[MOD REQUEST] Realistic Medieval Backstory Pack!

Started by Swarx, October 02, 2018, 03:06:19 PM

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Swarx

Hello, I spent some time coming up with over 60 backstories that could fit nicely into a medieval setting. Most of them are generic, and focus mainly on different medieval occupations, social classes and appointments.

I was wondering if anybody would be interested in making a mod that adds these into a RimWorld game. I think they would be especially useful with medieval conversion mods, to cut down on the amount of non-medieval backstories that are encountered.

I'm wondering if you guys think the skill distribution and such is balanced. Growing is intentionally quite common, and researching is disabled in occupations where literacy would have been unlikely.

By the way, if there's a specific code format that these need to be put in, I can do that for you.

Swarx

Childhood Backstories

Barbarian child
NAME was born in a savage barbarian clan on a medieval world. Growing up around raiders meant that NAME had to quickly learn how to fight, both so that HE could defend HIMself against other rowdy barbarian children, and so that HE could grow up to be an effective marauder HIMself.
Melee: +5

Caravan child
NAME born on the road as the child of a medieval caravan crew. Growing up, NAME learned the basics of several skills, such as caring for pack animals, cooking meals at the fire, and crafting simple items out of available materials.
Animals: +2
Cooking: +2
Crafting: +2


Goadsman
NAME worked with oxen and other draught animals when HE was young, ferrying materials to different parts of town. NAME grew quite strong by lifting heavy loads onto and off of the oxen HE worked with.
Animals: +3
Melee: +2


Stablehand
NAME was responsible for the care of horse and maintenance of stables in a medieval township. It was hard, smelly work, but NAME became familiar with horses and other animals.
Animals: +5

Noble bastard
NAME was the bastard offspring of a prominent lord, but grew up as a simple peasant, however. Bastards were looked down upon, but instead of casting HIM away, NAME's father wanted to eventually turn HIM into a loyal retainer. One day, one of the young knights in service of the lord took NAME aside and taught HIM how to use a bow and sword.
Melee: +3
Shooting: +3


Cotter's child
NAME was the child of a cotter, a rather poor peasant with only a small amount of land. HE learned how to tend to the modest field that HIS family owned, as well as how to build and repair fenceposts and thatch roofs.
Growing: +3
Construction: +2


Yeoman's child
NAME was the child of a yeoman, a relatively well-off, free landowning farmer on a medieval world. NAME grew up on a farm, doing agricultural-related tasks with HIS parents' servants.
Growing: +4
Animals: +4


Farmhand
NAME grew up with a family of serfs on a medieval world, learning how to farm and tend to animals. Of course, HE never received an education, nor instruction in social graces.
Growing: +6
Intellectual: -2
Social: -2


Merchant's assistant
NAME was born into a family of travelling medieval merchants. HE learned how to haggle for good prices and sell various products to different folk. NAME also did quite a bit of travelling between different townships. NAME sometimes fashioned small objects to sell on the side for extra asilver.
Social: +5
Artistic: +2


Servant
NAME was a young servant in a noble manor. HE did various tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, entertaining, and even giving minor treatment to HIS lord whenever they were ill.
Cooking: +2
Medicine: +2
Social: +2


Kitchen hand
NAME grew up with a family of serfs on a medieval world, learning how to farm and tend to animals. Of course, HE never received an education, nor instruction in social graces.
Cooking: +5

Miller
As a child, NAME worked with some boys to grind grain into flour at the watermill. HE had to carry the large bushels of wheat and bags of flour to and fro, but it built up HIS strength.
Melee: +2
Crafting +2


Fletcher
NAME was born to a skilled bowyer. As a child, HE helped HIS father fletch bows and other wooden items produced in the family workshop, and occasionally tested the bows as well.
Shooting: +3
Crafting: +3


Mason's apprentice
NAME was the apprentice of a medieval stonemason. HE learned how to shape and cut stones for various buildings, and assisted HIS master with various projects.
Construction +5

Miner's apprentice
NAME was the child of a family of miners on a medieval planet, and spent HIS later childhood assisting HIS father down in the bowels of the earth, chipping away at stone to locate precious metals for shaping and smelting.
Mining: +5

Artisan's apprentice
As a child, NAME worked in a medieval town's workshop. HE was apprenticed under an artisan who was adept at making various decorative arts and sculptures. HE also learned how to make miscellaneous items like toys and wooden chess pieces.
Artistic: +5

Craftsman's apprentice
NAME lived in a medieval world, and was apprenticed under HIS father. HE studied and dabbled in various trades, like blacksmithing and tailoring. Overall, NAME gained proficiency in a decent variety of related skills during HIS childhood.
Crafting: +5

