Cynical Veteran



Basic Outline: The Cynical Veteran is somebody, young or old, who is convinced that they have seen enough to get the world's number and they are certain the the world is a mean and cruel place and only the strong survive and those who get ahead do so by luck and bribery. The Cynical Veteran is what happens if the Callow Youth never makes a difference or is brought up by a disillusioned mentor. As a starting character, assume that the Cynical Veteran was raised in the field and has seen the grittier side of life from an earlier age that the other characters.

Good Examples- Han Solo, Iron Man, Indiana Jones, Hudson (Disney's Gargoyles), Flint Fireforge (Dragonlance series)

Motivation: The Cynical Veteran just wants to get by. He has given up on making it big and changing the world, now the Cynical Veteran just wants to get enough out of the world to stay one day ahead of his debts, the law and the scrap heap. The Cynical Veteran believes that the world will eat you alive no matter what you do. He has seen people with big dreams fail and has seen rebels get swallowed up by the system. He is almost entirely burnt out.

Despite all of this the Cynical Veteran will work well with the group. He will complain and often insist that the group convinced him that the heroic mission is 'profitable', but deep down inside the Cynical Veteran is a Callow Youth who still wants to believe that people can make a difference and that he can be a hero after all. The Cynical Veteran will grudgingly respect the Callow Youth, but get along best with the Giant- drawing strength from the Giant's loyalty and lack of a judgmental attitude. The Cynical veteran with get along worst with the Natural Leader and the Dutiful Samurai. The Cynical Veteran will find a surprising connection with the Composed Master, finding comfort in the Composed Master's sense of self.

Sample Description for this character (feel free to print this off).

Description: The world is out to eat everything and everyone. You have seen enough to understand that the the world is a mean and cruel place, where only the strong survive and those who get ahead do so by luck and bribery. You were raised raised in the school of hard knocks and have seen the grittier side of life from an earlier age that the other characters. Your primary goal is to get by. You have long ago given up on making it big and changing the world. You will complain and often insist that the group convince you that the heroic mission is 'profitable', but deep down inside your heart is a kid who still wants to believe that people can make a difference and that he can be a hero after all.