Role Playing Games (RPGs): 50 years of Making Math Fun: Heroes

Dungeons and Dragons

Warrior

There are three different classes within the warrior group: fighter, paladin, and ranger. All are well-trained in the use of weapons and skilled in the martial arts. The Fighter is a champion, swordsman, soldier, and brawler. He lives or dies by his knowledge of weapons and tactics. Fighters can be found at the front of any battle contesting toe-to-toe with monsters and villains. A good fighter needs to be strong and healthy if he hopes to survive.

The Paladin is a warrior bold and pure, the exemplar of everything good and true. Like the fighter, the paladin is a man of combat. However, the paladin lives for the ideals of righteousness, justice, honesty, piety, and chivalry. He strives to be a living example of these virtues so that others might learn from him as well as gain by his actions. Only a human may become a paladin.

The Ranger is a warrior and a woodsman. He is skilled with weapons and is knowledgeable in tracking and woodcraft. The ranger often protects and guides lost travelers and honest peasant-folk. A ranger needs to be strong and wise to the ways of nature to live a full life.

Subclasses

Amazon

Amazons are women warriors in a male dominated world. Their civlization might have been created by a deity who likes women warriors, or they might have been women who rebelled (from male dominations and decided to rule themselves, or they might simply have been matriarchal societies from long before recorded history. Traditionally, Amazons are famous riders and breeders of horses. In their own countries, they wear light armor and carry shields, spears, swords, and bows. In other countries. if they are disadvantaged by their cultural weapons and armor, they quickly adapt to local weapons and armor.

Barbarian

This is not the barbarian of history, but the barbarian of fantasy fiction. He's a powerful warrior from a culture on the fringes of civilization. He's left his home to sell his skills and adventure In the civilized world-perhaps to amass a fortune with which to return home, perhaps to become an important figure In this so-called civilization. He's known for strength, cunning, contempt for the outer world's decadence, and for adhering to his own code of honor.

Berserker

The Berserker is a warrior who has special attributes and abilities when he's in combat. In combat, he can achieve an ecstatic state of mind that will enable him to fight longer, harder, and more savagely than any human being has a right to. This makes him a deadly warrior ... who can be as much a menace to himself as to his enemies. In a campaign, he's nearly identical to the Barbarian-except it's obvious from the outset that he has a truly savage and inhuman element in his personality, and he tends to disturb and unsettle other people. In his tribe, the Berserker has a special role. He's been touched by supernatural Forces, and accepted that touch so that he might better defend his people.

Beast Rider

The Beast Rider is a warrior in a tribe or clan (usually a barbarian tribe) which has a strong affinity for one type of animal. The animal Is the totem of the Tribe and the Beast-Rider makes friends very easily with that type of animal and can train it into a riding beast . .. even if it's a type of animal not normally considered a riding-beast. In a campaign  the Beast Rider is an exotic warrior who is notable for his kinship with his animal;  like the Barbarian  he brings a wild, outsider 's attitude into the adventuring party. His animal also has abilities which can benefit the adventuring party. However, the more unusual the animal is, the harder it is to accommodate in all situations: It's no problem to stable a horse at the inn, but just try stabling a great white wolf,  a wild boar, or a dolphin! In his own society, the Beast Rider is the elite warrior and he commands a lot of respect among his own kind. Outside his Tribal grounds, however, he's very definitely an outsider. His barbarian mannerisms and his obvious and very unusual friendship with his animal set him apart from most societies. Because of this, the Beast Rider may become especially attached to the other player characters (If they treat him as an equal and not a freak), even if he'd never admit it to them.

Cavaliers

The Cavalier is the ultimate mounted warrior of civilized cultures. Especially those of Middle Ages technology and outlook. ln a campaign , he's the shining knight who leads his fellows on an eternal quest for truth, justice, and the elimination of evil. To the world at large, he's a mighty hero. To his friends and allies. he's a staunch friend, a tireless cheerleader, and often an overenthusiastic pain in the neck.  In his own and similar cultures, the Cavalier is a mighty hero who has the respect of the majority of the population (the criminal classes and evil characters excepted). He has the good will of the people, (reflected as bonuses to his reaction rolls), but the people also make many demands of him:  When there's danger, when someone is in trouble, the people turn to the Cavalier for help. This character does not get much time for rest and relaxation.

