Heroes, Hobos, and Punchers

Whenever I pick up a new setting book for Savage Worlds, one of the first things I flip to is that setting’s list of character archetypes.

For the uninitiated, archetypes are kind of like traditional “character classes” (wizard, warrior, murder-hobo, policeman, construction worker, etc.) but they don’t lock you into a limited set of abilities. Instead, they merely provide a template for quick and easy character creation (“If you want to play a construction worker, start here”).

What’s more, by looking at the archetypes, you can get a pretty good idea of what sorts of heroes you can expect to find in the setting. For example, if the list contains Private Eye, Femme Fatale, and Crooked Cop, chances are you’ve got some two-fisted detective work in your future.

Which brings me to the Ghost Punchers RPG.

I’m not done designing the archetypes for the game yet, but here’s a brief preview of some of what you you’ll find:

• Academic: This bookworm has a head full of arcane knowledge and a fist full of righteous fury.
• Clergy: A proponent of hands-on ministry, this exorcist will defend his flock by any means necessary.
• Detective: Whether a private eye or a cop on the edge, this investigator has seen too much to ignore the horrors around her.
• Entertainer: Armed with a video camera and a YouTube channel, the entertainer dreams of someday punching ghosts on basic cable.
• Hunter: Driven by his past (and possibly a muscle car), this grim avenger has no life beyond finding and destroying ghosts.
• Martial Artist: Putting the “punch” into ghost-punching, this melee master is a specter-slapping machine.
• Mystic: This wise one is in tune with the spirit world—especially the parts that need a good punching.

If you have an archetype you’d love to see that isn’t on the list, please let me know and I’ll do my best to accomodate you.