Weaver's apprentice
NAME was apprenticed to a weaver on a medieval world, and was involved in spinning clothing, bags, rugs, etc. from linen and wool. HE also assisted HIS master in making beautiful dresses for the local ladies. The weavery was located in a town, so HE never witnessed the work of country farmers.
Craftsman: +4
Artistic: +4
Growing: -2
Animals: -2


Camp follower
When NAME was young, HE and HIS family followed a medieval army, selling things to soldiers and doing various tasks around camp, such as cooking.
Melee: +2
Cooking: +2
Social:
+2

Student
NAME dedicated HIS early life to intellectual pursuits, becoming a student in a medieval university. HE became one of the few literate people around, and learned about the arts, sciences, and other subjects.
Intellectual: +5
Artistic: +5


Scribe
NAME was a young scribe, acting as an administrative secretary for a medieval court. HE was engaged in writing scrolls, manuscripts, keeping track of records, and copying various types of documents
Intellectual: +5

Page
NAME was ranked below a squire, but was still in service of a knight. HE was trained in manners and basic literacy, as well as how to fight with wooden swords.
Melee: +4
Social: +4

Swarx

#2
Adulthood Backstories

Brigand
NAME joined a gang of bandits, taking up a life of pillaging and robbery. HE always lived in temporary tents, never building a permanent home. NAME learned how to use various weapons, like the mace, staff and bow. HE always had to be wary of the local militias and patrolling soldiers.
Melee: +4
Shooting: +4
Construction: -2
Researching disabled


Vagrant
NAME became a derelict, wandering from place to place. HE fled any obligations HE previously had, but was reduced to a beggar. NAME often had to scavenge for berries, craft simple items from whatever HE could find, and fight off wild animals, as well as other vagabonds that were trying to take what HE had.
Melee: +3
Growing: +3
Crafting: +3
Artistic: -2
Social: -2
Researching disabled


Woodcutter
NAME worked in the forests, chopping down trees and shaping them into usable planks. HE sold some of them to the village, while giving others to HIS lord's personal stockpile. Working in such a profession gave NAME a good deal of physical strength, as well as some knowledge on various types of trees.
Melee: +3
Growing: +3
Researching disabled


Quarry worker
NAME worked at a stone quarry, hauling and shaping heavy rocks for use in town buildings and castle walls.
Mining: +3
Crafting: +3
Artistic: +1
Researching disabled


Iron miner
NAME worked down in the depths of an iron mine on a medieval world, pulling metal from the earth to be later made into weapons, armor and tools. HE grew quite strong from the job.
Mining: +5
Melee: +2
Researching disabled


Dairy farmer
NAME was a rancher on a medieval world who raised cattle for their milk and cheese. HE occasionally sold them to be slaughtered for their hides and leather.
Animals: +3
Growing: +2
Cooking: +2
Researching disabled


Orcharder
NAME managed an orchard on a medieval world, growing fruit to be sold at the market. HE gained skills in regard to agriculture and getting good prices at the market. NAME didn't own any farm animals, as picking apples from trees didn't require any.
Growing: +5
Social: +3
Animals: -2
Researching disabled


Thatcher
NAME built and repaired the roofs of houses in a medieval village, layering dried straw, reeds, rushes and other simple materials to provide insulation and keep out water.
Construction: +6
Crafting: +2
Researching disabled


Butcher
NAME lived in a medieval township and owned a small butcher's shop. HE slaughtered animals, dressed them, and prepared the cuts of meat and poultry for sale at the nearby marketplace.
Cooking: +4
Animals: +4


Bowyer
NAME had a workshop on a medieval world where HE fletched bows and arrows for the lord's army. HE never lifted a sword in HIS life, however.
Shooting: +4
Craftsman: +4
Melee: -2


Baker
NAME owned a small bakery in a medieval township. Grain was taken to the great mills and turned into flour, which NAME bought and turned into various grades of bread which HE sold to peasants, townsmen and gentry alike.
Cooking: +6

Laborer
NAME was a simple laborer in a medieval city, often doing menial tasks like carrying water, repairing buildings, and assisting in public construction projects. It was physically exerting, so NAME eventually put on some decent muscle.
Construction: +5
Melee: +2
Researching disabled


Stonemason
NAME was a skilled mason on a medieval world. HE cut and shaped stones for use in castle walls and other buildings. HE was employed by town officials, nobles, and rich notables.
Construction: +8
Crafting: +4
Growing: -2


