Atypical Characters Archive

Dungeons and Dragons is when someone can break the mold of reality and play out as a new person in a fantastical world. Over time basic tropes and stereotypes for classes have formed. Partly this is from them working so well, partly from influence of other media, and a lack of creativity to an extent. After all, the quick build options in the Fifth Edition Player's Handbook guides new players to pick those more traditional adventurer types.

Below will be links [post titles] to various posts in my infrequent series Atypical Characters where I attempt to make new characters that deviate from the norm. This can be through any number of ways: strange race class combinations, classes having different stat arrays, unique ways to role-play, a gimmick, et cetera. Please enjoy, and even leave a comment here on new ideas.

Empathetic Villian
Warlocks are often associated with dark gods and demons, yet they need not be so black in a grey world. What if you played a character who feels they have no choice but to do evil in the name of a greater good?

Inquisitive Dwarf
Not all axes need to be used in melee, nor does one need to use the suggested backgrounds in the Player's Handbook. Take a gander at a master of investigation that uses their carry capacity to the limit.

Noble Barbarian
What if you had a half-elf with a not so enjoyable childhood? Imagine him growing up with such an anger problem he often goes into a Rage during combat to unleash pent up aggression.

Not a Ranger
Rangers often perform the task of ranged scouts for the parties they are in, but why should they get all the fun? Imagine a character that doesn't need armor but with high survivability and decent ranged capabilities.

Piradin
Not all paladins are good, some are evil. Imagine a paladin that failed their oath and went on a spree of high sea thievery.

Rogue Sage
Stealing is such a strong word; this character prefers. . . extended researching. Sages are meant to be highly intelligent individuals, or at least studious. What if one's search for knowledge lead them to less noble means of obtaining new information?

Techno Druid
Druids are the envoys between nature and civilization, yet they always spend too much time in nature. Perhaps there are some druids that better work to compromise the two. To spend more time amongst civilization than nature, working in guilds and even tinkering with metals. Metal is taken from the earth after all, is that not nature?

Tricky Cleric
When people think of subterfuge characters in D&D the rogue probably unstealths to mind first. Clerics though take on the aspect of their gods. There are a plethora of god types.