There are many types of heroes in the J-RPG medium (With some having a tendency to appear more then others). So, recently, i've started wandering just what archtype of 'Hero' someone would most likely be closest to, or what one they would likely be if they ever were to somehow star in a J-RPG. The Archtypes will have explainations as well as a picture of a character who is an example of such an archtype. SO, without further ado, let's jump right in!
The Savvy Rogue:
You are not one to follow the laws, thinking them to be at best Stupid and at worst Suffocating. You go where your heart tells you and do as you please, smiling, charming and at times using your dry, sarcastic wit to get passed everything that would get in your way. And if that doesn't work, well, you aren't afraid to get your hands dirty. At the same time though, you are far from evil, infact you're a pretty decent person with your own morals which, while not always apparent, you will follow to the bitter end. You're just not one to blindly rush in to save the hostages, you know that just gets people killed and will try to think of a way to slip passed the defenses in some stylish manner. Even then, you'll normally try to find some way to profit off it, but you'll sometimes go into it for the moral reward or if it's a personal matter.
That said though, when the worlds threatened and nobody else can step up, you will gladly waltze on the scene to clean up the mess. You might be charming and nice at times, but you have more then enough skill to back it up. Witty one liners will normally be dropped, sometimes the odd pun, especially at the villains demise. Destiny and fate are only believed in by you if you see it happen first hand, you try to stave off being a 'chosen one' because that just attracts all sorts of trouble, but if you have to take up the mantle you will. In short, you're a hero who's in it for the rewards as well as doing the right thing.
The Atoner:
Formerly you might have been a Rookie or impulsive idiot, perhaps even a Fool before all this, but something happened...something so terrible that you're whole life was changed because of it. Maybe you inadvertantly caused the death of a loved one, maybe your home-town was destroyed because you happened to give directions to that one decent looking chap who said they were with the circus but was really a horrific demonic general, or perhaps it was something worse then that...you were the bad-guy who (normally because they believed they were doing the right thing or through mind control) caused all the terrible things to happen and for the new big-bad to rise, resulting in you getting one helluva wake-up call. If it is the latter, expect to be despised by a large percentage of people who recognize you. You aren't evil though, even if you did do some horrible things before, you did them because you believed they were right. And now you've got you're sense of reality properly adjusted, you agree with them all to much and beat yourself up over it whenever its brought up.
Your reasons for going to save the world have less to do with doing what is right, but rather redemption. You want to make up for what you've done wrong, what you failed to save. But, above all, you're hoping to find that one piece of yourself you lost in all of this. That small speck of innocence, of happiness, that you had and was now lost. It may not always be found, but above all you're fighting to clear your name and maybe find a way to let go of all the terrible things of your past. Destiny and Fate will not be believed in, and normally if they are it is because you believe the higher powers are 'punishing'you and even if you do think it's all just some sick joke. You'll save the hostages if you can, but it may take some convincing or for just one of them to be a dead ringer for that long lost loved one you failed to save, but in the end you'll save them, just as another way to make up for what you've done.
The Rookie:
Fates just a boat load of fun ain't it? Here you were, minding your own business, pining to wander abroad and be a hero...and then next thing you know a monster horde appears and sucks you to another dimension, or someone kidnaps a loved one and you have to get them back. Or, maybe the worlds on the edge of destruction and you just so happen to be the chosen one. You'll start out possibly loving your new predicament, but you'll soon come to hate being the newfound chosen hero and think that maybe it was not a good idea to wish for something like that to end up happening to you. The worst part of it all? You know barely anything about fighting, at worst just play fighting with wooden swords and at best just being fresh out of the latest soldier academy. You have literally no idea what you're in for, but you'll try your best. You might be clueless, inexperienced but you know you've got your friends to fall back on as well as your allies. You will most likely grow over the course of the adventure, becoming more experienced and sometimes more likeable. If you survive the ending, you may turn into a veteran adventurer for any sequels. If your heroes journey didn't go well, expect to turn out as possibly an Atoner or Composed Realist.
