Starting Occupations for D&D

[Kobold Avenger]

I'm planning on using starting occupations from D20 Modern, for my 19th century based D&D game. I ran over a bunch of the D20 Modern occupations to see which ones would be relevant, and most of them are.

However many of them need some more period appropriate names, and there's some possible need for some new occupations. The few I can think of is Slave, Acolyte and possibly Apprentice (though other occupations might overlap that).

 

[Dogbrain]

Soldier: Fine as is
Martial Artist: Pugilist (yes, there were highly-skilled martial artists in 19th-century Europe and the USA—some of whom had studied the newly popular Japanese arts, some of whom studied the European “manly arts of defence”, and some of whom studied or invented fusion styles. A Swiss Maitre d’Armes created a very effective fusion of Jujutsu and Savate, for example.
Gunslinger: Shootist (yes, that was the historical term)
Infiltrator: Spy
Daredevil: Dare Devil (two words in a lot of 19th-century writing)
Bodyguard: Fine as is
Field Scientist: Scientific Traveler
Techie: Engineer
Field Medic: Combat Physician
Investigator: Fine as is or use “Consulting Detective”
Personality: Beau or Belle
Negotiator: Mediator (or use the French for “Mediator”)
Shadow Slayer: Mystical Hunter
Occultist: Scholar of the Occult
Telepath: Sensitive
Battle Mind: Mystical Pugilist (distinction between “psionic” and “magic” was invented in the 20th century)
Mage: Mystic
Acolyte: Clergyman (or if female, usually simply called “Sister”, even if not Catholic)

 

[AeroDm]

Dogbrain did a pretty good job, but what was your plan for changing wealth scores into gp? or did you plan to use the wealth system?

 

[Kobold Avenger]

I plan on using wealth bonus instead of GP, I just took the $ to Wealth bonus table and had 1GP=$20. For modifications to many things (like masterwork or special materials) its just a simple + to the purchase DC. However magic items are a little harder and I based them more off XP instead.

As for occupations, here's the list from the D20 Modern SRD...
Academic
Adventurer
Athlete
Blue Collar
Celebrity
Creative
Criminal
Dilettante
Doctor
Emergency Services
Entrepreneur
Investigative
Law Enforcement
Military
Religious
Rural
Student
Technician
White Collar

It's terms like Blue Collar, Emergency Worker, or White Collar that don't really fit.

And from the Urban Arcana part of the SRD...
Apothecary
Hedge Wizard
Novitiate
Psychic
Shadow Scholar
Squire

And beyond those there's other possible occupations that doesn't seem to be covered.

 

[Tonguez]

Blue Collar - Labourer
Emergency Worker - um?
White Collar - Clerk (Managers were all Gentlemen)

I'd probably change Dilettante too (England = Dandy)

 

[Fate Lawson]

Shameless pimping

I'm planning on using starting occupations from D20 Modern, for my 19th century based D&D game. I ran over a bunch of the D20 Modern occupations to see which ones would be relevant, and most of them are.

However many of them need some more period appropriate names, and there's some possible need for some new occupations. The few I can think of is Slave, Acolyte and possibly Apprentice (though other occupations might overlap that).

Ignore

 

[Khaalis]

Blue Collar - Tradesman
Emergency Worker - Missionary ? (No real equivalent here)
White Collar - Nobleman or Aristocrat

 

[Kobold Avenger]

Law Enforcement, Investigative and Technician don't seem to fit well with more period appropriate names. Granted Law Enforcement is changed easily enough to Police or Guardsmen.

And what's a good term for those of the lowest class who live on the streets being possibly beggars, urchins, prostitutes or thugs.

I'm sure that Ascetic, Slave and Initiate (as in one training to join a martial or mystical organization) are possible areas that haven't being covered.

 

[Tonguez]

Law Enforcement, Investigative and Technician don't seem to fit well with more period appropriate names. Granted Law Enforcement is changed easily enough to Police or Guardsmen.

And what's a good term for those of the lowest class who live on the streets being possibly beggars, urchins, prostitutes or thugs.

I'm sure that Ascetic, Slave and Initiate (as in one training to join a martial or mystical organization) are possible areas that haven't being covered.

Scotland Yard was established in the 1830's - so 19th Century had Law Enforcement.
Originally in England law enforcement was carried out by Justices of the Peace who was assisted by Constables and as they were unpaid survived on the fines and fees paid by those that appeared before him (oron bribes when they were on offer). In the 18th Century the Justices at the Bow Street Office got on the Government Payroll and ran the place like a proper court. The Bow Street Thief-Takers were the worlds first 'Police Force'

Sherlock Holmes was also 19th Century covering the Investigative (plus Journalist are Investigative too at newspapers were big business in 19th C)

Technicians are Engineers (Military and Civil) responsible for such 19th C innovations as well the Industrial Revolution

Peasants, Beggars, Prostitutes and Slaves I'd group together as Proletariat (all call them Beggars or Peasants if you choose) Slaves because they basically have the same skill base or else are rural

I'm not sure Initiates and Ascetics are much different to those with Religious or Novitiate backgrounds...