Character archetypes

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

Huck climbs and thieves.

I know what you mean by Picaro but they are capable of being closer to the DnD rogue than you mentioned.

 

[Horacio]

Picaro is a Spanish word. In fact, in Spanish version of D&D, rogues are called picaros, and Rogue from X-Men in Spain is Picara...

 

[Left-handed Hummingbird]

Huck climbs and thieves.

I know what you mean by Picaro but they are capable of being closer to the DnD rogue than you mentioned.

Perhaps you're right. But the defining characteristic of the picaro-rogue, in my mind, isn't his agility and dexterity, but his intelligence. He might climb or steal occassionally, but that is purely coincidental. He is, however, always scheming, reasoning and talking his way out of trouble and towards personal gains. I'm thinking a rogue like Barry Lyndon.

And though picaro might be a too limiting choice of word (it has a very specific meaning in English, Horatio, as the protagonist in a picaresque story) the archetype I was angling for is a Chaotic Good Bard who has no spell casting or any particular ability to perform music or dance, but who is probably a very good actor, though not on the stage.

 

[Xarlen]

Yes, I ment Druid.

 

[officeronin]

I'd keep it small, with 5 members:

A defensive fighter, probably a polearm guy, who's easy going and everyone's friend.

An attack warrior -- fighter/barbarian/paladin, or a mix. A heavy damage dealer who can take a lickin'.

Warrior-priest

Student of magic -- Wizard

Face, from the A-team. Rogue.

Everyone carries a missile weapon, but concentrates on their specialty.

OfficeRonin

 

[Tonguez]

Perhaps you're right. But the defining characteristic of the picaro-rogue, in my mind, isn't his agility and dexterity, but his intelligence.

Sort of like 'Puss-in-Boots' (except not a cat - well this is DnD so maybe a cat afterall). Jack (of Beanstalk fame) might also fit the bill - except for his act of grand larceny Goose-. In fact Fairytales are a great source of Archetypes.

 

[Left-handed Hummingbird]

Sort of like 'Puss-in-Boots' (except not a cat - well this is DnD so maybe a cat afterall). Jack (of Beanstalk fame) might also fit the bill - except for his act of grand larceny Goose-. In fact Fairytales are a great source of Archetypes.

I agree completely.

 

[Horacio]

it has a very specific meaning in English, Horatio, as the protagonist in a picaresque story

But yes, it was that what I meant...

Piraresque stories are a genre invented by Spanish writers by 15th century, where the protagonist is a picaro, i.e., a rogue. A guy, usually young and without family, a street urchin, that tries to survive in life by stealing a bit here and using his wits there. The genre was so hugely popular (there are hundreds of picaresque tales in Spanish 15th and 16th literature) that the word "picaro" was exported to other languages.

But it still means rogue

Well, amyways, I understand what you meant with picaro-rogue, in picaresque tales, intelligence and wits are far more important than dextery and backstabbing. But the rogue class is open enough to allow the creation of such a character, with all those skill points to spend in Bluff, Diplomacy, Sense Motive...

 

[Left-handed Hummingbird]

But the rogue class is open enough to allow the creation of such a character, with all those skill points to spend in Bluff, Diplomacy, Sense Motive...

Very true. You are absolutely right. That was what I was aiming for earlier, too; a rogue that doesn't focus on lockpicking, climbing or pickpocketing.