One piece of feedback I got on Burgs & Bailiffs Trinity was that I gave clerics reasons to go on pilgrimages but not so much for other classes. The upcoming Advanced Burgs & Bailiffs (AB&B) gives some reasons for other classes to travel generally and go on pilgrimages specifically, but I ended up making revisions to most of the classes that basically made them new classes. The changes to Fighter types are relatively minor but the other classes are almost completely reworked: in case of the magic-using or miracle-using classes, this is because I revamped how spells and magic work; in the case of thieves (or “Rogues” now) I wanted to expand there possible skill sets so that a rogue character could be a burglar like the classic D&D/OSE Thief, but could equally be something else: an entertainer, or a minstrel, or a jester, or an assassin, or even a beggar.
Beggars don’t sound terribly appealing as a character class, unless you happen to learn about the vast network of professional beggars that are described by late medieval writers: “Argotiers” (as they were called in France) who had a sort of organization where masters (Archesuppots) trained apprentices in a number of scams and skills and collected a vig from their students; these masters in turn paid up to a “Grand Caesar” at the top of the organization. Other countries seem to have had a number of scams and perhaps even an organization like France. The anonymous Liber Vagatorum (Book of vagabonds and beggars) describes the scams carried out in Germany.
In AB&B, rogues can learn the standard thieving skills or spend their pips (I’m using a d6 thieving system building on Paolo Greco’s system here) on a number of other skills. You could reverse engineer an assassin (take Disguise, Poison Use, and Fencing (Shield), neglect your other thieving skills to pay for these, and put more points on Back Stab as you advance) or you could customize something else like an Argotier (lean into Disguise and Pick Pockets, neglect Lockpicking and Climb Walls), etc.
It’s a little wild that there seems to be a ton of literature from Europe about different kinds of beggars and the scams they are pulling, but far less from say the Middle East (apart from the Book of Charlatans). One scholar explained that this probably had to do with some societies encouraged charity for religious reasons (Islam and Buddhism being prominent examples) while there was a uniquely shameful aspect to poverty in Christian lands, particularly those that considered wealth to be evidence of divine favor, logically implying that poverty might be divine disfavor/evidence of sinfulness. The aforementioned Liber Vagatorum, which lists 26 distinct types of beggars, says that only two types that should be given alms, although a third or fourth type might deserve alms in certain circumstances. Here are the scams from the Liber Vagatorum. Many of these scams are also mentioned among the Argotiers under different names; Italy and England have some some specific scams as well. This could easily be made into a d30 random-beggar-encounter chart if we add those to the end as numbers 27-30.
- True beggars (“Bregers”), who reside in the town or village they are begging in and don’t pretend to be pilgrims, and demonstrate some shame about begging. They should be given alms.
- Bread gatherers, who travel from town to town begging in the name of some saint and often dressing as pilgrims. They can also be given alms, although most are dishonest.
- Freed prisoners (“Lossners”), who claim to be prisoners or galley slaves who escaped the infidels by some miracle and are now on a pilgrimage of thanksgiving. They are all liars and should get nothing.
- Cripples (“Klenkners”), often appearing to be crippled or maimed and who beg at church doors and fairs. They should be kicked, the Liber says.
- Church mendicants (“Dopfers”), often posing as friars and displaying contact relics (items imbued with miraculous powers from having touched an authentic relic). They will say they are collecting for a church building or similar, and should only be given alms if they come from a few miles away or closer.
- Learned beggars, who are students or clerks that have gone AWOL from university and are begging to support their gambling, whoring, drinking, and other vices. They (and all the following types) should not be given anything.
- Rambling scholars (“Strollers”) who claim to know the black arts and offer to ward off witchcraft or bad weather. They say they have fallen on hard times and need to beg because of it.
- “Grantners” who claim to have “the falling sickness” (epilepsy). Some chew soap to produce foam about their mouths and claim to be unable to work. Others claim they were struck with epilepsy because they denied alms to another beggar. The writer says to only give alms to an epileptic who has no such story or display.
- “Dutzers” who claim to be collecting alms because they need to make up for their failure to go on a promised pilgrimage due to a long illness.
- False priests (“Schleppers”), who claim to be collecting alms to pay for an altar, vestments, or other things needed by their parish.
- Blind beggars (“Gickisses”), who may be faking their condition, and should only get alms if you know them well.
- Naked beggars (“Schwanfelders”), who arrive in town naked and say they were robbed. The writer says most simply hid their clothes and should be given nothing.
- Demoniacs (“Voppers”), often led into town in chains by others who say they are mad or possessed. Some fake other diseases. All should get nothing.
- Former hangmen (“Dallingers”), who scourge themselves and feign regret for their past careers. They usually return to being hangmen eventually, and should get nothing.
- Lying-in women (“Dutzbetterins”), who lay under a sheet and claim to have lost their babe, or miscarried, or given birth to a monster.
- Murderers (“Suntvegers”), who claim to have taken a man’s life in self-defense and need raise some amount of money lest they be executed. Some are women who say they were falsely accused of poisoning or witchcraft and also need a certain amount to defeat the charge.
- Bil-wearers, who are women pretending to be pregnant with false bellies.
- “Virgins” who are young women pretending to have leprosy.
- “Mumsen” who are men pretending to be mendicant friars that need to beg for a living.
- “Over-Sonzen-Goers” who are nobles or knights that have fallen on hard times and need to beg.
- “Kandierers” who pretend to be foreign merchants that have been robbed. They and the previous type carry forged letters to prove their claims.
- “Veranerins” who claim to be converted from Judaism, and also carry forged letters attesting to this.
- “Calmierers” who pretend to be pilgrims, with badges and souvenirs of their travels.
- “Seefers” who smear themselves with salves to imitate skin diseases.
- “Burkharts” who claim to be paralyzed.
- Blind Harpers, who sing about travels they have never taken and beg for alms.
- “Capons” who beg as a pretense to get close enough to pick pockets.
- “Hubins” who claim to have been bitten by mad dogs (and use the soap trick to foam at the mouth!). They claim they are travelling to St Hubert’s shrine for a cure.
- “Courtauds-de-Boutanche,” posing as unemployed craftsmen, carrying tools.
- “Wardes,” claiming to be merchants who have had their tongues torn out, carrying a hook or pinchers and a false leather tongue, and making rattling and roaring sounds.
Granted — these don’t sound much like appealing player character concepts. But a PC rogue who was a beggar might be on the run from his former colleagues (who they owe money) and this background explains why they have skills like disguising themselves, picking pockets, forgery, and so on. Argotier is just one of FOURTEEN backgrounds presented in the AB&B player’s handbook.
Swords & Dorkery 