I'm writing up a background for a character, and I need to assign my character's parents occupations.

What are some fairly common occupations that an average person might have that, when combined with the income of a spouse, would allow them to feed a 3 person family (themselves included) without living in abject poverty?

Just some general occupations for city-state citizens:
* Dung sweeper
* Cook (to store, tavern, rich independant merchant, rich thief/assassin who may or may not be publicly known, cook to bard)
* Wet-nurse
* Healer
* Waiter/waitress
* Cleaner (to rich independant merchant, rich thief/assassin, bard)
* Fortune Teller
* Stablehand
* Bard
* Tailor
* Hunter
* Jeweller
* Stone crafter
* Rock grebber (someone who gathers rocks and sells them unworked)
* Farmer (Allanak only?)
* Builder
* Artist

As for not living dirt poor, it depends on the combination you have. If you have a dung sweeper and a stablehand, you might be pushing it. But a tailor and a dung sweeper will definitely get by.

Tailor
Jewelrycrafter
Shoemaker
Knifemaker
Armorsmith
Soldier
Guard (for any merchant or noble house)
Aide/servant (for any merchant or noble house)
Miner (south) or lumberjack (north)
Hunter

Mason
Slaughterhouse worker / butcher
Candle maker
barrel maker
street sweeper
sewer worker
painter
brewer
shopkeeper
baker
trader

Quote from: "Barzalene"sewer worker

Actually handled by a House in the south, if memory serves.

You could probably describe your parents as being pickpockets, burglars, or assassins, living off of their trade but just getting by, although the occupations other people listed would probably be more fitting for a non-criminal character.

Quote from: "Bullet Eater"You could probably describe your parents as being pickpockets, burglars, or assassins, living off of their trade but just getting by, although the occupations other people listed would probably be more fitting for a non-criminal character.

Most people would not go around talking about that kind of thing publicly, especially if they are in Tuluk.

Quote from: "Cuusardo"

Quote from: "Bullet Eater"You could probably describe your parents as being pickpockets, burglars, or assassins, living off of their trade but just getting by, although the occupations other people listed would probably be more fitting for a non-criminal character.

Most people would not go around talking about that kind of thing publicly, especially if they are in Tuluk.

I suppose not, but one could write it in their background and then lie about it when asked about their background. Just a thought.

Quote from: "Cuusardo"

Quote from: "Bullet Eater"You could probably describe your parents as being pickpockets, burglars, or assassins, living off of their trade but just getting by, although the occupations other people listed would probably be more fitting for a non-criminal character.

Most people would not go around talking about that kind of thing publicly, especially if they are in Tuluk.

Why not?  In Tuluk being a thief is an honorable profession and so is being an assassin.  Both are well respected.

Quote from: "Cuusardo"

Quote from: "Bullet Eater"You could probably describe your parents as being pickpockets, burglars, or assassins, living off of their trade but just getting by, although the occupations other people listed would probably be more fitting for a non-criminal character.

Most people would not go around talking about that kind of thing publicly, especially if they are in Tuluk.

I think in Tuluk, they would ESPICALLY talk about what they do, in order to get hired by people.

In TULUK, you can be proud of your PICKPOCKET JOBS

In TULUK, you can be proud of your ASSASSINATION JOBS

It's perfectly legal if you do it artfully.  Isn't that what the Tuluk Docs say?
http://www.armageddon.org/general/tuluki_rp.html#legal

If it's licenced, then it's something to be proud of.  You can go complain to the Tempalrs, but they will just say, "It's okay, because they bought the licence.  Why don't you buy an assassin's licence against said pickpocket?"

Quote from: "Fnord"

Quote from: "Barzalene"sewer worker

Actually handled by a House in the south, if memory serves.

Yeah, but they probably employ a great many people.

*Dancer
*Slave
*Prostitute
*Salt Miner
*Spice Shifter
*Trader
*Slaver
*Beast Tamer (very possible)
*Aide
*Nobe
*Templar
*Jeweler
*Weapons smith
*Armorer
*Gladiator
*Herbalist
*Field Physician
*Tailor
*Stone worker
*Thief
*Assassin
*Mercenary
*Soldier
*Bar maid
*Bartender
*Translator
*Juggler
*Clerk
*Teacher
*Sparring Coach
*Hunter
*Explorer
*Guard
*Story teller
*Fortune teller
*Gambler
*Scout
*Spy

Tanner
Carter
fruit monger

Cool. I'm the first to say whore.

For having parents with professions such as Templar and noble, would you have to ask for any sort of permission to do that or get it set it up? I'm guessing that even being a bastard child of one of those two types of people would confer some privileges, but I may be wrong.

Quote from: "talus"For having parents with professions such as Templar and noble, would you have to ask for any sort of permission to do that or get it set it up?

All templars* are nobles.

The child of two nobles is a noble

The child of a noble and a commoner is a bastard noble.

Both are roles that must be special apped.

*For all intents and purposes. Yes, I know there are extremely rare exceptions.

Quote from: "Cale_Knight"Cool. I'm the first to say whore.

Quote from: "Yokunama"*Prostitute

Son of a bitch.

Quote from: "LauraMars"

Quote from: "Cale_Knight"Cool. I'm the first to say whore.

Quote from: "Yokunama"*Prostitute

Quote from: "Cale_Knight"Son of a bitch.

Did you'd expect 'me' of all people not to put that on a list?

In Tuluk, the art of being a thief is in not getting caught.  If you go around talking about being a thief, people will either outright laugh and call you an amateur, or they will be suspicious of you from then on out.  Where is the art in that?

Quote from: "Cuusardo"In Tuluk, the art of being a thief is in not getting caught.  If you go around talking about being a thief, people will either outright laugh and call you an amateur, or they will be suspicious of you from then on out.  Where is the art in that?

I highly disagree.

The art of being a thief is being one who doesn't fail in his job.  That's like saying a Bard can't call themselves a Bard unless they sing songs and juggle.

I've wondered about this before.

I think I'm more inclined to agree with Cuusardo on this one.  In most cases, I doubt anyone would want to speak freely about being a thief.  Maybe a few of the boldest and most talented might, or the unskilled posers.  Normally, I would guess that a reputation would start among potential clients (i.e. "I know someone who could handle that..."), rather than by overt self-promotion.

On the other hand, I'm not sure that there would be anything scandalous about admitting to that line of work.  I just think it would be unusual to do that, and maybe not very wise.

Just how I look at it.  I'd be curious to read staff opinion on this.

Some overt self-promotion is needed to build a reputation.  If there's a string of beautiful robberies, there's no reason to assume one person did it unless someone takes credit.

In a culture that prizes subtlety, I would suggest that claiming to be a thief is very unsubtle.

Thievery is a licensed activity.  This isn't an underground thing or a criminal act.  

There is a difference between calling yourself a thief (which is a respected profession) and getting _caught_.

The art isn't in denying yourself of being what you are - it is in the actual act.  

Think of it as any other profession - a sculptor is called a sculptor and is admired if they are good at it.  IE, they produce good sculptures.

If you make your living as a thief and are registered as one - then, by all means, call yourself a thief.  Wear the tattoo proudly if you wish.  You are just saying what you are.  If no one ever sees you steal all the better.

The issue here is with getting caught not with how you call yourself or go about talking about it.

There will be good thieves and bad thieves.  But, in either case, there is nothing wrong with saying you are a thief.  

Bad thieves will be mocked (and caught and fined or even killed for constant mistakes) and good thieves will get respect for not getting caught.