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Villain
Archetypes, contributed by Colin Chapman
The following list of Villain archetypes was compiled to showcase ideas
for the main villains, and their immediate henchmen, rather than the nameless
mooks and zombies they might employ to do their bidding.
- Alien: Invader from another world, most likely Mars, the alien
wrecks havoc with various superscientific death rays and flying saucers,
and is known to perform strange experiments. May be intent on world
domination.
- Assassin: A trained killer, the assassin is the fanatical dagger-or
garrotte-wielding thugee, the Mafia hit-man, or the stealthy Japanese
ninja.
- Brute: The huge and powerful villain?s henchman, slow, but
massively strong, and seemingly impervious to pain.
- Corrupt Civil Servant: Self-serving, or bribed to serve the
interests of a criminal organization or individual, such as the Mafia
or a particular villain, or the interests of a ruthless tycoon, the
corrupt civil servant can be a cop on the beat, chief of police, federal
agent, judge, or politician.
- Crazed Inventor: An insane genius, the crazed inventor cares
for nothing save his precious inventions, turning out useful and devastating
innovations and infernal devices for his own entertainment or use, or
the use of a wealthy backer. May be intent on world domination.
- Crime Lord: A Mafia godfather, ruthlessly running organized
crime of many varieties while maintaining the image of a respectable
businessman, a powerful drug baron, operating openly, a triad or Yakuza
boss, or the leader of a secret criminal elite. May be intent on (covert)
world domination.
- Cruel Military Officer: Vindictive, self-serving, or corrupt
officer in the employ of a despot, in charge of a group of mercenaries,
or even in operating in the armed forces of a reputable nation.
- Cult Leader: Charismatic leader of a group of fanatics, performing
ancient and unspeakable occult rites, and inspiring divine fervor in
order to further the interests of himself or the cult?s esoteric or
mad goals. May be intent on world domination.
- Cunning Psychopath: Insane yet cunning, the psycho kills again
and again, bringing grisly terror to a city or neighborhood.
- Diabolical Mystic: Power-hungry and malignant voodoo houngan,
tribal witchdoctor, occult sorcerer, or mesmerist, using exotic powers
to control and manipulate others, create armies of living or dead followers,
or open gateways to Places Man Was Not Meant to Know. May be intent
on world domination.
- Despot: Tyrannical local noble or warlord, cruelly keeping
the populace in line with secret police or a corrupt military.
- Exiled Tyrant: Justly overthrown leader of a nation or tribe,
the exiled tyrant aims to remove the current rightful rulers, and reinstall
himself in power, and is building an appropriate army, weapon, or covert
plot to do so.
- Femme Fatale: Entirely self-serving and seductive woman, cold-heartedly
manipulating men for power and wealth.
- Hellfire Minister: The overly zealous priest or missionary,
the hellfire minister has a twisted interpretation of his faith?s creed,
and inspires hatred, violence, and intolerance in his faithful.
- Hunter of Men: Having faced down lions, tigers, and rhinos,
the hunter of men turns his attention to more intelligent and challenging
prey.
- Inscrutable Oriental: Disdainful of the gaijin/gwailo and their
ways, the inscrutable oriental often quotes Confucious, Lao Tzu, or
Sun Tzu, is a master of mesmerism or martial arts, and/or a leader of
an organization of fanatical followers. May be intent on world domination.
- Mad Scientist: Unfettered by moral or ethical concerns, the
mad scientist works on unspeakable experiments in his secret laboratory,
such as creating animal-human hybrids, producing horrific mind- and
body-altering chemicals, and serves either himself, or a wealthy financier.
May be intent on world domination.
- Nazi: Callous follower of Hitler, the nazi could be a military
officer, brute, dedicated occultist, twisted scientist, calculating
gestapo agent, or cautious spy.
- Robot: Crafted by a mad inventor, technologically advanced
ancient civilization, or alien invader, the robot is a relentless mechanical
monster, operating under directions or rampaging wildly.
- Ruthless Tycoon: Caring for nothing save power and profit,
the ruthless tycoon allows nothing and no-one to stand in the way of
his business and development, buying off and eliminating obstacles as
necessary.
- Savage Lord: Leader of a tribe of vicious tribesmen or cavemen,
or a individual wild man, the savage lord may or may not be a cannibal,
but is known to ferociously hunt and attack all outsiders.
- Sniveling Toady: Puny, boss-eyed, hunchbacked, or otherwise
physically imperfect, the Sniveling toady is petty, cruel, and ineffectual,
but serves as the main villain?s personal servant, if only because his
constant fawning massages the villain?s ego.
- Spy: Covertly working to acquire intelligence and other information,
the villainous spy is cold-hearted and professional, and works for a
nefarious nation, individual, or organization.
- Terrorist: Dedicated anarchist or zealot serving any number
of causes, and more than willing to cause wanton death and destruction
in doing so.
- Vicious Vigilante: A self-styled avenger, masked or otherwise,
the vicious vigilante acts without any restraint or regard, bringing
his own brand of justice to anyone he perceives as a wrongdoer, regardless
of evidence or the severity of the crime.
- Walking Corpse: Powerful and solitary figure that combines
cunning with unearthly power, such as a vampire, or an accursed mummy.
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