Random Generation: Bard

Random Generation: Bard

Back in the day, I wrote a post with some random tables that would let you quickly generate a fighter. Now, here's another set of tables that will let you generate a bard.

You can generate a bard character using the following procedure:

1. Take the base template (below), rolling attributes as shown in the template.

2. Determine an armor loadout by rolling on Table 1.

3. Determine a weapon loadout by rolling on Table 2.

4. Roll 5dx40 to determine your extra money in $.

            4.1. Optionally, purchase a delver kit (DF13, pp. 5-6).

5. Roll once on Table 3 to determine bardic package.

5. Roll 3 times on Table 4 to determine extra advantages.

6. Roll 3 times on Table 5 to determine extra disadvantages.

7. Roll 4 times on Table 6 to determine secondary skills.

8. Roll 4 times on Table 7 to determine background skills.

9. Roll 1d-1 times on Table 8 to determine languages.

10. Roll on Table 9 to determine appearance.

11. Roll 17 + 1d to determine the starting age.

 

Certain steps can be considered optional if the information derived from them is not important in the context of the character.

 

Base Bard Template

Attributes: ST 8 + 1d/2; DX 10 + 1d/2; IQ 10 + 1d/2; HT 9 + 1d/2

Advantages: Bard 1 [5]; Charisma 1 [5].

Skills: Expert Skill (Bardic Lore) (H) IQ [4].

 

Table 1. Armor Loadout

3d	Armor Loadout
3-5	Light Leather
6-9	Leather Jacket
10-12	Cloth
13-15	Leather Pants
16-18	No Armor

 

Light Leather

Item	Location	Cost	Weight	Reference
Boots, Leather	Feet	$80	3	LTIA, p. 16
Hat, Small	Skull	$12	0.2	DF8, p. 17
Leather, Light	Torso	$180	3.3	LTIA, p. 4
Leather, Light	Arms	$90	1.7	LTIA, p. 7
Leather, Light	Legs	$180	3.3	LTIA, p. 10
Ordinary Clothing	Torso, Arms, Legs	$0*	2	LT, p. 98
Total		$542	13.5

*The starting set is free; replacement costs $120.

 

Cloth

Item	Location	Cost	Weight	Reference
Boots, Leather	Feet	$80	3	LTIA, p. 16
Hat, Small	Skull	$12	0.2	DF8, p. 17
Cloth, Padded	Torso	$50	6	LTIA, p. 4
Cloth, Padded	Arms	$25	3	LTIA, p. 7
Cloth, Padded	Legs	$50	6	LTIA, p. 10
Ordinary Clothing	Torso, Arms, Legs	$0*	2	LT, p. 98
Total		$217	20.2

*The starting set is free; replacement costs $120.

 

Leather Jacket

Item	Location	Cost	Weight	Reference
Boots, Leather	Feet	$80	3	LTIA, p. 16
Hat, Small	Skull	$12	0.2	DF8, p. 17
Leather, Light	Chest	$135	2.5	LTIA, p. 5
Leather, Light	Arms	$90	1.7	LTIA, p. 7
Cloth, Padded	Legs	$50	6	LTIA, p. 10
Ordinary Clothing	Torso, Arms, Legs	$0*	2	LT, p. 98
Total		$367	15.4

*The starting set is free; replacement costs $120.

 

Leather Pants

Item	Location	Cost	Weight	Reference
Boots, Leather	Feet	$80	3	LTIA, p. 16
Hat, Small	Skull	$12	0.2	DF8, p. 17
Leather, Light	Groin	$9	0.2	LTIA, p. 7
Leather, Light	Legs	$180	3.3	LTIA, p. 10
Ordinary Clothing	Torso, Arms, Legs	$0*	2	LT, p. 98
Total		$281	8.7

*The starting set is free; replacement costs $120.

