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Let's collect the fantasy archetypes
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<blockquote data-quote="mkill" data-source="post: 5776473" data-attributes="member: 55985"><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Fighter</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: Heavy weapon, heavy armor; frontliner; tough; no magic / supernatural abilities</p><p>In D&D: Fighter</p><p>Examples: Regdar (3rd ed), Siris (Infinity Blade); Tidus, Auron (FF7)</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Warlord / Marshall</strong></span></p><p>Defined as: More intelligent / charismatic variant of the fighter; leadership ability; capable melee combatant</p><p>In D&D: Marshall (3rd ed), Warlord (4th ed)</p><p>Examples: Roy (OOTS)</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Big Guy</strong></span></p><p>Defined as: Massive frame, big weapon, slow, but hits very heavy</p><p>In D&D: race rather than class - Half-Giant, Goliath</p><p>Examples: Hagrid (Harry Potter), Chewbacca</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Swashbuckler</strong></span></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong></strong></span>Defined by: fencing weapon; light or no armor; mobile; acrobatic fighting style; taunts</p><p>In D&D: Swashbuckler class, Fighter variant</p><p>Examples: D'Artagnan (3 Musketeers)</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Thief / Rogue</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: Sneak attack; stealth; traps and locks; acrobatics; skill monkey</p><p>In D&D: Rogue</p><p>Examples: Haley (OOTS)</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Adventurer</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: Everyman who gets caught in the story; luck; big heart; resourcefulness; grows to become larger than life</p><p>In D&D: Commoner (if it was more heroic)</p><p>Examples: Everyman hero (Feng Shui RPG); Frodo (LOTR); Twoflowers (Discworld), Tourist (Nethack); Abenteurer (Das Schwarze Auge)</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Bard</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: Music-based magic; social skills, thievery and deception; swashbuckling fighting style</p><p>In D&D: Bard</p><p>Examples: Elan</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Archer</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: Bow; Can be soldier type, wilderness-oriented, sneaky type or arcane</p><p>In D&D: Ranger, Fighter variant, Arcane Archer PrC, Elf</p><p>Examples: Thief PC game, Kagome (Inuyasha), Legolas (LOTR)</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Barbarian</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: Rage; big and tough; 2h weapon or dual wield; wilderness skills; light or no armor</p><p>In D&D: Barbarian, Warden</p><p>Examples: Conan</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Wizard</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: learns spells from books; powerful magic effects; starts weak and becomes invincible; magic school variants</p><p>In D&D: Wizard</p><p>Examples: Raistlin (Dragonlance), Gandalf (LOTR), Black Mage (FF), Harry Potter</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Sorcerer / Witch / Warlock</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: Source of power, either innate (dragon blood etc.) or outside (pact with dark entitity): spontaneous caster</p><p>In D&D: Sorcerer, Warlock</p><p>Examples: Hennet (3rd ed), Esme Weatherwax / Nanny Ogg (Discworld)</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Arcane / Divine Trickster</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: thievery and social abilities as mix of skill and spells</p><p>In D&D: Rogue / Wizard, Beguiler (3E), Arcane Trickster; Cleric of Vhaeraun (and similar deities)</p><p>Examples:</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Druid</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: Nature-based magic; summon animals; healing</p><p>In D&D: Druid</p><p>Examples: Merlin (Arthur legend), Druid (Diablo)</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Shapechanger</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: Change shape into a powerful combatant, such as Werewolf</p><p>In D&D: Druid, Wizard (build option)</p><p>Examples:</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Summoner</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: Summon powerful creatures to serve you on the battlefield</p><p>In D&D: Cleric, Druid, Wizard (as part of their abilities)</p><p>Examples: Summoner (FF)</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Red Mage / Gish / Bladesinger / Psychic Warrior</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: Sword and sorcery - magic-infused weapon attacks and self-buffs; light armor; variant: psionic</p><p>D&D: Swordmage (4E), Bladesinger (AD&D), Duskblade (3E), Psychic Warrior (3E), Fighter / Mage</p><p>Examples: Red Mage (FF)</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Psion</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: Weak