At the onset of each and every character's creation it is necessary that you establish his or her age. For player characters and henchmen you must use the appropriate table. You may do the same for other characters, or you may assign age as you see fit in light of the milieu you have developed. There are two tables, one for non-human (the demi-humans, part humans, and the like) and one for humans.
| Non-Human Characters Table | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race | Cleric | Fighter | Magic-User | Thief |
| dwarf | 250 + 2d20 | 40 + 5d4 | - | 75 + 3d6 |
| elf | 500+ 10d10 | 130 + 5d6 | 150 + 5d6 | 100 + 5d6 |
| gnome | 300 + 3d12 | 60 + 5d4 | 100 + 2d12 | 80 + 5d4 |
| half-elf | 40 + 2d4 | 22 + 3d4 | 30 + 2d8 | 22 + 3d8 |
| halfling | - | 20 + 3d4 | - | 40 + 2d4 |
| half-orc | 20 + 1d4 | 13+ 1d4 | - | 20 + 2d4 |
For multi-classed characters use the column which develops the highest age and use the greatest possible addition to the base age, i.e., do NOT generate the age variable by random die roll, but assign the maximum.
| Humans Table | |
|---|---|
| Class | Age + Variable |
| assassin | 20 + 1d4 |
| cleric | 18 + 1d4 |
| magic-user | 24 + 2d8 |
| illusionist | 30 + 1d6 |
| druid | 18 + 1d4 |
| thief | 18+ 1d4 |
| fighter | 15 + 1d4 |
| paladin | 17 + 1d4 |
| ranger | 20 + 1d4 |
| monk | 21 + 1d4 |
Bards begin at the age of the class in which they first begin.
Once character age is established, you must keep track of it from game year to game year. (Cf. TIME IN THE CAMPAIGN.) To normal game time years must be added any of the various unnatural causes of shortening life, i.e. aging. These effectively add years to the character's age. The effects of aging are given in the next section. The maximum age of any character is likewise explained.
In order to establish the overall effects of age, it is necessary to establish a number of standard age brackets for each race of characters. When age category is established, modify ability scores accordingly, making each change progressively from young adulthood, all additions and subtractions being cumulative. The only ability which may exceed 18 due to age effects (unless age restricts this) is wisdom. Most adjustments are in whole numbers, so that 18 strength drops to 17, even if it is from 18/00, as exceptional strength is not considered.
| Age Categories | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race | Young Adult | Mature | Middle Aged | Old | Venerable |
| dwarf | 35-50 | 51-150 | 151-250 | 251-350 | 351-450 |
| dwarf, mountain | 40-60 | 61-175 | 176-275 | 276-400 | 401-525 |
| elf, aquatic | 75-150 | 151-450 | 451-700 | 701-1000 | 1001-1200 |
| elf, Drow | 50-100 | 101-400 | 401-600 | 601-800 | 801-1000 |
| elf, gray | 150-250 | 251-650 | 651-1000 | 1001-1500 | 1501-2000 |
| elf, high | 100-175 | 176-550 | 551-875 | 876-1200 | 1201-1600 |
| elf, wood | 75-150 | 151-500 | 501-800 | 801-1100 | 1101-1350 |
| gnome | 50-90 | 91-300 | 301-450 | 451-600 | 601-750 |
| half-elf | 24-40 | 41-100 | 101-175 | 176-250 | 251-325 |
| halfling | 22-33 | 34-68 | 69-101 | 102-144 | 145-199 |
| half-orc | 12-15 | 16-30 | 31-45 | 46-60 | 61-80 |
| human | 14-20 | 21-40 | 41-60 | 61-90 | 91-120 |
| Young Adult: | Subtract 1 point of wisdom, add 1 point of constitution. | ||||
| Mature: | Add 1 point of strength, add 1 point of wisdom. | ||||
| Subtract 1 point (or half exceptional rating) of strength and 1 point of constitution; add 1 point of intelligence and 1 point of wisdom. | |||||
| Old: | Subtract 2 points of strength, 2 points of dexterity, and 1 point of constitution; add 1 point of wisdom. | ||||
| Venerable: | Subtract 1 point of strength, 1 point of dexterity, and 1 point of constitution; add 1 point of intelligence and 1 point of wisdom. | ||||
It is important to remember that adjustments cannot exceed racial maximums nor can they be used if they cause abilities to exceed stated maximums. Likewise, any adjustments cannot lower any ability below racial or class minimums.
Certain creatures will cause unnatural aging, and in addition various magical factors can do so. The following magic causes loss of life span, aging the practitioner as indicated. See also DISEASE for other unnatural aging causes. (Longevity potions and possibly other magical means will offset such aging to some extent.)
| Magical Aging Causes | Aging Effect |
|---|---|
| casting alter reality spell | 3 years |
| casting gate spell | 5 years |
| casting limited wish spell | 1 year |
| casting restoration spell | 2 years |
| casting resurrection spell | 3 years |
| casting wish spell | 3 years |
| imbibing a speed potion | 1 year |
| under a haste spell | 1 year |
Note: Reading one of the above spells from a scroll (or using the power from a ring or other device) does not cause unnatural aging, but placing such a spell upon the scroll in the first place will do so!