 

No Armor

Item	Location	Cost	Weight	Reference
Hat, Wide	Skull	$18	0.3	DF8, p. 17
Ordinary Clothing	Torso, Arms, Legs	$0*	2	LT, p. 98
Shoes	Feet	$40	2	LTIA, p. 16
Total		$58	4.3

*The starting set is free; replacement costs $120.

 

Table 2. Weapon Loadout

1d6	Weapon Loadout
1	Bard Weapon Loadout #1
2	Bard Weapon Loadout #2
3	Bard Weapon Loadout #3
4	Bard Weapon Loadout #4
5	Bard Weapon Loadout #5
6	Bard Weapon Loadout #6

 

Bard Weapon Loadout #1

Item	Location	Cost	Weight	Reference
Arrows x 12	Quiver	$24	1.2	LT, p. 78
Short Bow (Rated to your ST)	Torso	$50	1.5	LT, p. 76
Shortsword (Cheap)	Torso	$160	2	LT, p. 69
Shoulder Quiver	Torso	$10	0.5	p. B289
Small Knife	Belt	$30	0.5	LT, p. 67
Total		$274	5.7
Skills and Traits
Armoury (Missile Weapons) (A) IQ-1 [1] Bow (A) DX+1 [4] Fast-Draw (Arrow) (E) DX [1] Knife (E) DX [1] Shortsword (A) DX+1 [4]

 

Bard Weapon Loadout #2

Item	Location	Cost	Weight	Reference
Arrows x 12	Quiver	$24	1.2	LT, p. 78
Light Club	Belt	$5	3	LT, p. 65
Short Bow (Rated to your ST)	Torso	$50	1.5	LT, p. 76
Shoulder Quiver	Torso	$10	0.5	p. B289
Small Shield, Light	Torso	$30	3	LT, p. 116
Total		$119	9.2
Skills and Traits
Bow (A) DX [2] Broadsword (A) DX+1 [4] Shield (Buckler) (E) DX+2 [4]

 

Bard Weapon Loadout #3

Item	Location	Cost	Weight	Reference
Heavy Cloak	Back	$50	5	LT, p. 76
Smallsword (Cheap)	Torso	$160	1.5	LT, p. 69
Small Throwing Knife x 2	Belt	$60	1	LT, p. 77
Total		$270	7.5
Skills and Traits
Cloak (A) DX+1 [4] Knife (E) DX [1] Smallsword (A) DX+1 [4] Thrown Weapon (Knife) (E) DX+1 [2]

 

Bard Weapon Loadout #4

Item	Location	Cost	Weight	Reference
Dress Smallsword (Cheap)	Torso	$120	1	LT, p. 69
Dueling Buckler	Torso	$25	2	LT, p. 76116
Small Throwing Knife x 2	Belt	$60	1	LT, p. 77
Total		$245	4
Skills and Traits
Knife (E) DX [1] Shield (Buckler) (E) DX+2 [4] Smallsword (A) DX+1 [4] Thrown Weapon (Knife) (E) DX+1 [2]

 

Bard Weapon Loadout #5

Item	Location	Cost	Weight	Reference
Light Cloak	Back	$20	2	LT, p. 76
Light Rapier (Cheap)	Torso	$160	2	LT, p. 68
Stiletto	Belt	$20	0.25	LT, p. 67
Total		$270	7.5
Skills and Traits
Cloak (A) DX+1 [4] Knife (E) DX [1] Main-Gauche (A) DX [2] Rapier (A) DX+1 [4]

 

Bard Weapon Loadout #6

Item	Location	Cost	Weight	Reference
Arrows x 12	Quiver	$24	1.2	LT, p. 78
Light Cloak	Back	$20	2	LT, p. 76
Short Bow (Rated to your ST)	Torso	$50	1.5	LT, p. 76
Short Staff	Torso	$20	1	LT, p. 69
Shoulder Quiver	Torso	$10	0.5	p. B289
Stiletto	Belt	$20	0.25	LT, p. 67
Total		$144	6.45
Skills and Traits
Bow (A) DX [2] Cloak (A) DX+1 [4] Knife (E) DX [1] Smallsword (A) DX+1 [4]