Gladiator

The gladiator is a showman-warrior from a society where public combat competitions are a popular sport. The gladiator is a professional warrior in this high-profile arena: for the delight (and bloodlust) of the crowds, for his own personal wealth and aggrandizement (or, if he is a slave, for the profits of his owner), he fights  organized matches against human, demi-human, and even monstrous opponents.

Noble Warriors 

This character is of the nobility, and theoretically represents everything the ruling class stands for. In classic medieval fantasy, this means chivalry, the protection of women (those who want to be protected, that is - it's a bad idea to try to protect a woman warrior anxious to prove herself in combat), and (especially) upholding the rights of the ruling class to rule (and upholding the rights of the other classes to serve ..) Noble Warriors in most campaigns are called Knights or Squires, though specific campaigns may have different designations and be based on different sources than Medieval European history. In a campaign, the Noble Warrior is a romantic ideal which most of society looks up to. The Noble Warrior is supposed to be courageous, gallant, protective of the defenseless, dedicated to honorable ideals. But that's just what society expects of the Noble Warrior. Some theoretically Noble Warriors are mere brutes in shiny armor, warriors who take what they want, murder the innocent, and continually betray the oaths they took when they first won their spurs.

Monks

This priest belongs to an order devoted in large part to the study of fighting styles, especially barehanded martial arts. These monks live and study in monasteries devoted to their orders. If, for example, they are priests of the god of War, these monks do not live and study in ordinary temples of that god; they have their own secluded monastery away from the normal temples. These monks do not confine their war-training to the monasteries, however. They travel the wide world in order to learn the secrets of life, the world, magic and the gods. As an order, they sometimes volunteer their services to rulers in times of war, and act as elite forces against the enemy. In the campaign, this priest is the philosophical warrior whose principal duty is self-enlightenment. He is less concerned with the ordinary priestly duties (such as guidance, marriage, community service) than those priests, but will still perform them:  he just won’t go out of his way to look for them, nor will he normally volunteer for them.  Such characters are usually wanderers, which help make them appropriate for adventuring parties.

Castles and Crusades

The Assassin is an expert at killing and eliminating targeted enemies.

The Fighter is a warrior with great prowess on the battlefield.

The Knight is a natural leader and strong combatant.

The Monk conditions his body to withstand the rigors of war and the elements.

The Paladin is a warrior blessed by divinity, a paragon of good.

The Ranger is an extraordinary woodsman and warrior.

Hercules and Xena

Amazon

“The collective Amazon Culture encompasses many individual tribes of human warrior women. Each Tribe has its own tenets, history, fighting styles, and goals, but all stand for the proliferation of women’s rights to one degree or another in an otherwise male dominated world. Paradoxically, most Amazons ascribe their origins to the daughters of Ares, God of War, though they all agree Artemis initiated the Amazon cause … Most Amazon tribes reside in forested regions where they use trees and plant life as natural defenses. Tracking an Amazon through her own woodland is a nearly impossible task, especially the Amazon penchant for travelling through the upper branches of the forest canopy. Each tribe tends to select a single weaopn as its weapon of choice – crossbow, lasso, javelin, or other – but this does not mean that they shun other types. Rather, it indicates a preference and therefore expertise, but no Amazon worth her blood would be found without at least three different weapons on her body. “

Archer

“Warriors specialized in the use of the bow or crossbow are rare across the Ancient World. The training time required to produce such skilled marksmen precludes the development of large units of archers, especially during war time, when new soldiers must be recruited as quickly as possible. As a result, most archers are mercenaries hiring themselves out to armies, warlords, or individuals who can afford their services (which can vary from one to ten dinars per day, depending on the locale, type of work, and danger level). In some city­ states, archers act as members of the city's police force, able to ‘apprehend’ criminals at distance.

“While most Greek Archers employ the standard thumb-and-forefinger grip. the Scythianss (nomads based around the Caspian Sea north of Thrace) have perfected a technique they call the ‘Mediterranean loose’ in which the first three fingers of the hand are curled around the bowstring, allowing them lo draw more powerful bows (known as Scythian bows). Archers do not wear armor or carry other weapons (though they may have a knife used to construct new arrows).”

