[UA] The Duelist and The Gardener

[Matt Norwood]

Hello all. I've been out of touch for a while (I know you missed
me, but you can dry your eyes now). And reading the backlog on
the list, I figure it's time for some new archetypes for everyone
to rip to pieces. Thus:

1. The Duelist

This is my solution for the fact that the rulebook has a
Masterless Man but not his order-bound counterpart, the Knight.
You could use The Executioner, and some people have suggested a
Knight or Soldier archetype, but I decided to focus on the
"honorable warrior" part of the "Knight" idea. The Duelist is the
man who fights by specific rules: warfare is a game of honor to
him, and he dspises anyone who breaks the rules of a fair fight.
He might be a bully and a tyrant, but he is not a cheat. This
archetype covers most action heroes who can compel their
arch-enemies to attack them man-to-man instead of having them
slain by guards.

Taboo: Never fight anyone except in an equally-armed duel unless
attacked first. Never refuse a challenge.

Symbols: Fencing foil (or katana, or saber...), pistol (1
bullet), fine gloves, rose, big hat, the color white, sash or
headband.

1-50: If you call someone out and he refuses, cheats, attacks you
afterwards, etcetera you can flip-flop all rolls in that
situation as long as the result is under your avatar score. The
duelist also goes first in every round. This also applies to his
allies attacking you, etc.

51-70: Roll your avatar skill to detect sneak-attacks, ambushes,
etc.

71-90: No penalty to disarm or knock out an opponent.

91-99: No more than one person can fight the duelist at a time,
and the attacker can't use a more powerful weapon than the
duelist uses.

----

2. The Gardener

I was reading about Johnny Appleseed and his description as the
American Dionysus. I was also reading old Batman comics with
Poison Ivy. I was also watching Being There again, with Chauncy
Gardener's "garden" metaphors for society. I was also thinking
about Rastafarianism and marijuana horticultural techniques. That
is the secret origin of The Gardener. 

This has to be one of the oldest archetypes, being born when
humans first turned to agriculture. Every culture has a fertility
god, a man who is one with the plants, although this archetpye
was probably female when it began. The "flower power" movement in
the '60's and the accompanying surge in marijuana use signalled a
return of this archetype, possibly a new ascension.

Taboo: Never let plants go uncared-for. (Lame, I know. Something
better?)

Symbols: seeds, spade, scythe, shears, soil, watering can,
leaves, flowers

Possible historical/fictional avatars: Johnny "Appleseed"
Chapman, Ceres, Dionysos, Chance the Gardener (from "Being
There"), Father Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet, Ingo Potrykus (the
inventor of genetically-modified vitamin A-rich "golden rice").

1-50: By rolling under avatar skill, the gardener can grow plants
of unusual quality and potency: marijuana, curare, wine grapes,
super-string wood, and giant squash are all possible. These
plants take the normal time and care to grow, and they are from 2
to 10 times more potent dedending on degree of success.

51-70: ???

71-90: The gardener can control all plants in the area. Vines can
entangle enemies, hedges can rearrange themselves, branches can
lower themselves to allow climbing. Usable once per day per 10s
digit of skill.

91-99: ???

----

As you can see, they're a little bit rough around the edges. Tear
them apart, please.

Matt Norwood

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