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<blockquote data-quote="Tony Vargas" data-source="post: 7184745" data-attributes="member: 996">In a sense, most of them, since most heroic archetypes, even from fantasy, are not primarily about casting spells, while most D&amp;D classes are.&nbsp; ;P&nbsp; Seriously, though, that is a blindspot for D&amp;D in general and 5e in particular - it leans too heavily on spellcasting to model anything beyond the most basic abilities of a class.&nbsp; That restricts the archetypes &amp; concepts it can model.&nbsp; Consequently, we see more than adequate coverage of fairly narrow villain/helper archetypes - the magic-using exposition character, like Gandalf (Wizard), the magic-using plot device, like Merlin (Wizard), the magic-using minstrel (Bard), the magic-using evil sorcerer from S&amp;S (Warlock), the supernatural mutant (Sorcerer), the magic-using devout Knight of the Round Table, ie Galahad (Paladin), even the magic-using martial artist (Monk).&nbsp; We also see archetypes virtually unknown to genre.&nbsp; The magic-using merry man of Sherwood (Ranger).&nbsp; The magic-using combat medic (Cleric).&nbsp; The magic-using hippie (Druid).&nbsp; &nbsp;Well, obviously, for want of a WARLORD class, we're missing <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheLeader" target="_blank">The Leader</a> (yeah, I'm going there, 'there' being both the Warlord /and/ TV Tropes, that's two strikes in one post), and, more broadly, since the Fighter doesn't come close outside of kicking ass, the most basic of all heroic tropes, <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheHero" target="_blank">The Hero</a>.Also perennially absent form RPGs in general, and D&amp;D in particular, is The Reluctant Hero.&nbsp; (Seriously, folks, one of the most prevalent heroic tropes in genre.)&nbsp; Similarly, since PCs need to be somewhat co-equal spotlight-sharing ensemble cast types to work well in an RPG, the plucky-sidekick and underdog type archetypes are not well-represented, and are very hard to do for obvious reasons (Moonsong's Heart Noble is an example of the kind of class that could work for the former - and it maps vaguely to TV Trope's The Heart, too).&nbsp; Also somewhat similarly, the Destined Hero is a thing D&amp;D doesn't do too well, either.&nbsp; Overwhelmingly, D&amp;D heroes are actually adventurers - willfully going out there seeking adventure with no notion that anyone actually needs them to do it, just out for gain or maybe glory or often just power for its own sake.&nbsp; The classes mostly play to that.&nbsp; And, they're a dime a dozen until they have a few levels under their belts.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Tony Vargas, post: 7184745, member: 996"] In a sense, most of them, since most heroic archetypes, even from fantasy, are not primarily about casting spells, while most D&D classes are. ;P Seriously, though, that is a blindspot for D&D in general and 5e in particular - it leans too heavily on spellcasting to model anything beyond the most basic abilities of a class. That restricts the archetypes & concepts it can model. Consequently, we see more than adequate coverage of fairly narrow villain/helper archetypes - the magic-using exposition character, like Gandalf (Wizard), the magic-using plot device, like Merlin (Wizard), the magic-using minstrel (Bard), the magic-using evil sorcerer from S&S (Warlock), the supernatural mutant (Sorcerer), the magic-using devout Knight of the Round Table, ie Galahad (Paladin), even the magic-using martial artist (Monk). We also see archetypes virtually unknown to genre. The magic-using merry man of Sherwood (Ranger). The magic-using combat medic (Cleric). The magic-using hippie (Druid). Well, obviously, for want of a WARLORD class, we're missing [URL="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheLeader"]The Leader[/URL] (yeah, I'm going there, 'there' being both the Warlord /and/ TV Tropes, that's two strikes in one post), and, more broadly, since the Fighter doesn't come close outside of kicking ass, the most basic of all heroic tropes, [URL="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheHero"]The Hero[/URL]. Also perennially absent form RPGs in general, and D&D in particular, is The Reluctant Hero. (Seriously, folks, one of the most prevalent heroic tropes in genre.) Similarly, since PCs need to be somewhat co-equal spotlight-sharing ensemble cast types to work well in an RPG, the plucky-sidekick and underdog type archetypes are not well-represented, and are very hard to do for obvious reasons (Moonsong's Heart Noble is an example of the kind of class that could work for the former - and it maps vaguely to TV Trope's The Heart, too). Also somewhat similarly, the Destined Hero is a thing D&D doesn't do too well, either. Overwhelmingly, D&D heroes are actually adventurers - willfully going out there seeking adventure with no notion that anyone actually needs them to do it, just out for gain or maybe glory or often just power for its own sake. The classes mostly play to that. And, they're a dime a dozen until they have a few levels under their belts. [/QUOTE]

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