Occupational Forensics

[jason taylor]

I just realized that a Medieval Sheriff can tell if someone was a monk by looking at his knees or his writing hand. He could tell an archer from his upper arms. Obviously that has game implications, if for instance, someone is in disguise.

Any other ideas along that line?

[whswhs]

The swordsman's callouses, or the lutenist's. The dyer's stained fingers. The distinctive odors of many trades (Turtledove and Tarr discuss a man who uses urine professionally as a mordant, for example). Bow legs for certain occupations.

Sherlock Holmes observes the flattening of a young woman's fingertips and concludes that she may be either a pianist or a typist.

[Anthony]

Though it depends to what degree you think it should be possible to estimate capabilities based on appearances, because players might not want characters who actually look their attributes (high ST characters will have a lot of muscle, high DX characters will have a lot of muscle relative to their size. It's possible to have someone at ST 8/DX 15, like Dai Blackthorn, but he's not going to be 5'6" and 115 lb, he's going to be 4' and 60 lb).

[(E)]

A shepard's soft hands.
A mason's or lime burner's cough(?)
A sailors tan (reflected sunlight)
A milkmaid's strong grip or cow pox scars(?).
A washerwoman's skin
A poor person's dietary deficiency or tanned/toughened feet.

And then there is blurring the line with outright stereotypes.
A shepard's skill with a sling.
Fat butchers etc

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by Agemegos

Having worked in a lot of kitchens I can tell you that right-handed cooks get cuts on their left hand and burns on their right one, left-handed ones vice versa.

I believe that one. And one of the hazards of getting a newly sharpened knife is that it always wants a blood offering. Though at least it hurts less than a cut from a dull knife.

[Michele]

It's not occupational, but class-related. Today, the rich tend to be well tanned, in some cases even in winter. For long times in history and in many civilizations, the rich, especially rich women, are not tanned - farmers are.

Also class-related: the feet. The poor have thick-skinned and calloused feet; they often walk around barefoot, or in poor-quality sandals or rags. The rich walk less, and when they do it's with good footwear.

---

Since the OP mentions disguises, I think it's important to observe signs that don't tell who the victim was, but who he was not.
I.e., signs on the body that are indicative of the victim having recently begun an activity that was, however, not habitual for him. If the "knight" is dressed as such and even seems to have owned that horse in the stable, but his buttocks and thigs and calves show he was actually not accustomed to the saddle, maybe he was no knight, after all. If the "porter's" body show signs of chafing and bruising on the shoulders, and open sores on the hands, then either he had just begun with that job, or he wasn't a porter.

[The Colonel]

There are a couple of "medieval CSI" series out there for inspiration: Bernard Knight's Crowner John series feature a first generation coroner, Ellis Peter's Brother Cadfael, Michael Jeck's Bailiff Simon Puttock and Susanna Gregory's Dr. Matthew Bartholomew are all also various forms of medieval investigator who do this sort of thing a lot...

[RogerBW]

Originally Posted by whswhs

I believe that one. And one of the hazards of getting a newly sharpened knife is that it always wants a blood offering. Though at least it hurts less than a cut from a dull knife.

Building computers is the same. IME those tend to be cuts and scrapes on the back of the hand.

[khorboth]

Another fun one would be to have a specialized tool from a given trade laying on a table, ask the person to hand it to you and see if they pick it up right. There are a whole host of tools which for various reasons have parts that need to be kept clean, not touched, or kept safely away from people. Those unfamiliar would just grab whatever part is handy if it isn't sharp, but a craftsman would hold it properly unconsciously.

For instance, woodworking tools are often sharp in unexpected places. leatherworking tools are kept polished clean except on the handle. I'm sure there are more that could be investigated.

One could also tell something by a regional palate. Now, we get tastes from all over the world, but in a lower tech society, if you can or can't handle spicy food it says something about where you have been.

[Black Leviathan]

There would be environmental aspects of work too. Millers and bakers would have clothing full of flour. Shepherds would likely have burrs from specific plants in their clothes from chasing sheep out of brambles.

Trades would not just handle a tool in a specific way but they'd manage them instinctively based on trade. If you asked a sailor to hand you a pile of rope he'd instinctively start to coil it before handing it to you. A servant in a royal hall wouldn't hand you a fork if you're sitting at the table, he'd tuck it against your plate because he's accustomed to people at the table being focused on conversations he shouldn't interrupt. A milk maid would brace herself before lifting a bucket, even if it was full of something fairly light, because she's used to hauling gallons of milk.