12 Archetypes for Adventurers: Building Backstories Like a Character Sheet
A lot of players want to create an interesting backstory. The problem is that many tend to go overboard–the ever-memed ten-page-backstory that doesn't contain any obvious character traits.
Worse still, there isn’t much of a shorthand language for DMs to discuss Character Archetypes–at least, not as much as we understand Class Archetypes (the Bard) or Player Archetypes (the Powergamer). So when we try to collaborate with other DMs, we need to dump out 500 words of backstory context before we can start sharing ideas.
To that end, I've catalogued the 12 or so most common types of backstory archetypes, as a way to help organize plots and solutions for DMs who want to engage players with key backstory hooks.
For Players: Browsing this list fulfills the same goals as the backstory-builder in XGtE or the Heroic Chronicle in EGtW: use the information presented as a jumping-off point to inspire a new character, then take that inspiration to build a cohesive backstory. Unlike those guides which detail events, this guide focuses on your character’s motivations.
For DMs: This list captures the essence of PC goals and motivations–giving you a common language and guidelines for building plots. Obviously, characters are more complex than an archetype, and there are layers that can be added through class, relationships, and choices made throughout the game. But archetypes are a useful guidepost.
The Archetypes
For a well-rounded character, choose 2-4 of these archetypes and mix them together to achieve your PC’s main motivations.
| d12 | Archetype |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Professional |
| 2 | The Haunted |
| 3 | The Runaway |
| 4 | The Amnesiac |
| 5 | The Chosen |
| 6 | The Faithful |
| 7 | The Tempted |
| 8 | The Committed |
| 9 | The Seeker |
| 10 | The inquisitive |
| 11 | The Ingenue |
| 12 | The Stranger |
- 1. The Professional
- This is a character who’s fundamentally adventuring because they’re good at fighting. They could be a mercenary, a gladiator, a bounty hunter, or a duty-bound champion; regardless, fighting is the name of their game. Typically, they seek wealth, fame, or glory–but they may have other backstory hooks based on the other archetypes they embody.
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- For DMs: This is one of the easier archetypes to plan for in terms of motivating a character. Throw down a dungeon full of loot or a village that needs saving, and the Professional has a chance to go to work.
- For DMs: This is one of the easier archetypes to plan for in terms of motivating a character. Throw down a dungeon full of loot or a village that needs saving, and the Professional has a chance to go to work.
- 2. The Haunted
- This is a character whose backstory is dominated by a single momentous (often traumatic) event in their lives. Examples include watching their home burn down, escaping a shipwreck, or gazing into the maw of an aberrant beast just before it swallowed a city. Nine times out of ten, this involves some dead parents.
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- For DMs: The motivating force depends heavily on the specific trauma of the character. Below, you’ll find subgroups of the Haunted, such as The Runaway or The Chosen. Above all, building a story for this character requires understanding their relationship to their trauma: whether it’s something the player wants to destroy, reconcile, or completely ignore. All are valid choices.
- 3. The Runaway
- A subtype of Haunted. As the name suggests, this character is running away from the big event in their backstory. A Fighter guilty of murdering an innocent man, a Monk who escaped a shadowy order, or a noble forced into hiding–a runaway’s motivation is defined by the thing they’re trying to avoid while they adventure.
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- For DMs: Eventually, the player will probably want to face their past. By periodically reminding them, either physically or symbolically, you can offer chances to prove how they’ve changed over the course of the adventure. A monk running away from her corrupted order may be forced to face a series of challengers trying to capture her. Equally valid is the fugitive murderer who now saves the orphans, constantly remembering his past mistakes. Eventually, the time will come for these characters to face their traumas–or reject them, accepting their new place in the world.
- 4. The Amnesiac
- A pretty obvious one; this is a character who has lost their memories or simply doesn’t know their origins. Often, but not always, they want to get those memories back (see Seeker). A player who makes an Amnesiac may want to give the DM hints to the PC’s past–such as a mysterious tattoo or the memory of a single name.
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- For DMs: This character is a blank slate. It’s a gift that you can tie into the BBEG or weave into the stories of other PCs. The player has given you a mystery: your job is to provide a cool answer to the central question. If you want to subvert the player’s expectations (a dangerous move), you might consider giving the character a surprising twist based on the hints they’ve provided you. This kind of subversion is dangerous–requiring a great deal of trust and consent from the player–but has the potential to be a satisfying story.
- 5. The Chosen
- A character who has been selected, either by magic or by society, to bear a particular responsibility. Sometimes, the character embraces the mantle; other times, they become a Runaway. Regardless, this role represents something more than the character themselves; it’s a symbol, an ideal, or a curse that must be faced.
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- For DMs: Eventually, this character’s destiny should factor into the campaign as they try to reconcile themselves with the expectations placed upon them. Instead of subverting the Chosen One narrative directly, I suggest offering complications, twists, and moral dilemmas that make it more difficult for this character to choose their fate–and to define their Chosen status for themselves.
- 6. The Faithful
- This character is motivated by a devotion to their art. While the archetypal example is a Cleric or a Paladin, this could also be a Wizard seeking to grow in power or a Bard trying to become a master musician. This character’s progression is built into the game; each level they take in the class represents further development in their field.
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- For DMs: To enhance this arc, you could consider other unique milestones in the character’s journey. A wizard might transform an ancient tower into their base of operations, while a bard might face contests of skill with fey and fiends.
