Choosing Archetypes and Classes

When you create your own RPG, you may decide to create Classes and/or Archetypes.This webpage is intended to you. Classes and Archetypes are optional and never forget that including these components in your RPG may alter it, because the Characters will be limited in their evolution. Because of it's density, this page will evolve in the next updates. As a firt part, we'll treat of classes!

Differences between Classes and Archetypes

"Class" and "archetype" have radically different meanings. A class, also calle profession or carrer, is the "job" learnt by the Character during it's youth  and he will never change after (except in RPGs like Warhammer). Archetypes are predetermined Characters that can be copied by Players to accelerate the creation phase (like in Shadowrun). A RPG with classes may not have archetypes, but conversely, a RPG with archetypes will always have classes (except for "Home-Made" RPGs (such as "Mediemonde").

Classes or Professions

Available Classes depends on the Universe you'll use. Contrary to Archetypes, Classes must be general! We'll detail here the different Classes possible. You're free to move Classes from a universe to another, but try to justify it (for instance the Policeman may become Militiaman in a Heroic-Fantasy universe and Cyber-Policeman in a Cyber-Punk universe).

Heroic-Fantasy Universe

Classical Classes :

Warrior

The Warrior is the master in hand-to-hand fighting and weapon fighting. He never uses Magic. The Warrioir is supposed to learn easily to use  weapons and heavy armor and the linked characteristics. He also gains more Hit Points than other Classes because he is more exposed to wounds.

Barbarian

Variant of the Warrior, the Barbarian cannot wear heavy armor, but on the other hand, he increases his damages with weapons and may hit more than once each round.

Magus

The Magus is the best spell caster. Most RPGs consider that casting spell is incompatible with bearing an armor. Magi have few Hit Points are inefficient when inexeperienced, but many RPGs have the same defect : the experienced Magus can destroy hords of enemy with one spell while fighting Classes won't be able to. Try to balance this in your home-made RPG.

Rogue

The Rogue steals things and can be stealthy and lockpick doors and chests. Don't forget than anyone can be furtive, so don't restrain furtivity to this Class, but give Rogues a bonus. Rogues are fighters with daggers and short swords and are often limited to leather armors or very light armors. Then can use utilitarian spells connected to furtivity and lockpicking.

Ranger

Rangers are men who travel through the world. The Ranger is easy in nature. He perceives well, can track and has good knowledges about nature. The maximum armor they can wear is the Mail* and may fight with one-handed weapons. They may use spells linked to nature and finding or hiding tracks.

Bard

The Bard is a meddler, a dabbler. He uses spells linked to sound and charms. He's a fighter slightly less efficient than the Rogue. He also uses cure spells, but largely less efficient than the Clerk.

Clerk

The Clerk is a priest devoted to a God. He is a spell caster. these spells are linked to his divinity and to healing. He has strong knowledges about herbalism and medicine. He can also write and read. Clerk is a bad hand-to-hand fighter and possess offensive spells against living-dead. His other offensive spells are largely less efficient than offensive spells from the Magus. He cannot wear armor, like the Magus.

Cyber-Punk Universe

These dark and worrying universes need the following Classes :

Computer Specialist

The Computer Specialist can program computers (!!!) from a keyboard and a screen. He's also skilled in electronics. He may work for a company which grants him with social advantages and fringe benefits.

Cybernetician

He's the specialist of robotics and cybernetics. He can be a doctor for cyborgs. He also knows how to get  cybernetic parts and components.

Gang Member

He's a delinquent that owns money by stealing or dealing drug. He has good knowledges in the dregs. He may know mafia members or other gangs. He can use small calibre weapons, knives and hand-to-hand.

Decker/Hacker

Variant of the Computer Specialist, the Decker has a datajack in his skull connected to his brain. This allows him to project his consciousness in an informatic network. His actions are faster but also more dangerous, because the counter-measures may kill him or turn his brain into mash. He's very skilled in informatics and knows the dregs.

Soldier

The Soldier manipulates every weapons and can turn objects into deadly weapons. His acquaintances in the army may allow him to get military weapons and armors.

Motorcyclist

The Motorcyclist is a good pilot. He fights like a Gang Member and is often a Moto Gang Member himself. 

Watchman

He works in supermarkets, corporations and night clubs. His job grants him access to weapons and martial arts. He can also get milirtary weapons because of his acquaintances in gunsmith's.

Space-Opera Universe

Tasteful universes but sometimes manichaean which grant access to  the following Classes :

Spaceship Pilot

Well, the name is explicit, but he's also skilled in repairing ships and electronics. You can integrate them as you want in your universe.

Trader

Owner of a Carrier Ship, the Trader spends his time dealing various materials in space. He has many acquaintances in economic rings. According to the materials he carries, he may skirts posh peoples. He has good knowledges of commercila roads of the universe. Essentially a social Class.

Adventurer

In any universe, the Adventurer is a free Class which allow the Player to choose his Skills. However, he will get less Skills than Classes.

Pirate

The Pirat is a pilot who uses efficiently personal laser weapons and spaceship weapons. He gets rich by attacking trader or cruise ships, but also by looting space foltsam. He knows the secret areas of the universe and also the secundary roads, more long to cross, but where the police won't get him. They have good knowledges of spaceship types and capacity and of the police.

Smuggler

Melting-pot between the Pirat and the Trader, the Smuggler is an outlaw who knows as well main roads of the universe as secundary roads. He carries illicit materials between solar systems. He's good at piloting and in escape manoeuvre. Not really a fighter, but he may be dangerous with experience. He fears the Police, but also the Pirats.

Diplomat

Social and high-level Class, the Diplomat is not very skilled, but he has an impressive number of acquaintances and a real influence. He will be welcomes on most planets (except the enemy systems). The Pirats won't kill him, but will use him as a money of exchange. Diplomats are skilled about nobility, protocol and speak many languages (10 to 15).

Contemporary Universe

The most simple universe and it's most attractive Classes :

Detective

The Detective can investigate without being a policeman. He has a weapon licence and may have a weapon at the creation. He can search and find clues, carry an interrogation and knows many informers.

Journalist

The Journalist can investigate but cannot carry a weapon and is unable to interrogate someone like a Policeman or a Detective. However, the newspaper can grants him fringe advantages such as contacts, informers and free tickets to travel. His acquaintances with the Police may grant him acces to Car Licence services.

Archeologist

The Archeologist is a scientist who knows how to search and who possesses strong historical knowledges. He's good in trekking and knows the nature where he investigates. He may fight and can survive in hostile environments.

Policeman

You guess his advantages : he carries a weapon, may kill, can search clues and knows lot of informers. On the other hand he may be known and the "bad" people may try to kill him or may avoid him. Another disadvantage is that he is under the order of his seniors.

Doctor/Physician/Forensic Pathologist

A very useful Class who can heal fellows. He's also good in forensic medicine and can conduct an autopsy. Not a fighter at all! (A killer Doctor has forgotten the Hippocrat's oath!).

* About the term "Chain Mail" : Chain Mail is an inappropriate term used in many RPGs. Mail is the english adaptation for the french word "Maille". It designates an armor made of little rings of metal "knitted" together. Saying "Chain Mail" is redundant, like saying "Mail Mail". Use only the term "Mail" for this armor.

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