Dark Ages Character Templates

[Dangerious P. Cats]

I'm working on a campaign for one of the re-enactment groups I'm involved in set in the Dark Ages. The characters are a warband of Anglo Saxons on a quest to save the local lord's daughter from Viking raiders, though they can be people from a variety of backgrounds (many Saxon warbands were bassically concripts). I'm trying to put together templates for the period (mostly for NPCs) but I've hit a bit of block trying to think of what I'll need to write. I guess the Question for the hive mind is what kinds of people will you encounter in Early Mediecal Europe (If you want to have a crack at writing templates for them you'll get more points towards knowledge: RPGs)?

On another note has anyone run a historical campaign like this before? What advice can you offer? Also are there any good webresources on the period that would be useful for roleplaying?

[Ed the Coastie]

My first, knee-jerk reaction is to ask if you have looked at GURPS Middle Ages 1; it covers the period in which you have set your game. You may also wish to take a look at GURPS Camelot, although the "Historical" chapter is set a bit before what you had in mind.

The closest I have ever come to running such a game myself was an AD&D 2e campaign set during the Holy Roman Empire in the time of Charlemagne. (It was my wife's first gaming experience...and she did rather well even than.) I used the AD&D HR-series "greenbooks" Charlemagne's Paladins and Vikings as my sources.

[Amra]

Have you got GURPS Historical Folk 4e? Here's a link:
http://www.mygurps.com/ghf.html

[Sam Baughn]

Here's my rough list:

Archer - Historical Folks Soldier with Archer Lens or Fantasy Archer
Bard - Historical Folks Minstrel or Fantasy Bard
Farmer - Historical Folks Peasant
Fisherman - Historical Folks Fisherman
Herder - Historical Folks Herder
Hermit - Historical Folks Hermit
Housewife
Hunter - Historical Folks Hunter
Leatherworker - Historical Folks Leatherworker
Man-at-Arms (Knight, Carl or Thane)
Midwife - Historical Folks Midwife
Miner - Historical Folks Miner
Monk - Historical Folks Monk
Nobleman (King, Jarl or Elder) - Historical Folks Feudal Nobleman, Commander or Ruler
Noblewoman - Historical Folks Noblewoman
Nun - Historical Folks Monk
Outcast - Historical Folks Pariah
Peddler - Historical Folks Teamster or Vendor
Pilgrim - Historical Folks Pilgrim
Priest - Historical Folks Priest
Prostitute - Historical Folks Courtesan
Sailor - Historical Folks Sailor
Senior Cleric (Bishop, Abbott, Abbess) - Combine Historical Folks Monk or Priest with Politician
Shipmaster - Combine Historical Folks Merchant with Sailor
Slave - Historical Folks Domestic Servant, Labourer or Peasant plus Social Stigma (Valuable Property)
Smith - Historical Folks Smith
Tinker - Historical Folks Tinker
Woodworker

I'll have a hunt around for suitable templates...

[Sam Baughn]

Man-at-Arms
80 Points

Attributes: ST 11 [10]; DX 11 [20]; IQ 10 [0]; HT 11 [10].

Secondary Characteristics: Damage 1d-1/1d+1; BL 24 lbs; HP 11 [0]; Will 10 [0]; Per 10 [0]; FP 11 [0]; Basic Speed 5.5 [0]; Basic Move 5 [0].

Advantages: Status 2* [5]; Wealth (Wealthy) [20]; 15 points from Combat Reflexes [15], Fearlessness [2/level], Fit [5] or High Pain Threshold [10].

Disdvantages: Duty (Leige Lord, Fairly Often) [-5] and another -15 points chosen from Bad Temper [-10], Berzerk [-10], Callous [-5], Impulsiveness [-10], Overconfidence [-5], Sense of Duty [Variable] or Stubbornness [-5].

Primary Skills: Spear (A) DX+1 [4]-12; One of Brawling (E) DX+1 [4]-12, Fast Draw (Knife or Sword) (E) DX+2 [4]-13, Hiking (A) HT+1 [4]-12, Running (A) HT+1 [4]-12 or Wrestling (A) DX+1 [4]-12.

Secondary Skills: Two of Axe/Mace (A) DX [2]-11, Broadsword (A) DX [2]-11, Intimidation (A) Will [2]-10, Shield (E) DX+1 [2]-12, Tactics (H) IQ-1 [2]-9, Thrown Weapon (Axe/Mace or Spear) (A) DX [2]-11; Two of Crewman (Seamanship) (E) IQ+1 [2]-11, Knife (E) DX+1 [2]-12, Leadership (A) IQ [2]-10, Riding (Horse) (A) DX [2]-11, Soldier (A) IQ [2]-10 or Two-Handed Axe/Mace (A) DX [2]-11.

Background Skills: Two of Administration (A) IQ [2]-10, Bow (A) DX [2]-11, Carousing (E) HT+1 [2]-12, Climbing (A) DX [2]-11, Swimming (E) HT+1 [2]-12 or Tracking (A) Per [2]-10.

* Includes +1 Status for Wealth.

[Rotwang]

Cool! I've run an Anglo-Saxon/Mystery/Horror game on and off since just before 4/e came out.

Some useful PC templates are:
Thane
Huscarl/Viking
Skald
Monk/Nun
Priest
Fyrdman

Higher ranking churchman/nobles would be useful too as NPCs. Plus craftsmen/merchants...

[Lupo]

Originally Posted by Dangerious P. Cats

On another note has anyone run a historical campaign like this before? What advice can you offer? Also are there any good webresources on the period that would be useful for roleplaying?

I don't think it is available on the web, but when I read this book I found it reeeally interesting:

The Medieval World: The History of European Society (Jacques Le Goff)

This books "Offers 10 profiles written by 10 of today's leading medievalists: monks, the warrior & the knight, the peasant & agriculture, the city-dweller & life in cities & towns, the intellectual, the artist, the merchant, women & the family, the saint, & the marginal man. Opens a delightful window into the past & will be essential reading for students of the medieval period & for those fascinated by the Middle Ages. Suggested readings & bibliography conclude each profile."

If you manage to read it, is seems to be exactly what you're looking for!

[macphersonrants]

GURPS Vikings is the closest source book to what you are looking for. Celtic Myth might be helpful as well. Middle Ages is really too late.