 

Table 3. Bardic Package

1d6	Bardic Package
1	Woodland Piper
2	Wandering Minstrel
3	Courtly Bard
4	Storyteller
5	Performer
6	Historian

 

Woodland Piper

Item	Location	Cost	Weight	Reference
Panpipes	Belt	$50	1	Blog
Total		$50	1
Skills and Traits
Dancing (A) DX [2] Musical Instrument (Panpipes) (H) IQ+1 [8] Naturalist (H) IQ-1 [2] Survival (Woodlands) (A) Per [2]

 

Wandering Minstrel

Item	Location	Cost	Weight	Reference
Lute	Torso	$150	5	Blog
Total		$50	1
Skills and Traits
Musical Ability 1 [5] Carousing (E) HT+1 [2] Diplomacy (H) IQ-1 [2] Musical Influence (VH) IQ [8] Musical Instrument (Lute) (H) IQ+1 [8] Public Speaking (A) IQ-1 [1]

 

Courtly Bard

Item	Location	Cost	Weight	Reference
Lyre	Torso	$300	4	Blog
Total		$50	1
Skills and Traits
Diplomacy (H) IQ-1 [2] Musical Instrument (Lyre) (H) IQ+1 [8] Savoir-Faire (High Society) (E) IQ+1 [2]

 

Storyteller

Skills and Traits

Carousing (E) HT+1 [2] Persuade (H) Will [4] Public Speaking (A) IQ+1 [4] Writing (A) IQ [2]

 

Performer

Skills and Traits

Carousing (E) HT [1] Dancing (A) DX [2] Performance (A) IQ+1 [4] Poetry (A) IQ [2] Public Speaking (A) IQ [2] Singing (E) HT+2 [4]

 

Historian

Item	Location	Cost	Weight	Reference
Paper, 20 Sheets	Backpack	$20	1	DF1, p. 24
Scribe’s Kit	Backpack	$50	2	DF1, p. 24
Total		$70	3
Skills and Traits
History (Local region) (H) IQ+1 [8] Research (A) IQ [2] Writing (A) IQ [2]

 

Table 4. Extra Advantages

If you roll the same leveled trait multiple times, add up the levels.

1d20	Advantage
1	Will +1 [5]
2	Per +1 [5]
3	FP +1 [3]
4	Basic Speed +0.5 [10]
5	Academic 1 [5]
6	Ambidexterity [5]
7	Allure 1 [5]
8	Antiquary 1 [5]
9	Bard 1 [5]
10	Born Entertainer 1 [5]
11	Charisma 1 [5]
12	Cultural Chameleon 1 [5]
13	Danger Sense [15]
14	Eidetic Memory* [5]
15	Empath 1 [5]
16	Musical Ability 1 [5]
17	Poet 1 [5]
18	Smooth Operator 1 [15]
19	Talker 1 [5]
20	Voice [10]

* Upgrade to Photographic Memory [10] if you roll it twice

 

Table 5. Extra Disadvantages

If you roll the same leveled trait multiple times, add up the levels. If you roll the same disadvantage with a self-control roll multiple times, decrease the self-control number by a step.

1d24	Disadvantage
1	Will -1 [-5]
2	Per -1 [-5]
3	HP -1 [-2]
4	FP -1 [-3]
5	Basic Speed -0.25 [-5]
6	Bad Temper (15) [-5]
7	Chummy* [-5]
8	Compulsive Carousing (15) [-2]
9	Lecherousness (15) [-7]
10	Sense of Duty (Adventuring companions) [-5]
11	Xenophilia (15) [-5]
12	Curious (15) [-2]
13	Impulsiveness (15) [-5]
14	Overconfidence (15) [-2]
15	Code of Honor (Gentleman’s) [-10]
16	Compulsive Lying (15) [-7]
17	Odious Personal Habit (Continuous singing or strumming) [-5]
18	Pacifism** (Reluctant Killer) [-5]
19	Pacifism** (Cannot Harm Innocents) [-10]
20	Pacifism** (Cannot Kill) [-15]
21	Pacifism** (Self-Defense Only) [-15]
22	Phobia (15) (random) [Varies]
23	Post-Combat Shakes (15) [-2]
24	Unfit*** [-5]

* Upgrade to Gregarious [-10] if you roll it twice

** Reroll if you get any form of Pacifism again

*** Upgrade to Very Unfit [-15] if you roll it twice

 

Table 6. Secondary Skills

If you roll the same skill multiple times, do not add up the points but increase the skill level by one for each time after the first.

