3.2 Background

Players must select a starting age for their characters. If a player prefers to generate the character’s age randomly, roll 2D6 and add seventeen, for a range of nineteen to twenty-nine (19-29, average 24) years of age, for a character with the Gentleman background or 2D6 and add fourteen, for a range of sixteen to twenty-six (16-26, average 21) years of age for all other characters. This supercedes 5.104 Aging with respect to starting age.

Note that the age of majority in France at this time is considered to be eighteen, but in practice age is little barrier to serving as a soldier or holding a title or ecclesiastical office. Age requirements for offices, noble orders, and the like could be overlooked. Character’s under the age of eighteen are not prohibited from any background or position.

Noble and gentleman characters must choose a home province, in the event they are called upon to serve in the militia (see 5.3, THE MILITARY).