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- This archetype is ripe for dramatic plot hooks that test the character’s resolve. A Cleric forced to confront their god’s mistakes or a wizard who learns that the Council of Mages is corrupted will be forced to choose between personal morality and the faith they’ve held.
- 7. The Tempted
- This is a character tied to dark powers. More often than not, this is a Warlock, although you might see this as a Death Domain Cleric, a Spore Druid, or a Necromancy Wizard. At their core, this character’s story focuses on their relationship with the darkness–whether they succumb to the temptations of power or whether they’ll be able to stay the course.
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- For DMs: Your job is to make the dark choice seem like an appealing one. Can the character embrace dark powers to do good things? Is it acceptable to kill one innocent person if it means gaining enough power to save five innocent children?
- 8. The Committed
- This character wants something very specific. This may take the form of Seeking an object, or it may be more abstract: a Rogue who wants to get revenge on an old boss or a paladin dedicated to destroying all evil. Their story revolves around exploring the depth of that commitment–and what they’re willing to give up in its pursuit.
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- For DMs: A commitment is a plot hook waiting to happen. You can buy into it–offering the paladin plenty of fiends and undead–or you can challenge it. Can the rogue gain power by allying with a dangerous faction? What will the paladin do when faced with a devil that genuinely seeks to change?
- 9. The Seeker
- A common subtype of Committed. This character seeks a person, object, or piece of information. For example: Inigo Montoya hunting the six-fingered man who killed his father, a rogue seeking her long-lost sibling, or a wizard seeking the true name of a devil who wronged him.
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- For DMs: This is a pretty clear-cut motivation. Dangle that person, object, or information in front of them, bit by bit, until they find what they’re looking for. A lost relic could be hidden in the hoard of a red dragon; a six-fingered man might be employed by the BBEG. If you want to subvert and complicate this plot, add a twist to whatever they’re seeking. Maybe their long-lost sibling has been captured by an enemy nation; the six-fingered man has defected to the heroic team and offers valuable information in exchange for immunity. Again the question is: how far will they go to get what they want?
- 10. The Inquisitive
- This character wants to know everything. It might be about a particular domain of expertise, of course, but it might also be everything. Whether hungry for book knowledge or for ferreting out secrets, this character lives and dies by information.
- For DMs: This character is a gift because they immerse themselves in your world. If you build mysteries and connections–raising interesting questions and providing interesting answers–this character archetype will play itself as they try to unravel the mysteries you set before them. See also: Adding Intrigue to You Game.
- 11. The Ingenue
- In the theater, this term refers to a young woman who’s exceedingly wholesome and innocent. I’m applying this term to any and all genders and ages. This is a character who hasn’t seen much of the world; often, part of their motivation is to see more of it. See: Jester Lavorre of Critical Role, or even Bilbo Baggins of The Hobbit.
- For DMs: Create an interesting and fun world. This character lacks experience, so any new situation provides a chance for development as they shape their worldview. Consider what your Ingenue is unaware of–do they see the world as pure good and evil? Do they believe every story has a happily ever after? If you want a darker story, you could focus on adventures that force the character to learn about grey morality or tragedies. If that’s not what your player is going for, then just ride out the fun!
- 12. The Stranger
- The stranger is foreign to the central location for one reason or another. They may be a traveler from a foreign country, a planar refugee, or a Captain-America-esque Man Out of Time. Regardless, this backstory choice often has a huge effect on roleplay as this character learns to deal with the customs of the world around them.
- For DMs: This is less of a motivation and more about flavor. A character can be a Stranger without being foreign, and foreign without being a Stranger; it depends entirely on how much the player wants the experience! Again, by providing a dynamic and interesting world, you can give the Stranger lots of opportunities to role-play their interactions.
Putting It Into Practice
Alright, let’s roll some dice and see what kind of characters we can make. I even randomized the race and class, although I decided upon a different class if I thought something jumped out at me based on the backstory.
Amnesiac Professional Inquisitive Gnome Rogue. A gnomish detective (Inquisitor Rogue) who travels with an adventuring band, solving mysteries. The only problem? He can’t solve the most important mystery as all: what caused him to wake up one morning, naked and alone in an alleyway with a mysterious phrase–“seek the leaping crow”–tattooed on his forearm.
Chosen Ingenue Stranger Half-Orc Bard. A half-orc war caller (Valor Bard) born under an auspicious star and hailed as the hero who would unite the orcish tribes under one banner. When her tribe was viciously slaughtered by another, she narrowly escaped–and now hopes to gain enough power to fulfill her destiny, unite the tribes, and take revenge on those who took her family away.
Runaway Professional Ingenue Goblin Monk. A goblin raised to be a ruthless mercenary (think Cobra Kai), they knew of no world outside the walls of the monastery–until they were ordered to murder an innocent, at which point they escaped. Now, the goblin knows nothing but fighting–and so they fight with an adventuring team to see the world, all the while looking over their shoulder to see if the monks ever come for them.
Why Do This?
Like so many creative tools, this is just that–a tool. If backstory archetypes don’t help, then ignore them! I find that simplifying a character to an archetype helps me to identify the key promises that I want to make and fulfill. The archetype is the skeleton on which the meat and flesh (specific character traits, goals, mannerisms) can hang to make a full, fun story!