1d20	Skill
1	Acting (A) IQ [2]
2	Diplomacy (H) IQ-1 [2]
3	Expert Skill (Bardic Lore) (H) IQ-1 [2]
4	Fast-Talk (A) IQ [2]
5	Musical Instrument (any) (H) IQ-1 [2]
6	Performance (A) IQ [2]
7	Public Speaking (A) IQ [2]
8	Singing (E) HT+1 [2]
9	Current Affairs (People) (E) IQ+1 [2]
10	Current Affairs (Politics) (E) IQ+1 [2]
11	Current Affairs (Regional (local)) (E) IQ+1 [2]
12	Savoir-Faire (High Society) (E) IQ+1 [2]
13	Streetwise (A) IQ [2]
14	Musical Composition (H) IQ-1 [2]
15	Carousing (E) HT+1 [2]
16	Intimidation (A) Will [2]
17	Heraldry (A) IQ [2]
18	Poetry (A) IQ [2]
19	Teaching (A) IQ [2]
20	Writing (A) IQ [2]

 

Table 7. Background Skills

If you roll the same skill multiple times, do not add up the points but increase the skill level by one for each time after the first.

1d30	Skill
1	Area Knowledge (Local Area) (E) IQ [1]
2	Climbing (A) DX-1 [1]
3	Erotic Art (A) DX-1 [1]
4	Dancing (A) DX-1 [1]
5	Stealth (A) DX-1 [1]
6	Acrobatics (H) DX-2 [1]
7	Sleight of Hand (H) DX-2 [1]
8	Detect Lies (H) Per-2 [1]
9	First Aid (E) IQ [1]
10	Gesture (E) IQ [1]
11	Makeup (E) IQ [1]
12	Panhandling (E) IQ [1]
13	Connoisseur (Dance) (A) IQ-1 [1]
14	Connoisseur (Literature) (A) IQ-1 [1]
15	Connoisseur (Music) (A) IQ-1 [1]
16	Disguise (A) IQ-1 [1]
17	Group Performance (Choreography) (A) IQ-1 [1]
18	Group Performance (Conducting) (A) IQ-1 [1]
19	Interrogation (A) IQ-1 [1]
20	Merchant (A) IQ-1 [1]
21	Occultism (A) IQ-1 [1]
22	Propaganda (A) IQ-1 [1]
23	Literature (H) IQ-2 [1]
24	Mimicry (Speech) (H) IQ-2 [1]
25	Ventriloquism (H) IQ-2 [1]
26	Hiking (A) HT-1 [1]
27	Sex Appeal (A) HT-1 [1]
28	Scrounging (E) Per [1]
29	Thaumatology (VH) IQ-3 [1]
30	Observation (A) Per-1 [1]

 

Table 8. Languages

Languages are chosen either randomly (there is no language table yet), or from a list of appropriate languages for the local area.

1d12	Fluency/Literacy
1	None/Semi-Literate
2	None/Literate
3	Broken/None
4	Broken/Semi-Literate
5	Broken/Literate
6	Accented/None
7	Accented/Semi-Literate
8	Accented/Literate
9	Native/None
10	Native/Semi-Literate
11	Native/Literate
12	Add Language Talent [10]

 

Table 9. Appearance

3d	Appearance
3-4	Handsome/Beautiful
5-7	Attractive
8-13	Average
14-16	Unattractive
17-18	Ugly