Legendary Archetypes: Ninja

As Paul “Wiggy” Wade-Wilson wrote long ago, “Life Begins at Legendary.”

In Legendary Archetypes, the Wine and Savages blog presents ready-to-use Legendary Rank (80 XP) heroes built using only the Savage Worlds core rules. These archetypes are offered as aids for duet and solo gamers or for gaming groups ready to jump right into the big leagues.

The characters are built with an eye toward versatility (necessary in duet gaming) and so have their Traits and Edges spread out for broader competence rather than min/maxed in certain areas. Game Masters using these archetypes may wish to allow the players another 20 to 40 experience points (2 to 4 Advances) to further customize the characters beyond choosing Hindrances.

Hindrances: Heroic, Loyal, Quirk (mute)

Ninja

Whether a pseudo-historical legend like Sarutobi Sasuke or the original Ishikawa Goemon, a master of ancient arts in the modern setting like Arashikage Tomisaburo or his cousin Jinx, a gaijin who somehow learned the secrets of the East like John Peter McAllister or Elektra Natchios, or even... um... a mutant turtle, the ninja archetype combines combat proficiency with stealth for a hero who can kills you five ways before you even see her.

Additional Advances can transform the ninja into a member of a daring, highly-trained special missions force (+ 1 die in Boating, Driving, Piloting, and Knowledge: Battle), make the ninja a formidable archer able to aim by hearing alone (+2 dice in Shooting, Alertness, Marksman), or even change the archetype into an urban vigilante (+2 dice in Driving, +1 die in Intimidation, Streetwise, and Throwing plus the Noble Edge to stand in for an inherited corporation).

Attributes: Agility d10, Smarts d8, Spirit d8, Strength d8, Vigor d8

Skills: Climbing d6, Fighting d10, Healing d6, Intimidation d6, Lockpicking d6, Notice d6, Shooting d8, Stealth d10, Streetwise d6, Swimming d6, Throwing d8, Tracking d4

Charisma: +0; Pace: 6; Parry: 8; Toughness: 6

Hindrances: One Major, Two Minor

Edges: Acrobat, Assassin, Danger Sense, Martial Artist, Quick Draw, Thief

Hindrances: Vengeful [Major], Loyal, Wanted [Minor]