You believe in Destiny and Fate, to the point you seem a bit on the innocent and naive side. It allows for you to understand why all the bad things are happening to you, and partly to help you keep going. There are times you will question it though, namely if things start going wrong or if someone you love is almost killed. However, you have close ties to those you ally with and the friends who accompany you: You know there strengths, there skills and will stick by them through to the end, risking your life to save them as well as the world. If you have to save hostages, you will: It may take you alot of effort and time, but you'll find a way to save them along with any loved ones captured. And then, you'll move on to save the world as well. In many ways, this is a more classic style of hero that grows over time and throughout the story.
The Fool:
There's really no nice way to say this one but...you're an idiot. You don't think things through, you have practically no combat skills, hell most of the time you don't even have a reason for sticking through with the story, with other party members more often then not viewed as more close to the story or as the main protagonist. And yet, here you are, the main protagonist of the story. Most of the time, this is done quite simply by accident: You barge into a disaster and decide to tag along for the ride because it looks like it will be fun, because you simply have nothing else to do. Or, worse yet, you want to prove to everyone else you can be a hero, normally at the detriment of any allies you may have. Most will normally come to find you annoying and chastize you, but they will allow you to stick with them, for in most cases said party members need all the help they can get.
You believe fully in destiny and fate. If there is a prophecy about a great hero, you'll fully expect that hero to turn out to be you. You will normally be the surprised one when things don't turn out as planned or the prophecy goes awry, always saying something along the lines of "But the prophecy didn't mention anything about this happening". If there are hostages, it's fully expected for you to charge right in through the front door into the legions of soldiers waiting to fight you, with your friends normally having to come in to bail you out or save you. If there is one redeeming feature you have though, it is this: You just don't quit. You can be beaten up, left for dead, betrayed, abandoned...and yet you'll keep on going even if it ends up killing you. If this kind of character ends up growing as a character and person, then he is an example of the rookie archtype. However, that said, a fool is capable of growing more skilled over time and the course of the story, but don't hold your breath. If a fool goes through to the ending, only for things to fall apart enough that his innocence is finally broken, they will normally become a composed Realist or an Atoner.
The Veteran Adventurer:
Well, you've been through all this before, and it looks like another group is about to go through it all again. Unfortunately, said group has little to no experience or may even contain a loved one or apprentice that you are counseling, meaning you've made a decision to come along for the ride. You are a skilled fighter and a quick thinker in combat, prepared to offer advice or pass on some skills to whomever may need it. You may be serious about all this, and sometimes even world weary, but you still can offer up a joke or some light humor should it be required. There is really no set personality for the Veteran adventurer though: They can be a crazy or sarcastic jokester, or a completely serious no joking swordsman. There is only one thing that is set in stone: You know your stuff, almost to the point some would consider you rather genre savvy and is rarely surprised by anything. It is worth adding though that, no matter the personality, the veteran adventurer normally has a fierce moral code they will follow through on, and if you do something that violates it...expect them to chew you out on it.
The Veteran Adventurer can sometimes believe in fate or destiny if they to had once been a 'chosen one' of sorts, or have simply come to expect it. However, it is not unheard of them to reject it completely and simply believe that people have free will. They will save the hostages, normally thinking out a plan to get them out safely and will rarely suggest storming the front entrance unless they're confident they will win or simply just out of options. Unfortunately, the one downside is that, most commonly, the veteran adventurer will be forced to give their lives to save that of a party member. If not that, then expect to be mortally injured somehow in a way that will leave you out of commission for the final part of the story. If neither of those happen, then you will normally be stuck contending with one of the most powerful of the antagonists henchmen while the other party members go on to fight the big bad themselves. But no matter the capacity, you are a force to be reckoned with and not to be underestimated under any circumstances..you're also kind of a badass.
The Composed Realist:
So the Fool or the Rookie went through there heroes journey, only for it to completely crash and burn before there eyes. They caused the death of someone they loved or perhaps even there whole party. They were not completely crushed by it though, and instead took it as a lesson: Don't be a dreamer, stick to the real world and become strong enough to never let history repeat itself. In the case that such a person was not on a prior heroes quest, they are normally a skilled warrior who has had their optimism and dreams crushed in some way prior to the story, making them think only in the world of reality. However, it is this loss of optimism and dreams that spurred you to become stronger, making you calm, cool and above all level headed. In Short, it allowed you to take a level or two in the badass department. You don't chase up on myths or legends, you only focus on what is ground in concrete reality. If something seems impossible to you or likely to result in certain death, you will normally dismiss it as impossible and instead spend your efforts on finding away around it realistically.
