ARCHETYPE

ARCHETYPE is a point-based 2d10 indie tabletop roleplaying system, available online for 100% free.

For new players and prospective GMs, I highly recommend you visit the Character Creation Overview Page

6/28/23: Update 1.10.1

5/17/23: Update 1.10: Age of Steel

Here we are again, and even sooner than I expected. It's time for another update. 1.10 is mostly upkeeping the system and updating it to my modern standards, as well as balancing a few comedically overpowered boons, however, it is also the biggest update I've ever made when it comes to new content.

Age of Steel. A content branch dedicated to content that more closely resembles the industrial revolution era of technology. Added Gunslinger, Inventor, Machinist, Artificial Lifeform, and Steel Carapace boons. Added guns to the equipment page. Added Automaton race.

Heavily nerfed Pyrokinetic and Electrokinetic so that they don't deal like 20d4+5d6+325 damage or something. Good gosh Explosion was broken. Funny that the two VERY anime-inspired boons were the ones that needed to be nerfed, I guess Megumin was too goated.

Martial characters are now playable. I know this is kind of a joke, but not having a legitimate boon tree was really hurting these guys. Added Warrior, Combat Master, Dual Wielder, and Grappler, boons.

Ascendant Parry Master, Warrior, and Combat Master.

Added Basic Rules. No idea why this wasn't here before.

Updated Combat rules.

Added Hammers and Waterskins to the equipment page.

Several minor and syntax changes.

5/16/23: The road to 2.0

I have decided to release a full rulebook for this system. I cannot make any promises for when it will be done, but it will likely be some point within the next year. As such, there will be two branches of the system: the online 2.0 version, and the 1.10 rulebook. Future online content may not be compatible with the physical/ebook release, however, I will still continue to have all of the system content online here for free.

The physical book will be a way for people to support the development of ARCHETYPE and have a non-web-based copy of the rules that they can easily pass around the table during an actual game. I have noticed in playtest groups that people like to have that physical book in their hands and after much consideration I happen to agree with them.

With that out of the way, you can look forward to 1.10, which should feature a completely overhauled boon system for martial and technical boons. I've never been super happy with how little focus I've been giving them since 1.1, but players should have a plethora of new options once the update releases. There is a small but still very possible chance that it will be this month, but I of all people know that these things take time.

5/15/23: Update 1.9: Beyond the Void

(the ascendancy update)

Yeah I was sort of expecting 1.8 to be the last update but a recent burst of inspiration has proven otherwise. There were a few things I was working on after 1.8 that got lumped into this update, but a lot of it was just updating the boons system with the new ascendancy feature, which allows certain boons to exceed 3 levels. There's also a new race, the voidling, a species of shapeshifters from another realm.

Beyond the Void: In preparation for a new system-specific setting, several new boons have been added alongside a new race as part of a new optional content branch. Added Voidling race. Added Formless Wanderer, Chronothurge, and Schismothurge boons.

Ascendant Boons. Some boons can level up past 3 levels. These boons are as follows: Electrokinetic, Geokinetic, Hydrokinetic, Mage, Pyrokinetic, Knight, and Sneak Attacker. The Magic+ boons have been moved to archived content, as the ascendancy system replaces them. Chronothurge and Schismothurge also have ascendant levels.

More Summoning. Now you can summon a Golem, or even become one with the new Shapemerger and Golemancer boons. Added Shapemerger and Golemancer boons. Added Golem stat block.

Alchemy. The new alchemy system is mostly finished, though there isn't a comprehensive list of craftable potions. Added Alchemy page.

Marks have been relocated to now be on the page of each individual boon that grants them.

Made keyword notes colorful.

Reflavored the whole site.

Ordered things alphabetically.

Several other minor and syntax changes.

1/12/23: Update 1.8: Marks

(the marks update)

Hooooo boy has it been a while. I've been very busy with college so I haven't had much time to work on the system. Thankfully, I've found the time to finally publish this update after several months of work. I've been looking to find new members to add to the Archetype team, so ideally in the coming months there might be a more steady influx of content.

Marks. A new system to increase player power and buildcrafting. See the Marks page for more information.

Hydrokinetic and Hydrokinetic+ have been balanced better.

Several other minor and syntax changes.

4/6/22: Update 1.7: Advanced Magic

(the magic update 2)

It's been 2 months since the last update, and as with tradition I'm here to bring a whole new round of boons and features.

