Friends, Romans, Countrymen - Background Information

[Mr. Handy]

In this thread, I'll post background information that will help you create your character and find out more about what you need to know to adventure in ancient Rome. In some ways, it resembles modern America, but in others it is quite different.

I'll start by listing the occupations in the rulebook and their occupational skill lists and starting money. If the occupation you want is not found on this list, let me know. I can create a custom occupation for you. The occupations are:

Apothecary: A specialist in mixing potions, usually knowledgeable in herbalism as well.
Skills: Fast Talk, First Aid, Library Use, Medicine, Natural World, Navigate, Potions, Other Language (substituted for Write Language)
Money: 1D2 x 100 sesterii

Archer: A warrior skilled in using a bow. Scythian archers are paritcularly well-regarded and command high prices as mercenaries. They are also known to be skilled with poisons.
Skills: Bow, Climb, Dodge, Hide, Jump, Ride Horse, Sneak, Throw
Money: 1D100 x 2 sesterii

Artisan: A craftsman or craftswoman who produces fine goods.
Skills: Accounting, Art, Bargain, Craft, Republic (substituted for Empire), Fast Talk, Persuade, Other Language (substituted for Write Language)
Money: 1D100 x 3 sesterii, plus 400 sesterii worth of sellable product

Augur: One renowned for being able to tell the future through various means.
Skills: Fast Talk, Insight, Library Use, Medicine, Natural World, Occult, Potions, Science(Augury). If you wish, you may start with the Augury spell instead of taking one of these eight skills of your choice.
Money: (1D3 - 1) x 100 sesterii, minimum of 100

Auxiliary: A provincial or foreign soldier serving in the military of the Republic of Rome
Skills: Climb, Republic (substituted for Empire), Jump, Ride, Sneak, Tactics, Throw, and one weapon skill of your choice.
Money: 1D3 x 100 sesterii, plus weapons and armor

Banker: Someone who exchanges foreign money with Roman coins and lends money (at interest, of course). Often adept at spotting forgeries
Skills: Accounting, Art(Forgery), Bargain, Fast Talk, Persuade, Short Sword, Status, and one other skill of your choice.
Money: 1D6 x 100 sesterii

Barbarian: The Roman term for any foreigner.
Skills: Climb, Hide, Jump, Other Kingdom, Ride, Sneak, and two other skills of your choice.
Money: (1D3 + 1) x 50 sesterii

Caravaneer: Someone who travels with caravans, making a profit through trade.
Skills: Accounting, Bargain, Drive Horses, Navigate, Other Language, Ride Horse, Status, and one weapon skill of your choice.
Money: 1D3 x 500 sesterii

Cavalry: A mounted warrior, a specialized type of auxiliary soldier.
Skills: Drive, Republic (substituted for Empire), Ride, Status, Tactics, Track, and two weapon skills of your choice.
Money: 1D3 x 50 sesterii, plus armor, weapons, and horse

Centurion: A military officer in the Roman Legions who commands a company (this same skill list could also apply to someone playing a Legionary of lower or higher rank).
Skills: Climb, Republic (substituted for Empire), Jump, Spot Hidden, Tactics, Shield, Sword, Pilum
Money 1D3 x 100 sesterii, plus armor and weapons

Charioteer: A warrior skilled in driving and fighting from a war chariot (this is different from an auriga, who drives racing chariots).
Skills: Dodge, Drive Horses, Jump, Repair/Devise, Ride Horses, Throw, Short Spear, Bow
Money 1D3 x 100 sesterii

Courtesan: A high-class escort, possibly a temple prostitute.
Skills: Art, Bargain, Republic (substituted for Empire), Fast Talk, Insight, Listen, Status, Other Language (substituted for Write Language)
Money: (1D3 + 1) x 100 sesterii

Druid: A pagan lover of nature, often Celtic and/or from Britannia.
Skills: Art(Orate), Insight, Natural World, Navigate, Occult, Own Kingdom, Persuade, Short Sword
Money: 1D4 x 50 sesterii

Entertainer: Someone who earns a living by making people happy, whether through music, dance, acting, acrobatic feats, the art of illusion, telling jokes, or some other form of entertainment.
Skills: Art, Bargain, Climb, Conceal, Jump, Persuade, and two other skills of your choice.
Money: 1D6 x 50 sesterii

Eunuch: A man who has been castrated, often serving in advisory positions with high responsibility.
Skills: Bargain, Republic (substituted for Empire), Fast Talk, Insight, Library Use, Listen, Own Kingdom, Status
Money: 4D100 sesterii

Farmer: Someone who grows crops and/or raises livestock.
Skills: Accounting, Bargain, Civics, Craft, First Aid, Natural World, Repair/Devise, Track
Money: 1D3 x 50 sesterii, plus 700 sesterii worth of sellable produce

Finder: The ancient Roman equivalent of a private detective, a finder is often hired to discreetly discover information
Skills: Bargain, Civics, Conceal, Hide, Insight, Library Use, Other Kingdoms, Spot Hidden
Money: 1D4 x 100 sesterii

Gaesatae: A Gallic warrior who specializes in fighting with and throwing spears.
Skills: Conceal, Jump, Ride Horse, Sneak, Spot Hidden, Throw, Short Spear, Long Spear
Money: 1D2 x 50 sesterii

Gladiator: A warrior who fights in the arena to please the crowds. Most gladiators were slaves, sometimes sentenced to the arena for breaking the law, but sometimes free people would volunarily become gladiators, seeking money, glory, and fame. Most gladiatorial combats were not actually to the death, as gladiators were valuable property. Showmanship was a big part of gladiatorial games. A successful gladiator needs to play to the crowd, not just win the fight.
Skills: Climb, Conceal, First Aid, Fist/Punch or Grapple, Insight, Sneak, Throw, and one weapon skill of your choice.
Money: 1D4 x 100 sesterii, plus armor and weapons

Horse Archer: A mounted warrior skilled in firing a bow from horseback.
Skills: Bow, Climb, Dodge, Jump, Navigate, Ride Horse, Track, and a one-handed weapon skill of your choice.
Money: 1D4 x 50 sesterii

Hunter: Someone who hunts animals for their meat and pelts. Some hunters also track down escaped slaves.
Skills: Animal Training, Climb, Hide, Natural World, Repair/Devise, Spot Hidden, Track, Bow
Money: 1D4 x 100 sesterii

Kataphractoi: Heavy armored cavalry of the type formerly used by Alexander the Great, now serving as an auxiliary for Rome.
Skills: Climb, First Aid, Jump, Long Spear, Navigate, Ride Horse, Sword, Tactics
Money: 1D4 x 100 sesterii

Lictor: A bodyguard for a Roman official. Lictors accompany the people they protect wherever they go in the streets and stand guard outside buildings when they go into them. It is illegal to bear weapons on the streets of Rome, but lictors are allowed to carry rods with the symbol of the fasces. Outside of Rome, they carry axes to show they can carry out executions. Lictors can mete out punishments at the direction of the official they protect.
Skills: Civics, Republic (substitued for Empire), Insight, Spot Hidden, Status, Axe, and two other skills of your choice.
Money: 1D3 x 50 sesterii

Light Horseman: These auxiliary soldiers in the Roman cavalry are often used as scouts and skirmishers, wearing only the lightest of armor (or none at all) to enhance their mobility.
Skills: Climb, Dodge, Jump, Ride Horse, Spear, Throw, Track, and one other weapon skill of your choice.
Money: 1D2 x 50 sesterii
Special: No penalty when firing a bow from a moving horse as long as no armor is worn.

Magus: One reputed to be very wise and full of arcane knowledge, and they are particularly skilled at history, languages, and cultures. Magi are often employed as scribes, advisors, and translators.
Skills: Art(Orate), Library Use, Occult, Other Kingdom, Other Language, Own Kingdom, Persuade, History (substituted for Write Language)
Money: 1D3 x 100 sesterii

Merchant: Merchants often travel far, looking to buy goods cheap where they are made and sell them for a profit elsewhere.
Skills: Accounting, Bargain, Drive, Republic (susbstituted for Empire), Fast Talk, Other Kingdom, Other Language, Insight (substituted for Write Language)
Money: (1D4 + 1) x 100 sesterii, plus 1,000 sesterii worth of product for sale

Metalworker: A blacksmith or other artisan who works with metal, shaping it into weapons, armor, or other useful objects.
Skills: Art(Metalwork), Bargain, Craft(Metalwork), Other Kingdom, Repair/Devise, and three other skills of your choice.
Money: 1D4 x 50 sesterii

Miner: Miners work underground, harvesting ore, salt, and the like. Mining is very dangerous and harsh work. Many miners are slaves, as it can be difficult to find volunteers.
Skills: Accounting, Bargain, Craft(Engineering), Craft(Mining), First Aid, Natural World, Persuade, and one other skill of your choice.
Money: 1D3 x 50 sesterii

Nomad: Someone with no fixed abode who travels from place to place, such as the Bedouin tribes of the East.
Skills: Bargain, Fast Talk, Natural World, Navigate, Ride Horse, Spot Hidden, Track, Large Knife
Money: 1D2 x 100 sesterii

Patrician: A member of the highest class in ancient Rome, permitted to wear a purple stripe indicating such - but prohibited from engaging in business (it is considered beneath your station). They are, however, independently wealthy and often lend money.
Skills: Accounting, Civics, Republic (substituted for Empire), Other Kingdom, Persuade, Status, Other Language (substituted for Write Language), and one other skill of your choice.
Money: 1D4 x 100 sesterii, plus 1000 sesterii in loans owed to you (that may be hard to collect)

Physician: A medical professional who treats the sick and injured. People don't want to see surgeons, as they sometimes come out with fewer parts than they had when they went in, but they do want to see physicians.
Skills: First Aid, Insight, Library Use, Medicine, Natural World, Occult, Potions, Knife
Money: 1D4 x 100 sesterii

Prefect (Aedile): A Roman politician who helps govern the city. Prefects don't write laws, but they do make sure that they are obeyed.
Skills: Bargain, Civics, Republic (substituted for Empire), Fast Talk, Insight, Persuade, Status, Other Language (substituted for Write Language)
Money: (1D4 + 2) x 100 sesterii

Rabbi: A Judean scholar and religious authority figure, rabbis are leaders of their people who can also pick up a sword and fight.
Skills: Fast Talk, Science(Judaism), Science(other religion of player's choice), Library Use, Occult, Persuade, Short Sword, Status
Money: 1D2 x 100 sesterii