Does anyone use age?

[lordxaviar]

I have always used age, well from 2ed on when it was listed in the DMG and I stumbled upon it. I found in 3.5 that some ages were missing, those of the NPC classes, I have taken care of this. Comments?

Having converted lots of pre-generated characters to useable ones I had come across a missing point in the PHG and the DMG. They didn’t give starting ages for the NPC classes. Simple oversight which I worked out. I based the adept on cleric but made it harder, because they would not necessarily have a proper instruction or none at all, the expert would have to spend time as an apprentice so I felt it was more like a wizard, the warrior between the barbarian and the fighter again not quite as structured as a full fighter but not as loose as the barbarian or rogue. and the commoner at the bottom rung being just everyone else.. Let me know what you think going to do this column by column as the forum hates tables,,

Race
Human
Dwarf
Elf
Gnome
Half-elf
Half-orc
Halfling

 

[lordxaviar]

Adulthood
15 years
40 years
110 years
40 years
20 years
14 years
20 years

 

[lordxaviar]

Adept

+3d4
+(7d6+4)
+(10d6+5)
+(7d6+8)
+5d4
+(4d3+1)
+6d4

 

[lordxaviar]

Aristocrat
+1d4
+(1d20-3)
+(2d12-1)
+(1d20+5)
+1d6
+(1d4+2)
+(3d3-2)

 

[lordxaviar]

Commoner
+(1d4-1)
+(1d20-4)
+(2d12-2)
+(1d20+4)
+(1d6-1)
+(1d4+1)
+(3d3-2)

 

[lordxaviar]

Expert
+4d3
+(11d4)
+15d4
+(10d4)
+6d3
+3d6
+5d4

 

[lordxaviar]

Warrior
+(1d4+1)
+(3d6+2)
+(4d6+3)
+(3d6+4)
+(3d3+1)
+(1d4-2)
+4d4

 

[ValhallaGH]

So, it takes longer to learn how to be an (almost) useless NPC class than it takes to learn to be a hero.

That strikes me as really, really odd. Especially the assumption that Adepts learn their trade on their own; Adepts are those divine casters that aren't cool enough to take levels in Cleric or Druid, the students that only partially succeeded. They learn to call down miracles but they aren't as capable as the holy warriors (Clerics) or champions of the wild (druids), hence their vastly inferior class. The students that failed to cast are Experts, skilled and knowledgeable in the mundane tasks but unable to call down miracles. The total failures are Commoners, who can only do one or two basic tasks around the temple(s).


I understand having random ages, but I don't know any DMs that use them for NPCs. They just say "this guy is 22. This elf is 157."

 

[lordxaviar]

you didnt read adept.. its mainly tribal spell casters, it might also cover wiccan types, mother earth worshipers... none deity type religions this is why I did what i did, with no instruction, it would take longer I based the NPC ages on the others. I dont understand your break down.. Commoners are farmers and laborers... not temple slaves, Experts are tradesmen and guildmembers. you have a very odd break down of the common people..

It doesnt all work off the church... well it might in your world which is fine,, but I dont understand you commments except for the end

My world grows,, I use the years as written, times change NPC's age and change and die as well as characters... Sorry if my world (well I use greyhawk, so EGG's world) isnt timeless, IM used to having 8 well read DMs as players and we added the reality aspect to it as much as possible, even animal ages, births deaths etc. Hell we even had Weather based on yearly models of US weather. A bit carried away? Yes but makes for additional variables for the bunch of Mensa maniacs I have always played with.

now I dont mean to sound condescending its hard not to in just words... I like that everyone has there own world own rules... etc... I try to stick to the ones that are in the books ( as much as they make sense - Dam hasbro). You can use whatever you wish and or not, your choice. I was looking for constructive comments about my breakdowns, I have posted lots of lists with various flaws, looking for input.

 

[ValhallaGH]

you have a very odd break down of the common people..

Really? I thought it was just flavor text. Mine was influenced by the Eberron campaign setting.
98 out of 100 NPCs have NPC classes, including the temple clergy of major gods. Most priests have the Expert class (class skills including diplomacy, perform oratory, knowledge religion, and so forth), with the miraculous ones having Adept. The janitors, acolytes, and other minor employees (not slaves) of the major temples have levels in Commoner (usually a profession skill and maybe a craft).
The only guys rocking levels in Cleric are Major Heroes of the faith; these guys have been blessed with combat skill, very powerful miracles, two good saving throws, the ability to banish undead, and domain abilities; the gods obviously love the few champions they empower to be Clerics.

And that's just one example of how and where an NPC could learn his trade(s). Not all Experts are merchants and artisans, not all Commoners are farmers, not all priests are Clerics, and not all Adepts are self-trained hermits and witchdoctors.


Which is where my constructive input comes into play. I'm trying to say that your assumptions, when you made these random age tables, are questionable and should be reexamined.


The following times are for humans. They may need to be expanded for the other common races.

Warrior is for simple, straightforward, unsubtle combatants. Town guards, local thugs and bullies, and even regular people that have learned to defend themselves. That sounds like 1d3 years of training to me, kind of like army training in the real world (basic training is generally a few months, plus specialty training that ranges from a couple of months to a couple of years, before you're considered fully trained).

Expert represents any skilled professional, including craft folk. Highly skilled professionals of all non-combat types. Sounds like 2d6 years of training (2 to 12, generally around 7, about like going to college in the United States).

Commoner is for low-skilled professionals and simple laborers with no combat skill. In a setting with universal education, they'd be drop-outs. They still have some skills, but they're likely to be diversified rather than focused on one task. Probably 1d2 years.

Aristocrats learn their trade from birth. They're ready to see the world by the time of their majority, which is usually between 15 and 18 for humans. 1d4-1 years.

Adepts are the products of lesser magical traditions. Maybe they aren't talented enough to learn the secrets of being a druid or cleric; maybe their instructions are so rudimentary that they can't learn the advanced ways of a PC class. Regardless, they can still perform miracles on demand, which has to be difficult to learn. Sounds like 2d6, as the Cleric / Druid / Wizard.


Is that clearer?