Epic Master Villain Archetypes

[megaplayboy]

I'm starting up a high level game, either before or when Galactic Champions arrives, and I'm trying to think up the basic epic villain archetypes.

So far:

1. Dimensional Conqueror/Terror from Beyond--kind of the top of the food chain. This is actually a type of villain that is highly successful, and our lowly dimension is the only one that seems to frustrate their ambitions again and again.
2. Supernatural Evil Power--a slight variation on 1, generally your demonic types fall into this category.
3. Alien overlord--a powerful alien emperor who wants to build an intergalactic bypass in the space the planet currently occupies.
4. inscrutable cosmic entity--your basic potentially threatening quasi-omnipotent being.
5. Evil deity
6. brilliant criminal mastermind--a villain whose primary ability is staying two steps ahead of the heroes.
7. arrogant worldbeater--see Zerstoiten, Albert.
8. ruthless nihilist--e.g., Thanos, Mechanon, etc.
9. Chauvinistic supremacist--e.g., Magneto
10. evil timelord
11. elitist mega bully--e.g. Vegeta, Champion from Elders of the Universe
12. cosmic game player--a variant of 4.


if anyone else can think of any classic epic villain "types", feel free to post 'em:D

[OddHat]

13. Wronged Rebel out for vengence. Doesn't matter if the crimes committed against his people are real or imagined, but more pathos if the crimes were real. Add to any of the above archtypes. Example: Last member of an exterminated race, Leader of a slave rebellion, Terrorist defender of an oppressed people.

14. Messiah, out to save us all whether we want it or not and punish the wicked. Sub-group for a sci-fi campaign: Intergalactic Crusaders or religious fanatics ("No one expects the Xulcavian Inquisition").

[Hermit]

15. Totally Insane being of Godlike Power- Perhaps driven mad by 'Knowing too much', this villain's perception of reality is totally skewed and he responds to his madness in ways that to him make perfect sense, but others can not understand. A possible example would be a psychotic godling who can bend and warp reality to fit his vision of it.

[Doug McCrae]

You've pretty much got the lot. One might add:

Ruler of a nation - Dr. Doom
Wizard/occultist - Morgan Le Fay
Monster - Fin Fang Foom, Godzilla OR
Unstoppable engine of destruction - Doomsday, Hulk, Seth
Robot with all the powers of a hero team - Amazo
Cult leader - Brother Blood
The international criminal conspiracy - Hydra, VIPER

I tend to distinguish between world conquerors with armies like Attuma, Annihilus or the Anti-Monitor and those without - Count Nefaria, Dr. Doom

With gods/demons I would distinguish between:
Evil gods - Loki
Satan-analogue - Mephisto
Cthulhoid gods/demons - Shuma-Gorath, Cthulhu, Nyarlathotep

[Azimer the Mad]

14. The Laughing Madman-Cosmic Trickster/Murderous Clown- The Joker, to a lesser extent Carnage, Pennywise, IRL John Wayne Gacy, many action movie villains.

Definately an archetype. There haven't been many comics-wise because the Joker so perfectly represents the archetype, in my opinion.

[Lord Liaden]

You might find it worth your while to check out Digital Hero #3: the article "Megavillains" by Dean Shomshak goes into considerable detail on powerful master villains: their classic backgrounds, motivations, strategies, and typical plots. I found it a helpful overview.