The Way of the Rogue
-
While reading an article at Dungeon Mastering entitled, “What Everybody Ought to Know about Rogues”, it got me thinking about Rogues in Dungeons & Dragons versus the criminals in the jails and prisons. I read the article and posted an off-the-cuff comment about it. The comment was this:“I see real-life examples of Rogues in our jail and prison system every day. There are: Crazy Rogues – those who commit crimes because they are not right in the head; Petty Rogues – those who commit crimes to support a habit (drugs, alcohol, laziness); Associate Rogues – those who hang out with the wrong crowd (gang members); Business Rogues – career criminals often at the top of the Rogue food chain; Anarchist Rogues – lone Rogues who cheat, fight, and steal because that is who they are.
You can fit almost all real world criminals into one of these types. A serial killer is often a Crazy Rogue. Most gang bangers are as cross between an Associate Rogue and Petty Rogue. The gang leader might be a Business Rogue crossed with and Associate Rogue. The Anarchist Rogue is that unpredictable guy that follows almost no rules and can change his mind at a whim.
There is so much variety that can be put into this class using real-world examples!”
I see more roleplaying potential with Rogues when you compare them to what criminals really do in the real world. You’re basic low-level Petty Rogues is someone who thinks about himself, and himself only. He probably has a drug or alcohol addiction that he supports through petty theft, robbery, or burglary. This is your bread and butter Rogue type that you can find anywhere.
A Crazy Rogue is typically a mentally deranged homeless person. They beg or steal from people just to live. If things get real bad, they might go burn down a building in order to get thrown in jail or prison. That moves them back to a constrictive version of life that they are more comfortable with.
The Associate Rogue is a typical gang-banger, outlaw motorcycle biker, or mafia-type of guy. They grew up either aspiring to be one or hang out with them. Most of them do crime because they are told to. Or they may attack someone because in their minds, “We’re enemies.” The Rogues they hang out with determine the type of Rogue that the Associate Rogue will be. It also determines which Associate Rogues they will war with.
Business Rogues are the thinkers. They aren’t necessarily the guys who get caught often. They have Associate Rogues usually doing their business for them. Often the Business Rogue is at the top of the food chain. They often seem like successful businessmen who seem to have a seedy-side to them. They are good at talking to people and getting people to do what they say. A Business Rogue rarely has any real clashes with law enforcement until they decide to bring him down, and then they bring him down hard!
The Anarchist Rogue can be a Rogue without outwardly appearing to be one for a long time. He just might be that weird guy that no one talks to. He doesn’t seem to have a profession to make money, yet he always has the minimum to get by. If you finally weaseled your way into his shack, you’d soon discover his stockpile of weapons, armor, and other items that are prepped for destruction. Typically their lives go out in an amazing and horrific blaze of glory at the point where people realize what he really is, an Anarchist Rogue. They try to take him out and he uses all of the resources he has available.
I’m looking forward to refining and expanding this list. Any comments?
Leave a Comment
November 17, 2008 at 12:53 am
Wow Sam, that was a really good article. I hadn’t thought of rogues in that manner before. I suppose there are probably real life analogues of other classes also. MMA guys would be loan fighters who do it for the competition, Soldier are fighters who do it as part of an organized force for a nation, etc…
November 17, 2008 at 2:24 am
It was pointed out to me in the D&D forums that most player character Rogues are good. I tended to disagree. It states in the player’s handbook that Rogues tend to follow either Sehanine (Good) or Avandra (Unaligned), with Evil and Chaotic Rogues following Lolth or Zehir. I’ve always pictured them as more Unaligned or Evil/Chaotic, but the book does say “your nature is your own mold”. I suppose a Good Rogue would be an accused criminal trying to clear their name, a current/former spy, or just a completely unique character altogether. I’m just guessing the Thieves’ guild is probably more on the negative side…
November 17, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Really good read….I would also add a Mercenary-type Rogue. Someone who might be completely normal and has normal ties to people on a day to day basis but makes their living by doing dirty deeds and getting paid for it. A good example would be the character George Clooney plays in the movie Michael Clayton. He’s generally a good guy but handles things not quite within the scope of the law sometimes.
November 17, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Now I’m going to have to watch that movie… hehe.
February 19, 2009 at 12:53 pm
A “rogue” (or criminal, if you wish to discard the game-speak) is anyone who finds himself at odds with the established order. Wrongfully accused or caught red-handed, if he’s defying the law in order to right the wrongs it has wrought, he’s one of the good guys. From Robin Hood to Princess Leia to the German officers who conspired to assassinate Hitler, the world is full of “good outlaw” archetypes.
Methinks the question of what alignment “most” rogues are depends entirely on the groups you move with, and has far more to do with the players than the character class. There are a lot of teenagers, for example, who avoid playing “good” characters as a form of rebellion. Then as they mature, they take on responsibilities; see themselves as part of something larger than their own narrow self-interest; and just generally gain in wisdom and empathy as they lose the need to fantasize about independence from restraint.
As a matter of personal preference, I have always found myself gravitating toward gaming groups of whip-smart, thoughtful, easy-going, mature players who value resourcefulness over brute strength. That combination produces a lot of golden-hearted trickster characters.