Series
Archetype of the Week: The Holy Man
The holy man is a character who serves God. Most fictional holy men serve the Christian God, but there are occasional examples of holy men serving other deities, especially in fantasy stories. It should be noted that the holy man’s status as a servant of God is not usually verifiable; he is self-appointed, granted his…
Archetype of the Week: The Boy Scout
The boy scout is the classic white-hat-wearing Good Guy. He believes that everyone should get along and follow the rules, and does his best to help people in need. The boy scout’s strong values, incorruptible ethics, and idealistic beliefs can at times border on hokey. In other words, your classic Lawful Good Paladin from…
Archetype of the Week: The Warrior
The warrior is a character who specializes in battle. Unlike swashbucklers, most warriors prefer to dispatch their enemies with ruthless efficiency and sound tactics rather than with flashy displays of skill. This does not necessarily mean that the warrior is a humorless killing machine, however. Many warriors revel in the thrill and glory of…
Archetype of the Week: The Rookie
The rookie is the new kid on the block who doesn’t have a lot of experience. Unlike the hot shot, he also doesn’t have an amazing knack for his line of work. He’s just a regular guy starting his career. As a newbie, most rookies are subjected to all sorts of condescension, practical jokes,…
Archetype of the Week: The Trickster
The trickster (often called the shapeshifter) archetype is closely related to the fool, but tends to be a more subversive character than the fool. The fool is (whether he knows it or not) is the object of others’ laughter; the joke is on the fool. With the trickster, the joke is nearly always on someone…