Character History Generator (3.5e Variant Rule)

Character History Generator

This is a simple guide for generating a random character history that only needs a d20 to use. You can either use it properly or look at it for ideas either one is good for me! The bonuses and penalties are optional for you to take. The bonuses and penalties are also adjustable to whatever your DM sees fit.

d20	You were born in...	Location
1	Alley Ways(Not the capital city)	You were born into the back alleys of your city to a poor family with no home. You would have most likely had to steal for a living as well as live in filth so you gain a +2 Misc Bonus to Sleight of Hand and to be able to resist contracting a disease but cannot be anything higher than a commoner.
2	Slum town(Not the capital city)	You were born in the poorest part of a city, usually surrounding the outside walls of a castle. Due to being so poor you would've had to salvage everything that you can as well as be very good at making things a you cannot buy them so you gain a +2 Misc Bonus to Search and any one Craft of your choice but you cannot be anything higher than a commoner.
3	Hamlet(Not the capital city)	You were born into a small outlying village of your kingdom, you no basically nothing of the outside world. Duet to the fact that you have to work in the fields or the woods for a living you gain a +2 Misc Bonus to Knowledge: Nature and Ride because that is the main way you travel, you also gain a -2 Misc Penalty to all other Knowledge skills because of your isolation from the rest of the world.
4	Small Town(Not the capital city)	You were born in a town of nearly 1000 people, you know only of the outside world through the caravans that sometimes pasted through. You gain a +2 Misc Bonus to any one Profession Skill and Gather Information but you also gain a -2 Penalty to Survival because you don't have to survive in the wild by yourself.
5	Large Town(Not the capital city)	You were born in a town of nearly 5000 people, you know a bit about the outside world from the caravans the would visit every month or so. You gain a +2 To Diplomacy and Gather Information but you gain a -2 penalty to Survival because you don't have to survive in the wild by yourself.
6	Small City(Not the capital city)	You were born in a small city of no more than 10000 people, your knowledge of the world is vast due to the constant stream of caravans coming into the city. You gain a +2 To Diplomacy and Gather Information but you gain a -2 penalty to Survival because you don't have to survive in the wild by yourself.
7	Large City(Not the capital city)	You were born in a large city of no more than 30000 people, you know much of the world from the war parties and caravans that have passed through your fair city. You gain a +2 To Diplomacy and Gather Information but you gain a -2 penalty to Survival because you don't have to survive in the wild by yourself.
8	Metropolis(Not the capital city)	You were born in a quite large city of no more than 100000 people, you know of the entire kingdom if not more, you are amazed at overheard stories of the outside world and its creatures. You gain a +2 To Diplomacy and Gather Information but you gain a -2 penalty to Survival because you don't have to survive in the wild by yourself.
9	Capital City	You were born in the best city in your kingdom and you've seen both sides of the world, the large extravagant buildings of the rich and the old worn down shacks of poor. You heard of much and seen maybe heroes and lords strut about and talk big about the adventures they've had. You gain a +2 To Diplomacy and Gather Information but you gain a -2 penalty to Survival because you don't have to survive in the wild by yourself.
10	Hot Wild Climate	You were born in the deserts, badlands or jungles of the world you have not had much contact with outsiders so you do not have much knowledge of the other people. You gain a +2 Misc Bonus to Survival and to resist non-lethal damage caused by heat and you also gain a -2 Penalty to Diplomacy becase you have not had much contact with people.
11	Warm Wild Climate	You were born in the plains and the forests of the world and do not have much experience with others that you were not raised with so your knowledge of the world is limited.You gain a +2 Misc Bonus to Survival and you also gain a -2 Penalty to Diplomacy becase you have not had much contact with people.
12	Cold Wild Climate	You were born into the mountains, cold forests or tundras of the world, you only have associated with a few folks that raised you so you do not now much of the outside world. You gain a +2 Misc Bonus to Survival and to resist non-lethal damage caused by cold and you also gain a -2 Penalty to Diplomacy becase you have not had much contact with people.
13	Wild Underground	You were born underneath the earth in dark where you did not have too much contact with others because.. well you live underground. You gain a +2 Misc Bonus to Spot and Search because of your dark environment but you gain a -2 penalty to Spot and Search when in bright sunlight as your eyes are more accustomed to being in the dark.
14	Underground City	You were born underneath the earth in a city built into the stone walls around you. You gain a +2 Misc Bonus to Spot and Search because of your dark environment but you gain a -2 penalty to Spot and Search when in bright sunlight as your eyes are more accustomed to being in the dark.
15	Extraplanar	You were born in one of the inner planes you haven't really encountered many others. Due to the fact that you are secluded and in another differently magically charged plane you gain a +2 Misc Bonus to Survival when on other planes and Use Magic Device and you also gain a -2 Misc Penalty to Diplomacy on creatures not commonly found on your plane.
16	Fortress	You were born in a military fortress and have made some connections with the people living there. You gain a 10% discount on weapons and armor when buying your starting gear but gain a -2 Misc Penalty to Diplomacy because you have been raised with soldier and are more brash and rude than most.
17	Palace	You were born into the lap of luxury and thats all you have ever known. You gain an extra 400Gp for starting gold and can only be nobility and up and you gain a -4 Penalty to survival because of your luxurious lifestyle.
18	Nomadic	You were born to a group of nomadic wanderers and have lived a life of constantly moving from one area to another. From all of the exercise and long distance movement you have gained a +2 Misc Bonus to resist non-lethal damage caused by a forced march and you gain a -2 penalty to Use Magic Device because you have not encountered many magical items in your history.
19	Caravan	You were born in a moving caravan constantly moving from city to city and always being involved with the trading of goods. You gain a +2 Misc Bonus to Appraise and Spot and you gain a -2 Misc Penalty to Gather Information because of the reputation gained by associating with a few untrustworthy merchants.
20	Performing Troupe	You were born into a travelling troupe of performers travelling from city to city putting on shows and different performances. You gain a +2 Misc Bonus to any one Perform and Gather Information and you also gain a -2 Misc Penalty to Profession as you hate having to work when your note putting on some sort of performance.

Who Raised You?

d20	Guardians Were...	Giving You...
1-2	Original Parents	No bonuses or penalties.
3-4	Grandparents
5-6	Aunt and Uncle
7	Mother
8	Father
9	Aunt
10	Uncle
11-12	Master Crafter
13-14	Monks
15-16	Slavery
17-18	Raised Yourself
19-20	Military

If you got somebody other than your original Parents then roll on the table below.

d20	They raised you because your parents...	Giving You...
1-2	Died in a fire	No bonuses or penalties.
3-4	Got sold into Slavery
5-6	Abandoned you
7	Mother was Killed by a vampire, father died trying to get vengence
8	Father eaten by werewolf
9	parents hung for treason
10	got impaled by evil noble
11-12	Exiled to a far away land
13-14	Became Clergy who are supposed to be celibate
15-16	Eaten by Slaves
17-18	Tried to kill you
19-20	Sold you into military service

How did they treat you?

d20	You were treated...	Making you...
1-2	you where beaten often
3-4	You where treated like royalty
5-6	sheltered to the point of isolation
7	given anything you asked for (spoiled)
8	beaten often
9	became the target of all the family's problems
10	ignored
11-12	used as a slave
13-14	taught to live off the land
15-16	kept a secret from neighbors
17-18	occasionally lent to local shop owners as free labor
19-20	expected to act like clergy, being 'perfect' in every way

Caretakers Treatment

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