NPC Random Generator (2nd Edition)

Last Summer, I was asked by a player to run a Naval Victoriana Campaign. Within the tight confines of a ship, the NPCs would be limited, and frequently encountered, so I wanted the introduction of a crewman to be an event. A NPC Random Generator with the players rolling the dice fit nicely. While all of Victoriana uses D6s, I used various other types of dice for the sake of variety, simplicity, and old school atmosphere (it is a random table after all).

To start, generate the NPC’s Sub-race by picking a social class and rolling a D20. Compare the result on the desired class' table.

NPC Sub-race (D20)
Low Class                             Middle Class                   High Class
1-2. Beastman (Agile)          1. Beastman (Agile)          1. Beastman
3-4. Beastman (Common)     2. Beastman (Common)    2-3. Dwarf
5. Beastman (Large)            3-6. Dwarf                       4-9. Eldren
6-7. Dwarf                          7-9. Eldren                       10-11. Gnome
8. Gnome                           10-13. Gnome                   12. Halfling
9-12. Halfling                     14. Halfling                       13-18. Humans
13-16. Humans                   15-18. Humans                 19. Ogres
17-18. Ogres                      19. Ogres                          20. Orcs
19-20. Orcs                        20. Orcs

Next decide if the character is specialized or generic. For a specialized character, roll 1D8 and 1D4 and for a generic, roll 2 D6s. Assign the  result of one die to the Physical Competence, and the other result to the Mental Competence.
Then modify the Competences by the Racial Modifiers on the chart below.
The calculations for Health, Mana, and Initiative can be found in the Victorian Core Rulebook.

NPC Sub-Race Competence Modifiers (1D8/1D4 or 1D6/1D6)
Race                     Physical Comp                Mental Comp
Beastman (Agile)   +1                                   0
Beastman (Com)    0                                     0
Beastman (Large)  +2                                   -1
Dwarf                    +1                                   0
Eldren                    -1                                   +1
Gnome                   -2                                   +2
Halfling                  -2                                   +1
Human                    0                                   0
Ogre                       +4                                 -3
Orc                         +2                                 -1

To give the NPC personality, skills, and motivations, roll a D100 twice on the Trait Table Below. Traits are a broad description of an NPC’s abilities that may add or subtract dice to a skill roll for an action undertaken by the NPC (much like a skill). After rolling 2 traits decide how many dice the trait adds. Pick between 2 and 4 Dice for each trait.

NPC Traits (D100) pick two; none over +4
1. Alcoholic Brawler
2. Always Hungry
3. Amateur Antiquarian
4. Ambitious
5. Antagonistic Jerk
6. Archaic Knowledge
7. Aristocrat Hating
8. Artistic Skill
9. As you wish Sir
10. Born on a Ship
11. Brutal
12. By the Book, Please
13. Can’t Be Pushed Around
14. Cheerful
15. Clumsy but Lucky
16. Collector
17. Commanding Presence
18. Country Bumpkin
19. Cowardly
20. Cryptic and Mysterious
21. Daredevil
22. Deep Thinker
23. Diplomatic
24. Disgusting Habits
25. Duelist
26. Ear for News
27. Eats anything
28. Elegant
29. Eloquent
30. Empathetic
31. Friends in Low Places
32. Foreigner
33. Foul Minded
34. Gambling Problem
35. Greedy
36. Gutter Born
37. Handsome and Debonair
38. Hardy and Strong
39. Hypochondriac
40. Idealistic Dreamer
41. Impressionable
42. Infamous Reputation
43. Inquisitive
44. Intimidating Presence
45. Iron Will
46. Joyful and Helpful
47. Knowledgeably Arrogant
48. Knows everybody
49. Knows Too Much
50. Lady Killer
51. Light fingered
52. Lives Dangerously
53. Local Expert
54. Lovable Loser
55. Low Culture Lover
56. Loyal Crewman
57. Loyal to the cause
58. Man of Action
59. Meek as a mouse
60. Meticulous
61. Mighty Hunter
62. Miracle worker
63. Mocking Know it all
64. Musically Inclined
65. Nerves of Steel
66. Not in MY house!
67. Obsessive
68. Old Hand At This
69. Professional Moocher
70. Prophet of Doom
71. Protective Father Figure
72. Pub Crawler
73. Quick Temper
74. Restless Adventurer
75. Salty and Crusty
76. Scatter Brained Genius
77. Selfish but Charming
78. Serene and Sharp Eyed
79. Skilled Craftsman
80. Sneaky Scum
81. Social Climber
82. Stubborn as a Mule
83. Studious
84. Talkative
85. Tenacious Investigator
86. Terribly Bigoted
87. Thrifty Flaw Finder
88. Tinkerer
89. True Gourmet
90. Trustworthy Guardian
91. Two-Faced Liar
92. Underdweller
93. Unusually Hobby
94. Valued Member of Crew
95. Vengeful
96. Well Connected
97. Well Groomed
98. Well Read
99. World Traveler
100. Wheeler Dealer

This generator was created for a 2nd Edition Campaign. If you want to use it with 3rd Edition rules, roll three dice for Competencies by adding a D6. The third number is for Social Competence.
Even though 3rd Edition does not include traits in the NPC Stats, I suggest rolling for traits anyway. The traits give color and variety to NPCs and helps the GM play the character with a minimum of stats and text.