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Character Archetypes
Mr Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three and twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character.
from Pride and Prejudice
Using the HERO System, you can make up any type of character you'd like! You don't have to worry about silly things like alignments or rolling -- whatever you can conceive, you can create!
But to make your task a little simpler, I've created a list of common types of characters from literature, films, and history. This is not at all an exhaustive list -- feel free to adapt any of these to suit your whim.
American
Whether or not you're a rabid Republican, in English society you'll be known
as a revolutionary -- and a curiosity. You might be attached to the American
embassy or perhaps you're here for your education -- or trade.
Recommendations: AK: City of Origin. Disadvantages should include: Reputation: American rustic, Social: Unfamiliar with English society
Authoress
Jane Austen led a conventional life as the spinster daughter of a clergyman,
but many of her literary sisters did not. Mary Shelley and Lady Caroline
Lamb exposed themselves to public ridicule on many occasion (as did Percy
Shelley and Lord Byron). Fanny Burney published her first novel anonymously,
but was well-known afterwards -- including a stint at court -- and found
romance later in life.
Recommendations: High INT, Conversation, High Society; PS: Dancing, Writing; LS: Latin, French; KS: Literature, Politics; Contact: Publisher. Disadvantages should include Reputation: Intellectual (not an advantage in most respectable circles!) and Social: Secret ID if hiding her true calling!
Country
Squire
His boots aren't Hessians, his clothes aren't made by Weston, and he prefers
hunting foxes to peering through a quizzing glass at the opera. When he
rides, it's on a good, sturdy mount -- and he'd never dream of wasting money
on a phaeton for racing. He may have been educated formally or by private
tutors, but one thing's for certain: he's an Englishman through and through.
Recommendations: Good Riding skill, Well-Off, PS: Lord of the Manor, WF: Black Powder Weapons, AK: Home County; Disadvantages should include DNPCs (tenants, family members at home).
Courtesan
In an era when being alone with a man (without anything else occurring)
was enough to damage a girl’s reputation and every man was expected
to keep a mistress, there were a lot of fallen women. The most
infamous was Harriette Wilson, who held court in her opera box and entertained
many, including the Duke of Wellington. Sir Walter Scott did not find her
beautiful, but believed men prized her wit (!) Later in her life she published
her memoirs, offering to leave out former lovers in exchange for a stiff
fee. Wellington refused, hence his “Publish and be damned!”
The life of a demi-rep could be quite lucrative, if the woman chose her protector well -- and didn't squander his gifts. An entire subset of London society centered around this world – demi-reps had their own balls, societies and gatherings which mimicked that of high society.
Recommendations: High COM, Conversation, High Society, Persuasion, Seduction, Courtesan, Dancing; LS: French, Italian; KS: Current Fashion. Disadvantages include a notorious Reputation, Watched or Hunted.
Dandy
It’s telling that Beau Brummel is still a recognized name –
and a copied character type, though Percy Blakeney will always be my favorite
Dandy. This is a man who recognizes a well-tied cravat when he sees one
and will spend hours at his toilette to make sure that when he appears in
public, he will not be in the height of fashion – he will be setting
new trends. Everything about him is outrageous. He places bets on his clubs
for the most ridiculous situations (i.e., “Lord X and the Duke of
Y bet 500 guineas that Lord Z will offer for a certain young lady by Tuesday
next.”) His clothes always match, his horses always match, and he
never dances with an unattractive woman. Unless, of course, he needs the
money, or it’s part of another bet….
Recommendations: High COM, Rank, Trendsetter, Gambling (not necessary well), High Society, Riding; TF: Carriages; Dancing; KS: Fashion. Disadvantages include Reputation: Dandy and Psych: Never leaves home unless perfectly attired.
Diamond
of the First Water
This character is one of the rarest, most beautiful of a year’s debutantes
in London. Young noblewomen, to come “out,” are presented at
court and then allowed to attend parties and balls in society – though
with strict supervision. It’s important to note that most heroines
are not Diamonds of the First Water; as a character type they’re used
mostly as villainous characters or foils for the heroine.
Recommendations: Very high COM, Almack's Vouchers, Rank, Perfect Pitch, Dancing, Singing, Pianoforte; LS: French, KS: Fashion, Reputation: Great Beauty.
Emigre
Forced to leave your native country because of war or revolution, you've
taken refuge in England. You have little but your pride, your education
-- and your hope that someday you will be able to return home.
