Here are five dumb tables for Private Detectives. What Did He Fail At? Nobody’s a private detective because they grew up dreaming of one day being a private detective. They all started out somewhere else, screwed it up, and ended up doing this. Most P.I.’s are former cops or spies or soldiers, but there are…
Hey kids! Did you know there are still some openings for the Cinemechanix games I’m running at GenCon this year?  Guardians of Shymeria is sold out, but the other 3 still have some seats left. If you’re going to be at GenCon and want to see how the Cinemechanix system plays, buy your ticket today!…
After almost a year and 40 columns, I’ve run out of archetypes. I can think of others, but most of them are either specific to a certain genre or variations on Archeypes I’ve already covered. So I’m putting the column on hiatus for now. I’ll still post new archetypes if I think of them and…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
The fool is a comic relief character who makes the audience laugh by consistently making bad decisions, ignoring social boundaries, and generally acting absurdly. While some fools actively try to be funny, many are blissfully unaware of their shortcomings and flaws. Most fools are good-natured or too inept to be a threat to anyone but…
The mentor is a character, usually older or more experienced than other members of the group, who uses his experience to prepare the younger heroes for their ultimate mission or destiny. In addition to acting as an adviser and sometimes teacher, the mentor often acts as the conscience and voice of reason for the group….
