Archetypes in Questies are optional broad character concepts adapted from Pathfinder and integrated into the Fate Accelerated framework. They represent a character's core areas of expertise and define what they excel at within the game world. Unlike Approaches, which describe how a character acts, Archetypes describe what they are skilled at and focus on.

The six Archetypes in Questies are:

• Combative: Proficiency in martial skills, weaponry, and tactics.
• Roguish: Expertise in social maneuvering, stealth, and pragmatic resourcefulness.
• Focused: Mastery of mental and physical discipline, athleticism, and personal willpower.
• Arcane: Knowledge and application of magical principles and esoteric studies.
• Divine: Connection to spiritual or deific power, enabling blessings, miracles, and divine aid.
• Primal: Attunement to nature, the elements, and the natural order of the wildlands.

Characters start with four +1's to distribute among these Archetypes as they see fit. They can allocate them across multiple Archetypes or focus entirely on one. For example, a character might assign +1 to four different Archetypes or go all-in with +4 to a single Archetype.

When taking actions, players combine their Approach bonus (e.g., Forceful +2) with a relevant Archetype bonus (e.g., Combative +2). The sum represents the character's ability in that specific situation. For example, a character with Forceful +2 and Combative +2 would roll with a total bonus of +4 when Forcefully Combative.

Archetypes can be applied to all four actions—Create Advantage, Overcome, Attack, and Defend—but their applicability depends on the narrative context.

Archetypes can always defend against themselves directly. For instance, if a character is attacked with Arcane, they can defend using their own Arcane bonus without needing extra justification.

Defending with a different Archetype is also possible, but it requires a plausible explanation of how the Archetype applies to the situation. For example:

• A character with Primal might defend against an Arcane attack by using their connection to nature to disrupt the spell.
• A character with Roguish might evade an Arcane blast through quick reflexes or hiding behind cover.

Some Archetypes explicitly provide narrative support for certain defenses. For instance:

• Roguish +3 or higher allows a character to defend against indirect or surprise attacks by dodging, using cover, or anticipating danger.

Unlike Approaches, which cap at Superb (+5), Archetypes do not have a fixed cap. However, advancement is slow—characters only gain another +1 to an Archetype at major milestones. Each increase in an Archetype provides not just a mechanical bonus but also expanded narrative justification for actions.

• +1: Basic knowledge or skill. You can attempt simple tasks related to the Archetype with narrative justification.
• +2: Professional competence. Adequate for most tasks in the world.
• +3: Exceptional skill. Enables extraordinary feats and, for magical Archetypes, full access to powerful abilities.
• +4 and higher: Mastery. Statistically dominant and capable of bending the game’s narrative with advanced abilities.

• Combative: At +3, a warrior can take on multiple foes at once and narratively justify fending off magical attacks through sheer resilience or tactical deflection.
• Roguish: At +2, a thief might pick locks or con their way out of trouble. At +3, they can escape ambushes or outwit complex traps.
• Arcane: At +1, a mage knows basic magical principles and can use wands. At +3, they are casting significant spells and shaping the world through magic.

Archetypes are more than mechanical bonuses—they define what a character can plausibly attempt within the story. A character with Primal +2 can survive in the wilderness or calm wild animals, while one with Divine +2 might heal minor wounds or seek guidance from their deity. These narrative justifications add depth to gameplay, blending mechanics with storytelling in meaningful ways.

By combining the narrative flexibility of Approaches with the specialization of Archetypes, Questies offers a rich and balanced system where characters can grow in unique ways while maintaining focus on the story. Archetypes allow for Pathfinder-inspired character depth while staying true to Fate Accelerated’s emphasis on creativity and narrative engagement.

Questies gives world creators the flexibility to tailor Archetypes to fit their setting. Archetypes can be disabled for an entire world, or, for worlds that don’t include magic or divine influences, creators can disable the Arcane and Divine Archetypes entirely. This ensures that characters are built around the remaining Archetypes, focusing on martial, practical, and natural abilities.

Additionally, creators can choose to disallow magic items, ensuring that equipment and gameplay remain grounded in non-magical mechanics. This customization supports settings ranging from gritty, low-fantasy worlds to entirely non-magical ones, allowing for a wide variety of storytelling styles while keeping mechanics consistent and immersive.

This level of control empowers world creators to shape the experience to their vision, whether they want epic magical adventures, realistic survival tales, or something entirely unique.