Character Archetypes

[Terraism]

I've been looking through my collection of books - and I've got a lot - and thinking about core classes. As a rough estimate, I'd say I've got near a hundred different core classes, aside from those in the Player's Handbook. While trying to compile a list of what'd be useful for my game, I started wondering - what bases should I be trying to cover? What are the archetypes of the fantasy medium?

The Player's Handbook seems to set the average, with eleven core classes. Unearthed Arcana, on the other hand, has three - bare minimum, I think, for a class-based system. What do people think the various archetypes are? Try laying it out this way - name a specific "feel" for a game - classic, high magic, arthurian, etc... - and list what different archetypes are appropriate for that setting (and, if you're feeling ambitious, what classes could cover them.) I'll start, just covering the Player's Handbook.

Fighting Classes

• Skilled, highly-trained combatant with the ability to fight in any circumstances. (Fighter, paladin)
• A beastial warrior who uses power instead of technique. (Barbarian.)
• Unarmed combatant. (Monk.)
• Stealthy fighter. (Ranger, rogue.)
• Noble warrior who leads his fellows into victory. (Paladin.)

Magical Classes

• Divine spellcaster, who calls power from the gods/nature. (Cleric, druid.)
• Arcane caster, who's power comes from within. (Sorcerer, wizard.)
• Caster who harnesses raw magic - of life, of song, of something. (Bard, sorcerer.)

Skill-based Classes

• A diplomatic fellow who excels at getting his way. (Bard.)
• Expert at "goods acquisition." (Rogue.)

Now, other classes can certainly cover a lot of those bases, and you could make claims for different places and archetypes that core D&D is covering. Who wants to try a different one feel? (Or even this one, from a different perspective.)

 

[diaglo]

Hero... including his entourage and sidekicks.

Antihero... including his minions, lackeys, and creations.