Magic+. As revealed in the last update, the advanced magic boons are the main part of the update, bringing new depth to the spellcasting system to further separate it from that of other TTRPGs. Updated Geokinetic and Electrokinetic+. Added Pyrokinetic+, Hydrokinetic+, and Geokinetic+.

Summoner Boons. Some form of summon magic was needed in the system, though this is obviously a huge undertaking to design and execute. The Summoner boon is designed to compliment mage characters while introducing a new flavor of combat boon to the system, while the Bladecaller boon is designed for more support-oriented casters or hybrid builds. Added the Arcane Sprite NPC stat block.

Several minor or syntax changes.

2/6/22: Update 1.6: Crafting Part 2

(the crafting update 2)

I took a super long break, sorry about that. Updates will be less from now on frequent and 1.7 could take some time. The next update will be another expansion.

Crafting Part 2. Now you can make more things. The systems regarding materials have been revised and foraging has been added. Updated the Crafting page.

Update 1.7 Preview. The Electrokinetic+ page is designed as a preview for the next update.

Updated the skills and equipment pages to better fit the new crafting system.

Many minor changes.

12/5/21: Update 1.5: Crafting Part 1

(the crafting update)

Draconid Rework. I wasn't exactly pleased with the state of the Draconid race after release, I get some feedback saying that the concept of how the abilities worked didn't make sense as well. My solution was to scrap the mechanics of the Avaricious Sorcerer boon entirely. Hopefully the new version will be better.

Crafting. Now you can make things. Added the Crafting page.

Added Dodge Master, Parry Master, Tactician, and Craftsman boons.

12/3/21: Update 1.4: Draconic Ascension

(the monster update)

Haha so I wasn't technically wrong when I said I was waiting for an expansion, but its definitely at lot sooner than I expected to be adding more races. This update is absolutely massive, even bigger than all of 1.3, (including the equipment update that I dropped a few hours afterward) so with that being said, here's the changelog:

Draconic Ascension: A new expanded content branch of stuff related to dragons. Added Draconid race. Added Dragon Soul and Avaricious Sorcerer boons. Added Dragonling stat block.

New Races, Again. Added Goblin, and Orc races. Added Crafty Merchant and Orcish Marauder.

Monsters! Yay! Added Undead Soldier, Dragon, Orc Warrior, Goblin Thief and Ogre stat blocks. Added NPC stat blocks to the navigation menu under combat.

Vitakinetic Changes. Changed Vitamancer to Vitakinetic to fit naming conventions and updated it to be more specific on the time between resurrection casts, as well as changed conditions for the spell to function.

Minor Changes:

Updated Necrothurge to link to the new Undead Soldier stat block.
Updated Equipment to have the cleave weapon modifier.
Updated the logo on this page and added it to the rest of the site.

12/1/21: Update 1.3.1: Equipment Mini-Update

Updated the equipment list and combat basics page.

12/1/21: Update 1.3: The Update Where I Add Dwarves

(the dwarf update)

This is the biggest update I've ever done, with new content for both the base vanilla game and for Dark Magic. Dwarves will likely be the last race I add for a while, I'm mostly relying on GMs wanting to make their own. I have ideas but they'll have to wait for an expansion or something. Speaking of which, Skeletons were added this update as well, making the total number of races 4 counting Dark Magic content.

Updated the boons page, hopefully I'll remember that next update. This tends to be the kind of thing I patch between updates but I noticed it in the middle of editing for 1.3.

Added Observer, Opportunist, Dwarven Warrior, Dwarf, Fleshless Being, and Skeleton.

Updated the Combat Basics page.

Updated Cantrip Enchanter, which was using antiquated and irrelevant notation.

Updated the starting credits on the Overview page

12/1/21: Update 1.2: Dark Magic

(the status condition update)

Updated Elementalist. (formerly called Arcanist) Now requirements are linked.

Added Cryothurge, Necrothurge, and Vitamancer.

Added condition descriptions to pages that use them. Pages effected: Elementalist, Geokinetic, Equipment

Updated terminology on petrify effects, now, petrify actually does something. Pages effected: Geokinetic, Elementalist

11/30/21: Update 1.1: Elemental Power

(the magic update)

Added Hydrokinetic, Geokinetic, and Electrokinetic.

Updated terminology on movement, conditions that push, shove, or pull units are considered movement effects, which can trigger other effects. (namely Hydrokinetic 2) Pages effected: Defender.

Updated terminology on petrify effects, conditions that reduce a unit's TS to 0 (removing unspent and saved TS) in exchange for increased DR are considered petrify effects, which can trigger other effects. (namely Geokinetic 2) Pages effected: Arcanist.