You don't believe in destiny or fate, thinking it's all just a load of bullshit and would sooner believe pigs could fly (Unless pigs actually do fly in the setting you are in, in which case...well, find another metaphor for this) then the prospect of you being a destined hero. In most cases with these quests, you are normally dragged along unwillingly or forced into action because of a loved one, or simply out to do in the big bad. That said though, for all your pessimism and level headedness you are not evil, far from it. You care for the people around you, even if you don't always show it and will always try to do the right thing and help others in need. You will try your best to save the hostages, but you'll plan it out first: You will more likely utilize stealth or take advantage of some fault then just simply blindly rushing in. You will normally be at odds with the Fool, Rookie or impulsive idiot. Partly because of the fact they normally have unrealistic optimism and expectations, but also because they are a constant reminder of who you once used to be like. Expect a talk with the line 'i used to be like you once..' that explains your loss of optimism, and normally lecturing them on more realistic expectations. Still, you are out to save the world and will do all you can to fight any injustice in your way. You just don't expect any divine intervention or Deus Ex Machina to save the day: If the world's going to be saved, it will be through your own skills or sheer luck..maybe even a combination of both.
The Impulsive idiot:
A sort of odd middle Ground that encompasses traits of both the Rookie and the fool. Much like the rookie, You are fully confident in your friends and will stick by them to the end. However, like the Fool, You posses an inability to give up and an impulsive desire to rush into situations. However, what makes the impulsive idiot different from the fool and Rookie is one thing: You're tough. You already have some skills in combat, and are normally strong enough to completely pummel foes into submission but only if you have too. You're the sort of person who sticks up for their friends and will do all they can to fight injustice, as well as protect any loved ones you have. You are normally brought along into a quest because of a loved one being threatened or kidnapped, wanting to protect a friend who is a party member or just simply wanting to stop the big bad before they destroy everything that they love.
You will normally accept destiny and fate, but will at times question it but never fully doubt it. You are loyal to all allies and, because of your desire to never quit, will never lose hope in the sight of certain death. If there is ever a moment where the cast slips into depression and loses any hope, it's fully expected for you to be the one to give a rousing motivational speech and pull them out of despair. If there are hostages involved, you will normally rush into the nearest swarm of enemies or fling yourself at the big bad if they're there. It may normally result in you being pushed back or defeated, but you will normally give them hell before they take you down. All the same though, you are normally the 'strength' and 'heart' of any party, fully prepared to fight whatever is thrown at you in order to save the world. Over the course of a story, you may change and wisen up slightly, growing even stronger with your allies because of a desire to 'protect' them, making you all the more a force to be reckoned with.
The Psychotic Murderer (edit- The character in the image is called Caim, he's from a game called Drakengard):
...HOW THE HELL DID YOU END UP EVEN BEING CONSIDERED A HERO!? You are brutal, sadistic, psychotic and have only one solution to every problem: Stab it, and if that doesn't work, stab it some more! People are nothing more then big squishy bags of blood and organs for you to cut open, unless they have something you need or want. It doesn't matter to you, all you want is to see blood spilled and the object of your hate to be crushed in your hands. So, again one must ask, HOW THE HELL DID YOU END UP BEING CONSIDERED A HERO!? Well...it just so happens that the one person/faction/army/monster that is the object of your vengeance and turned you into the person you now are is out to destroy the world. Sure, you might kill people, but the world is still where you live and you rather like living. So, for now atleast, you just happen to be the lesser of two evils and currently the best that is on offer to save the world. Maybe it's because all the other heroes are dead, maybe it's because you know the big bad better then anyone...maybe you are arguably the closest thing to a good guy in your current setting, in which case you may end up wandering just whether that world of yours is actually worth it.
You believe Destiny and fate to be nothing but excuses for people, and you go out of your way to show that to some 'chosen one' by smashing there face into a wall until it's nothing but mush. You aren't very likely to save any hostages at all: Infact, you're more likely to end up using said hostages as a meat-shield or fodder against the big bad unless they are useful to you in some way. In short, you are the very opposite of what it means to be a hero, walking a line between good and evil. Battle is Fun, and you approach it with a mad smile and a bloodied weapon in hand, ready to take on whatever is thrown at you next until you kill the one you're after.
