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Fantasy Heroes
Since the 1970s, fantasy games have
been the most popular RPGs in the world. d20 Advanced won't
leave you fantasy fans hanging. Below are three archetypes for the
iconic faces of fantasy: the spell-slinging mage, the crafty rogue,
and the mighty warrior. Each of these characters is built to
represent years of fantasy gaming experience, and be easily
customizable for players who want to tweak and add things to these
starting archetypes to perfect them. The warrior, for instance, can
easily add a few ranks in Rage and become a pretty solid Barbarian,
or you can trade a few of the mage's spells out for healing spells
and make a cleric. Also note that each of these archetypes is 55 cp,
which is 5 cp short of the recommended 60 cp for a PL 4 character,
leaving room for a few racial traits for classic fantasy races like
elves or dwarves or some of the suggested customization above. Fantasy Heroes will
be an ongoing feature with additional suggestions, templates, and new
rules for fantasy-themed games.
- Mage- A master of magic and mysticism with potent spells.
- Rogue- A highly-skilled expert who relies on wits and cunning to succeed.
- Warrior- A martial champion who relies on iron and strength to see him through.
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| MAGE | PL 4 / 55 cp | | STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA | COM | | +0 | +0 | +0 | +2 | +2 | +1 | -- | | Reflex 1 (+1) | Fortitude 1 (+1) | Academics 2 (+4) | Expertise
(Magic) 4 (+6)
Perception 2 (+4) | Will 3 (+4) | Defense 0 (+5
FX)
Toughness 0 (+3
FX)
Weapon Group
(Spells) 4 | | FEATS | Trance, Ritualist | | FX | Arcane Blast (Damage) 4 (Extras: Magical (+1), Ranged (+1); Drawbacks: FX Loss (Unable to speak or gesture
(-1))
- Dynamic Alternate FX: Arcane Armor (Enhnaced Trait (Toughness)) (1 cp/rank)
- Dynamic Alternate FX: Arcane Shield (Enhnaced Trait (Defense)) (Extras: Total Fade (+1)) (2 cp/rank)
- Dynamic Alternate FX: Arcane Cloud (Obscure (Visual)) (Extras: Selective Attack (+1), Total Fade (+1)) (3
cp/rank)
Enhanced Senses (Magical Awareness) 1 | | GEAR | Staff of Soul's Demise (Device 3 (Easy to Lose))
- Damage 2 (FX Feats: Mighty)
- Soul's Demise (Damage) 4 (Extras: Alternate Resistance (Will) (+1), Cone Area (+1)) | TRADE-
OFFS | +1 Defense / -1 Toughness | | COST | 23 (Abilities & Skills) + 2 (Feats) + 18 (FX) + 12 (Gear) |
Mages
are masters of all things arcane, eschewing the trappings favored by
lesser mortals for things more potent. For most mages, this means
coming with a small, dynamic array of arcane spells. With a successful
Expertise (Magic) check, the mage can channel sufficient magical energy
to access multiple spells at once. Most times, the mage will want to
try to maintain his Arcane Armor during battle, alongside his attack spell of choice (usually Arcane Blast, though Arcane Cloud can
provide excellent cover and allow his allies to gain combat
advantage over their enemies. Before a battle, if a mage is
prepared, he'll usually cast an Arcane Shield to protect himself, since those magics will fade much more slowly than his Arcane Armor will,
and should last through a battle (thanks to the added Independent extra
from his array's Magical extra). During a fight, the mage can use Arcane Blast as his primary source of damage, with Soul's Demise from his staff batting clean-up against weak-willed foes. |
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| ROGUE | PL 4 / 55 cp | | STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA | COM | | +0 | +2 | +1 | +2 | +1 | +2 | -- | | Athletics 2 (+2) | Acrobatics 3 (+5)
Infiltration 4 (+6)
Reflex 4 (+6) | Fortitude 1 (+2) |
| Perception 4 (+5) | Persuasion 2
(+4, +6 feint)
Will 1 (+3) | Defense 4 (+1
Gear)
