D&D: Need A Quick Character? Why Not Play Harrison Ford
Got a D&D game coming up but haven’t had time to come up with a character concept all your own? No worries friends, Harrison Ford is here to help!
Making a D&D character doesn’t have to be hard–when you get right down to it, all you really need to do is figure out what flavor of Harrison Ford you want to play. Do you see yourself as a dashing rogue who can talk his way out of every situation, as long as he has his trusty hand crossbow nearby? Or maybe you’re playing a dashing fighter who is nominally a lecturer at an academy, but fills her time pursuing artifacts of myth and legend. Or perhaps you’re playing a bard (not with the death sentence in 12 systems though) perpetually on the run from a relentless inspector who believes the bard to be guilty of a crime they didn’t commit… whatever your concept is, Harrison Ford has got you covered. Here are five different Harrison Fords for your enjoyment.
Han Solo
First up is everyone’s favorite Star Warrior Han Solo, whom you might remember from the RPG system based on an obscure movie from the 70s. Han is a great template for a charisma-based Rogue. Give yourself some Persuasion, Deception, and pick up Crossbow Expert and you’ve got your basics covered. If you really want to get technical, Han is excellent at outrunning things, whether Imperial Stormtroopers or Starships (and not the bulk freighters, but the big Corellian ships). Vehicle Proficiency might not always come in handy, but it’s a nice bit of flavor.
Henry Jones Jr.
Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr. is a noted archaeologist, and if you’re basing your D&D character off of Indy, you might be tempted to go with a Rogue, but he’s very clearly a Fighter with the Sage/Scholar background and proficiency with the History skill. After all, nobody can both throw (and take) a punch like Indy.
And sure, you could build him as a monk, but he’s too straightforward for all of that. He’s all about being a bruiser and thinking cleverly. And he’s clearly capable with whatever weapon he picks up. So grab History, Investigation, Acrobatics, and Athletics, and pick Champion fighter and you’re pretty much set.
Rick Deckard
Rick Deckard is a Blade Runner, which means he’s responsible for hunting down Replicants. Part detective, part bounty hunter, and the perfect excuse to post that “tears in rain” scene, Deckard is an interesting choice. We could see him as either a Rogue with the Inquisitive subclass, or as a Ranger if you end up going for a more combat focused character. Either way you’ll want to pick up Investigation and Perception, with maybe a little Persuasion mixed in for when you need to convince someone to tell you about their moments that will be lost in time…
I knew we’d get there.
Dr. Richard Kimble
Dr. Kimble might be the first Bard on our list, and sure it’s a bit of a stretch–but between the being a Doctor, and also enough of a fighter to overcome a conspiracy, and also enough of an investigator to expose them and track down a one armed man, he does enough of everything to be a classic Bard. We’re pretty sure that knowing what goes on inside the meat sacks we’re all helplessly trapped in counts as magic, besides.
President James Marshall
A Paladin if ever we saw one. Willing to fight for what’s right, whether it’s battling terrorists on a plane (and delivering awesome one liners) or turning down an award because he acted too late to do anything. And if “real peace isn’t just the absence of conflict, it’s the presence of justice” isn’t something that a Paladin would say we don’t know what is.
At any rate, there are plenty of other characters to pick from. But these five are a pretty good start. If you’re looking for extra credit, then figure out what class Bob Falfa from American Graffiti would be…
In the meantime, Happy Adventuring, and if you’ve made it this far, yes, we know it’s Han not Hans.
