Authentic NPCs: Bakers in D&D

In medieval Europe, bakers were probably the most important people in any town, village, or city. The vast majority of people didn’t have bread ovens in their home - perhaps only the richest aristocrats would have a baker in their employ - so nearly everyone, rich and poor, would visit the bakery every day or so to buy their bread.

Bakers as NPCs

Not just anyone could be a baker. It was considered a serious profession that required training. A baker would get their start young by apprenticing to a master baker, becoming a journeyman after completing their apprenticeship, and eventually perhaps becoming a master baker themselves.

Bakers would often have to take an oath in public, promising not to adulterate their bread with chalk or sawdust. The price of bread was often regulated by law too, which could become a burden for bakers when the price of grain was high - they may well be making a loss in every loaf they sell.

When creating a baker for your campaign, consider the following:

• What stage of their career is your baker? A young apprentice? A master baker who owns their own bakery? Or a journey man employed by a master baker?
• Is your baker honest? Do they add chalk to their bread to make it look whiter?

A Day in the Life of a Baker

Bakers wake early to bake the freshest bread for their customers. They visit the brewery, from which they have an arrangement to buy yeast which is a by-product of brewing beer. Flour comes from the miller. Cheap bread is baked from the most unprocessed grains, which produces a dense, dark brown bread. Bread for the middle class is produced from higher grade flour and produces a lighter and airier loaf. Expensive bread is created from the highest grade, most processed flour. It is light, fluffy, and white, but is less nutritious than the cheaper offerings.

Throughout the day customers of all backgrounds and social classes visit the bakery to buy their bread, which is eaten with almost all meals. Customers may also pay to use the bakers oven to bake their own pies or bread. Ovens are not usually seen in ordinary peoples homes because they are expensive and a fire hazard!

What’s for Sale in a D&D Bakery?

Here’s an example of what your bakery might sell in your D&D setting:

What Kind of Quests Would a Baker Have?

If the PCs in your campaign ask the baker for a quest, what kind of quests might they be offered? Here’s a couple of ideas to give you some inspiration.

• The miller has gone missing and hasn’t been seen for days! Please help before I run out of flour.
• One of my customers, a reclusive soothsayer who lives a little ways out of town named Tiresias has started buying a dozen loaves of bread a day despite living alone. Your PCs might be inspired to find out what’s going on; perhaps Tiresias has joined a cult and is feeding the cultists, or perhaps he’s found an injured owlbear he’s nursing back to health.
• A new baker has arrived in town and I’m convinced she’s debasing his bread with chalk. She's also started buying all the yeast from the brewer. If you can find proof she’s selling low grade bread and convince the brewer to stop selling yeast to her, I’ll reward you.

Baker Stat Block

What might the stat block for a baker in D&D look like? Here’s some examples:

Apprentice Baker

Medium Humanoid, any race, any alignment

Armor Class 9

Hit Points 6 (1d8+1)

Speed 30ft.

Skills bakers tools +3

Senses passive Perception 10

Languages any one language (usually Common)

Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)

Actions

Rolling Pin. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 2 (1d4) bludgeoning damage.

Apprentice bakers are young - usually teenagers - in training, taught by a master baker. They are required to wake up early each morning to start the oven, and clean it out after the baking is done. It’s hard work, but a popular profession.

Master Baker

Medium Humanoid, any race, any alignment

Armor Class 10 (Leather Apron)

Hit Points 16 (3d8+1)

Speed 30ft.

Skills bakers tools +6

Senses passive Perception 10

Languages any one language (usually Common)

Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)

Actions

Bread Knife. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6+1) bludgeoning damage.

Master Bakers are well trained professionals. They hold an important job in every village, town, and city in baking bread for everyone, rich and poor.