Toughness 0 (+1
Gear, +2 Feat)
Weapon Group
(Light Blades)
2 | | FEATS | Attack Specialization (Shortsword) 1, Capable (Dexterity) 1, Combat Expert (Persuasion to Feint (Gain Combat Advantage)), Defensive Roll 2, Master Plan, Move-By Action, Sneak Attack, Talented (Expertise (Tactics: Identify FX)), Uncanny Dodge (Hearing) 2 | | FX | N/A | | GEAR | Shortsword
- Damage 2 (FX Feats: Mighty)
Leather Buckler
- Enhanced Trait (Defense) 1
Leather Armor
- Enhanced Trait (Toughness) 1
| TRADE-
OFFS | +1 Defense / -1 Toughness | | COST | 41 (Abilities & Skills) + 13 (Feats) + 0 (FX) + 1 (Gear) |
Rogues
depend on much more finesse than either mages or warriors. While both
of those other archetypes are capable of just hitting for damage day in
and day out, rogues need to be smarter. They need to hit from
unexpected angles, using their high Acrobatics and Persuasion bonuses
to gain Combat Advantage so that they can use their sneak attack feat
to reach their damage cap. Being able to react quickly at the start of
battle with a high Initiative from Reflex is also essential, since
enemies are flat-footed at the start of a fight before they act, and
Infiltration gives rogues a chance to get an extra surprise round
against their foes. Outside of battle, rogues really shine with their
diverse skills, which let them help out the party in numerous ways.
Infiltration is critical for sneaking places unnoticed and for picking
locks. Persuasion lets them act as the group's "face" while in town,
and a rank in Talented with Expertise makes them excellent Master
Planners. Between Master Plan and Sneak Attack, a rogue's ambush is one
you never want to fall victim to. |
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| WARRIOR | PL 4 / 55 cp | | STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA | COM | | +2 | +1 | +2 | +0 | +1 | +0 | -- | | Athletics 4 (+6) | Reflex 2 (+3)
Vehicles 0 (+6
Ride) | Fortitude 4 (+6) |
| Perception 4 (+5) | Will 1 (+1) | Defense 1 (+2
Gear)
Toughness 0 (+2
Feat, +3 Gear)
Weapon Group
(Heavy Blades)
3 | | FEATS | Accurate Attack, All-Out Attack 2, Ally (Horse) 6, Assessment, Capable (Strength) 2, Interpose, Power Attack 2, Stunning Blow, Takedown Attack, Talented (Vehicles: Ride), Tough 2
| | FX | Mounted Combat (Enhanced Trait) 1 (Move-By Action, Take-Down Attack; Flaws: Limited (Only While Mounted)) | | GEAR | Keen Longsword
- Damage 3 (FX Feats: Improved Critical 2, Mighty)
Medium Steel Shield
- Enhanced Trait (Defense) 2
Steel Breastplate
- Enhanced Trait (Toughness) 3 (Extras: Impervious)
| TRADE-
OFFS | +1 Effect Modifier / -1 Attack
+1 Toughness / -1 Defense | | ALLY | Horse
STR +0 (+8), DEX +2, CON +3, INT -4, WIS +1, CHA -2
Endurance 4 (+7), Perception 4 (+5), Defense 3, Weapon Group (Unarmed) 2
Tough 3
Growth 4 (Flaws: Permanent; FX Feats: Innate); Speed 1
| | COST | 31 (Abilities & Skills) + 20 (Feats) + 1 (FX) + 3 (Gear) |
Warriors
stand proudly on the front lines, heavily armored with chain thick
enough to turn the blades of lesser creatures relatively harmlessly.
Where the other two archetypes rely on dodging attacks, the warrior
benefits from a higher toughness to simply absorb blows. He also has
the highest damage potential of any archetype, though he's able to
trade off between attack, damage, and defense with his trade-off feats
to switch stances to maximize |
what
the warrior needs then and there. The warrior also brings his horse
into the fray, which gives him the extra edge of mounted combat, which
lets him beat anyone else in terms of mobility as well as letting him
simply mow down lesser enemies (like most minions) with ease. The
warrior is able to take hits which no other character can survive, and
to be able to mow through minions easily from horseback.
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