body, strong mind; telekinesis; telepathy; mental attacks</p><p>D&D: Psion</p><p>Examples:</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Necromancer</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: Summon undead; poison; bone spells</p><p>In D&D: Wizard subclass or Cleric variant, Dread Necromancer class (3E)</p><p>Examples: Necromancer (Diablo)</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Paladin</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: Knight with divine powers; healing; smiting; heavy armor; mounted combat; Code of honor</p><p>In D&D: Paladin, Cleric, Runepriest (4E)</p><p>Examples: Crusaders (history), Miko (OOTS)</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Orange">Black Knight</span></strong></p><p>Defined as: Fallen Paladin; Knight with necromantic, demonic, or generic "dark" powers; Anti-hero</p><p>In D&D: Blackguard</p><p>Examples: Darth Vader</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Priest / White Mage / Staff Chick</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: Robes; healing magic; party buffs; light-themed offensive magic; turn undead </p><p>In D&D: Priest (AD&D Cleric variant); Invoker (4E)</p><p>Examples: White Mage (FF)</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Monk / Martial Artist</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: Melee combatant; Asian theme; mystic powers (Ki); unarmed; "monk weapons"</p><p>In D&D: Monk</p><p>Examples: Feng Shui RPG; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon / Wuxia movies in general</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Orange">Artificer / Alchemist</span></strong></p><p>Defined by: Channels magic through items</p><p>In D&D: Artificer</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Samurai</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: Japan theme; melee combatant / archer; Warrior code</p><p>In D&D: Samurai class</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Ninja / Assassin</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: stealth; poison; mystic powers (unlike rogue); often Asian themed</p><p>In D&D: Assassin, Ninja</p><p>Examples: Ninja Gaiden (video game), Assassin guild (Discworld)</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Pirate</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: seafaring skills, fencing, devil-may-care attitude</p><p>In D&D: surprisingly unserved, except as some PrCs</p><p>Examples: Jack Sparrow</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Orange">Ghost</span></strong></p><p>Defined by: immaterial undead, often left behind because of some unfinished business in life</p><p>In D&D: template in 3E</p><p>Examples: Ghost (Feng Shui RPG)</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Vampire</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: undead, sucks blood, weakness to sunlight and other things, mystical powers like turning into bat</p><p>In D&D: template (3E) or class (4E)</p><p>Examples:</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Orange"><strong>Comic Relief</strong></span></p><p>Defined by: Tag-along character; either comically incompetent but very lucky or comically powerful, or hypercompetent in some niche; serves to lighten the mood if things get too grim; often plucky or scrappy</p><p>In D&D: Kender (implicit)</p><p>Examples: R2D2 + C3PO; Richard (LFG); Belkar (OOTS)</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="mkill, post: 5776473, member: 55985"] [COLOR=Orange][B]Fighter[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: Heavy weapon, heavy armor; frontliner; tough; no magic / supernatural abilities In D&D: Fighter Examples: Regdar (3rd ed), Siris (Infinity Blade); Tidus, Auron (FF7) [COLOR=Orange][B]Warlord / Marshall[/B][/COLOR] Defined as: More intelligent / charismatic variant of the fighter; leadership ability; capable melee combatant In D&D: Marshall (3rd ed), Warlord (4th ed) Examples: Roy (OOTS) [COLOR=Orange][B]Big Guy[/B][/COLOR] Defined as: Massive frame, big weapon, slow, but hits very heavy In D&D: race rather than class - Half-Giant, Goliath Examples: Hagrid (Harry Potter), Chewbacca [COLOR=Orange][B]Swashbuckler [/B][/COLOR]Defined by: fencing weapon; light or no armor; mobile; acrobatic fighting style; taunts In D&D: Swashbuckler class, Fighter variant Examples: D'Artagnan (3 Musketeers) [COLOR=Orange][B]Thief / Rogue[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: Sneak attack; stealth; traps and locks; acrobatics; skill monkey In D&D: Rogue Examples: Haley (OOTS) [COLOR=Orange][B]Adventurer[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: Everyman who gets caught in the story; luck; big heart; resourcefulness; grows to become larger than life In D&D: Commoner (if it was more heroic) Examples: Everyman hero (Feng Shui RPG); Frodo (LOTR); Twoflowers (Discworld), Tourist (Nethack); Abenteurer (Das Schwarze Auge) [COLOR=Orange][B]Bard[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: Music-based magic; social skills, thievery and deception; swashbuckling fighting style In D&D: Bard Examples: Elan [COLOR=Orange][B]Archer[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: Bow; Can be soldier type, wilderness-oriented, sneaky type or arcane In D&D: Ranger, Fighter variant, Arcane Archer PrC, Elf Examples: Thief PC game, Kagome (Inuyasha), Legolas (LOTR) [COLOR=Orange][B]Barbarian[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: Rage; big and tough; 2h weapon or dual wield; wilderness skills; light or no armor In D&D: Barbarian, Warden Examples: Conan [COLOR=Orange][B]Wizard[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: learns spells from books; powerful magic effects; starts weak and becomes invincible; magic school variants In D&D: Wizard Examples: Raistlin (Dragonlance), Gandalf (LOTR), Black Mage (FF), Harry Potter [COLOR=Orange][B]Sorcerer / Witch / Warlock[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: Source of power, either innate (dragon blood etc.) or outside (pact with dark entitity): spontaneous caster In D&D: Sorcerer, Warlock Examples: Hennet (3rd ed), Esme Weatherwax / Nanny Ogg (Discworld) [COLOR=Orange][B]Arcane / Divine Trickster[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: thievery and social abilities as mix of skill and spells In D&D: Rogue / Wizard, Beguiler (3E), Arcane Trickster; Cleric of Vhaeraun (and similar deities) Examples: [COLOR=Orange][B]Druid[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: Nature-based magic; summon animals; healing In D&D: Druid Examples: Merlin (Arthur legend), Druid (Diablo) [COLOR=Orange][B]Shapechanger[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: Change shape into a powerful combatant, such as Werewolf In D&D: Druid, Wizard (build option) Examples: [COLOR=Orange][B]Summoner[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: Summon powerful creatures to serve you on the battlefield In D&D: Cleric, Druid, Wizard (as part of their abilities) Examples: Summoner (FF) [COLOR=Orange][B]Red Mage / Gish / Bladesinger / Psychic Warrior[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: Sword and sorcery - magic-infused weapon attacks and self-buffs; light armor; variant: psionic D&D: Swordmage (4E), Bladesinger (AD&D), Duskblade (3E), Psychic Warrior (3E), Fighter / Mage Examples: Red Mage (FF) [COLOR=Orange][B]Psion[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: Weak body, strong mind; telekinesis; telepathy; mental attacks D&D: Psion Examples: [COLOR=Orange][B]Necromancer[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: Summon undead; poison; bone spells In D&D: Wizard subclass or Cleric variant, Dread Necromancer class (3E) Examples: Necromancer (Diablo) [COLOR=Orange][B]Paladin[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: Knight with divine powers; healing; smiting; heavy armor; mounted combat; Code of honor In D&D: Paladin, Cleric, Runepriest (4E) Examples: Crusaders (history), Miko (OOTS) [B][COLOR=Orange]Black Knight[/COLOR][/B] Defined as: Fallen Paladin; Knight with necromantic, demonic, or generic "dark" powers; Anti-hero In D&D: Blackguard Examples: Darth Vader [COLOR=Orange][B]Priest / White Mage / Staff Chick[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: Robes; healing magic; party buffs; light-themed offensive magic; turn undead In D&D: Priest (AD&D Cleric variant); Invoker (4E) Examples: White Mage (FF) [COLOR=Orange][B]Monk / Martial Artist[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: Melee combatant; Asian theme; mystic powers (Ki); unarmed; "monk weapons" In D&D: Monk Examples: Feng Shui RPG; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon / Wuxia movies in general [B][COLOR=Orange]Artificer / Alchemist[/COLOR][/B] Defined by: Channels magic through items In D&D: Artificer [COLOR=Orange][B]Samurai[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: Japan theme; melee combatant / archer; Warrior code In D&D: Samurai class [COLOR=Orange][B]Ninja / Assassin[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: stealth; poison; mystic powers (unlike rogue); often Asian themed In D&D: Assassin, Ninja Examples: Ninja Gaiden (video game), Assassin guild (Discworld) [COLOR=Orange][B]Pirate[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: seafaring skills, fencing, devil-may-care attitude In D&D: surprisingly unserved, except as some PrCs Examples: Jack Sparrow [B][COLOR=Orange]Ghost[/COLOR][/B] Defined by: immaterial undead, often left behind because of some unfinished business in life In D&D: template in 3E Examples: Ghost (Feng Shui RPG) [COLOR=Orange][B]Vampire[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: undead, sucks blood, weakness to sunlight and other things, mystical powers like turning into bat In D&D: template (3E) or class (4E) Examples: [COLOR=Orange][B]Comic Relief[/B][/COLOR] Defined by: Tag-along character; either comically incompetent but very lucky or comically powerful, or hypercompetent in some niche; serves to lighten the mood if things get too grim; often plucky or scrappy In D&D: Kender (implicit) Examples: R2D2 + C3PO; Richard (LFG); Belkar (OOTS) [/QUOTE]
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