How Do We Know Each Other?

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This table is nicked directly from this post on Reddit

Players can use this to establish relationships for their characters before a game starts. GMs can use this to offer players a chance to have already met an NPC when they show up. Or you can just enjoy the list and use it to come up with ideas for NPCs in a character's backstory.

This table should be used as inspiration, seeds of ideas that could be fleshed out to create shared histories for characters. They are as setting-independent as I can get them. You don't have to roll if you see something you like, nor do you have to accept a roll you or the other player don't like. Some of these connections are limited, negative, or vague, and that's on purpose. Sometimes two people are just kinda.... aware of each other, without ever really meeting. However, if you do roll something like "we went to the same school", you could leave it at that, or you could decide to flesh out for yourself what that means.

Many of these meeting prompts are not symmetrical. Feel free to swap the "me" and "you" roles as desired.

On character creation, roll once to see what your relationship is with the player to your right. In this way, everybody at the table will have some kind of direct connection with at least two other characters.

(You can roll for every other character if you so choose, but it's generally not necessary, and is more likely to just create a byzantine soap-opera-like net of interconnection than do anything useful.)

Roll 1d100

  1. We grew up in the same area / town / city, but otherwise don't really know each other
  2. Our families knew each other, and we'd meet at community events and locations sometimes
  3. Our families knew each other, and are in a sworn alliance together
  4. Our families have been in a long multi-generational feud, and we've both done things to further it
  5. Our families have been in a long multi-generational feud, and honestly neither of us know what it was originally about or why we should care
  6. Your family ruined my family, financially. We lost our home because of you.
  7. We're related, but not too closely. We saw each other every now and then at family gatherings
  8. We're related and fairly close, seeing each other at least every week
  9. We were raised together, as or like siblings.
  10. We were childhood friends who grew apart, and haven't seen each other in ages.
  11. We grew up together, and you helped me deal with a bully.
  12. We grew up together, and you used to bully me. It's been a while and we've both matured; you barely remember ...but I can't forget.
  13. We grew up together, and you used to bully me. It's been a while and we've both matured; it's embarrassing for both of us but something we can laugh about now.
  14. You promised my caretaker that you’d protect me.
  15. My family forbid me from hanging out with you. Which of course made me do it all the more.
  16. Your best friend was my brother/sister/father/mother/relative, and I always loved hearing about you
  17. Our siblings were best friends, so we met a lot as kids
  18. I had an embarrassing crush on you as a young child, which I've grown out of
  19. I had an embarrassing crush on you as a young child, which I've TOTALLY grown out of, HONEST. I swear...
  20. We used to date but it was kinda lame.
  21. We used to date but it ended badly
  22. We used to date but, and it wasn't bad, but other things got in the way and before we could really figure out if it was working or not
  23. We used to date, and it was pretty good... but something else got in the way and forced us to end it.
  24. You were the friend of someone I dated
  25. You were the family member of someone I dated
  26. You were the family member of someone I dated, and I broke their heart
  27. We both dated the same person for a while, they cheated on you with me. You still hold it against me.
  28. We both dated the same person for a while, and tried to force them to choose between us. They chose to leave.
  29. We both dated the same person for a while, with them cheating on and lying to both of us. We bonded in commiseration after the lies fell apart.
  30. We both dated the same person for a while. Everything was up front and honest, and things were good. Then they left/died/found someone else entirely. Optional: We're still dating them and it's still pretty good!
  31. You saved my life once from a potentially fatal accident
  32. You saved my life once from a potentially fatal bar fight
  33. You saved my life once from a potentially fatal bout of alcohol poisoning
  34. You saved my life once from a potentially fatal monster/military/gang/terrorist attack
  35. We were in the same school/training academy
  36. We had a class together and just kept hanging out after
  37. We had a class together and got forced to work as a team. We had a lot of fun, and failed horribly.
  38. We had a class together and got forced to work as a team. We did good work together, but we hated the experience.
  39. I hired you recently for this adventure/mission/task, we only just met
  40. I once worked for you on a job like this current adventure/mission/task
  41. You once worked for my family doing small chores / tasks
  42. You once worked for my family as a servant