Charioteer

“Driving a chariot takes skill and courage, and few people across the Ancient World dare to accept the challenge. As a result, most charioteers have learned their skills from the military or a well-paid instructor. Chariot races throughout the lands draw huge crowds who pay to watch the charioteers compete for hefty purses (which often result in deadly collisions. especially near the finish line). The charioteer leads an exciting life. traveling from hippodrome to hippodrome. continually streamlining his chariot and honing his skills so that he can win the next big prize, with an eye always toward the Olympic Games.”

Gladiator

“The gladiator is a true fighter in its most basic sense. lie lives to battle. using his time between contests only to practice his combat skills. While the majority of gladiators have short life spans, the successful (and therefore long-lived) ones often find themselves given positions of power in the military or government or lauded as heroes and patrons of their home city-states.”

Hoplite

Monster Slayer

“Monster slayers journey across the Ancient World seeking out supernatural creatures who plague civilization. Woe to the fiend who crosses paths with such fearsome, dedicated warriors, for they will not relent until every monster on the face of the earth has been destroyed.  Some would suggest that monster slayers are nothing more than obsessive, bigoted thugs intent on eradicating anything possessing morals and appearance different than their own. And, at times, this persepective appears to hold some truth. But many heroes, including Hercules and Perseus have risked their lives battling creatures who would have killed hundreds if not thousands of innocents. Monster slayers, therefore, must walk a fine line between heroism and hatred.

"Over time. the monster community comes lo learn of these slayers and their deeds. After a few successful encounters against such creatures. a slayer may find that the roles have reversed-the monsters have become the hunters and he has become the prey. A slayer must therefore constantly be on guard...”

Myrimidon

“The myrimidon is at heart a mercenary, ready to carry out any military command regardless of its nature. Most cultures view myrimidons as ruthless thugs, tolerated only for their skill in combat and their willingness to act as a first line of defense against warlords' armies. According to scholars, the first myrimidons were created by Zeus himself from ants when King Aeacus of Aeginil, one of Zeus’s sons, requested that his father replenish Aegina's population after Hera sent a plague to destroy all its citizens. King Aeacus then sent these new soldiers to accompany Achilles in the fight against the Trojans.”

Warrior

“The warrior is the ultimate fighting machine, focusing her entire life on battle. She trains daily, honing her skills, heightening her senses, preparing for the next melee with whatever force dares to challenge her. The physical prowess of such heroes can lead to difficulties down the line, however. Often times a warrior comes to rely solely on battle to settle any conflict. when compromise, trickery, or bribery might work just as well (and without as much spilled blood). Some warriors may even become addicted to the rush of adrenaline that surges through their veins during combat. causing them to crave battle constantly-these are the men and women who eventually become fearless warlords intent on the subjugation of all they see. Only the strong of mind and heart can hope to resist this preternatural urge.”

Under Construction

Dungeons and Dragons

Cleric

The most common type of priest is the cleric. The cleric may be an adherent of any Religion. Clerics are generally good, but are not restricted to good; they can have any alignment acceptable to their order. The cleric is a generic priest (of any mythos) who tends to the needs of a community. He is both protector and healer. He is not purely defensive, however. When evil threatens, the cleric is well-suited to seek it out on its own ground and destroy it. Clerics are sturdy soldiers, although their selection of weapons is limited. They can wear any type of armor and use any shield. Standard clerics, being reluctant to shed blood or spread violence, are allowed to use only blunt , bludgeoning weapons. They can use a fair number of magical items including clerical scrolls, most potions and rings, some wands and rods, staves, armor, shields, and magical versions of any weapons allowed by their order.

Spells are the main tools of the cleric, however, helping him to serve, fortify, protect, and revitalize those under his care. He has a wide variety of spells to choose from, suitable to many different purposes and needs. (A priest of a specific mythos probably has a more restricted range of spells. A cleric has major access to every sphere of influence except the plant, animal, weather, and elemental sphere (he has minor access to the elemental sphere and cannot cast spells of the other three spheres). 

The cleric receives his spells as insight directly from his deity (the deity does not need to make a personal appearance to grant the spells the cleric prays for), as a sign of and reward for his faith, so he must take care not to abuse his power lest it be taken away as punishment.

