B/X Character Backgrounds

For my upcoming dreamlands campaign, I've been vacillating over whether to run the game using the Labyrinth Lord AEC (that is, with the full range of AD&D races, classes and combinations thereof) or whether to keep it simple and just use basic Labyrinth Lord. I'm veering now towards the latter.

What I love about the basic 4 classes (plus demi-humans) is that each class encompasses so many sub-archetypes, without getting into the arms-race of making each of them a class of its own. So, to convey this idea to potential players (many of whom are more used to AD&D or D&D3, with their respective plethora of mechanical character options) I've been working on some tables of character background ideas. The intention is that players can either roll randomly, choose one from the list, or make up something similar. None of the backgrounds in these tables grant any specific mechanical abilities or bonuses, but are intended to be used in the same way a secondary skills in AD&D are -- as an aid to situational rulings on who can do what.

Here's what I've come up with.

Fighter

1. Monster hunter
2. Wildsman / scout
3. Barbarian
4. Mercenary
5. Sailor / pirate
6. Guard / soldier
7. Gladiator
8. Bandit

Cleric

1. Cultist
2. Monk
3. Monster hunter / inquisitor
4. Zealot / evangelist
5. Mendicant
6. Templar / paladin
7. Prophet
8. Chosen one

Thief

1. Tomb robber
2. Assassin
3. Con artist
4. Acrobat / performer
5. Bandit / highwayman
6. Gambler / hedonist
7. Burglar
8. Spy

Magic-user

1. Astrologer
2. Alchemist
3. Mystic
4. Herbalist
5. Sage
6. Witch / hedge wizard
7. Warlock
8. Cultist

Dwarf

1. Monster hunter
2. Smith / mechanist
3. Miner
4. Guard / soldier
5. Stone mason / gem cutter
6. Drunkard
7. Berserker
8. Outcast

Halfling

1. Gourmand
2. Scavenger
3. Wanderer
4. Tinker
5. Burglar
6. Bard
7. Merchant
8. Sheriff

Elf

1. Noble
2. Duelist
3. Hedonist
4. Aesthete
5. Bard
6. Fey warlock
7. Fated
8. Trickster

(Thanks to Alex for his inspirational tables!)