I’ve kept tinkering at the ideas in this blogpost, boiled it down to 12 core archetypes, and bundled it all in a handy PDF/HTML reference document!
It can be found on Itch.io now!
I’m quite happy with how it turned out; it features base stats, number appearing, role description, abilities and “can be used for” for 12 archetypes, in addition to sample encounter tables for 6 common biomes/terrain types/hexes.
The full list includes:
- Bear. A solitary powerhouse that gets deadlier when wounded. Use for: Ogres, trolls, lone barbarians, cave beasts, or any solo brute-force threat.
- Bull. A thundering force of muscle and momentum, explosive and wild. Use for: Boars, minotaurs, large scarab beetles, knights on horseback, or any threat that relies on momentum and charging.
- Deer. Skittish and swift—designed to escape, not to fight. Use for: Wild game, birds, prey animals, timid spirits, fae scouts, elusive messengers or any target that prioritizes escape over combat.
- Dragon. A legendary apex threat with devastating attacks and fearsome presence. Use for: Dragons, demon lords, ancient guardians, or any legendary-tier threat.
- Elephant. A living siege weapon—unstoppable and ruinous when provoked. Use for: Giants, siege beasts, war constructs, ents/treants, or any massive, destructive force.
- Hawk. Aerial harassers that confuse, distract, and chip away from above. Use for: Vultures, eagles, harpies, gargoyles, flying imps, or any highly mobile threat.
- Horse. Not a threat unless seriously provoked. Use for: Mounts of all kinds (large birds, horses, camels, dinosaurs)
- Snake. Fragile but deadly—lurks in shadow, strikes with poison and surprise. Use for: Dangerous insects or plants, assassin’s pets, scorpions, or any threat that strikes from hiding.
- Spider. A lurking threat that thrives when its victims are caught or trapped. Use for: Insects, web-spinning demons, saboteurs/trappers, mimics, cursed relics.
- Swarm. Weak individually, but together they overwhelm, spread disease, and wear you down. Use for: Weak minions, rats, insect swarms, bat clouds, goblins, piranhas, zombies, or any threat that relies on numbers.
- Tiger. A stealthy, devastating ambusher with the power to drop foes in a single strike. Use for: Tigers and other large felines, crocodiles (in water), jungle stalkers, griffons (flying), skilled assassins, dangerous predators.
- Wolf. A coordinated predator that grows bolder and deadlier in a pack. Use for: Bandit gangs, goblins packs, velociraptors, guards, or any coordinated group of attackers.
And in other “go check it out” news: go back Knock! Issue #5 now!
These statblocks are designed to be flexible templates. When using them:
- Adjust the numbers – Increase or decrease STR, DEX, WIL, HP, and Armor based on the specific creature you’re creating.
- Rename attacks – “Bite” could become “Sword Slash” or “Tentacle Strike” as appropriate.
- Modify special abilities – Keep the mechanical effect but change the flavor to suit your creature.
- Consider combinations – Mix and match features from different archetypes for unique enemies.
For example, a veteran knight might use the Horse archetype for mobility, but with the Bear’s strength and the Wolf’s pack tactics to represent coordinated cavalry charges.
Bear
HP 10 Armor 1
STR 16 DEX 8 WIL 14
#: 1 Danger: ⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️
A solitary powerhouse that gets deadlier when wounded.
- Claws (d10, Brutal 8)
- Grapple: Can forego attack to grapple a target (DEX Save to avoid). Take d4 STR damage each round, STR Save to escape.
- Fury: When reduced to 0 HP, makes a WIL save. On success, regains 1d6 HP and becomes enraged (attacks are Enhanced).
Use for: Ogres, trolls, lone barbarians, cave beasts, or any solo brute-force threat.
Bull
HP 6 Armor 0
STR 14 DEX 12 WIL 8
#: 1d4 Danger: ⚠️ ⚠️
A thundering force of muscle and momentum, explosive and wild.
- Trample (d8)
- Charge: If the bull can charge in a straight line at the target before attacking, attack is Enhanced and knocks target down or back.
Use for: Boars, minotaurs, large scarab beetles, knights on horseback, or any threat that relies on momentum and charging.
