Name:Bandit
Category:Profession
Description:Bandits appear in almost any game. They hide out in the wilderness and ambush travelers, robbing or perhaps even killing them. They usually take positions near roads and other well-traveled areas that have many potential victims. The classic example is a group of thugs charging a toll to cross a bridge.
A bandit is an excellent example of an Outlaw.
Often, a group of bandits will have a territory that they track their targets in. Bandits either must have a bottleneck that everyone has to go through (such as a bridge) or roam around in order to find potential targets.
A group of bandits generally exists only as long as their leader survives. In many cases, a dead leader may be replaced by another bandit, but there must always be someone holding the group together. Bands of thieves are seldom (if ever) democracies).
In some rare cases, several groups of bandits may band together, often under the leadership of one extremely charismatic leader. In some games, there are even bandit "kingdoms", but that is a little unrealistic.
More typically, a small group of Outlaws will band together to increase their chances of surviving by robbing people in the wilderness.
Combat Technique:Stealth techniques. The ability to set traps may be particularly useful.
Preferred Skills:Combat and stealth skills. Skills for surviving in the wilderness are required.
Benefit:Bandits have strength in numbers.
Disadvantage:Banditry is certainly illegal in most areas. The authorities will generally hunt them down unless they have some kind of special arrangement with the leaders in the area. Typically, people only become bandits if they are already being hunted by the authorities, so this isn't as much of a disadvantage as it sounds like.
Bandits are the scum of the world, so they often fight amongst themselves.
Fictional Examples:Real World Examples:Appropriate For:Anyone, but usually minor villains. There are "good" Bandits, but they are the exception, not the rule.
Copyright (C) 2006-2007 Steven Fletcher. All rights reserved.
