Chris Goodwin Posted September 3, 2006 Report Share Posted September 3, 2006 These are lists of typical disadvantages for various fantasy archetypes. Some of them overlap, which is fine. Some of them (particularly the Dark and Outdoors lists) are meant to be mixed and matched with other archetypes, and some archetypes can themselves be mixed and matched; for instance, an assassin might take from the Thief and Dark lists, while a paladin would choose from Fighter and Cleric. There are two primary purposes for the list: for players who need some help with creativity, and for GMs who need to come up with NPCs in a hurry. My favorite method is to take the "normal" templates from FREd, apply a package or two (race and/or profession, along with any others that may apply) and a few Disadvantages from the list. Feel free to make suggestions; I will try to keep this post up to date with any additions people come up with. Especially, feel free to suggest other archetypes and, potentially, genres (though they should be posted in the appropriate places). Share and enjoy! The lists: Fighter: Berserk/Enraged: In Combat DF: Warrior DF: Armor type or specific marking DF: Inexperienced DF: Military (includes uniform, armor/weapons, rank markings, etc.) DF: Device (military unit crest, coat of arms, etc.) DF: Scar(s) Hunted: A particular enemy Reputation: Fearsome Fighter Reputation: Defender of the Downtrodden Phys: Missing body part (limb, eye, ear, etc.) (could also be DF) Phys: Old injury Psych: Haunted by memories Psych: PTSD Psych: Sadist Psych: Cruel Psych: Bloodthirsty Psych: Code vs. Killing Psych: Casual Killer Psych: Defender of the Downtrodden Psych: Soldier Psych: Mercenary Code Social: Slave (gladiator) Social: Subject to Orders Cleric: DF: Cleric DF: Holy Symbol DF: Features of order (symbol, device, markings/tattoos, etc.) Hunted: Enemy Sect/Deity Hunted/Watched: Church Hierarchy Phys: Loses Powers If Fails To Obey Deity Psych: Faithful to deity Psych: Fanatic Psych: Unsure of Faith Psych: Hates Enemies Of His Deity Psych: Touched by Things Man Was Not Meant To Know (aka Flipping Insane) Thief: DF: Branded DF: Features of guild (tattoos/markings, etc.) Hunted/Watched: (Police, city watch, or other authorities) Hunted/Watched: Thieves' Guild Phys: Missing body part (limb, eye, ear, etc.) (could also be DF) Psych: Looking For Big Score Psych: Can't Resist Challenging Theft Psych: Code vs. Killing Psych: Casual Killer Psych: Paranoid Social: Criminal Record Wizard: DF: Wizard DF: Features of order or guild (symbols, robes, markings, etc.) DF: Funny Smell DF: Mutters to self Hunted/Watched: Order or Guild Psych: Absent Minded Psych: Ambitious Psych: Addicted to Magic Psych: Hates Being Away From Research Rep: Fearsome Wizard Dark: The Dark list is intended for characters like assassins, necromancers, dark cultists, evil priests, etc. and should be mixed or matched as appropriate or necessary. DF: Features of cult or guild (uniform, markings/tattoos/ritual scars, etc.) Hunted: (forces of good, authorities, etc.) Hunted/Watched: (evil deity, demon, cult, guild) Psych: Bully Psych: Cruel Psych: Bloodthirsty Psych: Sadist Psych: Casual Killer Psych: Mercenary mentality Psych: Sexual depravity (specify) Psych: Ambitious Psych: Power Hungry Social: Criminal record Outdoors: The Outdoors list is intended to be used by rangers, druids, barbarians, scouts, etc. and should be mixed or matched as appropriate and necessary as well. DF: Weatherbeaten look DF: (symbol of guild or order) Hunted/Watched: (organization protective of outdoors) Hunted/Watched: (forces of "progress") Psych: Protective of outdoors Psych: Uncomfortable in cities Social: Crude and unrefined This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 543 Howard Street, 5th Floor, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA. DentArthurDent 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayapuppies Posted September 3, 2006 Report Share Posted September 3, 2006 Re: Lists: Typical Disadvantages for fantasy characters Nice little organization. I could certainly use something like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Goodwin Posted September 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2006 Re: Lists: Typical Disadvantages for fantasy characters Nice little organization. I could certainly use something like this. Thanks! Feel free! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yamamura Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 Re: Lists: Typical Disadvantages for fantasy characters Good job! If I think of any, I will add them.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucius Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 Re: Lists: Typical Disadvantages for fantasy characters So why a "Dark" list but no "Bright" list? Lucius Alexander The palindromedary wonders what constitutes "dark" in this context anyway..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Goodwin Posted September 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 Re: Lists: Typical Disadvantages for fantasy characters Good job! If I think of any' date=' I will add them....[/quote'] Awesome. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Goodwin Posted September 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 Re: Lists: Typical Disadvantages for fantasy characters So why a "Dark" list but no "Bright" list? Lucius Alexander The palindromedary wonders what constitutes "dark" in this context anyway..... Dark is, essentially, evil. Necromancers, evil clerics, dark cultists, assassins, and the like. Just about any "evil" character could take Disadvantages from that list. I don't see why there couldn't be a corresponding "Light" list, with things like Psych: Code of Honor, Psych: Protector of Truth and Justice, and the like, but it didn't occur to me at the time to add a separate category. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucius Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 Re: Lists: Typical Disadvantages for fantasy characters Dark is' date=' essentially, evil. Necromancers, evil clerics, dark cultists, assassins, and the like. Just about any "evil" character could take Disadvantages from that list. I don't see why there couldn't be a corresponding "Light" list, with things like Psych: Code of Honor, Psych: Protector of Truth and Justice, and the like, but it didn't occur to me at the time to add a separate category.[/quote'] Well, I admit I'm not always completely comfortable with using the words "dark" and "light" that way, but if it works for you. Having a couple of opposed lists of disads works better than having an "alignment system." Lucius Alexander The palindromedary wonders if this has to do with that left and right stuff again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucius Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 Re: Lists: Typical Disadvantages for fantasy characters It's actually easy to construct a "counter-list" by reversing or modifying the listed disads...or in some cases, not changing them at all Bright: The Bright list is intended for characters like paladins, healers, light cultists, good priests, etc. and should be mixed or matched as appropriate or necessary. DF: Features of cult or guild (note: This one did not have to change at all.) Hunted: (forces of evil, criminals, etc.) Hunted/Watched: (good deity, daemon, cult, guild) Psych: Protects the Weak Psych: Compassionate Psych: Pacifist Psych: Ascetic Psych: Code against Killing Psych: Vow of Poverty Psych: Chastity Psych: Humble Psych: Seeks to Empower Others Social: Duty Urban: The Urban list is intended to be used by city guards, thieves, etc. and should be mixed or matched as appropriate and necessary as well. DF: City Accent DF: (symbol of guild or uniform) Hunted/Watched: (The Watch/Guard) Hunted/Watched: (Thieve's Guild or Underworld in General) Psych: Protective of Neighborhood/Street/City Psych: Uncomfortable out of cities Social: "City Slicker," Target of mingled contempt and resentment of rural folk. Lucius Alexander The palindromedary is fascinated to watch Lucius Alexander's psych lims play out.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thag13 Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 Re: Lists: Typical Disadvantages for fantasy characters Great list of disadds. What would the average cost of each be? Most look about 15 points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 Re: Lists: Typical Disadvantages for fantasy characters Universal: Psych: Alcoholic Other clerical/paladin Vows existed. Silence was one (a very difficult one to roleplay). Also, perhaps more than fighters, members of holy orders were/are subject to orders (after all, most secular military organizations don't care much what you do in your off-duty hours). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Goodwin Posted September 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 Re: Lists: Typical Disadvantages for fantasy characters It's actually easy to construct a "counter-list" by reversing or modifying the listed disads...or in some cases, not changing them at all You must spread some reputation around before giving it to Lucius again. Those rock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Goodwin Posted September 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 Re: Lists: Typical Disadvantages for fantasy characters Great list of disadds. What would the average cost of each be? Most look about 15 points. Whatever you feel like, I think. Any experienced Hero player who can't pull 75 points out of the short lists isn't even trying, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucius Posted September 7, 2006 Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 Re: Lists: Typical Disadvantages for fantasy characters Universal: Psych: Alcoholic Other clerical/paladin Vows existed. Silence was one (a very difficult one to roleplay). Also, perhaps more than fighters, members of holy orders were/are subject to orders (after all, most secular military organizations don't care much what you do in your off-duty hours). Never been in the military I take it? Lucius Alexander And an Air Force surplus palindromedary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Goodwin Posted September 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2006 Re: Lists: Typical Disadvantages for fantasy characters Modern military, sure. A professional, regular military force in a fantasy world, probably as well. Anything else probably won't much care. (former zoomie as well) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorpheousXO Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 Re: Lists: Typical Disadvantages for fantasy characters This stuff is very nice, and I am officially yoinking it! And I owe lucius some rep for his contribution Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucius Posted September 22, 2006 Report Share Posted September 22, 2006 Re: Lists: Typical Disadvantages for fantasy characters You must spread some reputation around before giving it to Lucius again. Those rock. This stuff is very nice, and I am officially yoinking it! And I owe lucius some rep for his contribution If I had rep for every time someone said they owed me rep…. Lucius Alexander “He’d have a lot of rep” concludes the palindromedary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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