarre science of the Simic Combine attracts a certain type of personality
encompasses a set of beliefs about the nature of life. Simic members' bonds
flaws derive from their scientific research - including their creation of new life forms
which they can become very attached to. Personality Traits d8 Personality Trait 1 I can't wait to see what I become next! 2 I am convinced that everything inclines toward constant improvement. 3 I'm eager to explain every detail of my most intricate experiments
theories to anyone who shows the least bit of interest. 4 I assume that everyone needs even the most basic concepts explained to them. 5 I describe everything that happens as if it were going into my research notes (and it often is). 6 I am insatiably curious about the seemingly infinite forms
adaptations of life. 7 I can't resist prying into anything forbidden
since it must be terribly interesting. 8 I employ a highly technical vocabulary to avoid imprecision
ambiguity in my communication. Ideals d6 Ideal 1 Guild. My guild is all that really matters. (Any) 2 Change. All life is meant to progress toward perfection
and our work is to hurry it along - no matter what must be upended along the way. (Chaotic) 3 Knowledge. Understanding the world is more important than what you do with your knowledge. (Neutral) 4 Greater Good. I want to reshape the world into higher forms of life so that all can enjoy evolution. (Good) 5 Logic. It's foolish to let emotions
principles interfere with the conclusions of logic. (Lawful) 6 Superiority. My vast intellect
strength are directed toward increasing my sway over others. (Evil) Bonds d6 Bond 1 I helped create a krasis that I love like a pet
would carry with me everywhere … except it's the size of a building
and it might eat me. 2 In my laboratory
I discovered something that I think could eliminate half the life on Ravnica. 3 The other researchers in my clade are my family - a big
eccentric family including members
parts of many species. 4 The laboratory where I did my research contains everything that is precious to me. 5 I will get revenge on the shortsighted fool who killed my precious krasis creation. 6 Everything I do is an attempt to impress someone I love. Flaws d6 Flaw 1 I have a rather embarrassing mutation that I do everything I can to keep hidden. 2 I'm more interested in taking notes on monstrous anatomy than in fighting monsters. 3 Every social situation I'm in seems to lead to my asking rude personal questions. 4 I'm supremely confident in my ability to adapt to any situation
handle any danger. 5 I'll take any risk to earn recognition for my scientific brilliance. 6 I have a tendency to take shortcuts in my research
any other tasks I have to complete. Contacts The fluid nature of clades
whose rosters span different laboratories
change as researchers discover new interests
creates abundant connections among the Simic. The guild members live in watery sinkholes called zonots
and their isolation shelters them from much contact with outsiders. Nonetheless
a fair number of Simic members are former members of other guilds. Roll twice on the Simic Contacts table (for an ally
a rival)
once on the Non-Simic Contacts table. Simic Contacts d8 Contact 1 My research builds on my parents' work
takes it in interesting new directions. 2 If a serious problem confounds me
I can count on my mentor to provide clarity of thought. 3 A former laboratory colleague went on to work on the Guardian Project. 4 A former colleague has ventured into fields of research that are possibly immoral
almost certainly illegal. 5 A former lover is now the supervisor of a prominent clade. 6 My sibling has become an almost unrecognizable mutant. 7 An old friend has retreated into a secluded life as an ascetic deepsage
devoted to contemplating philosophical principles. 8 My former clade supervisor is now engaged in field research studying some of the largest beasts
monsters on Ravnica. Non-Simic Contacts d10 Contact 1 My older sibling is upset that I didn't follow them into the Azorius. 2 A Boros sergeant is always asking questions about my work
but I suspect they're genuinely curious. 3 A friend in my clade thinks I don't know they're a Dimir agent. 4 I helped a Golgari spore druid with the fertilization
growth of their fungus field. 5 I can't fathom what could have made my childhood friend run off
join the Gruul. 6 I love comparing notes with my friend in the Izzet
though our fields of research are very different. 7 I borrowed a lot of money from an Orzhov syndic to help finance my research. 8 A Rakdos ringmaster has taken an interest in my research which
come to think of it
might make a nice sideshow act. 9 I left the Selesnya -
a lover - behind when I joined the Simic. 10 Roll an additional Simic contact; you can decide if the contact is an ally or a rival.