Goodman Games

Hey all,

I'm putting together an article for CRAWL! which provides many more Occupations for straight random Occupation rolling, but which also works for rolling Occupation based on a character's highest Ability Score (sidestepping the Strength 3 Blacksmith issue that some folks find jarring).

I'd like folk's input on the Occupations listed under each Ability below, and whether or not they feel any need to be moved. Quite a few could have gone either way, to be honest, so if there turns out to be any consensus regarding moving an Occupation under one Ability to another, I'll make those changes.

Also, if anyone has any Occupations they'd like added, feel free to suggest those too.

Here we go:

Strength-Based Occupations
Armorer
Blacksmith
Butcher
Caravan Guard
Dwarven Blacksmith
Dwarven Guard
Dwarven Miner
Dwarven Stonemason
Executioner
Footpad
Gaoler
Mason
Mercenary
Militiaman
Miner
Pit Fighter
Soldier
Squire
Woodcutter

Agility-Based Occupations
Acrobat
Barber
Bowyer/Fletcher
Carpenter
Cobbler
Cutpurse
Dwarven Chest-Maker
Dwarven Rat-Catcher
Elven Artisan
Elven Bowyer/Fletcher
Elven Glassblower
Embroiderer
Glassblower
Glovemaker
Halfling Chicken-Butcher
Halfling Glovemaker
Halfling Haberdasher
Halfling Mariner
Jeweler
Leatherworker
Locksmith
Potter
Rat-Catcher
Rope Maker
Sailor/Pirate
Sculptor
Tailor
Thatcher
Urchin
Wainwright
Weaver

Stamina-Based Occupations
Cheesemaker
Cooper
Ditch Digger
Drover
Dwarven Herder
Dwarven Mushroom-Farmer
Dyer
Farmer
Ferryman
Fisherman
Flagellant
Gongfarmer
Grave Digger
Halfling Dyer
Halfling Vagrant
Herder
Hunter
Indentured Servant
Laborer
Miller/Baker
Outlaw
Slave
Tanner
Trapper
Vagabond

Personality-Based Occupations
Acolyte
Animal Trainer
Barman
Beadle
Cantor
Confidence Artist
Costermonger
Elven Falconer
Elven Troubadour
Falconer
Gambler
Guild Beggar
Halfling Gypsy
Halfling Trader
Jester
Minstrel
Noble
Mendicant
Merchant
Orphan
Ostler
Shaman
Smuggler
Streetwalker

Intelligence-Based Occupations
Alchemist
Architect
Astrologer
Beekeeper
Brewer
Chandler
Dwarven Apothecarist
Elven Barrister
Elven Chandler
Elven Forester
Elven Navigator
Elven Sage
Engineer
Fortune-Teller
Halfling Moneylender
Healer
Herbalist
Navigator
Painter
Sage
Scribe
Shipwright
Tax Collector
Torturer
Vintner
Wizard’s Apprentice

This is brilliant.

//H

Thanks, Harley. It's my fifth CRAWL! article, and the basic idea is that if someone wants a completely random Occupation (as in the core DCC rulebook approach) they can roll randomly to determine the table first, then roll randomly on that table. Alternatively, if the group and Judge in question prefers Occupation to be somewhat related to Ability Score, they can roll on the table based on the character's highest Ability Score instead. That way, both groups get mileage from the article including the new Occupations.

The Occupations will be rolled in such a way that some are more common than others within their groups (such as Farmer and Fisherman being more common in the Stamina table than Flagellants, f'rinstance). I'll also be ensuring that the demi-human Occupations don't account for more than 25-30% of the Occupations chance-wise, in-keeping with the core DCC rules.

Colin

That is a great start, looking forward to seeing the entire thing in my Crawl.

Nice. I was thinking about doing race based tables, but first I want to play the game RAW.

Thanks, chaps. I'll give it a few days for anyone to make any suggestions, and then finish the thing on Monday and send it in.

Colin

This is fantastic Colin! Can't wait to see the final results!

Glad to see this beta-era idea come to fruition.

Keen!

Random thought #1:
Something that occurred to me while I was looking over the list; some of them seem like they might fit on multiple lists. Many of the craft-based occupations could also be intelligence based when you consider how technical some of these crafts are. Likewise, Beekeeper could also be a stamina based occupation. Cross-referencing some of the occupations to other appropriate lists might help when it comes to assigning the probabilities.

