Typical Complications for a Fantasy Character
Jan 22, 2014 21:10:36 GMT
Tasha, Silverhawk, and 1 more like this
Post by Chris Goodwin on Jan 22, 2014 21:10:36 GMT
This is one I'm particularly proud of, transplanting it from the Official Boards to here just in case. It says Disadvantages because I created it in the 5e days. 
These are lists of typical disadvantages for various fantasy archetypes. Some of them overlap, which is fine. Some of them (particularly the Dark and Outdoors lists) are meant to be mixed and matched with other archetypes, and some archetypes can themselves be mixed and matched; for instance, an assassin might take from the Thief and Dark lists, while a paladin would choose from Fighter and Cleric.
There are two primary purposes for the list: for players who need some help with creativity, and for GMs who need to come up with NPCs in a hurry. My favorite method is to take the "normal" templates from FREd, apply a package or two (race and/or profession, along with any others that may apply) and a few Disadvantages from the list.
Feel free to make suggestions; I will try to keep this post up to date with any additions people come up with. Especially, feel free to suggest other archetypes and, potentially, genres (though they should be posted in the appropriate places).
Share and enjoy!
The lists:
Fighter:
Cleric:
Thief:
Wizard:
Dark:
The Dark list is intended for characters like assassins, necromancers, dark cultists, evil priests, etc. and should be mixed or matched as appropriate or necessary.
Outdoors:
The Outdoors list is intended to be used by rangers, druids, barbarians, scouts, etc. and should be mixed or matched as appropriate and necessary as well.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License. To view a copy of this license, visit creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 543 Howard Street, 5th Floor, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA.
These are lists of typical disadvantages for various fantasy archetypes. Some of them overlap, which is fine. Some of them (particularly the Dark and Outdoors lists) are meant to be mixed and matched with other archetypes, and some archetypes can themselves be mixed and matched; for instance, an assassin might take from the Thief and Dark lists, while a paladin would choose from Fighter and Cleric.
There are two primary purposes for the list: for players who need some help with creativity, and for GMs who need to come up with NPCs in a hurry. My favorite method is to take the "normal" templates from FREd, apply a package or two (race and/or profession, along with any others that may apply) and a few Disadvantages from the list.
Feel free to make suggestions; I will try to keep this post up to date with any additions people come up with. Especially, feel free to suggest other archetypes and, potentially, genres (though they should be posted in the appropriate places).
Share and enjoy!
The lists:
Fighter:
- Berserk/Enraged: In Combat
- DF: Warrior
- DF: Armor type or specific marking
- DF: Inexperienced
- DF: Military (includes uniform, armor/weapons, rank markings, etc.)
- DF: Device (military unit crest, coat of arms, etc.)
- DF: Scar(s)
- Hunted: A particular enemy
- Reputation: Fearsome Fighter
- Reputation: Defender of the Downtrodden
- Phys: Missing body part (limb, eye, ear, etc.) (could also be DF)
- Phys: Old injury
- Psych: Haunted by memories
- Psych: PTSD
- Psych: Sadist
- Psych: Cruel
- Psych: Bloodthirsty
- Psych: Code vs. Killing
- Psych: Casual Killer
- Psych: Defender of the Downtrodden
- Psych: Soldier
- Psych: Mercenary Code
- Social: Slave (gladiator)
- Social: Subject to Orders
Cleric:
- DF: Cleric
- DF: Holy Symbol
- DF: Features of order (symbol, device, markings/tattoos, etc.)
- Hunted: Enemy Sect/Deity
- Hunted/Watched: Church Hierarchy
- Phys: Loses Powers If Fails To Obey Deity
- Psych: Faithful to deity
- Psych: Fanatic
- Psych: Unsure of Faith
- Psych: Hates Enemies Of His Deity
- Psych: Touched by Things Man Was Not Meant To Know (aka Flipping Insane)
Thief:
- DF: Branded
- DF: Features of guild (tattoos/markings, etc.)
- Hunted/Watched: (Police, city watch, or other authorities)
- Hunted/Watched: Thieves' Guild
- Phys: Missing body part (limb, eye, ear, etc.) (could also be DF)
- Psych: Looking For Big Score
- Psych: Can't Resist Challenging Theft
- Psych: Code vs. Killing
- Psych: Casual Killer
- Psych: Paranoid
- Social: Criminal Record
Wizard:
- DF: Wizard
- DF: Features of order or guild (symbols, robes, markings, etc.)
- DF: Funny Smell
- DF: Mutters to self
- Hunted/Watched: Order or Guild
- Psych: Absent Minded
- Psych: Ambitious
- Psych: Addicted to Magic
- Psych: Hates Being Away From Research
- Rep: Fearsome Wizard
Dark:
The Dark list is intended for characters like assassins, necromancers, dark cultists, evil priests, etc. and should be mixed or matched as appropriate or necessary.
- DF: Features of cult or guild (uniform, markings/tattoos/ritual scars, etc.)
- Hunted: (forces of good, authorities, etc.)
- Hunted/Watched: (evil deity, demon, cult, guild)
- Psych: Bully
- Psych: Cruel
- Psych: Bloodthirsty
- Psych: Sadist
- Psych: Casual Killer
- Psych: Mercenary mentality
- Psych: Sexual depravity (specify)
- Psych: Ambitious
- Psych: Power Hungry
- Social: Criminal record
Outdoors:
The Outdoors list is intended to be used by rangers, druids, barbarians, scouts, etc. and should be mixed or matched as appropriate and necessary as well.
- DF: Weatherbeaten look
- DF: (symbol of guild or order)
- Hunted/Watched: (organization protective of outdoors)
- Hunted/Watched: (forces of "progress")
- Psych: Protective of outdoors
- Psych: Uncomfortable in cities
- Social: Crude and unrefined
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License. To view a copy of this license, visit creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 543 Howard Street, 5th Floor, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA.
