keen320
2012-09-18, 12:14 AM
If this is in the wrong section, feel free to move it.
I thought it would be funny to make a random backstory generator based off some fantasy cliches about origin stories. If anyone has any ideas about things to add or change, feel free.
Roll the specified die for each category to determine number of rolls, and then roll a d% that many times to determine elements. In cases of mutually exclusive elements, find a way to make it work.
Origin (d4)
(1-30) Identical twin/triplet/quadruplet (roll d% to determine alignment of twin, 1)
(31-35)Prophesied birth
(36-40)Heir to (Roll d% to determine, 2), can change one motivation to “Heirloom Retrieval”
(41-45)Born to Nobility
(46-65)Born to Commoners
(66-75)Unusual Parent
(76-90)Orphaned by (random encounter table in a bestiary – roll a d10 to choose environment, d3 if you get dungeon, then roll d%)
(91-100)Orphaned by (your choice how)
Early Life (d4)
(1-10)Noble upbringing
(11-25)Common upbringing
(26-35)Hometown destroyed by (insert evil NPC here)
(36-40)Grew up on the streets
(41-45)Poor upbringing (roll to determine magnitude, 3)
(46-50)Wealthy upbringing (roll to determine magnitude, 4)
(51-65)Raised by (random encounter table in a bestiary – roll a d10 to choose environment, d3 if you get dungeon, then roll d%, if impossible, roll again)
(66-80)Troubled past (as in, crime or somesuch)
(81-90)Committed a major crime or misdeed
(91-95)Attended a school (dedicated to his chosen class, like a magic school for sorcerers or wizards)
(95-100)Apprenticed to a trade for some period of time (roll d% to determine what trade)
Motivation (d4)
(1)Amnesia
(2-12)Atonement
(13-30)Fame (or infamy)
(31-40)Revenge - Can be added for free
(41-50)Heirloom Retrieval
(51-70)Wealth or power
(71-80)Cause
(81-90)Coerced
(91-100)On the run for some crime or misdeed, real or not
1: Roll a d% to determine Good-Evil axis (1-30% Good, 31-50% Neutral, 51-100% Evil), another to determine Law-Chaos axis (1-40% Lawful, 41-61% Neutral, 61-100% Chaotic), and another to determine extent of knowledge (1-60% None, 61-90% Existence, 91-100% Existence and Alignment).
2: Kingdom or appropriate equivalent (1-10%), Other land or title, such as duke, chief, barony (11-30%), legacy (31-50%), some wealthy guy (51-99%), Divinity (100%)
3: roll a d4: slave, massively in debt, penniless, barely getting by
4: roll a d4: own a business, own a thriving business, own lands, own many lands
Random encounter tables assume Pathfinder Bestiary, feel free to substitute whatever you want.
I had the idea a while ago, and just decided to complete it and add percentages to finish it.
I thought it would be funny to make a random backstory generator based off some fantasy cliches about origin stories. If anyone has any ideas about things to add or change, feel free.
Roll the specified die for each category to determine number of rolls, and then roll a d% that many times to determine elements. In cases of mutually exclusive elements, find a way to make it work.
Origin (d4)
(1-30) Identical twin/triplet/quadruplet (roll d% to determine alignment of twin, 1)
(31-35)Prophesied birth
(36-40)Heir to (Roll d% to determine, 2), can change one motivation to “Heirloom Retrieval”
(41-45)Born to Nobility
(46-65)Born to Commoners
(66-75)Unusual Parent
(76-90)Orphaned by (random encounter table in a bestiary – roll a d10 to choose environment, d3 if you get dungeon, then roll d%)
(91-100)Orphaned by (your choice how)
Early Life (d4)
(1-10)Noble upbringing
(11-25)Common upbringing
(26-35)Hometown destroyed by (insert evil NPC here)
(36-40)Grew up on the streets
(41-45)Poor upbringing (roll to determine magnitude, 3)
(46-50)Wealthy upbringing (roll to determine magnitude, 4)
(51-65)Raised by (random encounter table in a bestiary – roll a d10 to choose environment, d3 if you get dungeon, then roll d%, if impossible, roll again)
(66-80)Troubled past (as in, crime or somesuch)
(81-90)Committed a major crime or misdeed
(91-95)Attended a school (dedicated to his chosen class, like a magic school for sorcerers or wizards)
(95-100)Apprenticed to a trade for some period of time (roll d% to determine what trade)
Motivation (d4)
(1)Amnesia
(2-12)Atonement
(13-30)Fame (or infamy)
(31-40)Revenge - Can be added for free
(41-50)Heirloom Retrieval
(51-70)Wealth or power
(71-80)Cause
(81-90)Coerced
(91-100)On the run for some crime or misdeed, real or not
1: Roll a d% to determine Good-Evil axis (1-30% Good, 31-50% Neutral, 51-100% Evil), another to determine Law-Chaos axis (1-40% Lawful, 41-61% Neutral, 61-100% Chaotic), and another to determine extent of knowledge (1-60% None, 61-90% Existence, 91-100% Existence and Alignment).
2: Kingdom or appropriate equivalent (1-10%), Other land or title, such as duke, chief, barony (11-30%), legacy (31-50%), some wealthy guy (51-99%), Divinity (100%)
3: roll a d4: slave, massively in debt, penniless, barely getting by
4: roll a d4: own a business, own a thriving business, own lands, own many lands
Random encounter tables assume Pathfinder Bestiary, feel free to substitute whatever you want.
I had the idea a while ago, and just decided to complete it and add percentages to finish it.