Deer
HP 3 Armor 0
STR 8 DEX 16 WIL 6
#: 2d6 Danger: ⚠️
Skittish and swift—designed to escape, not to fight.
- Skittish: Decreases the chance of being surprised by -1.
- Fast: On a successful DEX Save, greatly increases distance to attackers.
Use for: Wild game, birds, prey animals, timid spirits, fae scouts, elusive messengers or any target that prioritizes escape over combat.
Dragon
HP 18 Armor 3
STR 18 DEX 12 WIL 16
#: 1 Danger: ⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️
A legendary apex threat with devastating attacks and fearsome presence.
- Claws (2d8, Sweep 7)
- Bite (d10, Brutal 8)
- Breath weapon: (d12, blast). Recharges on 5–6 each round. Telegraphed 1 turn in advance.
- Flying: Fly-by attacks. Melee attackers must DEX save to hit.
- Terrifying: WIL save or become Impaired until regrouping.
Use for: Dragons, demon lords, ancient guardians, or any legendary-tier threat.
Elephant
HP 12 Armor 2
STR 18 DEX 6 WIL 10
#: 1 Danger: ⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️
A living siege weapon—unstoppable and ruinous when provoked.
- Tusks (d8)
- Trample (d10, blast)
- Charge: If charging straight-line, attack is Enhanced and knocks back.
- Demolisher: Destroys obstacles smaller creatures cannot.
Use for: Giants, siege beasts, war constructs, ents/treants, or any massive, destructive force.
Hawk
HP 5 Armor 0
STR 6 DEX 16 WIL 12
#: 1d6 Danger: ⚠️ ⚠️
Aerial harassers that confuse, distract, and chip away from above.
- Talons (d6)
- Flying: Fly-by attacks. Melee attackers must DEX save to hit.
- Coming From All Sides: If multiple hawks target the same creature, add 1d12 to damage.
Use for: Vultures, eagles, harpies, gargoyles, flying imps, or any highly mobile threat.
Horse
HP 3 Armor 0
STR 16 DEX 12 WIL 5
#: 1d6 Danger: ⚠️
Not a threat unless seriously provoked.
- Trample (d6)
- Spooked: Must WIL save when confronted with fire, magic, or violence.
Use for: Mounts of all kinds (birds, horses, camels, dinosaurs).
Snake
HP 4 Armor 0
STR 6 DEX 16 WIL 10
#: 1d6 Danger: ⚠️ ⚠️
Fragile but deadly—lurks in shadow, strikes with poison and surprise.
- Bite (d6). Poison 6: On a damage roll of 6, the target takes an additional 1d4 STR damage at the start of their next turn. This STR damage does not trigger a Critical Damage save.
- Constrict: Target must make STR save or be grappled, taking d4 damage per round
- Stealthy: Increases the chance of the party being surprised by +1 (i.e. 2-in-6 instead of 1-in-6)
Use for: Insects, pets, scorpions, ambushers.
Spider
HP 6 Armor 0
STR 8 DEX 14 WIL 10
#: 1–1d4 Danger: ⚠️ ⚠️
A lurking threat that thrives when its victims are caught or trapped.
- Bite (d6). After target HP is depleted, attack also deals 1d4 damage to DEX. Bite attacks against immobilized targets are Enhanced.
- Stealthy: Increases the chance of the party being surprised by +1 (i.e. 2-in-6 instead of 1-in-6)
- Trap: Continuous spray of webbing. Target must make DEX save or be immobilized.
Use for: Insects, web-spinning demons, saboteurs/trappers, mimics, cursed relics.
Swarm
HP 7 Armor 0
STR 6 DEX 14 WIL 8
#: 1 Danger: ⚠️ ⚠️
Weak individually, but together they overwhelm, spread disease, and wear you down.
- Bite (d4, blast)
- Swarming: A swarm of numerous creatures, scurrying and gnawing. Piercing and Bludgeoning attacks are Impaired. Attacks with Blast are Enhanced.
- Disease: Attacks that incur Critical Damage leave the target Deprived until a night of full rest.
Use for: Weak minions, rats, insect swarms, bat clouds, goblins, piranhas, zombies, or any threat that relies on numbers.
Tiger
HP 8 Armor 0
STR 14 DEX 16 WIL 12
#: 1 Danger: ⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️
A stealthy, devastating ambusher with the power to drop foes in a single strike.
