I use this large roll table of professions to provide background for my PCs, and if I need a random assortment of NPs, it’s also helpful. Originally formatted for DCC, each entry has a weapon/tool, and an item related to their profession.
Instructions: Roll 1d8, then either 1d20, or 1d12 if you get an 8.
1.
- Acolyte, candlestick (as mace), holy symbol
- Alchemist, staff,1 oil flask
- Apothecary,wood pestle (as club),1 lb dusts and unguents
- Animal trainer,club,pony
- Armorer,hammer (as mace),iron helm
- Astrologer,dagger,starchart parchment
- Barber,razor (as dagger),jar of leaches
- bawd/pimp,dagger,fancy hat
- Beekeeper,staff,jar of honey
- Brewer,wood mallet (as club), small barrel of beer
- Blacksmith,hammer (as mace),steel tongs
- Burglar,dagger,canvas sack
- Butcher,cleaver (as handaxe), joint of lamb
- Caravan guard,short sword,bronze medallion
- Charcoal burner,handaxe,sack of charcoal
- Cheesemaker,cudgel (as staff),stinky cheese
- Camel driver,staff,camel food
- Carpenter,adze (as handaxe), small mallet and 12 wood pins
- Guardsman,crossbow,tabard
- Cobbler,awl (as dagger),shoehorn
2.
- Confidence artist,dagger,fine cloak
- Cooper,crowbar (as mace), barrel rings
- Costermonger,knife (as dagger), sack of fruit
- Counterfeiter,mallet (as club),60 lead coins painted silver
- Courier,dagger,messages (1d3)
- Cultist,wavy knife (as dagger),forbidden book
- Cutpurse,dagger,small chest
- Laborer,shovel (as staff),wood medallion
- Executioner,axe,cowl
- Farmer wheat, flail, torch
- Farmer lentil,pitchfork (as spear), piglet
- Farmer rice,sickle (as short sword), chicken
- Farmer barley,scythe (as polearm),lamb
- Farmer beans,hoe (as staff),mule
- Farmer oats,pitchfork (as spear),cat
- Farmer olives,lopper (as dagger),goose
- Farmer dates,club,skin of date wine
- Fishmonger, knife (as dagger), 12 salted fish
- Forester, longbow,wood carving
- Fortune-teller,dagger, tarot deck
3.
- Fortune teller,dagger,knucklebones
- Gambler,dagger,dice
- Goliard,dagger,skin of cheap wine
- Gongfarmer,trowel (as dagger),sack of night soil
- Grave digger,shovel (as staff),1d4 gold teeth
- Grave robber,shovel (as staff),lantern
- Caravan Guide,staff,spyglass
- Guild beggar,sling,crutches
- Hayward,staff,horn
- Herbalist,knife (as dagger),1lb herbs
- Shepherd,staff,dog
- Goatherd,staff,goat
- cowherd,staff,calf
- Hermit,staff,holy symbol
- Hunter,shortbow,1d3 pelts
- Indentured servant,staff,locket
- Jester,dart,silk clothes
- Jeweler,dagger,gem worth 20 gp
- Juggler,dagger,3 ceramic spheres
- Kennel master,spear,hound
4.
- Lamp bearer,torch (as club),lamp
- Locksmith,dagger,fine tools
- Mendicant,staff,1 vial holy water
- Mercenary,polearm,necklace of ears
- Merchant,dagger,4 gp 14 sp 27 cp
- Midwife,knife (as dagger),wool blanket
- Miller,club, 1 lb flour
- Miner,pick (as axe),10 candles
- Minstrel,dagger,oud
- Mummer,mace prop (as club),festival mask
- Nightwatchman,spear,lantern
- Noble,longsword,gold ring worth 10 gp
- Ostler,club,bridle
- Outlaw,short sword,leather armor
- Prospector,shovel (as staff),copper pan
- Prostitute,stiletto (as dagger),red cloak
- Porter,gaff hook (as dagger),jug of thick beer
- Rake,longsword,lady’s kerchief
- Nomad,longsword,waterskin
- Rope maker,knife (as dagger),100’ rope
5.
