Character Background Generator - Revision history

Bennettj at 11:29, 21 April 2026

2026-04-21T11:29:17Z

Tao alexis: /* Progenitors */

2025-03-27T16:51:32Z

Progenitors

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Tao alexis at 17:31, 19 March 2025

2025-03-19T17:31:16Z

Tao alexis at 17:26, 19 March 2025

2025-03-19T17:26:15Z

Tao alexis at 17:22, 19 March 2025

2025-03-19T17:22:39Z

Tao alexis at 16:01, 12 March 2025

2025-03-12T16:01:31Z

Tao alexis: /* Height & Weight */

2024-05-30T18:03:19Z

Height & Weight

Tao alexis: /* Predispositions & Shortcomings */

2024-01-27T00:18:15Z

Predispositions & Shortcomings

Tao alexis: /* Institution Subtable */

2024-01-27T00:01:36Z

Institution Subtable

Tao alexis at 23:25, 29 October 2023

2023-10-29T23:25:01Z

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 ! style="width: 35px|Roll !! style="width: 245px"|Damage or<br>Disability !! style="width: 35px|Roll !! style="width: 245px"|Damage or<br>Disability
 |-
-| 01-45 || style="border-right:solid 2px black|Fierce scar upon the face or neck; -1 to charisma checks || 88-90 || Blinded in one eye; affects ranged weapons, surprised 4 in 6 from bad side
+| 01-45 || style="border-right:solid 2px black|Fierce scar upon the face or neck; -1 to [[Ability Checks|charisma checks]] || 88-90 || Blinded in one eye; affects ranged weapons, surprised 4 in 6 from bad side
 |-
 | 46-58 || style="border-right:solid 2px black|Accident has left the character with a permanent limp; -1 stride || 91-96 || Severe burn on one side of body; -2 to charisma checks
 |-
-| 59-72 || style="border-right:solid 2px black|Loss of [1-3] toes; -1 to dexterity checks related to balance || 97 || Missing right or left hand; cannot use two-handed weapon; can opt for hook-hand as a proficiency
+| 59-72 || style="border-right:solid 2px black|Loss of [1-3] toes; -1 to [[Ability Checks|dexterity checks]] related to balance || 97 || Missing right or left hand; cannot use two-handed weapon; can opt for hook-hand as a proficiency
 |-
 | 73-79 || style="border-right:solid 2px black|Loss of one finger; -1 to weapons used with that hand || 98 || Full loss of right or left arm; cannot use two-handed weapon or weapon & shield
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 * '''Diligence in study''' (result -17): the title granted is of the professional sort, so this varies considerably with regards to the character's class.  '''Assassins''' and '''thieves''' are "guildsmen" and "guildswomen."  '''Bards''' are "collegiates."  '''Clerics''' are "deacon," "father" or "mother," or possibly "master" in some religions.  '''Druids''' are made a "member of the order," usually related to a tribe, plant or animal.  '''Fighters''' are a "master-at-arms," even if they have no special fighting skills.  '''Illusionists''' become a "professor," either of science or art, as the character wishes.  '''Mages''' adopt the distinction of a "doctor of magic."  A '''monk''' is a "master" or "guru," depending on the culture.  '''Paladins''' become a "knight errant," which distinguishes him or her from those having a noble title; "errant" presumes the character is searching for this.  '''Rangers''' receive the title of "curator," as an overseer or guardian of the natural environment.
-:: Each title carries weight among members of the character's class and as a form of introduction to notable strangers, who are more apt to trust a character with such a title.  In circumstances where trusting in the character's word prior to an adventure matters, the character receives a +2 bonus to charisma checks, supported by the character's 18 intelligence.  This result cannot be achieved otherwise.
+:: Each title carries weight among members of the character's class and as a form of introduction to notable strangers, who are more apt to trust a character with such a title.  In circumstances where trusting in the character's word prior to an adventure matters, the character receives a +2 bonus to [[Ability Checks|charisma checks]], supported by the character's 18 intelligence.  This result cannot be achieved otherwise.
 == Talents ==
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 : For game purposes, each of these impediments have no effect on the character's charisma.  It's assumed that in the game world, such habits are much more common than might be imagined, in fact occurring in about 1 in 20 persons — and are therefore not less compromising than the presence would be to a present-day observer.
