Roll Up a Life Path

[Dremmen]

that sure is extensive... I found this: http://www.paper-dragon.com/2026/lifepath.html
a bit less extensive, about Cyberpunk 2020 (but so generic it can be used with a slight modification for D&D)

Slight Modifications:

1.Dress and Personal Style
(this section is nearly impossible. Depending on what era you play your medieval - Dark Ages, Renaissance, the in between periods.., and what campaign world and what flavor (barbaric, oriental, arabia) this could range VERY widely, so I came up with something a bit more vague)

Conservative ( clothes appropriate for the location, not flashy )
Military ( never takes off the armor )
Provocative ( helloooo nurse! )
High Fashion ( noble / wealthy merchant )
High Seas ( aaaaargh )
Fur n Bones ( shaman n celts n visigoths oh my)
Nakkid (tattoos optional)
Smelly Rags ( free lice and flea familiars )
Blend (dresses to blend in with the crowd)
Ninja ( likes sneaky, loose fitting clothes )

2. Family Background

mostly the same..

change 4. Gypsy/Nomad/Merchant family that stayed on the move
change 8,9,10 - Knight, Noble, Royalty

well, its a start. feel free to continue or make comments or what not.

 

[LostSoul]

Personally I would just rather that the pc's wrote it without any random elements. Here's the questions I posed to my WFRP players just for this purpose-

Cool questions.

Generally, I like to choose my background as well, but rolling can be cool. It's a constraint that triggers your creativity. Sometimes it's hard to come up with something when you're staring at a blank page. (Which is probably a virtue of D&D's classes, too.)

 

[Charwoman Gene]

For your perusal...

http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/columns/chopshop28jan03.html

 

[Tauric]

roll roll roll "My parents were murdered in an alley."

... "I got bit by a spider on a field trip"

 

[Kafkonia]

There's a similar path in Mekton Zeta. I may have to bring it along next time we're starting a pick-up game.

 

[Animus]

roll roll roll "You are the lone survivor of an alien race with superior technology and the sun makes you super strong, fast, and good looking."

 

[Charwoman Gene]

roll, roll, roll Everyone you have ever known and anyone who knew them have all been killed. Every place you ever existed has been destroyed. All the people responsible for these atrocities have been permanently dealt with.

Take +10 to Saves vs. DM screwing you over with background details.

 

[Joshua Randall]

Roll, roll, roll. "I'm the last in a line of sorcerer-kings of a decadent, amoral race..."
Roll, roll, roll. "... I'm an albino? WTF?..."
Roll, roll, roll. "... my cousin wants to kill me...er, okay..."
Roll, roll, roll. "... and I have an Epic sword of life-stealing. Sweet!"

 

[Henry]

roll, roll, roll Everyone you have ever known and anyone who knew them have all been killed. Every place you ever existed has been destroyed. All the people responsible for these atrocities have been permanently dealt with.

Take +10 to Saves vs. DM screwing you over with background details.

Except when the DM reveals that you have been pegged as a pyshopathic killer by the local populace because death and destruction follow you everywhere you go.

 

[mmadsen]

Personally I would just rather that the pc's wrote it without any random elements. Here's the questions I posed to my WFRP players just for this purpose-

I think there's a place for random rolling, especially when it breaks you out of a rut. That said, here are the not-at-all random questions I asked my players to answer for my last game:

At the Gate
When the guards at the gate demand, "State your name and your business, traveler," what does your character say?

Background
Is he a barbarian, a farmer, a hunter, a noble, a nomad, a mercenary, a thief?

Kicker
What suddenly sent him off adventuring? Is he running away from something?

Description
Is your character short, tall, stout, lanky, loud, quiet? How is he dressed?

Equipment
What possessions is he carrying? Describe one possession he's proud of and one he's not.

Rumors
People talk about each other in the drinking hall. List three rumors about your character -- at least one true, one false.

Secret
What doesn't he want everyone else to know?​