  43. You once worked for my family's business as an important employee
  44. We both worked at the same business as coworkers
  45. We both worked at the same business where I was your boss
  46. We both worked at the same business as equal owners and partners
  47. We both worked at competing firms/shops, and managed a polite and friendly sort of opposition
  48. We both worked at competing firms/shops, and it's hard to unlearn that distrust and hate.
  49. We were in the same large religious organization and met occasionally in the same places of worship
  50. We were the only two worshipers of our deity in town and met at a small shrine
  51. We belong to rival religious groups that keep tabs on each other
  52. We volunteered to help put out a fire. We bonded over drinks after.
  53. We volunteered for charitable service in the same community and met several times in different assistance efforts
  54. We volunteered to take care of injured wildlife at the same sanctuary
  55. We volunteered to take care of abandoned pets at the same shelter.
  56. We volunteered when no one else would to deal with an attack of dangerous goblins/gang members/rats/space rats
  57. You volunteered at the hospital I was sent to when I was injured/sick
  58. We both met in the same hospital when recovering from being injured/sick
  59. We both exercise/train at the same place
  60. We both exercise/train at the same place and have developed a friendly rivalry that pushes each of us to do better
  61. We both eat at the same restaurant / vendor stall
  62. We both ate at the same restaurant / vendor stall, and commiserated when they closed
  63. We both drink at the same tavern/bar but don't talk much
  64. We both drink at the same tavern/bar and know each other well, along with the other regulars
  65. We both use the services of the same blacksmith/gunsmith/tailor/specialist shop
  66. We both use the services of the same blacksmith/gunsmith/tailor/specialist shop, and met when our orders got mixed up
  67. We both served in local government positions where we had to work together
  68. We both are fans of the same sports team/racer/fighter, etc
  69. We both competed in the same sports league/athletic team/race/fighting bouts, etc
  70. We both survived a horrible incident involving a likely antagonist in this setting
  71. We both have the same therapist.
  72. We both attend the same group therapy session
  73. We're part of the same guild/hobbyist club/professional association
  74. We fought together in a battle, war, etc.
  75. We fought against each other in a battle, war, etc
  76. We fought together in the same disbanded warband, and found it easier to stick together than to go our separate ways
  77. We fought together in the same warband, and seeing certain defeat, we deserted together to survive
  78. We fought against each other in opposite warbands, and met when I defected to your side
  79. We fought against each other in opposite warbands, and met the night before a huge battle as we were both trying to desert
  80. We were on the same ship/caravan for several weeks together with nothing else to do but talk and play cards
  81. I told a joke at a party once, and you were the only one who laughed at it.
  82. When I left my homeland/city/state to explore the world, you were my guide in your city/area
  83. While the rest of town were scrambling to evacuate, we met trying to get a better view.
  84. Through a chance encounter, we discovered that we both love a particular genre of art/music/literature/etc
  85. When you dropped your papers/books in the street, I was the only passerby who stopped to help
  86. I found your pet/wallet/personal item, and managed to get it back to you after posting fliers or newspaper/internet ads
  87. When we went to the city to study our respective disciplines, we ended up as unlikely roommates in a cheap apartment
  88. We were both hired to complete a small task together by a small town, and found that we worked well together
  89. You came to my town with a problem, and my skill set happened to be perfect for solving it. A business relationship turned to friendship.
  90. We both were criminals/in a gang and worked a few jobs together with some success
  91. We both were criminals/in a gang and got ratted out by the same snitch
  92. We both were criminals/in a gang and we got ratted out on a big job. I don't know who the snitch is, but it could very well be you!
  93. We met in prison, where we teamed up for protection
  94. You're a criminal, and you stole from me once. You got caught, did your time, and are now back in society.
  95. You're a criminal, and you stole from me once. You owe me, dammit!
  96. I liked your clothes / weapon / jewelry / book / etc. and we just started talking
  97. I traveled with a group of entertainers for a while, and we met when you came to see a show.
  98. I traveled with a group of entertainers for a while, and we met when you joined the group.
  99. We never met, but a mutual friend put us together for this task/mission/adventure
  100. It seems like we are bound by fate. Over and over again we meet under various circumstances, almost always by chance and yet with stunning regularity. (roll/pick/create several such meetings)

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