-* '''Forgetful''' (results +2 to +1): whenever the character heads out from a location, he or she must make an intelligence check 1-8 hours after leaving.  If the check fails, it'll be discovered that the character has left 1 random item behind, having failed to pack them — even though at the time they'd intended to do so.  These items cannot be the character's main clothing, nor body armour, nor items that would normally not be unpacked when camping for the night or resting at an inn.  It would include the character's carried weapons, helmet, cap, gloves, belt pouch, a full sack, items of jewelry, magic items that might have been handled during the last stay (such as wands, rods or staves), a quiver, book, pole, cup, plate, cutlery, drinking flask, musical instrument and other items of this nature.  Most often it should be something incidental and easily replaceable, but it's conceivable the character could have left their magic sword on the bed, or might even have left their dog chained to a stile somewhere.
+* '''Forgetful''' (results +2 to +1): whenever the character heads out from a location, he or she must make an [[Ability Checks|intelligence check]] 1-8 hours after leaving.  If the check fails, it'll be discovered that the character has left 1 random item behind, having failed to pack them — even though at the time they'd intended to do so.  These items cannot be the character's main clothing, nor body armour, nor items that would normally not be unpacked when camping for the night or resting at an inn.  It would include the character's carried weapons, helmet, cap, gloves, belt pouch, a full sack, items of jewelry, magic items that might have been handled during the last stay (such as wands, rods or staves), a quiver, book, pole, cup, plate, cutlery, drinking flask, musical instrument and other items of this nature.  Most often it should be something incidental and easily replaceable, but it's conceivable the character could have left their magic sword on the bed, or might even have left their dog chained to a stile somewhere.
-: Other characters in the party may take it upon themselves to help keep track of such items, although this must be limited to one designated person in the party that attends to this responsibility.  He or she then rolls a wisdom check if an item is forgotten, effectively retconning the incident with the protecting character saying, "Oh, you forgot this."  If both checks fail, the item is truly left behind.  Obviously, the wisest person in the party should be the designated attendant.  If the item is forgotten and the character goes back, there is an 80% chance that the item can be easily recovered, even if it's magical.  Otherwise, it's disappearance may be overlooked or it may begin a minor quest to restore its possession to the character.
+: Other characters in the party may take it upon themselves to help keep track of such items, although this must be limited to one designated person in the party that attends to this responsibility.  He or she then rolls a [[Ability Checks|wisdom check]] if an item is forgotten, effectively retconning the incident with the protecting character saying, "Oh, you forgot this."  If both checks fail, the item is truly left behind.  Obviously, the wisest person in the party should be the designated attendant.  If the item is forgotten and the character goes back, there is an 80% chance that the item can be easily recovered, even if it's magical.  Otherwise, it's disappearance may be overlooked or it may begin a minor quest to restore its possession to the character.
 : Because of the character's nature, forgetting something and recovering it has no effect on the character's resolve not to forget it in the future.
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 | +8 || style="text-align: left"|Character is so possessed with belief in the occult and necromancy that, if cursed or magically imprisoned, nothing less than an exorcism spell can restore his or her sensibilities
 |-
-| +7 || style="text-align: left"|Being overly cautious, before entering a combat situation, or casting a spell against an enemy, the character must make a wisdom check first; this check may be repeated, with a +3 cumulative bonus each round
+| +7 || style="text-align: left"|Being overly cautious, before entering a combat situation, or casting a spell against an enemy, the character must make a [[Ability Checks|wisdom check]] first; this check may be repeated, with a +3 cumulative bonus each round
 |-
 | +6 to +5 || style="text-align: left"|If an individual with 12 or greater charisma, who matches the character's sexual preference, attempts to seduce the character, the character must make a wisdom check with a -2 penalty to resist the attempt