Random thought #2:
Occupation list for characters with a negative Luck bonus
Rat catcher
Urchin
Ditch Digger
Gongfarmer
Laborer
Outlaw
Slave
Vagabond
Jester
Orphan
Streetwalker

Thanks for the feedback, Tortog. I did initially consider placing the occupations under multiple lists (Like I said, many could've gone either way), but decided against for simplicity and flavour.

Colin

Hey, Tortog, this is a great idea. Not just occupations based on regular stats but also based on luck. Positive luck modifiers could make someone the son or daughter of a lord or knight, negative ones can make them the son or daughter of a beggar.

It is a nice idea, but it does mean that you can't then have a down-on-their-luck noble, or fortunate beggar and the like. Plus, it opens the can-of-worms with the question, "If you have high/low Luck Occupations, why not high/low Occupation lists for the other Abilities too?" It'd certainly make another great article for CRAWL! if someone wanted to write it.

Colin

Luck could determine the character's pay-scale...

This is awesome. I will definitely be snagging that issue when it drops.

Just to give folks an idea how it's shaping up:

Table 1-1: Strength-Based Occupations
Roll Occupation Trained Weapon Trade Goods
01-04 Armorer Hammer (as club) Iron helmet
05-10 Blacksmith Hammer (as club) Steel tongs
11-18 Butcher Cleaver (as handaxe) Side of beef
19-20 Caravan Guard Short sword Linen, 1 yard
21-26 Dwarven Blacksmith Hammer (as club) Mithril, 1 oz.
27-30 Dwarven Guard Warhammer Shield
31-36 Dwarven Miner Pick (as club) Lantern
37-42 Dwarven Stonemason Hammer (as club) Fine stone, 10 lbs.
43-44 Executioner Axe (as battleaxe) Rope, 30’
45-48 Footpad Club Stolen purse (1d20 sp and 1d20 cp)
49-50 Gaoler Club Manacles
51-54 Mason Hammer (as club) Stone, 10 lbs.
55-58 Mercenary Longsword Hide armor
59-64 Militiaman Spear Bread and cheese
65-70 Miner Pick (as club) Lantern
71-72 Pit Fighter Short sword Leather straps, 2, 1 yard each
73-74 Reaver Handaxe Shield
75-78 Soldier Spear Shield
79-84 Squire Longsword Steel helmet
85-90 Stevedore Club Flask of cheap ale
91-00 Woodcutter Handaxe Bundle of wood

I included Reaver for folks who want a "barbarian" background apart from Shaman and Hunter.

I really like tying occupation into abilities! I know several of my players would appreciate more consistent logic in their occupations, and this really fixes that problem. Me? I enjoy the challenge explaining why my elven sage has crippling intellectual problems. I wrote a custom occupation chart for my campaign, switching out halflings for goblins and repalcing some of the jobs that didn't make sense for the setting.

You've really taken choosing occupations to another level.

Thanks for the kind words. That some folks enjoy the challenge complete randomness brings is why I've created the article to explicitly allow for either approach (tied to Ability or totally random). Neither group is left out.

Colin

Article finished and submitted.

Colin

These look great!

Which issue did they make it into?

The article hasn't been published yet (and the next Crawl! issue is Magic-themed, so the article won't be in it). I have a feeling it'll be in the Character-themed issue Dak mentioned in another thread, maybe along with the article I did for generating build, height, weight, hair and eye colour, and distinguishing features.

Colin,

When all the charts are out, I'll add the stat based logic of your new charts as an option in the Zero Level Party Generator.

(I love the wonderful absurdity of 4 agility hunters and 5 strength blacksmiths, but this is a logical alternative.)

Thanks!

I'll keep an eye out for the next few issues then.

Makes for a good reason to get off the fence and throw some money at Crawl! sooner rather than later.

I hope you include more occupations. The Warhammer Career Compendium has a ton. I gotta say, I get more & more impressed with Crawl!!

PS. When I get my subscription, do I have to leave a note so I start at issue #3?
I have the first two issues already. Great stuff!!!

The finished article includes a few dozen new Occupations in it, yes.

Your subscription to Crawl! automatically starts with whatever issue is currently being sold, so if you only want it to start with #3, you'd have to contact Dak, but I think he prefers it if people simply sub when the issue they want is announced.

Colin

I think this may be the best idea to come out of the forums beyond the index. Fantastic!