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< A bit over a year ago I wrote my first draft of the [[2009-12-14 Character Generation Shortcuts|Character Generation Shortcuts]] fold old school D&D with four backgrounds each for fighters, wizards and clerics. In a way I wanted to show that I didn't need thieves, rangers and paladins -- I wanted to model these classes using a base class with some appropriate background and equipment -- and I wanted to speed up character creation by avoiding rolling for starting gold and shopping for equipment. Half a year later I [[2010-06-24 Character Genration Shortcuts PDF|increased the number of backgrounds to eight]] and used it in a convention game I ran, but I still missed backgrounds for demihumans. The following is a list of four backgrounds each.
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> A bit over a year ago I wrote my first draft of the [[2009-12-14 Character Generation Shortcuts|Character Generation Shortcuts]] fold old school D&D with four backgrounds each for fighters, wizards and clerics. In a way I wanted to show that I didn't need thieves, rangers and paladins -- I wanted to model these classes using a base class with some appropriate background and equipment -- and I wanted to speed up character creation by avoiding rolling for starting gold and shopping for equipment. Half a year later I [[2010-06-24 Character Generation Shortcuts PDF|increased the number of backgrounds to eight]] and used it in a convention game I ran, but I still missed backgrounds for demihumans. The following is a list of four backgrounds each.
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< We'll see about adding more entries and revising the [[2011-03-15 Character Genration Shortcuts PDF|PDF]] when I have some extra time. :)
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> We'll see about adding more entries and revising the [[2011-03-15 Character Generation Shortcuts PDF|PDF]] when I have some extra time. :)
A bit over a year ago I wrote my first draft of the Character Generation Shortcuts fold old school D&D with four backgrounds each for fighters, wizards and clerics. In a way I wanted to show that I didn’t need thieves, rangers and paladins – I wanted to model these classes using a base class with some appropriate background and equipment – and I wanted to speed up character creation by avoiding rolling for starting gold and shopping for equipment. Half a year later I increased the number of backgrounds to eight and used it in a convention game I ran, but I still missed backgrounds for demihumans. The following is a list of four backgrounds each.
| 1d4 | Elf | Dwarf | Halfling |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | you are a woodland hunter; you own an elven longbow with twenty arrows and a curved dagger decorated with silver runes; the lore masters have taught you the spell sleep to keep you safe while alone in the wilderness | you are a miner but it was dangerous work for little gain; you own a canary bird in a wooden cage, a small pony to carry your load, a lantern, studded leather armor and a heavy pick | you are a shepherd; you own a sling, a dagger, a woolen cloak, and a ferocious dog that will defend you in combat |
| 2 | you are a student of ancient lore; you own a ceremonial elven longsword in the old tradition and a set of chain mail; the lore masters have taught you the spell read languages to help your studies | you are a gem cutter by trade but decided to go looking for the real thing; you own gleaming chain mail, a beautiful two-handed sword and a jewel encrusted girdle handed to you from your father | you are a gardener; you own a hammer and a sling and some ill-fitting goblin leather armor |
| 3 | you are a spell singer; you own an elegant elven longsword, a dagger, leather armor, a wooden shield, a lyre and a silver flute; you have learned the spell charm person to keep you safe in human lands | you are berserker with warding tattoos covering every inch of your skin; you own a two-handed dwarven battle axe inscribed with old runes of death and destruction and battered scale armor | you are a scout and have travelled the wilderness; you own leather armor, a shield, a short sword and a sling |
| 4 | you are a fae knight; you own a white horse, a white steel plate armor, a shield, a lance, a long sword, a mace; your master taught you the spell protection from evil before sending out into the world | you are rune warrior and a defender of the realm; you own the finest dwarven plate armor, a heavy shield engraved with runes of protection and an axe. | you are a bored landowner but left your siblings in charge of it all; you own a short sword, a shield, light dwarven chain mail and a sling |
We’ll see about adding more entries and revising the PDF when I have some extra time. 
Tags: RPG
Old School 