Vintner
NAME owned a vintner's workshop. HE brought grapes from the vineyards and crushed them into wine must, before fermenting the juice. Many folk came from around the county to purchase NAME's wine.
Cooking: +4
Growing: +3


Shopkeeper
NAME owned a shophouse in a medieval township, selling wares on the ground floor and living with HIS family on the second level. HE was good at peddling HIS wares to the townsfolk, and also became familiar enough with tools to make repairs to HIS residence.
Social: +4
Construction: +2


Travelling merchant
NAME was a travelling merchant, going from village to village, town to town, castle to castle. HE only had a pack donkey as a beast of burden, and had to sometimes use a sword to fight off thieves. NAME also had to occasionally scavenge for food and cook trail meals.
Social: +4
Melee: +2
Cooking: +2


Serf
NAME was a poor peasant farmer on a medieval world. HE was good at a variety of grunt-related tasks, but unlike the slightly richer farmers, HE could not afford to purchase any weapons or armor. HIS lord decided to keep HIM as a worker and not press HIM into any military duties, and HE never became familiar with weapons.
Growing: +3
Mining: +3
Construction: +3
Melee: -2
Shooting: -2
Researching disabled


Cotter
NAME lived in a modest cottage and cultivated a small plot of land on a medieval world. HE was poorer than other peasants, growing just enough food to feed HIS family. Sometimes HE used tools to repair HIS cottage.
Growing: +3
Construction: +2
Researching disabled


Villein
NAME rented a small hovel, living under the auspices of a medieval lord as HE worked the land to feed HIS family. The rents were quite heavy, and most of NAME's life revolved around tilling the earth and harvesting crops. There was little opportunity to learn how to read, or engage in the arts. Still, NAME was a very productive farmer.
Growing: +6
Artistic: -2
Researching disabled


Free peasant
NAME lived on a medieval world. HE was poor, but was not bound to a lord, and was free from paying most forms of tax. Still, HE had to train with simple weapons in case HIS kingdom went to war.
Growing: +3
Shooting: +2
Melee: +2
Intellectual: -2
Artistic: -2


Yeoman
NAME owned a small landed estate on a medieval world. HE work on HIS modest farm with a few servants, and spent HIS spare time at the archery range in case HIS lord ever needed HIM for service.
Growing: +4
Animals: +2
Shooting: +3


Reeve
NAME was an official in a medieval village, acting as on overseer of the peasants. HE was tasked with keeping track of provisions, using tally marks made with a stick, as HE couldn't actually read. NAME was an officer of the manor, but also did day-to-day work with the other peasants.
Growing: +4
Animals: +2
Social: +3
Researching disabled


Bailiff
NAME was an agent of the local lord that collected rents, ran the local farms, and administered local laws. Sometimes HE needed to use a blunt quarterstaff to deal with troublesome individuals.
Social: +4
Growing: +3
Melee: +2


Steward
NAME was the head officer of a lord's household and overall manager of the village and its finances. NAME also worked with the lower-ranking officers of the estate, the reeve and the bailiff. NAME was more educated than HIS subordinates, and occasionally found time to practice with a sword. However, NAME rarely engaged in any actual day-to-day labor.
Social: +5
Melee: +5
Intellectual: +2
Growing: -2
Mining: -2


Justice of the peace
NAME was a low-ranking knight commissioned by HIS king to keep the peace in an unruly medieval shire. HE thankfully had the skill at arms to fight off the savage brigands, and also became quite popular with the common folk.
Melee: +8
Social: +8
Construction: -2
Growing: -2
Mining: -2


Forester
NAME was a royal forester on a medieval world, skilled with various grades of bows and arrows. HE grew familiar with the local animals, and also came to be regarded as quite charming.
Shooting: +5
Animals: +2
Social: +2


Landed gentry
NAME lived on a medieval world, and occupied a social class ranking just below the nobility. HE had a country estate, and lived comfortably from the rents paid by the peasant farmers that worked HIS lands. HE knew how to fight with a sword, care for a horse, and entertain company. However, HE was not the best at grunt work.
Melee: +5
Social: +3
Animals: +2
Growing: -2
Mining: -2


Monk
NAME was a follower of the church on HIS medieval planet, and adopted a monastic lifestyle. NAME lived a communal life in a remote abbey, devoting HIS life to studying the divine and maintaining the monastery where HE lived. NAME was isolated from most other people, but gained skills with gardening, and even fighting with a quarterstaff.
Intellectual: +3
Melee: +3
Growing: +3
Social: -3