Recommendations: Dancing, High Society, Rank, LS: Native Language. Disavantages: Poverty, Psych: Proud
Heiress
Many impoverished nobles looked to heiresses as a way to improve their family
fortunes – without having to dirty their own hands. Wealthy tradesmen
would often give their daughters large dowries so that they could move up
into the realm of landed and titled society. You can see this at work in
the film The Clandestine Marriage and in numerous Regencies. Heiresses
had much the same education as other young ladies – just not the good
family name.
Recommendations: Dancing, Singing; High Society, LS: French. Disadvantages should include Negative Reputation: Family in Trade.
Highwayman
Whether his motivation was to provide for himself or for the poor, the Highwayman
cuts a romantic figure in the era. He could be a nobleman fallen on bad
times, a soldier back from the war with only a meager pension to sustain
him or someone seeking a particular revenge. Whatever his motive, the heroic
Highwayman should be handsome, follow his own code of honor and should always
be gracious to the ladies.
Recommendations: High COM, High Society, Riding, Merchant, Seduction, Stealth, Streetwise; PS: Highwayman; AK: County of operation; WF: Pistol, Knife; TF: Carriages; Martial Arts: Fencing; Disadvantages include Hunted by the Crown and Social: Secret ID.
Matron
Perhaps she married very young and is now, in the prime of her life, widowed
and with a daughter just now out. Perhaps her husband is a powerful lord
who prefers the company of his mistress -- so she's looking for a ciscebo.
She wields considerable social power -- so be careful of crossing her!
Recommendations: Patroness of Almack's, High Society, LS: French, Trendsetter. Disadvantages: Psych: Thrillseeker.
Naval
Hero
You don’t need to look to fiction to find great examples of naval
characters – history is full of the captains who inspired Hornblower,
Aubrey and Ramage. Admiral Lord Cochrane – a fiery haired Scotsman,
heir to an earldom but penniless (his family was bankrupted by his father’s
scientific endeavors) – was such a one. Though so successful at capturing
prizes that he never needed to impress sailors, Cochrane had a well-developed
sense of justice that brought him into conflict with the Admiralty numerous
times. He was convicted (some say framed) of involvement in a Stock Exchange
scandal and was sentenced to the pillory. He escaped from prison and made
his way to South America, where he led fleets of several rebelling colonies
against Spain. He later directed the Greek navy against Turkey, and ultimately
returned to England and was pardoned for his crime. When you add in his
elopement with his beautiful (but poor and socially disadvantaged) wife
Kitty, the novels pale!
Recommendations:
Rank, Bureaucratics, Navigation, Oratory, Tactics; PS: Naval Officer, Seamanship,
KS: Fighting Vessels; TF: Water Vessels; WF: Early Firearms, Cannons; LS:
French, Spanish, Signal Code; AK: English Channel, Mediterranean, Indian
Ocean, North Atlantic, Caribbean (as appropriate); Martial Arts: Fencing;
Disadvantages include Psych: Keeps his word, Social: Subject
to Orders.
Poor
but Witty (and Beautiful) Young Lady
Self-explanatory, and a genre staple to this day. Her father is likely a
gentleman and her manners are undoubtedly fine. For whatever reason, the
family has fallen on hard times and our poor young lady needs to find a
husband.
Recommendations: Above average COM and INT; Conversation,
High Society; Dancing, Singing, Drawing; LS: French, Italian, KS: Literature.
Disadvantages should include Poverty.
Rakehell
He gambles, drinks to excess, drives his equipage like a madman and consorts
with opera dancers. He’ll even compromise gently bred girls if given
the chance. He is the rakehell (rake for short) and he is the scourge of
doting Mamas everywhere.
Recommendations: High COM, Rank, Member of Club, Wealth; Gambling, Persuasion, Riding, Seduction; Dancing; AK: London Underworld; Martial Arts: Boxing, TF: Carriages; Disadvantages include Reputation: Rake and Psych: Compulsive Carouser/Gambler
Scientist
In this era, incredible advances were made in nearly all branches of science.
England abounded with chemists, for example, and societies were formed to
study nearly every natural phenomenon. Many gentlemen dabbled in
the sciences, in England and elsewhere.
Recommendations: High INT, SS: Biology, Chemistry, Physics;
Contacts, Membership in Societies.
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Shelley Chrystal Mactyre, 2002
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