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 * '''[[Artillerist (profession)|Artillerist]]''': character has familiarity with loading and firing siege engines; effectively, has a "weapons proficiency" in it.  Has experience in at least one protracted siege; can act as a member of a battery; has no special skills for commanding one.  The small ballista in the character's possession is located on a friend's rural property near the character's entry into the campaign.
-* '''[[Boathandler (profession)|Boathandler]]''': has skill as steering small and large river boats, as well as a barge, down river courses within the kingdom where the character joins the campaign.  Very much at ease on water.  Long boat has single stepped mast, 18 ft. long, 6 ft. beam, carries 2 tons, 9 in. draft.  Is docked at nearest docking post/dock/quay to the character upon entry into campaign.
+* '''[[Boathandler (profession)|Boathandler]]''': has skill as steering small and large river boats, as well as a barge, down river courses within the kingdom where the character joins the campaign.  Very much at ease on water.  Long boat has single stepped mast, 18 ft. long, 6 ft. beam, carries 2 tons, 9 in. draft.  Is docked at nearest [[Docking Post|docking post]] or [[Quay|quay]] to the character upon entry into campaign.
 * '''[[Carpenter (profession)|Carpenter]]''': character is able to construct or demolish wholly wooden structures with amateur proficiency, having spent at least two years on various sites and participating in numerous builds.  Wooden house's location is 2-5 miles from nearest large settlement, depending on where the character enters the game.  Includes one acre of land; finished with wooden/earth foundation, no furnishings.

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 * '''Excommunication''' (result +8): while the character was raised in the local religion of his or her birth country, actions taken and mistakes made have led the character to be denied the privilege of taking part in the organised rituals of that faith.  A [[Sigil|sigil]] has been placed on the character that makes it possible for any leader of that religion to recognise the excommunication.  The character can, if wished, choose another religion; or he or she can restore their privileges by participating in an "act of faith," which requires a sacrifice of a quest — the exact nature of which is left up to the non-player priest whom the character must apply for restoration to the faith.  Circumstances are dependent on which religion has excommunicated the character.
-* '''Pregnancy''' (result +7): however unintentional, the character has been involved with creating a baby that's [4-9] months along at the time of the character's entry into the campaign.  If the character is male, the mother is located in the nearest hamlet or village; the father knows the mother's name and knows of the pregnancy but has not made any declarations to marry.  As such, he's not exactly welcome to those of the woman's family who may or may not know of the pregnancy.  If the baby is more than 5 months along, then they certainly know; otherwise, there's a 70% chance they know if it's the pregnancy is in the 5th month and 25% if it's in the 4th.  The choice of what the father is to do is left up to the player.
+* '''Pregnancy''' (result +7): however unintentional, the character has been involved with creating a baby that's [4-9] months along at the time of the character's entry into the campaign.  If the character is male, the mother is located in the nearest [[Hamlet|hamlet]] or [[Village|village]]; the father knows the mother's name and knows of the pregnancy but has not made any declarations to marry.  As such, he's not exactly welcome to those of the woman's family who may or may not know of the pregnancy.  If the baby is more than 5 months along, then they certainly know; otherwise, there's a 70% chance they know if it's the pregnancy is in the 5th month and 25% if it's in the 4th.  The choice of what the father is to do is left up to the player.
 :: If the character is a woman, then it's she whose pregnant at the start of the campaign.  She knows who the father is but has no expectations that there will be a declaration of marriage.  It is up to the character to confront the father or decide to bear the child alone.

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 | 32-78 || style="text-align: left"|Town street inn: 3-story half-timbered house; [1-4] generations; [5-8] rooms; laundry, stable & open air paddock; travellers, tradespeople & merchants || 150 g.p.
 |-
-| 79-92 || style="text-align: left"|Village hostel: 1-story sprawling common house, room for tents; no services; travellers & soldiers || 40 g.p.
+| 79-92 || style="text-align: left"|Village [[Hostel|hostel]]: 1-story sprawling common house, room for tents; no services; travellers & soldiers || 40 g.p.
 |-
-| 93-00 || style="text-align: left"|Way station: large outer yard for wagons & tents; [1-3] generations; barn, kitchen house; travellers || 25 g.p.
+| 93-00 || style="text-align: left"|[[Way Station|Way station]]: large outer yard for wagons & tents; [1-3] generations; barn, kitchen house; travellers || 25 g.p.
 |-
 | colspan="3"; style="text-align: left"|†<small>''numbers are approximate''</small>

