Fucked Up Cryptids, Here We Come - Outlooks - An alternative to Pulp Archetypes

Goal: to provide an alternative to Pulp Archetypes that is better suited to non-pulp tales.

One of the biggest issues I had with using Pulp Cthulhu for non-pulp tales was the way the archetypes bound the tale to that era. To use the Pulp Cthulhu rules in more modern adventures, we need to find modern archetypes to use with them.

Generally, the Pulp Archetypes from the book have a Core Characteristic, 100 points to spread between 8-15 skills, some suggested occupations, traits, and pulp talents, as well as a little blurb for people to get an idea of what the archetype is meant to represent. Additionally, I will add a “stress breaking point”, which will mesh with my sanity overhaul rules. If you wish to add more to my collection, keep that in mind.

Firebrand #

You thought things were okay once, that the world was a just place. That was before you realized just how fucked up they made it, and are continuing to make it. It’s not okay, and they’re going to destroy everything you love if you don’t do something. So, you’re gonna do something. You’re gonna do a lot of something.

The first image of a firebrand that springs to mind is an anarchist, but anyone who regularly takes the law into their own hands (whether The Man approves or disapproves of these actions) may have this outlook. Firebrands are driven by anger at the current world, and a desire for a better one; they have a strong sense of justice, and believe the common good is more important than the written law. It describes Malcom X, but also members of the KKK.

Adjustments #

• Core characteristic: POW.
• Add 100 bonus points divided among any of the following: Demolitions, Disguise, Elec. Repair, Fast Talk, Locksmith, Mech. Repair, Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Survival (any).
• Suggested Occupations: any. Most Firebrands avoid breaking the law at work.
• Talents: Any two.
• Stress Breaking Point: Your action (or inaction) has caused distinct, unambiguous harm to someone you must admit was completely innocent.

Recommended Reading #

Any good firebrand, if they stay in the game for long enough, needs a good security culture. Otherwise, someone’s going to figure out what they’re up to and someone’s going to try to stop them. Support from The Man might help, but if they’re not doing (or genuinely considering) shit that could have consequences in their personal life, they might not be a Firebrand.

Although Monkeywrenching might not feature in your campaign, Ecodefense: A Field Guide to Monkeywrenching is a nice window into actions an ecologically-focused Firebrand might take, as well as the altruistic NIMBY attitude they can take at times.

Survivior #

Some people have these big, lofty, impractical goals to “change the world” or “pursue their dreams”. You don’t bother with that shit. There’s only one thing you need, and as long as you’ve got it you don’t give two fucks about the consequences. After all, you didn’t survive the worst by “changing the world” or “pursuing your dreams”.

Although many survivors can be called selfish, there’s always something they’re trying to keep at bay: “make sure nobody discovers my past”, “I never want to return to the time I was weak and powerless”, or “my little sister needs to have a better life than I did” are all valid goals. If your character has a goal like this, they may have this outlook.

Adjustments #

• Core characteristic: CON.
• Add 100 bonus points divided among any of the following: Credit Rating, Dodge, Fast Talk, Fighting (Brawl), First Aid, Intimidate, Listen, Persuade, Psychology, Spot Hidden, Survival, any one other skill that helped you get this far.
• Suggested Occupations: Surviviors are more focused on steady paychecks than their personal interests or comfort. Odds are, their job is some combination of undesirable, hard on the mind/body, and illegal, but pays stupidly well.
• Talents: any, although Resilient is suggested.
• Stress Breaking Point: Discuss with your keeper what your Survivior is trying to keep at bay, their Worst Thing Ever. Your stress breaking point is “You had the opportunity, through action or inaction, to keep your Worst Thing Ever at bay, and you’ve squandered it.”¹

Note that, if you feel that your Worst Thing Ever has changed during play, you and your Keeper are free to rediscuss this.

Karen #

So many people, on hearing “no”, turn away. That’s the sheeple’s way, and you’re better than that. “No” just means you need to be more cunning, more persuasive, more belligerent, and then that “no” usually turns into a yes! All arguments have winners and losers, and you know which one you are. “Justice”, “equality”, and “the facts” are nothing more than fancy words, and anyone claiming otherwise is either a sucker or trying to sell something. You’d be surprised how many suckers there are.

“Karen”. What an archetype! Although mostly linked to middle-aged women demanding managers, this outlook can describe anyone who’d unironically say “there’s a sucker born every minute” with a malevolent grin. Internally, they see being wrong as a moral failing: people with growth mindsets need not apply. Additionally, they tend to see people as either “useful to my goals” or “people beneath me whom I can safely abuse”.

Adjustments #

• Core Characteristics APP.
• Add 100 bonus points divided among any of the following: Accounting, Appraise, Charm, Computer Use, Drive Auto, Fighting (brawl), Intimidate, Library Use, Navigate, Op. Hv. Machine, Sleight of Hand, Throw.
• Suggested Occupation: Karens tend to reach for high positions, and their skills will either bring them there or send them falling from the heights. Probably both.
• Talents: Any.
• Stress Breaking Point: You’re unambiguously wrong, or have unambiguously failed.

Suggested Reading #

Although many stories on Not Always Right don’t involve this archetype, a large number do.

Peacekeepers #

Things are bad enough in the world, so why does everyone have to be so mean to each other? People don’t just do things “because they’re an asshole”, they do it because they’re stressed out, or having a bad day, or just don’t know, right? So lets make sure everyone has a moment to breathe and someone to keep the good vibes coming, because that’s what we all need.

In short, if you cut a Peacekeeper off in traffic, they’d take a moment to ask the cosmos to get you home safely. This doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be angry, of course – just that the anger isn’t the end of the story. People with this outlook are genuinely altruistic, from the bottom of their heart, and this motivates everything they do. However, they can easily project that altruism onto people who don’t possess it, causing them to get taken advantage of. Effective Peacekeepers can identify when someone’s got bad intentions, and can sternly (but politely) tell them to shove off; Ineffective Peacekeepers can do shit like trying to adopt an eldritch abomination or “fix” an unrepentant abuser.

Adjustments #

• Core Characteristic: Any except POW. How do you try to help people?
• Add 100 bonus points divided among any of the following: Charm, First Aid, Language (0wn), Psychoanalysis, any 4 other skills directly related to how they help people.
• Suggested Occupation: Peacekeepers will pursue their passions, and will likely seek to help people, rather than corporations. Humanitarian work is common, as are jobs like engineering that have a real world impact.
• Talents: Any.
• Stress Breaking Point: Your attempts to help people get along just made things way worse.

More outlooks coming out when I think them up.