Random Fantasy Profession Table

roll-table

#1

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.

  1. Acolyte, candlestick (as mace), holy symbol
  2. Alchemist, staff,1 oil flask
  3. Apothecary,wood pestle (as club),1 lb dusts and unguents
  4. Animal trainer,club,pony
  5. Armorer,hammer (as mace),iron helm
  6. Astrologer,dagger,starchart parchment
  7. Barber,razor (as dagger),jar of leaches
  8. bawd/pimp,dagger,fancy hat
  9. Beekeeper,staff,jar of honey
  10. Brewer,wood mallet (as club), small barrel of beer
  11. Blacksmith,hammer (as mace),steel tongs
  12. Burglar,dagger,canvas sack
  13. Butcher,cleaver (as handaxe), joint of lamb
  14. Caravan guard,short sword,bronze medallion
  15. Charcoal burner,handaxe,sack of charcoal
  16. Cheesemaker,cudgel (as staff),stinky cheese
  17. Camel driver,staff,camel food
  18. Carpenter,adze (as handaxe), small mallet and 12 wood pins
  19. Guardsman,crossbow,tabard
  20. Cobbler,awl (as dagger),shoehorn

2.

  1. Confidence artist,dagger,fine cloak
  2. Cooper,crowbar (as mace), barrel rings
  3. Costermonger,knife (as dagger), sack of fruit
  4. Counterfeiter,mallet (as club),60 lead coins painted silver
  5. Courier,dagger,messages (1d3)
  6. Cultist,wavy knife (as dagger),forbidden book
  7. Cutpurse,dagger,small chest
  8. Laborer,shovel (as staff),wood medallion
  9. Executioner,axe,cowl
  10. Farmer wheat, flail, torch
  11. Farmer lentil,pitchfork (as spear), piglet
  12. Farmer rice,sickle (as short sword), chicken
  13. Farmer barley,scythe (as polearm),lamb
  14. Farmer beans,hoe (as staff),mule
  15. Farmer oats,pitchfork (as spear),cat
  16. Farmer olives,lopper (as dagger),goose
  17. Farmer dates,club,skin of date wine
  18. Fishmonger, knife (as dagger), 12 salted fish
  19. Forester, longbow,wood carving
  20. Fortune-teller,dagger, tarot deck

3.

  1. Fortune teller,dagger,knucklebones
  2. Gambler,dagger,dice
  3. Goliard,dagger,skin of cheap wine
  4. Gongfarmer,trowel (as dagger),sack of night soil
  5. Grave digger,shovel (as staff),1d4 gold teeth
  6. Grave robber,shovel (as staff),lantern
  7. Caravan Guide,staff,spyglass
  8. Guild beggar,sling,crutches
  9. Hayward,staff,horn
  10. Herbalist,knife (as dagger),1lb herbs
  11. Shepherd,staff,dog
  12. Goatherd,staff,goat
  13. cowherd,staff,calf
  14. Hermit,staff,holy symbol
  15. Hunter,shortbow,1d3 pelts
  16. Indentured servant,staff,locket
  17. Jester,dart,silk clothes
  18. Jeweler,dagger,gem worth 20 gp
  19. Juggler,dagger,3 ceramic spheres
  20. Kennel master,spear,hound

4.

  1. Lamp bearer,torch (as club),lamp
  2. Locksmith,dagger,fine tools
  3. Mendicant,staff,1 vial holy water
  4. Mercenary,polearm,necklace of ears
  5. Merchant,dagger,4 gp 14 sp 27 cp
  6. Midwife,knife (as dagger),wool blanket
  7. Miller,club, 1 lb flour
  8. Miner,pick (as axe),10 candles
  9. Minstrel,dagger,oud
  10. Mummer,mace prop (as club),festival mask
  11. Nightwatchman,spear,lantern
  12. Noble,longsword,gold ring worth 10 gp
  13. Ostler,club,bridle
  14. Outlaw,short sword,leather armor
  15. Prospector,shovel (as staff),copper pan
  16. Prostitute,stiletto (as dagger),red cloak
  17. Porter,gaff hook (as dagger),jug of thick beer
  18. Rake,longsword,lady’s kerchief
  19. Nomad,longsword,waterskin
  20. Rope maker,knife (as dagger),100’ rope

5.

