Most of the time when we gather round a table and roll up our characters, we tend to think of them in terms of their class name. However, nobody shows up to a job interview and explains how they have a dozen years of experience in the field as a barbarian. No one does an apprenticeship as a rogue. And generally, if you refer to someone as an “adventurer” that is usually a polite way of saying that they’re unemployed.
With all of the options we have when it comes to building our characters, it pays to ask what job it is they actually use their skills to accomplish. Because sometimes you might have a choice that feels obvious, but other times you might wind up with an individual who uses their abilities in an unexpected way. For example, if you hear that someone is a knight of the realm, you might picture a huge warrior atop a fierce charger… but an evoker may be given that honor as surely as the most skilled swordsman, using their magic as a weapon in the service of their nation. One might assume a diplomat would be best served by a smooth-talking rogue, or perhaps a bard, but a paladin in their gleaming armor might use their words instead of their sidearm to try to settle disputes between nations. A sorcerer might make an ideal pickpocket, a druid a perfect actor and a barbarian might be the leader of the local thieves’ guild whom everyone thinks is just some bodyguard or flunky that can safely be ignored.
It’s important to know who your characters are, where they came from and what they can do… but it sometimes helps to ask how they’ve applied those unique skills, and what profession they’re part of. Even if the methods they use to get results might be a little unconventional.
Here are some sample results:
53. Gambler: Whether it’s slinging dice or turning cards, the world is full of people who gamble from time to time. Only the best, though, can make a living as a professional gambler. Rogues may be the first class one thinks of when it comes to taking up this trade, but monks are able to see through bluffs better than almost anyone. Bards are another solid choice, as are paladins, surprisingly enough. Clerics, particularly those devoted to gods of chance or luck, may see gambling as part of their calling. Even wizards and sorcerers, with their ability to read fate and fortune, may make for successful (if not particularly ethical) gamblers.
54. Curse Crafter: Curses have been a tradition all throughout history. From buried clay tablets said to bring misfortune to those who live on a plot of land, to sheets of lead with dire messages on them affixed to doors and walls, these curses had to be prepared by someone. While clerics, bards, sorcerers and wizards might be the most obvious choices (especially for making curses that actually function), rogues and monks might also take up this profession. Those who have a working knowledge of mass-produced curses like this may also know which curses are just for show, and which ones will deliver consequences for those who get too close.
55. Grave Robber: While considered a serious taboo in most cultures, there are always going to be those who decide the dead don’t need the treasures they were buried with. While a dangerous job in fantasy worlds, where tomb curses may have serious teeth and the angry dead might rise, different classes may pursue this career in different ways. Rogues can evade and disable curses, barbarians and fighters can fight the vengeful dead should they attempt to stop the theft of their graves and wizards and sorcerers might use their arts to undo magical protections, or to summon minions who can deal with problems that might arise. Even clerics, and in some circumstances paladins, might use the powers of their faith to overcome the inherent dangers of this profession.
Released: 20th August 2022 Pages: 22
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