Your Favorite Character Archetypes

[KyuubiNoKitsune-Hime]

The one who became a hero by having their world view shattered: Characters like Tony Stark/Iron Man. Picked up the sword because they realized they were actually part of the problem.

The Warrior Goddess/God: Honor Harrington, she's a total badass in a fight on the ground, and as an Officer of the Royal Manticoran Navy a brilliant tactician. With a really nasty sneaky side. Then as she evolves as a character she becomes a shrewd and savvy strategists, both on the battle field and in politics.

 

[PainInTheAssInternet]

Those who do what needs to be done even when petrified, like Ellen Ripley from Aliens just before she enters the hive.

Those who recognize when someone needs to be taken down permanently, thinking that if they aren't they are personally responsible for everyone who comes into harm's way afterwards. Just the opposite of most superheroes.

 

[FPLOON]

The black guy... The character that showcases how [stereotypically] black they are to those around them...[footnote]Note: Doesn't actually have to be a black guy to be the black guy in the story...[/footnote]The story's punching bag... The character that, for some reason, can't seem to catch a break from the other charcters, let alone the setting they're apart of...The comic relief... The character that, even if they're not making a witty joke, still comes off as humorous...The stoner... The character that probably doesn't showcase what weed could actually do to you, even if they don't actually smoke weed in the story...The kick-ass female... The character that could hold her own without any [outside] assistance...The nerd... The character that references nerd-related topic like as if everyone's going to know what they're referring to in general...The duo... The two character that you wouldn't suspect working together that end up, surprisingly, working well together... even if it takes a while to get there, of course...The fourth-wall breaker... The character that doesn't give a fuck about our laws of proper storytelling...The loner... The character that mostly does stuff for themselves even if it unintentionally helps someone else in general...

Sure, some of these can go straight into [negative] stereotyping, but other times it's just makes me want to see what happens next in the story... if it even is a story for some of these archetypes...

 

[Headsprouter]

Misunderstood monsters.

Only playable misunderstood monster I can think of is Bioshock 2's Subject Delta. But you can be really evil/ruthless in that game, too. That said, while I love Delta, it's a shame he's mostly just a diving suit in terms of design. I'd love to play as a good monster who's truly gruesome looking.

Underdogs and unlikely heroes are good, too.

 

[GabeZhul]

The Mary Sue.

Because sometimes I just want to sit back and watch over-the-top protagonists doing over-the-top things without any character-flaws or angst or hardships or narrative sense. It's like warm chicken soup for the mind, easy to digest and soothing.

 

[Xeros]

The hacker; all of 'em. I don't know why, but ever since I saw Hackers in my youth, I've always liked something about hacker characters. The shadowy, mysterious cyber wizards, who more often than not show up, be techno-badasses, and leave.

 

[Vykrel]

the mysterious badass of few words. characters like Mad Max or Riddick.

 

[Slenn]

The Paladin!
You know, that one guy that just wants everything to be fine. When the world goes to hell, he keeps on that fading flicker of hope, he won't sell you out, he won't give up. When the time comes and the villain has nearly won and is gloating over the heroes' broken forms? That's when he stands up, staggering on broken legs, and announces that EVIL CANNOT GO UNPUNISHED!

*cough*

Sorry, I was "in the moment" there... Bit of a shame that that archetype is so rare though...
It does make me wonder what happened to that Paladin: The Redemption homebrew /tg/ was working on a while back...

I always played the Paladin in Diablo 2 for the same reasons. He always seemed the best that fit the fight against Diablo. They kinda fall under the prototypical heroic type for me.

 

[TheMysteriousGX]

The Serious Badass. Heimdal breaking free of the Ice doom weapon or stabbing an invisible spaceship to death with his backup weapons are my go to examples these days. Just that absurdly strong/tough character who who just does things. And they usually don't have any narrative weight to back them up. Batou with his standard issue big gun, Col. Armstrong, Eliot Spencer.

I'd go with the Underdog, but I mean guys like the humans in Dragonball Z. Totally outclassed, lucky to even have a possibility of having a gimmick that might slow down the baddies... yet, they still show up. Just in case there's anything they can do.

 

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

The Guile Hero. Not only a subversion of many expectations of a 'traditional' hero, but sometimes forces them to participate in activities not common to their archetype. The one time that Son Goku was a guile hero, he got to pretend to be a villain. And it was hilarious. The only time I don't like that is when it requires everyone else to be incredibly stupid.

Examples of the Guile Hero off the top of my head:
Aladdin (and to a lesser extent his father)
Batman when he's not a Mary Sue
Sherlock Holmes
Captain Jack Sparrow
Uhtred of Bebbanburg (Bernard Cornwell. Manipulate an entire council of powerful male kings and priests at the zenith of old-style Christianity's power in the 10th century into making a woman the ruler of a major kingdom? Challenge accepted.)
Tyrion Lannister
Nearly all of Wraith Squadron (Aaron Allston)

 

[chromatic fairytale]

Cute, friendly witches- I've always had a fondness for lady magic wielders since I was but a wee bab! :3 (Totally wanted to be one, too...)
Male kuuderes/tsunderes- The defrosting is always delightful. Or they're terribly written and it's hilarious. Can't lose either way!
Antivillains- All of them. The more sympathetic, the better.
Friend to all living creatures- These characters are just adorable. Kinda lumps in with kindhearted animal lovers I guess.
That girl whose heart is so pure that it gives her crazy messiah powers- This one should be played out by now, but tbh I can't get enough of the ~*~power of friendship~*~

 

[FalloutJack]

OH, I love villains. Villainy is a fond past time of mine, what with the laughter and the scheming and all. It has to be well-written, though. A good villain is one who grabs the audience by being quite entertaining by nature.