I've been wanting to try builds for scientists in Skyrim for quite a long time. Since these guys can be pacifists if you want, I'm only giving the skills that you'll want to use the most for each type of scientist that makes sense in Skyrim. This means I have no idea how to play as a Psychologist at all.

Medicine Scientist:
Obviously, this one is going to be an alchemist with a nicer name that doesn't sell any poisons he makes while making medications and learning about the medical uses for everything. He will only sell poisons to fletchers and throw any potions that have harmful side effects out into a bandit camp. Like every other scientist I will be giving the build for, he can use armor if he wants. What matters is selling your helpful potions to the places that sell potions and being careful about selling poisons.

Primary Skills: Alchemy
Extra notes: You can use any other skill. This can be an evil medicine guy if you want. Anything goes. Just make sure he lives off of peddling his medications.

Zoologist:
This one is going to be big on archery and studies the behaviors of every creature. It's okay to fight either way, but any parts of the animal or creature that drop are usually going to be used for study purposes. You are going to be keeping extras for the purpose of seeing if you find anything different about a new specimen. If you feel like bothering, you can also decorate your home. Many books on the shelves will likely be about the creatures of Skyrim, so keep those around. Once you learn all you need to about that wolf pelt, for example, you might want to see how they react to colder weather.

You are going to need to learn tons of patience when it comes to observing animals and creatures, so be sure you don't mind trial and error while out in the field.

Primary Skills: Archery and Alchemy(the alchemy is for learning what the animal parts do when given something to react to)
Extra Notes: Yes, you can study dragons if you want.

I have more ideas to come, and if anyone has any other scientist build ideas, give them to us. You never know what great ideas come out of this! Good luck.

I would think that for the Zoologist, you would at least need the shout Kynes Peace, though not strictly necessary, James Audubon killed all the birds he studied in order to save the birds. (They needed to be dead so he could paint them accurately)

However, even my pacifist characters still have a combat skill of some kind. I think of it like Switzerland, they don't get into wars, but they have a way to fight if they have to. While these characters will do what they can to avoid violence, back them into a corner, and well, "I guess I tried to save your life, but you would not leave me alone" is what he would say.

I like to make my builds very ambiguous so they have tons of flexibility. That Nightcrawler build I made yesterday is an exception since it was based off a comic book character. I prefer to make the builds as easy to create into what you want as possible. I don't like doing the main quest, but your suggestion for that shout is a great one. I forget shouts exist quite often due to not doing the main quest after the first time.

"Scientist" build? Play a Mage with max enchantment, and alchemy with every other perk in whatever magic schools you want. Same difference. Also always wear robes.. Always.

Mages are basically the scientists, and scholars of TES.

It's always fun to see how a real life field would look in TES, though. Heh.

I like the idea. Good build OP. I might build one off of this.

Thanks. I'm always happy to give people new ways of playing a game. If your kids want to try them out, I'll make an Oblivion one for them. Like I said, I make these build ideas threads to give people something new to try.

That would be awesome. Thanks.

Here's some more. These are already too obvious to think up, but whatever.

Archeologist:
Dwemer, Nordic, or whatever else. You decide. Pretty obvious that this one is the more combat based one since you'll be fighting as you do your research. The money you make will likely come from selling your stuff to any like minded individuals. The court mage of Markarth will be the one you might end up trading artifacts with the most if you go for Dwemer.

Primary Skills: One handed, enchanting(if you wish to use this skill as a way of simulating what the ancient armor was like back when it was used by the respective races), and Speech
Extra notes: If you feel up to it, you could also be a dragon archeologist or a Falmer archeologist.

Anthropologist:
Since you are studying men, mer, and beast races in general, speech will be important. You are likely going to study many things to learn more about the races. You'll be stocking your shelves up with books on society and the races. You might even live with the Khajiit caravans in order to learn more about them. This build is really anything you want as long as you have a reason for studying society.

How about a Geologist? This person would dig up whatever metals they could to study them. Most likely collect soul gems too, as they are minerals as well.

Maybe you could put in some sneak perks so you could track the animals without being seen.

Great idea.

I overlooked that. Oops.

That why I'm here, to see what you don't see

you know Alchemy is science right?

Great thread, KF!
I like the idea of playing a "non-standard" type of character.