Character Role Catalog

Introduction

In roleplaying games each character give the player a role or part to play. However, those character can have a number of roles of their own. In fact, characters can switch roles depending on the situations they find themselves in.

The Role Call section is a collection of possible character roles, grouped by what they focus on. The purpose of this list in to provide ideas for character or class design and well as provoking thought on what other roles a character could have that aren't seen as often.

The Theory section is an open area for breaking down the role system and reflection on how it can be used in designing game systems.

Defining Roles

Dictionary.com gives a good starting point for defining character roles (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/role):

Role

1.a part or character played by an actor or actress.

2.proper or customary function: the teacher's role in society.

3.Sociology. the rights, obligations, and expected behavior patterns associated with a particular social status.

The first definition makes role synonymous with character. Since we're focusing on what roles a character can have, we'll be focusing on the later two definitions. As such, we'll define character roles as packages or templates that describe the character's function, abilities, duties, and/or expectations.

Role Call

This section is currently being filled out from discussion in the Game Design forums here (http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?t=501355).

Combat Roles

Combat center around how the character handles themselves in combat.

Tactical Roles

Tactical Roles focus on how the character helps their side win these conflicts.

Offensive Roles

Offensive Roles focus on shutting down enemies and taking them out of the conflict.

• Slayers focus on taking out a single target at a time.
  • Strikers favor tactical strikes and being able to change targets rapidly as the situation demands.
  • Harriers favor sticking with a selected target and wearing them down until they drop.
• Artillery focuses on multi-target attacks, sometimes at the risk of friendly fire.
• Poisoners, "Bleeders", or "Diseasers" use attacks with ongoing or delayed effects. If these effects can be stacked up, this lets the character act as a Harrier with a gradual build up. If not, poisoners play more like stikers and artillery in that they switch frequently between a targets while waiting for existing effects to run their course.

Defensive Roles

Defensive Roles focus on keeping team member able to participate in the conflict for as long as possible.

• Protectors make it harder for enemies to attack allies.
  • Tanks protect by making themselves the target of enemy attacks. This requires both an ability to attract more attacks and the strong personal defenses needed to survive those hits. This this Protector variant may borrow Survivor elements.
    • Taunters or "Aggro-Tanks" can apply restriction effects on the enemy that force them to attack the tank.
    • Bodyguards are good at changing the target of attacks on the fly. They tend to focus on guarding an area or ally over locking down a specific enemy.
    • Blockers are good at repositioning enemies and are hard to get past. This maneuvering can make it very hard for enemies to target anyone else.
• Healers are experts at removing damage and harmful effects after they're been applied.

Balanced Roles

Balanced Roles combine elements of offense and defense.

• Duelists excel at isolating, studying, and taking down specific opponents. This role combines elements of the Harrier and Blocker roles.
• Devourers steal enemy defenses and use them to bulk up their own. This makes the enemy easier to take down (Offensive role) while also helping the devourer serve a Survivor or possible Tank role.
• Infernos or "Destroyers" have strong attacks which can be avoided with repositioning. If the enemy chooses not to reposition, this role becomes heavily offensive. If they do move, this becomes more of a defensive and control role.

Theory

This section is currently being filled out from discussion in the Game Design forums here (http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?t=501355).

The first topic to be move in will probably be a list of what kinds of questions roles may answer about a character.