- Sailor,belaying pin (as club),bag of peppercorns
- Scribe,dart,10 sheets parchment
- Servant,knife (as dagger),serving tray (as shield)
- Baker,rolling pin (as club),1d3 loaves
- Shaman,spear,ceremonial mask
- Slave,firewood (as club),1d3 cp
- Smuggler,sling,hollow staff
- Soldier,spear,shield
- Squire,longsword,steel helmet
- Magician,fake staff of power (as staff),white rabbit
- Tax collector,longsword,100 cp
- Taxidermist,long needle (as dagger),stuffed cat
- Teamster,club,short whip
- Thug,knotted scarf (as garrote),12 teeth
- Tinker,hammer (as mace),iron pan
- Torturer,iron poker (as mace), 50’ rope
- Town crier,cudgel (as staff),horn
- Trapper,sling,badger pelt
- Undertaker,razor (as dagger),vial of perfume
- Scholar,dagger,lead sheet and stylus
6.
- Urchin,stick (as club),begging bowl
- Vagabond,walking stick (as staff),pet bird
- Wainwright,axel (as club),wagon wheel (as shield)
- Weaver,dagger,fine linen clothes
- Wizard’s apprentice,dagger,black grimoire
- Woodcutter,axe,bundle of wood
- Agitator,blackjack,1d10 cheaply painted political wooden disks
- Scribe,stylus (as dart),1d3 vellum pages
- Bailiff,longsword,manor keys
- Boatman,oar (as staff),small bucket
- Bodyguard,club,necklace of teeth
- Rag picker,knife (as dagger),sack of rags and nick knacks
- Candlemaker,wax scraper (as dagger),2d6 candles
- Bounty hunter,crossbow,manacles
- Burgher,dagger,abacus
- Envoy,longsword,writ of diplomatic authority
- Fisherman,boat hook (as polearm),hook and line
- Hedge wizard,staff,healing balm (1 hp)
- Initiate,warhammer,holy symbol
- Jailor,club,jail keys
7.
- Barbarian,falchion (as longsword),hide armor
- Militiaman,spear,plumed helm
- Outrider,crossbow,buckler
- Pit fighter,short sword,shield
- Protagonist,blackjack,knuckleduster
- Rat catcher,club,small vicious dog
- Rogue,dagger,deck of cards
- Toll keeper,mace,bronze helm
- Tomb robber,crowbar (as mace),2 sacks
- Fletcher,shortbow,horn of fine feathers
- Vintner,garden shears (as dagger),jar of good wine
- Calligrapher,steel stylus (as dagger), brushes and ink stone
- Cartographer,compass (as dagger),1d6 vellum sheets
- Joiner,wood mallet (as club),drill bit and string
- Shipwright,axe,auger
- Peddler,knife (as dagger),wheelbarrow of mundane goods
- Tinsmith,hole puncher (as dagger),lantern
- Silversmith,dagger,brooch worth 10 gp
- Mason,maul (as warhammer),1d3 wood wedges
- Sculptor,mallet (as blackjack),1d6 marble chunks
8.
- Tailor,razor (as dagger),bolt of fine wool cloth
- Launderer,laundry paddle,lye soap
- Potter,fettling knife,jar of red glaze
- Brickmaker,mallet (as club), bundle of straw
- Gardener, rake (as staff),dozen flower bulbs
- Valet,dagger,fine clothing
- Zealot,flail,2d6 incense cones
- Portrait Painter,pallet knife (as dagger),flask of linseed oil
- Puppeteer,wood gouge (as dagger),creepy puppet
- Falconer,dagger,falcon
- Tiler, mallet (as mace), bag of sand
- Farrier, hammer (as mace), file