Probably old NPCs. 

And yes. I would like to avoid the super martial 20 yeah olds that have been training all their life. In fact, I usually lean towards characters that don't have much martial ability going in, but due to circumstances, have. To get involved. ElGains played a dung farmer before, a friend played a bartender. This isn't to say you can't have some training, but it's mostly to bar against those who have been mages and warriors all their life.