So Escapists...which archtype are you? Or, are you some form of mix of two or more archtypes?
The Savvy Rogue:
You are not one to follow the laws, thinking them to be at best Stupid and at worst Suffocating. You go where your heart tells you and do as you please, smiling, charming and at times using your dry, sarcastic wit to get passed everything that would get in your way. And if that doesn't work, well, you aren't afraid to get your hands dirty. At the same time though, you are far from evil, infact you're a pretty decent person with your own morals which, while not always apparent, you will follow to the bitter end. You're just not one to blindly rush in to save the hostages, you know that just gets people killed and will try to think of a way to slip passed the defenses in some stylish manner. Even then, you'll normally try to find some way to profit off it, but you'll sometimes go into it for the moral reward or if it's a personal matter.
That said though, when the worlds threatened and nobody else can step up, you will gladly waltze on the scene to clean up the mess. You might be charming and nice at times, but you have more then enough skill to back it up. Witty one liners will normally be dropped, sometimes the odd pun, especially at the villains demise. Destiny and fate are only believed in by you if you see it happen first hand, you try to stave off being a 'chosen one' because that just attracts all sorts of trouble, but if you have to take up the mantle you will. In short, you're a hero who's in it for the rewards as well as doing the right thing.
The Atoner:
Formerly you might have been a Rookie or impulsive idiot, perhaps even a Fool before all this, but something happened...something so terrible that you're whole life was changed because of it. Maybe you inadvertantly caused the death of a loved one, maybe your home-town was destroyed because you happened to give directions to that one decent looking chap who said they were with the circus but was really a horrific demonic general, or perhaps it was something worse then that...you were the bad-guy who (normally because they believed they were doing the right thing or through mind control) caused all the terrible things to happen and for the new big-bad to rise, resulting in you getting one helluva wake-up call. If it is the latter, expect to be despised by a large percentage of people who recognize you. You aren't evil though, even if you did do some horrible things before, you did them because you believed they were right. And now you've got you're sense of reality properly adjusted, you agree with them all to much and beat yourself up over it whenever its brought up.
Your reasons for going to save the world have less to do with doing what is right, but rather redemption. You want to make up for what you've done wrong, what you failed to save. But, above all, you're hoping to find that one piece of yourself you lost in all of this. That small speck of innocence, of happiness, that you had and was now lost. It may not always be found, but above all you're fighting to clear your name and maybe find a way to let go of all the terrible things of your past. Destiny and Fate will not be believed in, and normally if they are it is because you believe the higher powers are 'punishing'you and even if you do think it's all just some sick joke. You'll save the hostages if you can, but it may take some convincing or for just one of them to be a dead ringer for that long lost loved one you failed to save, but in the end you'll save them, just as another way to make up for what you've done.
The Rookie:
Fates just a boat load of fun ain't it? Here you were, minding your own business, pining to wander abroad and be a hero...and then next thing you know a monster horde appears and sucks you to another dimension, or someone kidnaps a loved one and you have to get them back. Or, maybe the worlds on the edge of destruction and you just so happen to be the chosen one. You'll start out possibly loving your new predicament, but you'll soon come to hate being the newfound chosen hero and think that maybe it was not a good idea to wish for something like that to end up happening to you. The worst part of it all? You know barely anything about fighting, at worst just play fighting with wooden swords and at best just being fresh out of the latest soldier academy. You have literally no idea what you're in for, but you'll try your best. You might be clueless, inexperienced but you know you've got your friends to fall back on as well as your allies. You will most likely grow over the course of the adventure, becoming more experienced and sometimes more likeable. If you survive the ending, you may turn into a veteran adventurer for any sequels. If your heroes journey didn't go well, expect to turn out as possibly an Atoner or Composed Realist.
You believe in Destiny and Fate, to the point you seem a bit on the innocent and naive side. It allows for you to understand why all the bad things are happening to you, and partly to help you keep going. There are times you will question it though, namely if things start going wrong or if someone you love is almost killed. However, you have close ties to those you ally with and the friends who accompany you: You know there strengths, there skills and will stick by them through to the end, risking your life to save them as well as the world. If you have to save hostages, you will: It may take you alot of effort and time, but you'll find a way to save them along with any loved ones captured. And then, you'll move on to save the world as well. In many ways, this is a more classic style of hero that grows over time and throughout the story.
