Revised Character Background Generator

Having received a number of helpful bits of feedback from members of our friendly online "old school" community, I'm posting a "final" version of the background generator up here on the blog (my tinkering energy running out of steam and all). Thanks one and all who gave me their two cents--or more--worth.

Game masters are heartily encouraged to modify any and all the charts to their heart's desire. The published ones reflect the vaguely Germanic/Slavic renaissance-era setting of my own Hill Cantons campaign, homebrew your own results—especially the crunchy background ones--to fit the tone, feel, and spirit of their own campaign.

Quickie Character Background Generator

To determine your character's background, roll the following charts in order from Chart 1 to Chart 4. Consult sub-tables as directed. If a result shows more than one result (such as “Peasant/Farmworker”), pick one choice--or roll a die to determine the exact result.

Characters starting over first level get an extra roll on Chart 4 for each two levels past the first. (Thus a third level character gets one extra roll, a fifth level one receives two extra.) If the GM approves, players are assumed to have suitably corresponding skills from Basic Fantasy RPG's Backgrounds and Specialties Supplement if an apprenticeship, occupation, or other appropriate event rolled allows for it. Example: Evaro the Elf rolls that he “learned occupation: sailor”. He is now assumed to have “Seafarer” skills.

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 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 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/Earl

18 Duke/Hetman

19 Arch Duke/Prince

20 King

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 weapon usage

19 Religious experience (4E)/magic occurrence (4F)

20 Committed a crime (3D)

Chart 3A: Guardians (Roll d20)

1 Wicked/cruel stepmother or father

2 Hedge Wizard/Mage

3 Monastery/Convent

4 Craftworker (Roll 2A)

5 Relative (Roll 3B)

6 Sold into slavery

7 Raised by wolves

8 Adventurer

9 Dwarven indentured servants

10 Mysterious red-robed “elven” guardians

11 Centaurs/Hobgoblins/Deep Ones/ other monsters

12 Raised by mercenaries/landsknechts

13 Bandits/pirates

14 Nomads/cossacks/barbarians

15 Adopted by merchant (Chart 2C)

16 Adopted by clery (Chart 2D)

17 Adopted by noble (Chart 2E)

18-20 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 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

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 4: Significant Events in Young Adulthood (Roll 1-4 d20)

1 Learned to disrespect/respect authority.

2 Religious experience (Roll Chart 4E)/ 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 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/landsknechts

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 seigecraft

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 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