Herbalist
NAME studied basic medical herbalism, often treating minor wounds in HIS medieval village. NAME kept a personal garden just outside HIS cottage, and occasional ventured into the forests beyond to look for more exotic ingredients for HIS medicines.
Medical: +4
Growing: +4


Alchemist
NAME mixed potions and concoctions on a medieval world. Some of the potions HE developed were used for medical purposes. Sometimes HIS elixirs ended up doing more harm than good, but HE eventually managed to develop some reliable treatments for minor ailments.
Medical: +3
Intellectual: +2
Growing: +2


Barber surgeon
NAME was a general practitioner of medicine on a medieval world. Having razors at HIS disposal, HE did things like cutting and grooming hair, but also bloodletting, even amputating limbs when necessary. HE was also capable of applying leeches and identifying various humors.
Medical: +6

Astrologer
NAME was skilled in the astrological arts, observing celestial events in an attempt to apply them to calendars and predict happenings in the mortal realm. HE worked with horoscopes and cosmograms. Though it was mostly nonsense by modern standards, NAME ultimately gained some other research skills as well.
Intellectual: +6

Jester
NAME was an entertainer in a royal court. HE told jokes and stories, and preformed song and dance for the amusement of guests. HE could get away with making fun of lords that nobody else would dare jest about.
Social: +7
Artistic: +3


Chancellor
NAME became part of HIS lord's Chancery, and was thus responsible for producing all documents pertaining to the administration of HIS lord's estates. NAME was quite educated, as well as skilled in finances.
Intellectual: +5
Social: +5


Levy
NAME was a farmer by trade, but was pressed into service by HIS lord for a long period of time during a particularly bloody war with a band of lawless nobles.
Melee: +3
Growing: +2
Researching disabled


Archer
NAME was an archer in the royal army of HIS kingdom. HE was skilled with HIS longbow, letting loose numerous arrows per minute and making pincushions out of enemy soldiers. When HE was forced to get up close and personal, HE used a club or small sword.
Shooting: +6
Melee: +2
Artistic: -2
Researching disabled


Foot soldier
NAME was a simple foot soldier in a medieval lord's retinue. HE often fought with a spear whenever HE was in formation, while using a long dagger in close quarters. HE was more disposed to burning down farms rather than working on them.
Melee: +6
Growing: -2
Researching disabled


Guard
NAME was a low-ranking soldier that protected a medieval township. Equipped with a kettle hat and a spear, HE patrolled the walls and guarded the keep of the local lord. HE often stood guard in the market, where HE often haggled and socialized with merchants.
Melee: +5
Social: +3
Researching disabled


Sergeant
NAME was ranked as the leader of twenty infantry in a medieval army. HE fought with a sword, armor and shield, and did HIS best to inspire the foot soldiers under HIS command as HE led them into battle against the foes of HIS lord and king. When not fighting, HE stayed in army camps, where HE mostly left the cooking of HIS meals to the camp followers.
Melee: +6
Shooting: +2
Social: +2
Cooking: -2


Hobilar
NAME was part of the light cavalry component of HIS lord's retinue. Mounted atop a light and agile horse, NAME was a skilled skirmisher, scout, and mounted fighter.
Melee: +5
Animals:
+5

Man-at-arms
NAME decided to advance HIS social status through military service. NAME became a man-at-arms, and grew to be well-versed in the use of arms. HE often fought from horseback, but occasionally dismounted to fight as heavy infantry. Being reasonably well-off, HE was unfamiliar with peasant's duties.
Melee: +10
Growing: -2
Construction: -2
Mining: -2


Constable
NAME was responsible for keeping and maintaining HIS village's stores of weapons and armor, as well as organizing the local militia for the protection of the settlement.
Melee: +3
Shooting: +3
Social: +3

TomZ

#3
Hi Swarx,

I am making a small medieval themed mod, 3 norses fations planed with different lores and apparels/heraldry.
Since my English is pretty poor i was looking for someone (or plurial) to make some backstory fitting the mod setup (old viking/nordics societys vibe). And just discovered this thread, so i am really interested in your backstory Pack !

here a preview thread : https://ludeon.com/forums/index.php?topic=47457.0

Swarx

For your mod, I could make some backstory stuff that's more nordic-themed.

Could you also make this backstory pack its own addon, for more general medieval mods?

Holvr

Even though I don't have much to add to this thread right now, I'd like to appreciate the fact that you've made most of the medieval folks unable to research in an effort to simulate illiteracy. That alone makes this backstory pack really immersive and enjoyable. Kudos.

Swarx

Thanks a bunch. Yeah, that was the idea. It's also to help with balancing, since medieval tech trees are mostl rather limited. If everyone could research, you'd max it out too quickly.