The Fool:
There's really no nice way to say this one but...you're an idiot. You don't think things through, you have practically no combat skills, hell most of the time you don't even have a reason for sticking through with the story, with other party members more often then not viewed as more close to the story or as the main protagonist. And yet, here you are, the main protagonist of the story. Most of the time, this is done quite simply by accident: You barge into a disaster and decide to tag along for the ride because it looks like it will be fun, because you simply have nothing else to do. Or, worse yet, you want to prove to everyone else you can be a hero, normally at the detriment of any allies you may have. Most will normally come to find you annoying and chastize you, but they will allow you to stick with them, for in most cases said party members need all the help they can get.
You believe fully in destiny and fate. If there is a prophecy about a great hero, you'll fully expect that hero to turn out to be you. You will normally be the surprised one when things don't turn out as planned or the prophecy goes awry, always saying something along the lines of "But the prophecy didn't mention anything about this happening". If there are hostages, it's fully expected for you to charge right in through the front door into the legions of soldiers waiting to fight you, with your friends normally having to come in to bail you out or save you. If there is one redeeming feature you have though, it is this: You just don't quit. You can be beaten up, left for dead, betrayed, abandoned...and yet you'll keep on going even if it ends up killing you. If this kind of character ends up growing as a character and person, then he is an example of the rookie archtype. However, that said, a fool is capable of growing more skilled over time and the course of the story, but don't hold your breath. If a fool goes through to the ending, only for things to fall apart enough that his innocence is finally broken, they will normally become a composed Realist or an Atoner.
The Veteran Adventurer:
Well, you've been through all this before, and it looks like another group is about to go through it all again. Unfortunately, said group has little to no experience or may even contain a loved one or apprentice that you are counseling, meaning you've made a decision to come along for the ride. You are a skilled fighter and a quick thinker in combat, prepared to offer advice or pass on some skills to whomever may need it. You may be serious about all this, and sometimes even world weary, but you still can offer up a joke or some light humor should it be required. There is really no set personality for the Veteran adventurer though: They can be a crazy or sarcastic jokester, or a completely serious no joking swordsman. There is only one thing that is set in stone: You know your stuff, almost to the point some would consider you rather genre savvy and is rarely surprised by anything. It is worth adding though that, no matter the personality, the veteran adventurer normally has a fierce moral code they will follow through on, and if you do something that violates it...expect them to chew you out on it.
The Veteran Adventurer can sometimes believe in fate or destiny if they to had once been a 'chosen one' of sorts, or have simply come to expect it. However, it is not unheard of them to reject it completely and simply believe that people have free will. They will save the hostages, normally thinking out a plan to get them out safely and will rarely suggest storming the front entrance unless they're confident they will win or simply just out of options. Unfortunately, the one downside is that, most commonly, the veteran adventurer will be forced to give their lives to save that of a party member. If not that, then expect to be mortally injured somehow in a way that will leave you out of commission for the final part of the story. If neither of those happen, then you will normally be stuck contending with one of the most powerful of the antagonists henchmen while the other party members go on to fight the big bad themselves. But no matter the capacity, you are a force to be reckoned with and not to be underestimated under any circumstances..you're also kind of a badass.
The Composed Realist:
So the Fool or the Rookie went through there heroes journey, only for it to completely crash and burn before there eyes. They caused the death of someone they loved or perhaps even there whole party. They were not completely crushed by it though, and instead took it as a lesson: Don't be a dreamer, stick to the real world and become strong enough to never let history repeat itself. In the case that such a person was not on a prior heroes quest, they are normally a skilled warrior who has had their optimism and dreams crushed in some way prior to the story, making them think only in the world of reality. However, it is this loss of optimism and dreams that spurred you to become stronger, making you calm, cool and above all level headed. In Short, it allowed you to take a level or two in the badass department. You don't chase up on myths or legends, you only focus on what is ground in concrete reality. If something seems impossible to you or likely to result in certain death, you will normally dismiss it as impossible and instead spend your efforts on finding away around it realistically.
