First Gem from The Dragon Magazine archives

Scott Malthouse over at the Trollish Delver has provided a link to where you can find almost all of the old issues of Dragon Magazine at the Internet Archive website.

Here is a nice background table for Boot Hill, or any other western themed game you may want to play, from issue 46;

How to ease the Boot Hill™ identity crisis

by Paul Montgomery Crabaugh

Everyone seems to have a place in Boot Hill except the player-characters, who have to be content with a place on Boot Hill. They wander in out of nowhere, invariably causing much havoc and then moving on. Mind you, it doesn’t have to be that way. A player can simply define his character as being the local deputy, or whatever; however, it seems that most players are reluctant to do that. Nor is this attitude necessarily born of timidity. The Deputy, for example, would clearly have certain advantages over the other characters, and the players may be reluctant to claim a clear advantage for themselves. The impartial (and usual) way to determine matters such as this is to roll on a random background table:

MALE CHARACTERS

01-06    Gunman

07-11    Gambler

12-16    Rancher

17-19    Bartender

20-23    Lawyer

24-27    Bounty Hunter

28-30    Deputy Marshal

31-33    Detective

34         Miner

35-38    Wells Fargo Agent

39-44    Cowboy

45-47    Stage Driver

48-49    Homesteader

50         Merchant

51-52    Gunsmith

53-54    Blacksmith

55-59    Drifter

60         Secret Service Agent

61         Clerk

62         Sheep Rancher

63-65    Foreigner

66-67    Teacher

68-69    Preacher

70         Scout

71-74    Cavalryman

75-77    Cavalry Officer

78         Banker

79-80    Craftsman

81-83    Doctor

84-85    Dentist

86         Photographer

87         Author

88         Artist

89-91    Deputy Sheriff

92-95    Reporter

96-00    Indian

 FEMALE CHARACTERS

01-05    Gambler

06-08    Rancher

09-13    Bartender

14         Lawyer

15-16    Detective

17         Secret Service Agent

18-23    Clerk

24-30    Foreigner

31-38    Teacher

39-43    Doctor

44-47    Dentist

48-52    Photographer

53-58    Artist

59-62    Author

63-64    Reporter

65-72    Secretary

73-81    Saloon Girl

82-88    Indian

89-90    Nun

91-00    Widow