I need character background tables!!! - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

I need character background tables!!!

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
rmacleod
Dec 27, 2008 1:49:12 Hey guys.

I'm trying to come up with a character concept but have somehow reached a complete mental roadblock. I'd really like a link some tables that I can use to randomly generate traits and get the gears turning in my head. Somehow, google has failed me.

P.S. This is the part that might get me in a bit of trouble...it's not for a DnD game. It's a modern setting. BUT any tables you have for a fantasy setting could probably be adapted to fit.

Thanks all.
#2
eshenaleros
Dec 27, 2008 2:17:22 alright, I know that the hero builder's guidbook from version 3 is useful, even if not for DnD
#3
rmacleod
Dec 27, 2008 3:13:04 Hmm... I don't have that book. I'm more looking for links to tables.

Thanks for the reply though.
#4
Heros_Backpack
Dec 27, 2008 5:44:04 There's a random background generator here if that helps?:

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20010112e
#5
etarnon
Dec 27, 2008 22:01:25 Heroes of Today off of ebay.
#6
the_black_hand
Dec 28, 2008 11:06:08
There's a random background generator here if that helps?:

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20010112e

Wow, that has to be one of the worst tools to use ever..

I messed around with it for a little bit, and always it had the npc's parent(s) dead and that the npc hated or hates them. Has a group of people spying on him at all times. etc etc.. unimaginitive crap ..

Here is a brief sample of the backstory I am thinking of for a character I may never play..

Forgotten Realms. in the Amn are , 3.0/3.5 ed (I refuse to touch 4th ever again)
My character would be a Gold Dwarf Rogue.

His parents (both still alive, and he likes them) wanted him to study to become a wizard. While studing to become a wizards he is enbittered(sp) due to humans having a far easier time at picking up magic casting ability. (this basically me making fun of the fact that dwarfs don't start adventuring until they are about 60ish to 70ish years old, and humans start at about 15) So after about 30 years of study in the wizard feild he is fed up with not being taught how to cast spells and leaves the wizards tower, (he did how ever learn how to use a wand about 20% of the time, I.E. he has maxxed out UMD at level 1)

This gold dwarf also has 2 identical brothers ( they are triplets) his brothers , though later on, are a Paladin, and a Wizard. (mom and dad got atleast 1 kid to stay in wizard school). The gold dwarf resents his brother for actually finishing his wiards training, though he is still fond of him.

Due to his extensive study while training to be a wizard, the Gold dwarf now has a vast a knowledge base, and excells at engineering(sp). This will be represented by the sellection of his first 2 feats.

Basically I wanted a Rogue that would be better at skills in general than anything else. He has all knowledge skills as though they were class skills , and the same for engineering. I have also given the GM some stuff to work with as far as my dwarf not liking Humans (they just addapt too darned fast) and not liking wizards ( jerks passed over training him to cast spells in lue of humans..)

This is only a very brief example of what I have prepared for his back story. This also only took me about an hour to come up with and polish it up some.
#7
EricaG
Dec 28, 2008 16:20:23 Hi, when I'm just messing around...
Roll evens or odds for if your parents are alive. Evens or odds for if you still like/talk to them. roll a d4, d6, d8, d10 or whatever for how many siblings and where you were in the mix. And my favorite, check out the DMG2 tables for jobs in a town for what you were apprenticed to do before you became an adventurer and the tables for NPC plot hooks and in DMG for quirks, they'll work for you too. Maybe that'll get the juices flowing.
#8
Shiftkitty
Dec 29, 2008 1:28:54 http://www.discordian.org/modules.php

Central Casting Heroes of Now is what you're looking for. While you're there, grab Heroes of Legend and Heroes of Tomorrow. You never know when you'll need them. They're scans of the original books by Paul Jaquays and they are a character creator's best friend.

Just click "Downloads", the Roleplaying folder (the only one there, I think), and then the folder that says "Evil Don's Game". It should all be right there.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 rmacleod Dec 27, 2008 1:49:12	Hey guys. I'm trying to come up with a character concept but have somehow reached a complete mental roadblock. I'd really like a link some tables that I can use to randomly generate traits and get the gears turning in my head. Somehow, google has failed me. P.S. This is the part that might get me in a bit of trouble...it's not for a DnD game. It's a modern setting. BUT any tables you have for a fantasy setting could probably be adapted to fit. Thanks all.
#2 eshenaleros Dec 27, 2008 2:17:22	alright, I know that the hero builder's guidbook from version 3 is useful, even if not for DnD
#3 rmacleod Dec 27, 2008 3:13:04	Hmm... I don't have that book. I'm more looking for links to tables. Thanks for the reply though.
#4 Heros_Backpack Dec 27, 2008 5:44:04	There's a random background generator here if that helps?: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20010112e
#5 etarnon Dec 27, 2008 22:01:25	Heroes of Today off of ebay.
#6 the_black_hand Dec 28, 2008 11:06:08	There's a random background generator here if that helps?: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20010112e Wow, that has to be one of the worst tools to use ever.. I messed around with it for a little bit, and always it had the npc's parent(s) dead and that the npc hated or hates them. Has a group of people spying on him at all times. etc etc.. unimaginitive crap .. Here is a brief sample of the backstory I am thinking of for a character I may never play.. Forgotten Realms. in the Amn are , 3.0/3.5 ed (I refuse to touch 4th ever again) My character would be a Gold Dwarf Rogue. His parents (both still alive, and he likes them) wanted him to study to become a wizard. While studing to become a wizards he is enbittered(sp) due to humans having a far easier time at picking up magic casting ability. (this basically me making fun of the fact that dwarfs don't start adventuring until they are about 60ish to 70ish years old, and humans start at about 15) So after about 30 years of study in the wizard feild he is fed up with not being taught how to cast spells and leaves the wizards tower, (he did how ever learn how to use a wand about 20% of the time, I.E. he has maxxed out UMD at level 1) This gold dwarf also has 2 identical brothers ( they are triplets) his brothers , though later on, are a Paladin, and a Wizard. (mom and dad got atleast 1 kid to stay in wizard school). The gold dwarf resents his brother for actually finishing his wiards training, though he is still fond of him. Due to his extensive study while training to be a wizard, the Gold dwarf now has a vast a knowledge base, and excells at engineering(sp). This will be represented by the sellection of his first 2 feats. Basically I wanted a Rogue that would be better at skills in general than anything else. He has all knowledge skills as though they were class skills , and the same for engineering. I have also given the GM some stuff to work with as far as my dwarf not liking Humans (they just addapt too darned fast) and not liking wizards ( jerks passed over training him to cast spells in lue of humans..) This is only a very brief example of what I have prepared for his back story. This also only took me about an hour to come up with and polish it up some.
#7 EricaG Dec 28, 2008 16:20:23	Hi, when I'm just messing around... Roll evens or odds for if your parents are alive. Evens or odds for if you still like/talk to them. roll a d4, d6, d8, d10 or whatever for how many siblings and where you were in the mix. And my favorite, check out the DMG2 tables for jobs in a town for what you were apprenticed to do before you became an adventurer and the tables for NPC plot hooks and in DMG for quirks, they'll work for you too. Maybe that'll get the juices flowing.
#8 Shiftkitty Dec 29, 2008 1:28:54	http://www.discordian.org/modules.php Central Casting Heroes of Now is what you're looking for. While you're there, grab Heroes of Legend and Heroes of Tomorrow. You never know when you'll need them. They're scans of the original books by Paul Jaquays and they are a character creator's best friend. Just click "Downloads", the Roleplaying folder (the only one there, I think), and then the folder that says "Evil Don's Game". It should all be right there.