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 :: If the character is a woman, then it's she whose pregnant at the start of the campaign.  She knows who the father is but has no expectations that there will be a declaration of marriage.  It is up to the character to confront the father or decide to bear the child alone.
-:: Unless the character is in the 9th month of pregnancy, nothing about the character's abilities is affected.  In the last month, she suffers a -1 penalty to hit and -1 to all healing she receives.  In the last two weeks, these adjustments are doubled to -2.  If at any time the mother is [[Wounds|wounded]], then there is a 1 in 20 chance that she will miscarry.  Upon giving birth, the mother must make a [[Constitution (ability stat)|system shock survival roll]] according to her constitution, or die during the event.  There is a 1 in 6 chance that the baby won't survive.  There are means by which the character is able to abort the fetus, but the particulars are left up to the innovation of the character.  Any attempt to abort will require a system shock roll with a -2 penalty to the character's constitution.  Failure to succeed in this roll, just as in giving birth, will kill the character as well as the baby.
+:: Unless the character is in the 9th month of pregnancy, nothing about the character's abilities is affected.  In the last month, she suffers a -1 penalty to hit and -1 to all healing she receives.  In the last two weeks, these adjustments are doubled to -2.  If at any time the mother is [[Wound|wounded]], then there is a 1 in 20 chance that she will miscarry.  Upon giving birth, the mother must make a [[Constitution (ability stat)|system shock survival roll]] according to her constitution, or die during the event.  There is a 1 in 6 chance that the baby won't survive.  There are means by which the character is able to abort the fetus, but the particulars are left up to the innovation of the character.  Any attempt to abort will require a system shock roll with a -2 penalty to the character's constitution.  Failure to succeed in this roll, just as in giving birth, will kill the character as well as the baby.
 * '''Trust and generosity''' (result +6): while the character has diligently maintained his or her studies and duties, the character's family members have not; this has caused relatives, fellow mates and other acquaintances to winnow away the character's gold, a choice the character has allowed to continue until entering the campaign.  As such, the character only has 2d4 x10% of their rolled starting capital when entering the campaign.  As it stands, the character has been paying 3 g.p. per month to maintain his or her relations and associates; this can stop now that the character has joined the party, or it can continue as the character wishes.

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 All must start somewhere, so we might as well learn how tall the character stands and how much he or she weighs.
-'''Weight''' describes the character's mass in imperial pound units.  Metric is not used because it's a late 18th-century creation ... and therefore anachronistic to the context of a Medieval or Renaissance fantasy realm.  Yes, other anachronistic things are embraced by the Generator, but it's believed that understanding the unpleasantnesxs of using imperial units can act to help player's understand the mindset of people in the game setting.  Imagine what it must have been like for people long ago, who had no choice in how to measure things.
+'''Weight''' describes the character's mass in imperial pound units.  Metric is not used because it's a late 18th-century creation ... and therefore anachronistic to the context of a Medieval or Renaissance fantasy realm.  Yes, other anachronistic things are embraced by the Generator, but it's believed that understanding the unpleasantnesxs of using imperial units can act to help player's understand the mindset of people in the game setting.  Imagine what it must have been like for people long ago, who had no choice in how to measure things.  Additional weight, if it exists, may be lost according to rules associated with kicking an [[Addiction (malady)|addiction]], but the weight loss will have no special effect upon the character’s strength or [[Constitution (ability stat)|constitution]] [at this time, as rules for this do not exist].
 Height is measured in feet and inches.  This describes the distance between the ball of the foot to the top of the character's head, when the individual is standing erect.  This is a factor in the character's reach, as well as the character's ability to employ certain weapons.  The practical length of a [[Pike (weapon)|pike]], for instance, is three times the character's height.  A [[Pole-arm (weapon)|pole-arm]], [[Spear (weapon)|spear]] or [[Javelin (weapon)|javelin]] can be up to 1½ times a person's height.  Most other weapons cannot be longer than a character is tall.
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 |}
-The heights and weights obtained from the tables are subject to alteration by other rolls produced elsewhere in the Generator.  Thus, the above should be viewed as ''base numbers'' only.  Weight has a higher likelihood of being altered than does height, due to [[Addiction (malady)|addiction]], [[Gluttony|gluttony]], the qualities of being robust ... or if the character has wasted away due to a hard life.  Otherwise, if not altered, the numbers describe the character in the peak of condition.
+The heights and weights obtained from these tables are subject to alteration by other rolls produced elsewhere in the Generator.  Thus, the above should be viewed as ''base numbers'' only.  Weight has a higher likelihood of being altered than does height, due to [[Addiction (malady)|addiction]], [[Gluttony|gluttony]], the qualities of being robust ... or if the character has wasted away due to a hard life.  Otherwise, if not altered, the numbers describe the character in the peak of condition.
 During play, participants tend to skip over height and weight in their imaginations.  While understandable, as getting past our self-perception and those of the other players can be a stretch, the DM should counsel the players towards truly embracing the character's real semblance.  Artworks can help, if any player has that talent, as can repeating the character's gender and size as often as possible, until it's clear everyone around the table – including the DM – has a firm image of how the party looks to others.

