Professional Template: 300 Spartans: Leonidas

[Kromm]

Originally Posted by tbone

I always like DF/DFRPG characters' "Customization Notes" that go into additional archetypes. Here, "Hoplite" is a fine name for what's a broader "Elite Sword 'n' Sandals Soldier", but are there other specific archetypes that could be derived?

Without fussing over details of historical accuracy, this template looks usable for a Roman Legionnaire (or just Legionnaire, if Empire is as unnamed as Town)... even Elite Viking Warrior with a little more tweaking (Axe/Mace, some armor, maybe Boating/Swimming...)

Does the template suggest any other classic characters to anyone?

Historical accuracy (and "Customization Notes") weren't my goals at 1 a.m. with insomnia, but . . .

You could use this template for a huge number of warriors modeled on real-life ones, including the hoplite, phalangite, or legionary (the differences being in spear length, armor, and large-unit tactics that wouldn't matter on a dungeon crawl); the Maasai warrior (forget about armor, and replace the shortsword with a short spear or knobbed club); or non-cinematic Anglo-Saxon, Irish, or Viking warrior (replace the shortsword with whatever is cheap and available). All would hew pretty close to the archetype, and favor Thrown Weapon (Spear) over Sling.

With some reaching, you could model a lot of the New World. You would need to look outside the DFRPG to GURPS for gear. For instance, an Aztec warrior would replace spear and sword with tepoztopilli and macuahuitl, both with obsidian blades, and move the 4 points in Sacrificial Block, Shield-Wall Training, and ranged skills to Spear Thrower for an atlatl.

All of these types share similar qualities: daring (high Will along with stuff like Daredevil, Fearlessness, and Unfazeable, and very likely Overconfidence), foot mobility (superior Basic Move and good Hiking and Running), toughness (Will again, High Pain Threshold, probably Stubbornness, and several of Fit, Hard to Kill, Hard to Subdue, Rapid Healing, and Tough Skin), warrior code (the Code of Honor and Sense of Duty, perhaps Born War-Leader, and Tactics plus some of Leadership, Savoir-Faire, and Strategy), and the inevitable whooping and hollering (Penetrating Voice, Rallying Cry, and Intimidation).

How these warriors would stack up against each other in real life would be more a function of large-unit tactics (which as I said above won't even be visible on a dungeon crawl – though Sacrificial Block and Shield-Wall Training would be optional for the more individualist types) and equipment (which is bought with $, not points). On equal points, your Maasai with Tough Skin and your legionary who trades points for money to get an armor and sword will be comparable.