Common Commomers

[Xeriar]

[nerd]
I also rule that elves and other long lived races gain less after they get to be around a 100 because their nerve cells can heal better than a human's (our brains only get worse, we never repair neural tissue). The advantage is that elves have longer lives, but they tend to be more "forgetful" because the neurons that handled the information are no longer there. So after a hundred years their exp gain slows down to 20/year because they have to take time to re-remember the stuff they already learned.
[/nerd]

As has been mentioned, humans are constantly rewiring their brains. It's a use it or lose it muscle.

90% of the cells in your brain are not 'brain' cells, but rather support cells that digest dead neurons and perform other support functions for the brain (Yes, that means there are over a trillion cells up there .

Granted, we don't have the continued cell stimulation rate a bird does, but then again, no mammal does.

 

[nyrfherdr]

- alsi2ho - Nicely done

Here's one:
Elwood Pontivechio

Tinker. Elwood travels the region in his wooden wagon drawn by two mules. His wagon jingles, clanks and bangs because of all of the pots, pans, ladles and other items he crafts and sells hanging from hooks and wires letting everyone know he is on the way.

He is well known to all as a story teller and prankster, but always manages to have the right size pan for your cook fire, that long handled ladle or a perfectly balanced knife. He also knows a bit about recent events from his last stop and the dangers on the road ahead.

He has been robbed countless times, beaten, stabbed and was once captured by Trolls and tied to a spit for their dinner. Luckily a group of wandering heroes saved him. He will sometimes give heroes a discount on their purchase in memory of being saved, but just as often regale the buyer with the tale adding hours to the deal.

Expert 3
Craft (metalsmith) +8, Knowledge (Local) +3, Perform +3

 

[Jarval]

Corporal Hal Vinland

Hal was born to a farming family in a rural backwater. While happy during his childhood, he quickly bored of his work as a farmhand. On reaching the age of 17, he left home to seek his fortune in the cities. Only an hour after arriving there, two muggers attempted to rob what they saw as an easy mark. However, they had not reckoned with Hal's strength. After a quick brawl, Hal handed the two miscreants over to the city watch, who where quick to offer him a job.

Hal has become much more street wise in the intervening year, and has been promoted for his efforts. He is ambitious and hard working, but has started to gather enemies in the criminal underworld.

He's taken in a few too may military phrases, which he uses when ever the oppitunity presents itself. Half the time, even the rest of the watch can't understand what he's talking about...

Warrior Level 2

Skills: Diplomacy +2 (cc), Gather Information +2 (cc), Handle Animal +2, Intimidate +3, Knowledge (Tactics) +1 (cc).

Feats: Alertness, Weapon Focus (short sword).

 

[Vaxalon]

By the book, commoners gain XP like everyone else. E.G: killin' stuff!

By the book, commoners gain XP like everyone else. EG: Overcoming challenges!

For a commoner, getting the family fed can be a challenge. An encounter with a snotty nobleman can be a life-threatening challenge.

 

[Darkness]

This subject came up a couple of months ago which lead me to write This Thread in the Rogues Gallery Forum

Where this thread belongs, too.

Moved.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Okay, "Overcoming Challenges...."

A commoner in the normal fantasy world doesn't have many challenges in getting food on the table, etc. They've got a local druid to help 'em out, and a brace of paladins to defend their stash.

"Oh ehlonna, Bless my fields so that they may grow ripe!"

...works every time.

I'm not saying the over-time method isn't valid, I'm just saying it isn't standard and tends to make some pretty potent nobodies. It's cool in the right circumstances, but I prefer my heroes to be *really* heroic. It makes those low levels seem so important when they can do something like kill 3 orcs single-handedly when your average farm boy couldn't do likewise.

But to each their own.

 

[Mythmere]

I've got a set of 37 stat blocks for people like alchemists, villagers, herdsmen, etc. It might be too long to post here, but it is on my website. Here is a link to the relevant index, click on "Folks of Folklore." The link: http://mythmere.tripod.com/Resources.html The home page is at http://mythmere.tripod.com/index.html . These are only stats, but I find it easy and fun to do personalities, tedious to do the stat blocks.

 

[Mythmere]

Oops. The above link only takes you to the resources page. You need to click on the NPC Gallery, THEN on Folks of Folklore. There are city guards in the NPC Gallery, too, which fits this thread.