You don't believe in destiny or fate, thinking it's all just a load of bullshit and would sooner believe pigs could fly (Unless pigs actually do fly in the setting you are in, in which case...well, find another metaphor for this) then the prospect of you being a destined hero. In most cases with these quests, you are normally dragged along unwillingly or forced into action because of a loved one, or simply out to do in the big bad. That said though, for all your pessimism and level headedness you are not evil, far from it. You care for the people around you, even if you don't always show it and will always try to do the right thing and help others in need. You will try your best to save the hostages, but you'll plan it out first: You will more likely utilize stealth or take advantage of some fault then just simply blindly rushing in. You will normally be at odds with the Fool, Rookie or impulsive idiot. Partly because of the fact they normally have unrealistic optimism and expectations, but also because they are a constant reminder of who you once used to be like. Expect a talk with the line 'i used to be like you once..' that explains your loss of optimism, and normally lecturing them on more realistic expectations. Still, you are out to save the world and will do all you can to fight any injustice in your way. You just don't expect any divine intervention or Deus Ex Machina to save the day: If the world's going to be saved, it will be through your own skills or sheer luck..maybe even a combination of both.
The Impulsive idiot:
A sort of odd middle Ground that encompasses traits of both the Rookie and the fool. Much like the rookie, You are fully confident in your friends and will stick by them to the end. However, like the Fool, You posses an inability to give up and an impulsive desire to rush into situations. However, what makes the impulsive idiot different from the fool and Rookie is one thing: You're tough. You already have some skills in combat, and are normally strong enough to completely pummel foes into submission but only if you have too. You're the sort of person who sticks up for their friends and will do all they can to fight injustice, as well as protect any loved ones you have. You are normally brought along into a quest because of a loved one being threatened or kidnapped, wanting to protect a friend who is a party member or just simply wanting to stop the big bad before they destroy everything that they love.
You will normally accept destiny and fate, but will at times question it but never fully doubt it. You are loyal to all allies and, because of your desire to never quit, will never lose hope in the sight of certain death. If there is ever a moment where the cast slips into depression and loses any hope, it's fully expected for you to be the one to give a rousing motivational speech and pull them out of despair. If there are hostages involved, you will normally rush into the nearest swarm of enemies or fling yourself at the big bad if they're there. It may normally result in you being pushed back or defeated, but you will normally give them hell before they take you down. All the same though, you are normally the 'strength' and 'heart' of any party, fully prepared to fight whatever is thrown at you in order to save the world. Over the course of a story, you may change and wisen up slightly, growing even stronger with your allies because of a desire to 'protect' them, making you all the more a force to be reckoned with.
The Psychotic Murderer (edit- The character in the image is called Caim, he's from a game called Drakengard):
...HOW THE HELL DID YOU END UP EVEN BEING CONSIDERED A HERO!? You are brutal, sadistic, psychotic and have only one solution to every problem: Stab it, and if that doesn't work, stab it some more! People are nothing more then big squishy bags of blood and organs for you to cut open, unless they have something you need or want. It doesn't matter to you, all you want is to see blood spilled and the object of your hate to be crushed in your hands. So, again one must ask, HOW THE HELL DID YOU END UP BEING CONSIDERED A HERO!? Well...it just so happens that the one person/faction/army/monster that is the object of your vengeance and turned you into the person you now are is out to destroy the world. Sure, you might kill people, but the world is still where you live and you rather like living. So, for now atleast, you just happen to be the lesser of two evils and currently the best that is on offer to save the world. Maybe it's because all the other heroes are dead, maybe it's because you know the big bad better then anyone...maybe you are arguably the closest thing to a good guy in your current setting, in which case you may end up wandering just whether that world of yours is actually worth it.
You believe Destiny and fate to be nothing but excuses for people, and you go out of your way to show that to some 'chosen one' by smashing there face into a wall until it's nothing but mush. You aren't very likely to save any hostages at all: Infact, you're more likely to end up using said hostages as a meat-shield or fodder against the big bad unless they are useful to you in some way. In short, you are the very opposite of what it means to be a hero, walking a line between good and evil. Battle is Fun, and you approach it with a mad smile and a bloodied weapon in hand, ready to take on whatever is thrown at you next until you kill the one you're after.
So Escapists...which archtype are you? Or, are you some form of mix of two or more archtypes?
