Background Charts
Background Charts
Chart 1. Birth Order (Roll d10)
1 First born
2-3 Second child
4-5 Third child
6 Fourth
7 Fifth
8 Sixth
9 Seventh
10 Eighth or more
Chart 2: Parent Occupation (Roll d20)
1 Beggar/Drifter
2 Criminal
3 Peasant/Farm worker
4 Farmer/Fisherman
5 Miner/Forester
6 Sailor
7 Soldier/Mercenary
8-9 Craftsman/Skilled worker (Roll on Chart 2A)
10 Sage/Scholar/Alchemist
11 Scribe
12 Slaver
13 Adventurer
14 Actor/Bard/Courtesan
15 Government Official (Roll on Chart 2B)
16-17 Merchant (Roll on Chart 2C)
18 Clergy (Roll on Chart 2D)
19 Gentleman
20 Noble (Roll on Chart 2E)
Chart 3: Significant Events in Childhood and Adolescence (Roll d20 1-4 times)
1 Loved/protected by parents
2 Unloved/spurned by parents
3-4 Orphaned (Roll on Chart 3A)
5 Family killed by Other (Roll on Chart 3C)
6 Caused death of Relative (Roll on Chart 3B) or Other (3C)
7 Illegitimate raised by mother or by guardian (3A)
8 Apprenticed in parent's occupation
9 Apprenticed in craft of a mentor (Roll Chart 2)
10 Parent killed by Relative or Other
11 Father/mother/both outlawed (Roll Chart 3D for crime)
12 Religious experience
13 Jealous sibling/rivalry
14 Lived a nomadic life
15 Moved to the big city
16 Moved to the borderlands/wilderness
17 Run away from home or guardian
18 Learned to use a weapon
19 Religious experience (4E)/magic occurrence (4F)
20 Committed a crime (3D)
Chart 4: Significant Events in Young Adulthood (Roll 1-4 d20)
1 Religious experience (Roll Chart 4E)
2 Magic occurrence (Chart 4F)
3 Responsible for death of relative (Chart 3B)/other (3C)
4-5 Developed virtues (Chart 4C)/ vices (Chart 4D)
6-7 Conscripted/volunteered for military service (Chart 4A)
8 Romantic affair (25% chance of child)
9 Learned occupation (Chart 2)
10 Traveled abroad
11 Survived plague
12 Moved to big city
13 Moved to borderlands/wilderness
14 Sold into slavery (escaped)
15 Committed a crime (3D)
16 Home village/town wiped out by others (3C)
17 Encountered monster
18 Served wealthy patron/noble court
19 Saved life of relative (3B)/other (3C)
20 Apprenticed to mentor (2A)
Chart 2A: Craft (Roll d20)
1 Tailor
2 Fletcher/Bowyer
3 Glass Blower
4 Carpenter
5 Animal trainer/Beast master
6 Cartographer
7 Smith
8 Cobbler
9 Weaver
10 Armorer/Weaponsmith
11 Brewer/baker
12 Mason
13 Potter
14 Miller
15 Dyer
16 Shipwright
17 Jeweler
18 Artist/Sculptor
19 Musician
20 Roll twice
Chart 2B: Government Officials (Roll d8)
1-2 Tax collector
3 Sheriff/shrive
4 Forest warden
5 Magistrate
6 Town mayor
7 City mayor
8 Royal/Ducal advisor
Chart 3A: Guardians (Roll d20)
1 Wicked/cruel stepmother or father
2 Hedge Wizard/Mage
3 Monastery/Convent
4 Craftsman (Roll 2A)
5 Relative (Roll 3B)
6 Sold into slavery
7 Raised by wolves
8 Raised by apes
9 Raised by oliphants
10 Mysterious red-robed "elven" guardians
11 Centaurs/Hobgoblins/Deep Ones/ other monsters
12 Raised by mercenaries
13 Bandits/Pirates!!!
14 Nomads/barbarians
15 Dwarven indentured servants
16 Adopted by merchant (Chart 2C)
17 Adopted by clergy (Chart 2D)
18 Adopted by noble (Chart 2E)
19-20 Lived on the streets/no guardian
Chart 3B: Relatives (Roll d6)
1 Brother/Sister
2 First Cousin
3 Uncle/Aunt
4 Grandfather/mother
5 Great Uncle/aunt
6 Distant relation
Chart 4A: Military Service (Roll 1-4 d20)