The cleric is also granted power over undead - evil creatures that exist in a form of non-life, neither dead nor alive. The cleric is charged with defeating these mockeries of life. His ability to turn unddead enables him to drive away these creatures or destroy  them utterly (though a cleric of evil alignment can bind the creatures to his will). Some of the more common undead creatures are ghosts, zombies, skeletons, ghouls, and mummies. Vampires and liches (undead sorcerers) are two of the most powerful undead.

Monk

Description This priest belongs to an order devoted in large part to the study of fighting styles, especially barehanded martial arts. These monks live and study in monasteries devoted to their orders. If, for example, they are priests of the god of War, these monks do not live and study in ordinary temples of that god; they have their own secluded monastery away from the normal temples. These monks do not confine their war-training to the monasteries, however. They travel the wide world in order to learn the secrets of life, the world, magic and the gods. As an order, they sometimes volunteer their services to rulers in times of war, and act as elite forces against the enemy.

Druid

The druid is an example of a priest designed for a specific mythos. His powers and beliefs are different from those of the cleric. The druid is a priest of nature and guardian of the wilderness, be it forest, plains, or jungle.

Mysterious guardian of a sacred grove, wise counselor to monarchs, cunning master of many shapes, friend of animals, and terrible defender of unspoiled Nature: This is the druid of the ADVANCED DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS game. Although the priests of the Celtic Tribes of Western Europe in the time of Rome called themselves druids, the druids of the AD&D game are not Celtic priests, nor do they practice the bloody rites that made the ancient druids infamous in the eyes of Rome. Rather, these druids more closely resemble creatures of Victorian romance and modern fantasy, Merlin figures who revere Nature and wield power over plants, animals, the weather,  and the elements.

The traditional druid is a guardian of the woodlands. Nature, however, is vast and diverse; druids might live their lives protecting jungle rain forests, arctic tundra, or even the subterranean Underdark. As a result, several distinct branches of druid are presented here, each essentially a new subclass built around the basic concept of the druid class. As a player, choose your druidic branch right after deciding to play a druid character.

All druids can speak a secret language in addition to other tongues they know. Not only can druids use the secret language to provide passwords, they can speak this private tongue when they wish to baffle non-Druidic eavesdroppers. It is a precise tool for discussing Nature; a druid can say ”dense, old-growth pine forest” in one word rather than a whole phrase.

Subclasses

Arctic Druid

Desert Druid

Gray Druid

Forest Druid

Jungle Druid

Mountain Druid

Plains Druid

Swamp Druid

Amazon Priestess

Description: Amazons are women warriors in a world where most cultures are male-dominated or ruled more or less equally by men and women. The Amazon civilization is different from the cultures of the rest of the world in that women occupy all the most important occupations and positions in their society: men are either second-class citizens, or are all kept as slaves, or are exiled from the culture altogether. Amazons continually have to defend themselves from the efforts of surrounding civilizations to “return them to normal:’ and therefore they are  very good at war. Such civilizations often have one or two specific patron or matron gods. (The deity does not have to be female; in classical mythology, for instance, the Amazons’ patron was Ares, the very male god of War.) The priestesses of this god interpret the god’s will for the Amazons, fight alongside them in times of combat, perform the usual service of guidance (and even marriage, if this is still a function of this specific Amazon society): and sometimes travel through the outer world in an effort to learn what they can of the world of men-in order to protect themselves from it, or to educate themselves and the outer-worlders to reduce misunderstandings between the cultures. Among player-character adventurers, the Amazon-priestess is likely to prove herself to be a doughty fighter and an effective spellcaster.

Scholar Priest

Description This character is a researcher. He’s most at home when he’s poring over books, scrolls, papyri, clay tablets and other old writings. He’s not forbidden from fighting, but is more likely to try to straighten out a bad situation with reason, personal charisma, or even trickery than with a weapon. His life is dedicated to the assimilation of knowledge (and, usually, the transmission of that knowledge to new generations).

Castles and Crusades

CLERIC (Wisdom)

The Cleric is avowed to a deity and dispenses divine justice. 

The Druid

The Druid owes allegiance to the elemental powers of the world.