Difference between revisions of "Aging"

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When [[Player Characters|player characters]] are [[Character Generation|generated]], it is necessary to establish the character's age.  I usually do this with my [[Character Background Generator|character background generator]], but in case I have to do it manually, and so that players understand the formulas for calculating age, I include the table shown on the right.
 
When [[Player Characters|player characters]] are [[Character Generation|generated]], it is necessary to establish the character's age.  I usually do this with my [[Character Background Generator|character background generator]], but in case I have to do it manually, and so that players understand the formulas for calculating age, I include the table shown on the right.
  
My game does not recognize the extended lifespans that are given to non-human characters in AD&D, so all character races are adjusted to fit the traditional human lifespan.
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My game does not recognize the extended lifespans that are given to non-human characters in AD&D, so all character races are adjusted to fit the traditional human lifespan.  The translation from AD&D has resulted in some characters being unusually old (dwarf and gnome clerics) or somewhat young (elven assassins and thieves).  I consider that this disparity depicts a cultural prejudice against training individuals until they have reached a certain age, or the speed with which training can be mastered by one race as opposed to another.

Revision as of 18:44, 18 July 2020

Class Dwarf Elf Gnome Half-elf Halfling Half-orc Human
Starting Age for Character Classes by Race
Assassin 27+1d4 14+2d4 20+1d4 16+2d4 NA 37+1d6 20+1d4
Bard NA NA NA 33+1d4 NA NA 25+1d4
Cleric 57+2d4 38+1d8 48+1d10 28+1d6 NA 30+1d6 20+1d4
Druid NA NA NA 30+1d6 36+1d8 NA 22+1d4
Fighter 16+1d4 15+1d4 15+1d4 18+1d4 17+1d4 25+1d6 14+1d4
Illusionist NA NA 21+2d6 NA NA NA 29+2d8
Mage NA 22+2d4 NA 23+2d6 NA NA 24+2d8
Monk NA NA NA NA NA NA 23+1d4
Paladin NA NA NA NA NA NA 19+1d4
Ranger NA 18+1d4 NA 21+1d4 NA NA 17+1d4
Thief 25+1d4 12+2d4 18+1d4 14+2d4 29+1d6 35+1d6 18+1d4

When player characters are generated, it is necessary to establish the character's age. I usually do this with my character background generator, but in case I have to do it manually, and so that players understand the formulas for calculating age, I include the table shown on the right.

My game does not recognize the extended lifespans that are given to non-human characters in AD&D, so all character races are adjusted to fit the traditional human lifespan. The translation from AD&D has resulted in some characters being unusually old (dwarf and gnome clerics) or somewhat young (elven assassins and thieves). I consider that this disparity depicts a cultural prejudice against training individuals until they have reached a certain age, or the speed with which training can be mastered by one race as opposed to another.