Conducted by Carter Newton Jeffrey Johnson is a talented artist who has done a great deal of work for Hex Games. He may be best known for illustrating the cover of the ENnie Award-winning RPG Hobomancer and the Hobomancer Companion. Recently Jeffrey illustrated my novel Suicide Run: A Tale of the Hobomancers. I had some…
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Supporting characters are a lot more interesting when there’s something weird about them. While you don’t want to give every single GMC the characters meet a quirky trait (unless you’re playing a David Lynch-style game), important or recurring characters will be more memorable if they’ve got an unusual trait. The list below is for…
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…
Often known as the ladies’ man (or, in the case of female characters, femme fatale or vixen), the rake uses his charm, good looks, and sexuality to get what he wants, especially from members of the opposite sex. Some rakes trade sexual services for favors, gifts, or information outright. The most competent, however, can…
A squint is a scientist who specializes in analyzing evidence in order to solve a problem or mystery. The name “squint” (coined by Agent Booth on the TV series Bones) refers to the fact that the squint is always looking intently at something–a microscope, a computer screen, or whatever. While the term was invented to…
The psychic is a character who has paranormal abilities of some sort. Some psychics gain their abilities through mystical training or encounters with supernatural entities. Most, however, are simply born with their unusual abilities. Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Email
