So, just what ARE the archetypes?

[Mercule]

Between the Mystic Theurge thread and trying to figure out just how far from standard rules I want to take my upcoming campaign, I've been thinking about character classes. Specifically, I'm trying to figure out what archetypes exist in the fantasy genre so I can decide which ones fit my world and include classes/PrCs/etc. to facilitate appropriate archetypes*. Thought some of you all might have some input on the matter or be interested in the topic.

What I've come up with so far is:
Heavy Fighter (man-at-arms)
Swashbuckler/Duelist
Rogue
Guerilla (aka Ranger)
Priest
Arcanist/High Mage
Shaman
Infernalist
Sage
Mentalist/Gifted
Necromancer
Hedge Mage

What's anyone else got?

*That means that this entire discussion presupposes that classes relate to archetypes and are not simply mechanics from which to cherry pick. If you disagree, that's fine, but if you want to argue the matter go start your own thread -- here, that point is a gimme.

 

[Tonguez]

You forgot

Peasant Hero (Luke)
Mad Hermit (Ben Kenobi)
Black Knight (Vader)
Scorcerer King (Emporer)
Ancient Wiseman (Yoda)
Savage Warrior (Chewie)
Noble (Leia)
Herald (CP30)
Gnome (R2D2)
Bountyhunter/Assasin (Bobba Fett)

* Han is a rogue

 

[francisca]

Between the Mystic Theurge thread and trying to figure out just how far from standard rules I want to take my upcoming campaign, I've been thinking about character classes. Specifically, I'm trying to figure out what archetypes exist in the fantasy genre so I can decide which ones fit my world and include classes/PrCs/etc. to facilitate appropriate archetypes*. Thought some of you all might have some input on the matter or be interested in the topic.

What I've come up with so far is:
Heavy Fighter (man-at-arms)
Swashbuckler/Duelist
Rogue
Guerilla (aka Ranger)
Priest
Arcanist/High Mage
Shaman
Infernalist
Sage
Mentalist/Gifted
Necromancer
Hedge Mage

What's anyone else got?

*That means that this entire discussion presupposes that classes relate to archetypes and are not simply mechanics from which to cherry pick. If you disagree, that's fine, but if you want to argue the matter go start your own thread -- here, that point is a gimme.

Paladine/Justicar, unless you consider them to be subsets of heavy fighters.

 

[Mercule]

Paladine/Justicar, unless you consider them to be subsets of heavy fighters.

I guess I do consider them somewhere between a cross of fighter/priest and as an archetype of their own. They probably didn't make the list because I view it as PrC fodder and kinda (unintensionally) blew it off.

 

[Nightfall]

There is only ONE archtype Sage for all this boards needs. And that's me!

 

[Frostmarrow]

And you won't let us forget.

 

[Nightfall]

Only cause I need something to do with my pathic non-life.

 

[Frostmarrow]

You do it well. I'm a fan.

 

[Nightfall]

Good. Then I'll make sure to autograph you a copy of my latest treatise "Sinful Knowledge: How to go about influence people to believe you are the source of all things knowledgeable." Hedrada let me do this as long as I made sure to put in a large dedication to him.

 

[Arkhandus]

Lessee....

Man-At-Arms (big weapons, armor, shields, fury, will, toughness, strength)
Swashbuckler (agility, guile, flair, intimidation, bluffs, pirating, city-savvy)
Marksman (focused on bows, crossbows, or firearms, likely wilderness-savvy)
Martial Artist (unarmed combat, exotic weapons, mobility, little or no armor)
Knight (nobility, leadership, educated, horsemanship, any sort of armaments)
Hunter (wilderness familiarity, tracking, traps, toughness, resourcefulness)
Stalker (stealth, devious fighting, tracking, disguise, social infiltration)
Vagabond (stealth, breaking and entering, alertness, burglary, petty theft)
Mastermind (schemer, swindler, royal, politician, sage, judge, investigator)
Tradesman (crafter, artisan, merchant, laborer, farmer, servant, herald)
Priest (religious lore, oratory, herbalism, philosophy, knowledge, mysticism)
Shaman (nature-oriented religion, mysticism, wilderness skills, wisdom)
Mage (arcane magic, item creation, educated, scholarly, spellcasting)
Summoner (calls creatures to do his or her bidding)
Hedge Wizard (alchemy, herbalism, wilderness skill, charms, curses, summons)
Mentalist (psychic abilities, extreme willpower, charismatic, knowledgeable)
Bard (musician, singer, poet, artist, wanderer, gossiper, acrobat, jester)

Probably a few archetypes I'm forgetting at the moment..... A man-at-arms could be a savage warrior potentially, a swashbuckler could potentially be a knife-fighter or desert warrior, a knight could be a samurai, a hunter could be a woodsman or scout or guerilla fighter, a stalker could be an assassin or ninja or mugger or spy, a vagabond could be any sort of petty criminal or street urchin, a mastermind could be a non-magical clergyman, a tradesman could be a messenger or town crier or any sort of peasant, a priest could be a missionary or necromancer or cultist, a shaman could be a druid or witch-doctor or animist or savage cultist, a mage could be an illusionist or soothsayer, a summoner could be a demonologist, a hedge wizard could be a witch or wu jen or hermit spellcaster..... Combining two or three of the above archetypes will produce almost any sort of character imaginable, i.e. knight+mastermind=aristocrat, tradesman+swashbuckler=peasant hero, bard+man-at-arms=skald, vagabond+hunter=dungeon delver, etc.