  1. Sailor,belaying pin (as club),bag of peppercorns
  2. Scribe,dart,10 sheets parchment
  3. Servant,knife (as dagger),serving tray (as shield)
  4. Baker,rolling pin (as club),1d3 loaves
  5. Shaman,spear,ceremonial mask
  6. Slave,firewood (as club),1d3 cp
  7. Smuggler,sling,hollow staff
  8. Soldier,spear,shield
  9. Squire,longsword,steel helmet
  10. Magician,fake staff of power (as staff),white rabbit
  11. Tax collector,longsword,100 cp
  12. Taxidermist,long needle (as dagger),stuffed cat
  13. Teamster,club,short whip
  14. Thug,knotted scarf (as garrote),12 teeth
  15. Tinker,hammer (as mace),iron pan
  16. Torturer,iron poker (as mace), 50’ rope
  17. Town crier,cudgel (as staff),horn
  18. Trapper,sling,badger pelt
  19. Undertaker,razor (as dagger),vial of perfume
  20. Scholar,dagger,lead sheet and stylus

6.

  1. Urchin,stick (as club),begging bowl
  2. Vagabond,walking stick (as staff),pet bird
  3. Wainwright,axel (as club),wagon wheel (as shield)
  4. Weaver,dagger,fine linen clothes
  5. Wizard’s apprentice,dagger,black grimoire
  6. Woodcutter,axe,bundle of wood
  7. Agitator,blackjack,1d10 cheaply painted political wooden disks
  8. Scribe,stylus (as dart),1d3 vellum pages
  9. Bailiff,longsword,manor keys
  10. Boatman,oar (as staff),small bucket
  11. Bodyguard,club,necklace of teeth
  12. Rag picker,knife (as dagger),sack of rags and nick knacks
  13. Candlemaker,wax scraper (as dagger),2d6 candles
  14. Bounty hunter,crossbow,manacles
  15. Burgher,dagger,abacus
  16. Envoy,longsword,writ of diplomatic authority
  17. Fisherman,boat hook (as polearm),hook and line
  18. Hedge wizard,staff,healing balm (1 hp)
  19. Initiate,warhammer,holy symbol
  20. Jailor,club,jail keys

7.

  1. Barbarian,falchion (as longsword),hide armor
  2. Militiaman,spear,plumed helm
  3. Outrider,crossbow,buckler
  4. Pit fighter,short sword,shield
  5. Protagonist,blackjack,knuckleduster
  6. Rat catcher,club,small vicious dog
  7. Rogue,dagger,deck of cards
  8. Toll keeper,mace,bronze helm
  9. Tomb robber,crowbar (as mace),2 sacks
  10. Fletcher,shortbow,horn of fine feathers
  11. Vintner,garden shears (as dagger),jar of good wine
  12. Calligrapher,steel stylus (as dagger), brushes and ink stone
  13. Cartographer,compass (as dagger),1d6 vellum sheets
  14. Joiner,wood mallet (as club),drill bit and string
  15. Shipwright,axe,auger
  16. Peddler,knife (as dagger),wheelbarrow of mundane goods
  17. Tinsmith,hole puncher (as dagger),lantern
  18. Silversmith,dagger,brooch worth 10 gp
  19. Mason,maul (as warhammer),1d3 wood wedges
  20. Sculptor,mallet (as blackjack),1d6 marble chunks

8.

  1. Tailor,razor (as dagger),bolt of fine wool cloth
  2. Launderer,laundry paddle,lye soap
  3. Potter,fettling knife,jar of red glaze
  4. Brickmaker,mallet (as club), bundle of straw
  5. Gardener, rake (as staff),dozen flower bulbs
  6. Valet,dagger,fine clothing
  7. Zealot,flail,2d6 incense cones
  8. Portrait Painter,pallet knife (as dagger),flask of linseed oil
  9. Puppeteer,wood gouge (as dagger),creepy puppet
  10. Falconer,dagger,falcon
  11. Tiler, mallet (as mace), bag of sand
  12. Farrier, hammer (as mace), file

#2

Nice table, thanks for sharing this!


#3

Hey Merl,

This is a great resource my man, nice work! I’m a huge fan of investing in tools like this before a game, because the dividends they tend to pay are huge. Especially when you have 6-10 players in a game and need to fly through character creation.

AC


#4

6 to 10 players! MAAADNESS!!!:laughing::beers:


#5

I will share my secrets in a post. :wink: It is very fun.


#6

I came up with another profession - a tiler, which is a person who tiled rooves. If I can get one more, I can turn 8 into a D12 roll as opposed to a D10.


#7

Farrier, hammer(as mace), file

I feel like I’m probably just missing this in the list, but if not, enjoy!


#8

Good catch! Now I just have to figure tool/weapon a tiler would have. :sweat_smile: