Monday, April 8, 2013

500 Pseudo-medieval Professions in a List

Behold, for your gaming pleasure, a list of 500 alphabetically ordered more-or-less useful, more-often-than-not silly or pseudo-medieval professions. This is a list I use to generate a modicum of background for my characters, along with a table that generates their starting skill - however, since my goal here is to provide ingredients, which may be used by the enterprising DM as he sees fit ... well, enough chit chat. The table!

d500 Profession
1 Abbot
2 Acaterer
3 Accomptant
4 Accordionist
5 Accoutrementer
6 Acrobat
7 Actor
8 Administrator
9 Alchemist
10 Alewife
11 Almoner
12 Anatomist
13 Animal handler
14 Animal trainer
15 Apiarist
16 Apothecary
17 Appraiser
18 Architect
19 Arkwright
20 Armourer
21 Artillerist
22 Astrologer
23 Astronomer
24 Attendant
25 Auctioneer
26 Babycatcher or midwife
27 Bailiff
28 Baker
29 Balancemaker
30 Balladier
31 Banker
32 Barber
33 Bard
34 Bargeman
35 Barker
36 Barrister
37 Basketmaker
38 Bass player
39 Bather
40 Bearleader or tutor
41 Bearward
42 Beautician
43 Beerseller
44 Beggar
45 Bellfounder
46 Bellmaker
47 Billier or axe maker
48 Biologist
49 Blacksmith
50 Bleacher
51 Boatsman
52 Boatwright
53 Bodyservant
54 Bonecarver
55 Bookbinder
56 Boothman or grain salesman
57 Botanist
58 Bounty hunter
59 Bowyer
60 Brazier or brassworker
61 Bricklayer
62 Brickmaker
63 Bronzefounder
64 Broom maker
65 Brushbinder
66 Bucklemaker
67 Bufoon
68 Builder
69 Bureaucrat
70 Burglar
71 Butcher
72 Butler
73 Buttonmaker
74 Cabdriver
75 Cabinetmaker
76 Calligrapher
77 Canaller
78 Cannoncaster
79 Cannoneer
80 Canoeist
81 Cantor
82 Cardmaker
83 Carpenter
84 Cartographer or mapmaker
85 Cartwright
86 Carver of meats
87 Carwasher
88 Catchpole or debt collector
89 Chainmaker
90 Chancellor
91 Chandler
92 Chanter
93 Chapman or itinerant merchant
94 Charcoalier
95 Charioteer
96 Cheesemaker
97 Chicken butcher
98 Chimney sweep
99 Chirurgeon
100 Chronicler
101 Clay sculptor
102 Clerk
103 Climber
104 Clockmaker
105 Clothier
106 Clown
107 Cobbler
108 Cockfighter
109 Coiner
110 Collier or coal seller
111 Combmaker
112 Compassmaker
113 Composer
114 Confectioner
115 Conman
116 Constable
117 Cook
118 Cooper
119 Copyist
120 Cordwainer or fine leathers
121 Corsetier
122 Costermonger or fruit seller
123 Courier
124 Cowherd
125 Crier
126 Crofter or tenant farmer
127 Crossbowmaker
128 Curate
129 Currier or leather curer
130 Cutler
131 Dairymaid
132 Delver or ditchdigger
133 Dentist
134 Detective
135 Diamantaier
136 Diplomat
137 Disher or dishmaker
138 Dishwasher
139 Diver
140 Doctor
141 Dog trainer
142 Draftsman
143 Drayman or cart driver
144 Drover of animals
145 Druid
146 Drummer
147 Drunk
148 Drywaller
149 Dung carter
150 Dwarf
151 Dyer
152 Eggler or seller of eggs
153 Embalmer
154 Embroiderer
155 Enameller
156 Engineer
157 Executioner
158 Falconer
159 Famulus or magician
160 Farmer
161 Farrier
162 Feltmaker
163 Fence
164 Ferryman
165 Fewterer or keeper of hunting dogs
166 Fiddler
167 Fisherman
168 Fishmonger
169 Flesh sculptor
170 Fletcher
171 Flutist
172 Food taster
173 Fool
174 Footballer
175 Footpad
176 Forager
177 Forester
178 Forger
179 Fortune teller
180 Founder
181 Fowler
182 Freeholder
183 Fresco painter
184 Fueller
185 Fungus hunter
186 Furniture maker
187 Furrier
188 Gambler
189 Gamekeeper
190 Gardener
191 Gem cutter
192 Geographer
193 Geologist
194 Geometer
195 Ghost speaker
196 Gilder
197 Girdler
198 Glass blower
199 Glass painter
200 Glass seller
201 Glover
202 Goatherd
203 Gold prospector
204 Goldsmith
205 Golem programmer
206 Gravedigger
207 Greengrocer
208 Grinder
209 Groom
210 Guard
211 Guitarist
212 Gunsmith
213 Gunstocker
214 Haberdasher or men's clothing
215 Hacker or hoe maker
216 Hairdresser
217 Harlot
218 Harness maker
219 Harper
220 Hatter
221 Hawker
222 Hay merchant
223 Hayward or hedge tender
224 Healer
225 Hedge wizard
226 Herald
227 Herbalist
228 Hermit
229 Historian
230 Historian
231 Hobbler or tower of boats
232 Horner or horn worker
233 Horse trainer
234 Horseleech
235 Horseman
236 Housewife
237 Huntsman
238 Hurdlemaker or fence maker
239 Hypnotist
240 Illuminator
241 Innkeeper
242 Inquisitor
243 Instrument maker
244 Investigator
245 Ironmonger
246 Ivorist
247 Jailer
248 Jelly maker
249 Jester
250 Jew
251 Jeweler
252 Joiner or skilled carpenter
253 Jouster
254 Judge
255 Juggler
256 Knapper
257 Knifesmith
258 Landlord
259 Laundress
260 Lawyer
261 Lay brother
262 Leatherworker
263 Lensgrinder
264 Librarian
265 Lighterman or good ferrier
266 Linen-draper
267 Liner or tracer of properties
268 Linguist
269 Linkman or torchbearer
270 Lobsterman
271 Locksmith
272 Logistician
273 Lumberjack
274 Lutenist
275 Luthier or maker of string instruments
276 Maid
277 Mailmaker
278 Mariner
279 Marshal or horse tender
280 Mason
281 Master of hounds
282 Master of revels
283 Mathematician
284 Mechanic
285 Mediator
286 Meditator
287 Memorizer
288 Mercenary
289 Mercer or seller of fine clothes
290 Merchant
291 Miller
292 Mime
293 Miner
294 Miniaturist
295 Minnesinger or singer of love songs
296 Minter
297 Mirrorer
298 Molecatcher
299 Monk
300 Mosaic layer
301 Mountaineer
302 Mummer
303 Nailmaker
304 Napier or linen manager
305 Navigator
306 Nedeller or needle maker
307 Netmaker
308 Nurse
309 Omen reader
310 Orator
311 Orchard keeper
312 Organ grinder
313 Organist
314 Ostiary or door keeper
315 Oxherder
316 Oynter or oil merchant
317 Oysterer
318 Painter
319 Palmer
320 Panhandler
321 Panter or keeper of pantries
322 Papermaker
323 Parchmenter
324 Parish priest
325 Parker or park caretaker
326 Pastry maker
327 Pavior or layer of pavements
328 Peasant
329 Peddler
330 Pewterer
331 Philosopher
332 Phrenologist
333 Physician
334 Physicist
335 Pianist
336 Pickpocket
337 Pie seller
338 Pilgrim
339 Pilot
340 Pioneer or military engineer
341 Piper
342 Pissprophet
343 Playwright
344 Plowman
345 Plumber
346 Plumer
347 Poacher
348 Podiatrist
349 Poet
350 Pole-turner
351 Porter
352 Postman
353 Pot mender
354 Potter
355 Poulter
356 Prestidigitator
357 Priest
358 Printer
359 Privy cleaner
360 Prizefighter
361 Professor
362 Prostitute
363 Psychologist
364 Public reader
365 Purser
366 Quack
367 Quarryman
368 Quartermaster
369 Quilter
370 Rag and bone man
371 Ragpicker
372 Raker or mud raker
373 Rat catcher
374 Reaper
375 Rectifier or distiller
376 Redsmith
377 Reedmaker
378 Reeve or church warden
379 Restauranteur
380 Riveter
381 Role-player
382 Roofer
383 Ropemaker
384 Rugmaker
385 Runner
386 Sacristan or relic keeper
387 Saddler
388 Sail maker
389 Sailor
390 Salesman
391 Salt miner
392 Sapper or fortifier
393 Sausage maker
394 Sawyer
395 Scholar
396 Scout
397 Scribe
398 Scullion
399 Sculptor
400 Scythesmith
401 Sea captain
402 Seamstress
403 Secretary
404 Seneschal or head servant
405 Sergeant
406 Sexton or bell ringer
407 Sheep shearer
408 Shepherd
409 Sherrif
410 Shieldmaker
411 Shipchandler or provisioner
412 Shipwright
413 Shrimper
414 Siege engineer
415 Siever or maker of sieves
416 Silkmaid
417 Silversmith
418 Singer
419 Singler or tiler
420 Skier
421 Smelter
422 Smith
423 Snake oil salesman
424 Soldier
425 Soothsayer
426 Spectaclesmaker
427 Spelunker
428 Spicer
429 Sportsman
430 Spurrer or spur maker
431 Spy
432 Stationer or book seller
433 Stewsman or pimp
434 Stonecarver
435 Stoneworker
436 Street hawker
437 Stylite
438 Summoner
439 Swineherd
440 Swordsmith
441 Tailor
442 Tanner
443 Tapicer or tapestry maker
444 Tapster
445 Tattooist
446 Taverner
447 Taxidermist
448 Teamster
449 Tenter or unskilled assistant
450 Thatcher
451 Thaumaturge
452 Theologian
453 Thongmaker
454 Thresher
455 Tile maker
456 Tillerman
457 Tinkerer or tinsmith
458 Tobacconist
459 Trail blazer
460 Trap maker
461 Trapper
462 Troubadour
463 Trumpeter
464 Tumbler
465 Turner or lathe worker
466 Undertaker
467 Unguentary
468 Userer or usurer
469 Vaginarius or scabbard maker
470 Ventriloquist
471 Vintner
472 Waferer or confectioner
473 Wagoner
474 Waiter
475 Waller
476 Watchman
477 Water carier
478 Water seller
479 Waterman or river sailor
480 Weaponsmith
481 Weaver
482 Weeper
483 Weight lifter
484 Weirkeeper or fishtrapper
485 Wetnurse
486 Whistler
487 Wig maker
488 Witch watcher
489 Wood carver
490 Wood seller
491 Woodmonger
492 Woodturner
493 Woodward
494 Wool stapler or merchant
495 Writer
496 Xylophonist
497 Yakherd
498 Yogi
499 Ziltoid the Omniscient
500 Zoologist

Many occupations and ideas culled from Arcana.wikidot and from svincent. I recommend visiting those sites for more details and for things like lordly titles and occupations, since I mostly left them out. Hail Ziltoid!

2 comments:

  1. I put this list in a public spreadsheet that randomizes the list.

    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AiKSwUaTWLwVdDljSll4dnAydHhLZFRoek5tYjNLRXc&usp=sharing

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cool! Glad to see it being used. :)

    ReplyDelete