1 Promoted
2 Demoted
3 Lone survivor of unit
4 Captured by enemy and tortured
5 Deserted
6 Joined mercenaries
7 Responsible for the deaths of comrades
8 Best friend killed at your side
9 Prevented the destruction of innocents
10 Spent most time in "rear echelon" non-combat (Roll Chart 4B)
11 Committed an unsanctioned crime (Chart 3D)
12 Ran away from battle
13 Displayed heroism on the battlefield
14 Learned use of exotic weapons
15 Learned siegecraft
16 Led Mutiny!!!
17 Survived disease/magical occurrence
18 Developed virtues (4C)/vices (4D)
19-20 Transferred to other service (4B)
Chart 4B: Other Service (Roll 1d12)
1 Palace guard
2 City guard/watch
3 Temple guard
4 Border militia/rangers
5 Private bodyguard
6 Engineer/sapper
7 Scouts
8 Navy
9 Shipboard marine
10 Messenger
11 Caravan guard
12 Border guard
Chart 4C: Virtues (Roll 1-4 d20)
1 Cleanliness
2 Benefactor for the poor
3 Well-mannered
4 Friendly
5 Teetotaler
6 Pious
7 Sincere/earnest
8 Quiet/good listener
9 Honest
10 Defender of the oppressed
11 Loving
12 Tolerant of all faiths
13 Self-confident
14 Hard-working
15 Humble
16 Good negotiator/diplomat
17 Hard bargainer
18 Punctual
19 Sensitive/tender
20 Gregarious
Chart 2C: Merchant (Roll d6)
1 Shopkeeper, foodstuffs
2 Shopkeeper, dry goods
3 Shopkeeper, exotic goods
4 Innkeeper
5 Local trader
6 Long-distance trader
Chart 2D: Clergy (Roll d6)
1-2 Parish/lower clergy, mainstream religion
3 Upper clergy, mainstream
4 Clergy, heretic religion
5 Pagan/Druidical
6 Elder gods
Chart 2E: Nobility (Roll d20)
1-3 Landless Knight
4-6 Knight Banneret
7-10 Knight
11-15 Baron/Landgraf
16 Count
17 Marquis/Margrave
18 Duke
19 Arch Duke/Prince
20 King
Chart 3C: Others
1 Government official (Roll 2B)
2 Friend
3 Thief
4 Wizard
5 Mentor
6 Noble (Roll 2E)
7 Raider/invader
8 Humanoid/demi-human
9 Monster
10 Lover
11 Craftsman
12 Highwayman/bandit/Pirate!!!
13 Adventurer
14 Comrade
15 Wild animal
16 Nomad
17 Religious sect member/leader
18 Mysterious stranger
19-20 Roll twice for two working together
Chart 3D: Crimes and Misdemeanors (Roll 1d20)
1-2 Theft
3 Assault
4-5 Heresy
6 Murder
7 Insulting a noble of a higher order
8 Trespassing
7 Treason
9 Tax evasion
10-11 Political dissidence
12 Harboring criminals
13 Unlawful sorcery
14 Banditry/Piracy!!!
15-16 Wrong place at the wrong time
17 Messenger of bad news
18-20 Roll twice
Chart 4D: Vices (Roll 1-4 d20)
1 Heavy drinker
2 Drug problem
3 Gambler
4 Randiness
5 Swears like a sailor
6 Duplicitous
7 Mistrustful
8 Loner
9 Pushy
10 Loud
11 Poor Hygiene
12 Loves brawling
13 Quick-tempered
14 Selfish
15 Braggart
16 Lazy
17 Greedy
18 Intolerant
19 Lacks self-confidence
20 Sacrilegious
Chart 4E: Religious Experience (Roll 1-4 d20)
1 Joined faith
2 Lost faith
3 Vision of demi-god/saint
4 Vision of deity
5 Vision of demon/elder god
6 Became lay clergy (non-spell casting)
7 Pilgrimage to holy place
8 Excommunicated
9 Persecuted for faith
10 Involved in holy war (Roll 4A)
11 Became religious hypocrite
12 Made prophetic statement
13 Discredited faith
14 Sent to religious school
15 Started own sect
16-20 Developed virtue (4C)/vice (4D)
Chart 4F: Magical Occurrence (Roll 1-4 d10)
1 Survived magical disaster
2 Witnessed summoning
3 Saw magical omens
4 Visited by witch
5 Gathered spell components for hedge wizard
6 Found magical place
7 Found arcane scrolls
8 Discovered ancient book
9 Spell cast on you
10 Learned cantrip