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 | -3 || style="text-align: left"|Character begins the game with bonus experience equal to 10% of the amount needed to reach 2nd level
 |-
-| -4 to -5 || style="text-align: left"|Character receives a 10% bonus to all experience received, regardless of his or her ability stats
+| -4 to -5 || style="text-align: left"|Character receives a 10% bonus to all experience received, regardless of his or her ability stats; if the character already benefits from this, increase bonus to +12%.
 |-
 | -6 || style="text-align: left"|Character cannot become addicted to any substance without actively wishing to do so

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 * '''Performing troupe''': a fun and exciting life for a young future bard, full of helping to move and walk long distances beside wagons on their way to the next town ... but also opportunities to act on stage, walk through strange places shouting out the arrival of the troupe to outsiders, handling money and watching the players and performers hone their craft.  Many heartbreaking moments also, as a performer in a troupe can lose heart.  Such bards use what skills they can find in these places to audition their way into a college or guild to receive their formal training.
-* '''Shipboard''': life aboard ship includes many dangerous, unique ideas for the character to discover as a child, but it's hard, repetitive work also.  Decks must be scrubbed white, while learning to walk out on a mast or spar in a storm is also part of the character's education.  More than one lost friend, fellow child or adult alike, is remembered though they are long gone.  Shipboard also allows for long periods ashore, where a fellow seaman may take time to teach an assassin, fighter, ranger or thief a wide variety of secondary abilities.  Formal training is usually made possible by a long voyage at sea, where years of income are accumulated and paid out in a single day.
+* '''Shipboard''': life aboard ship includes many dangerous, unique ideas for the character to discover as a child, but it's hard, repetitive work also.  Decks must be scrubbed white, while learning to walk out on a mast or spar in a storm is also part of the character's education.  More than one lost friend, fellow child or adult alike, is remembered though they are long gone.  Shipboard also allows for long periods ashore, where a fellow seaman may take time to teach an assassin, fighter, ranger or thief a wide variety of secondary abilities.  Formal training is usually made possible by a long voyage at sea, where years of income are accumulated and paid out in a single day.  +1-4 pts. [[Sailing (sage ability)|sailing]] knowledge.
 * '''Whorehouse''': the most lurid of places where the assassin or thief character might spend their childhood.  Suffice to say that the duties may be of a kind that the character would never speak of, be they man or woman.  Certainly bathing the artists, cleaning, acting as servants and perpetually cleaning after the worst sort of visitors would make for unpleasant memories.  More likely as not, the character stole what they needed to get out and be long gone from such a place — though they could never admit it.

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 All sage abilities and studies have 10 pts. of knowledge; studies permit the possession of all amateur abilities therein.  Each ability or whole study increases at d4-1 (0-3) per level, unless superseded by the character's class.  These abilities/studies are possessed regardless of class.  Further notes on the constitution source table are as follows:
-* '''[[Alchemist's apprentice]]''': unlike the "alchemist" progenitor found under intelligence, the character's progenitor never achieved even an amateur knowledge of the study.  The character can perform a few skills, as given.  Years of cleaning and serving in laboratories has quickened the character's reaction time to acid, electricity and poison, so that he or she subtracts 1 point of damage from attacks of those kinds.
+* '''[[Alchemist's Apprentice (profession)|Alchemist's apprentice]]''': unlike the "alchemist" progenitor found under intelligence, the character's progenitor never achieved even an amateur knowledge of the study.  The character can perform a few skills, as given.  Years of cleaning and serving in laboratories has quickened the character's reaction time to acid, electricity and poison, so that he or she subtracts 1 point of damage from attacks of those kinds.
 * '''[[Armourer (profession)|Armourer]]''': character is an amateur maker of leather and metal non-magical armour, having spent 18 months learning the craft.  The character's present suit of armour is self-made and is considered a bonus over and above the character's starting capital — this is true whether or not the character is of a class permitted to wear armour.  The character may choose any armour type, and may adjust it for another character.  This requires only tongs and hammer, at a cost of one day per 10 lbs. weight difference plus one day per 1 in. height difference.  A smithy is required to make armour from scratch.  The character is assumed to be maintaining the party's armour continuously.