Character Archetypes

A character archetype is a specific type of person who’s often found in narratives. They make a great foundation for an RPG character’s identity. Below is fifty examples, trimmed from the article 77 Character Archetypes.

A lot of these can be situational and may not fit into every adventure. But hey, there’s fifty of them, so they can at least spark some ideas!

d100	Archetype	Example	Notes
01–02	The Rogue with a Heart of Gold	Han Solo	Seemingly selfish, but reveals deep honor when it counts.
03–04	The Rebellious Hero	Katniss Everdeen	Rejects societal norms and defies authority.
05–06	The Disguised Stranger	Aragorn	Hides their true identity, revealing it at a pivotal moment.
07–08	The Wandering Bard	Kvothe	Roams the land, telling tales and quietly shaping events.
09–10	The Broken Optimist	Ted Lasso	Once hopeful, now jaded, still seeks to regain their faith.
11–12	The Gentle Giant	Hodor	Physically imposing yet soft-hearted.
13–14	The Reluctant Warrior	Samwise Gamgee	Avoids conflict but shows unmatched skill when forced to fight.
15–16	The Seeker of Vengeance	Inigo Montoya	Driven by revenge, but questions its morality.
17–18	The Cursed Wanderer	The Flying Dutchman	Doomed to roam, bearing a curse or tragic past.
19–20	The Enigmatic Scholar	Trelawney	Holds vast knowledge, reserved and selective about sharing it.
21–22	The Fallen Hero	Anakin Skywalker	Once revered, brought down by a flaw or twist of fate.
23–24	The Leader with a Dark Secret	President Snow	Confident and charismatic, but hiding a crucial past.
25–26	The Outlaw Out for Justice	Robin Hood	Operates outside the law for noble causes.
27–28	The Silent Observer	Boo Radley	Speaks little, but every word carries weight.
29–30	The Ethereal Mystic	The Ancient One	Connected to the spiritual or supernatural, guides others.
31–32	The Enigmatic Stranger	The Continental Op	Appears unexpectedly; true intentions remain mysterious.
33–34	The Nurturing Guardian	Molly Weasley	Offers protection and guidance at personal risk.
35–36	The Fallen Noble	Prince Zuko	Lost their power or prestige, seeks redemption or a return to glory.
37–38	The Charming Scoundrel	Neal Caffrey	Morally ambiguous, armed with charm and wit.
39–40	The Reviled Martyr	John Proctor	Sacrifices for the greater good but is met with scorn.
41–42	The Hopeful Outlander	Wonder Woman	Brings fresh perspective and optimism to jaded company.
43–44	The Mournful Avenger	The Bride	Seeks vengeance driven by sorrow as much as rage.
45–46	The Lighthearted Sage	Uncle Iroh	Imparts real wisdom with humor and a carefree demeanor.
47–48	The Reclusive Genius	Dr. Robert Ford	Exceptionally skilled but shuns society.
49–50	The Orphan Seeking Kin	Elsa	Driven to find their true origins or family.
51–52	The Masked Avenger	V	Works from the shadows, identity hidden.
53–54	The Wild Card	Tactus	Unpredictable, with shifting loyalties.
55–56	The Naive Idealist	Pip	Believes in the inherent goodness of the world.
57–58	The Brooding Loner	Jessica Jones	Haunted by their past, prefers solitude.
59–60	The Resilient Survivor	Lisbeth Salander	Carries real trauma; their journey is one of healing.
61–62	The Curious Explorer	Sir John Huxley	Driven by a thirst for knowledge or the unknown.
63–64	The Playful Trickster	Puck	Relies on wit and cunning; pranks, but never out of malice.
65–66	The Aging Warrior	Master Roshi	Past their prime but deeply experienced; mentor or last adventure.
67–68	The Outcast with a Secret	Quasimodo	Shunned by others, but possesses crucial hidden abilities.
69–70	The Determined Inventor	Doc Brown	Constantly creating, for better or worse.
71–72	The Cynic with a Hidden Heart	Dr. Gregory House	Jaded exterior conceals a deep, unspoken passion.
73–74	The Wanderer with No Past	The Man With No Name	Arrives from nowhere, refuses to discuss their origins.
75–76	The Prophet of Doom	Cassandra	Predicts dire events, dismissed until proven right.
77–78	The Relentless Pursuer	Javert	Single-minded in a mission to hunt down a target.
79–80	The Enthusiastic Amateur	Elle Woods	Lacks skill but compensates with sheer passion.
81–82	The Disguised Ruler	King Richard	A leader in hiding, for protection or to see the realm firsthand.
83–84	The Fallen Mentor	Ben Kenobi	Once guided others, now lost themselves and in need of redemption.
85–86	The Ambiguous Ally	Severus Snape	Their allegiance is unclear, keeping everyone guessing.
87–88	The Pacifist Warrior	Aang	Skilled in combat but chooses non-violence whenever possible.
89–90	The Broken Peacemaker	Desmond Doss	Strives for peace despite deep personal trauma.
91–92	The Seeker of Forbidden Truths	Robert Langdon	Uncovers secrets others believe should stay hidden.
93–94	The Ethical Mercenary	Geralt of Rivia	Works for hire, but lives by an unbreakable personal code.
95–96	The Echo from the Past	Captain America	Returns from a bygone era, challenging modern assumptions.
97–98	The Defender of the Lost Cause	Ned Stark	Fights on for causes everyone else believes are already lost.
99–100	The Forgotten Chronicler	Samwell Tarly	Records the events and truths that everyone else overlooks.