Shemp Aids: Archetype Cards

One tool I’ve been using for years to create personalities for NPC are the Archetype Cards by Caroline Myss. Based loosely in Jungian archetyles,  the cards are a New Age product design to “determine which Archetypes are most active in your psyche”. The back of the booklet included states that Myss “is a pioneer and the field of energy medicine and human consciousness”, but that’s all moot for our purposes. There are 80 archetypes. Each has a “light” and “shadow” aspect, pros and cons, and the card explains what each archetype is like.

For a simple one-off NPC, I’ll just draw one card. Right side up, it’s light, upside down it’s shadow. For example, you want to go talk to some guy I haven’t prepared as an NPC. Say he’s a bartender. I draw a card and get Destroyer, right-side up. The description says “Releasing what is potentially destructive. Preparing for new life”. I can interpret this in any way that might fit the plot. Maybe he’s sick to death of being a bartender and is rude to customers, or doing things to their drinks. Maybe he owns the place and realizes it’s run down, and wants to rip out the walls and remodel.

For recurring NPCs I’ll pick 2 or 3 cards. Let’s say the players want to find a merchant selling spell components. Because this could be a recurring NPC, I draw three and get Networker, Pioneer, and the shadow aspect of Exorcist. Networker is obvious, he knows people and shares information. Hey, this guy can be more than the provider of spell components, he buyws and sells from other merchants and gets a lot of news and gossip. He likes to talk. Pioneer means he likes to create and innovate and do things that haven’t been done before. He might have some secret project, or feels like a vicarious part of the party as they go dungeon delving. Maybe he has plans to expand his business, which could be a plot hook for the players. So far, this NPC is well-disposed to the players and useful. The shadow aspect of Exorcist means he has trouble facing his own demons. In a fantasy game this could be literal, but let’s say it’s figurative. He’s got something he can’t get past. He wants to be a pioneer, but something is holding him back. Here’s another plot hook.