- Claws (d8)
- Stealthy: Increases the chance of the party being surprised by +1 (i.e. 2-in-6 instead of 1-in-6)
- Ambush: Attacks from ambush/stealth (on a surprised target, or before they can react) are Enhanced.
Use for: Tigers and other large felines, crocodiles (in water), jungle stalkers, griffons (flying), skilled assassins, dangerous predators.
Wolf
HP 6 Armor 0
STR 8 DEX 14 WIL 8
#: 2d6 Danger: ⚠️ ⚠️
A coordinated predator that grows bolder and deadlier in a pack.
- Bite (d6)
- Pack Tactics: When multiple wolves attack the same target, add 1d12 to the damage rolls.
- Leader: If more than 5 in pack, accompanied by a leader with +4 WIL. The leader’s WIL is used for Morale. If the leader falls, all others must make a WIL Save or flee.
Use for: Bandit gangs, goblins packs, velociraptors, guards, or any coordinated group of attackers.
Biome Encounter Tables
I’m a big fan of the 2d6-dragon-wizard encounter table method; below are example interpretations of applying the archetypes to various biomes.
Grassland
| 2d6 | Encounter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 Dragon | Giant Winged Serpent |
| 3 | 1 Bear | Grey Ogre |
| 4 | 1 Tiger | Sabretooth Tiger |
| 5 | 2d6 Wolves | Gnolls |
| 6 | 1d6 Hawk | Windclaws |
| 7 | Wandering NPC | Shepherd |
| 8 | 2d6 Deer | Long-horned Grazers |
| 9 | 1d6 Horses | Sunback Mustangs |
| 10 | 1d4 Bull | Ironhorn Charger |
| 11 | 1 Elephant | Thunderstep Mammoth |
| 12 | Wizard | Wandering Soothsayer |
Forest
| 2d6 | Encounter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 Dragon | Moss Wyrm |
| 3 | 1 Bear | Barkhide Brute |
| 4 | 1 Tiger | Shadowcat |
| 5 | 2d6 Wolves | Treeraptors |
| 6 | 1d6 Hawk | Thornhawks |
| 7 | Wandering NPC | Lost Hunter |
| 8 | 1 Swarm | Rotgnaw Swarm |
| 9 | 1d6 Snakes | Strangling Vines |
| 10 | 1d4 Spiders | Rootlurker Spider |
| 11 | 1 Elephant | Treant |
| 12 | Wizard | Druid |
Hills
| 2d6 | Encounter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 Dragon | Ridge Drake |
| 3 | 1 Bear | Crag Brute |
| 4 | 1 Tiger | Cliff Stalker |
| 5 | 2d6 Wolves | Troglodytes |
| 6 | 1d6 Hawk | Grey Harpies |
| 7 | Wandering NPC | Trail Hermit |
| 8 | 2d6 Deer | Hill Goats |
| 9 | 1d6 Horses | Canyon Salamanders |
| 10 | 1d4 Spiders | Rock Scorpions |
| 11 | 1 Elephant | Hill Giant |
| 12 | Wizard | Hill Sage |
Mountains
| 2d6 | Encounter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 Dragon | Ridge Drake |
| 3 | 1 Bear | Cave Ape |
| 4 | 1 Tiger | Snowcat |
| 5 | 2d6 Wolves | Cliff Jackals |
| 6 | 1d6 Hawk | Razorwing |
| 7 | Wandering NPC | Peak Guide |
| 8 | 2d6 Deer | Mountain Goat |
| 9 | 1d6 Horses | Ridge Strider |
| 10 | 1d4 Spiders | Frost Weaver |
| 11 | 1 Elephant | Stoneback Giant |
| 12 | Wizard | Cloudbound Seer |
Swamp
| 2d6 | Encounter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 Dragon | Mire Hydra |
| 3 | 1 Bear | Bog Ogre |
| 4 | 1 Tiger | Giant Crocodile |
| 5 | 2d6 Wolves | Mire Raptor |
| 6 | 1d6 Hawks | Swamp Vulture |
| 7 | Wandering NPC | Leechmonger |
| 8 | 1 Swarm | Corpse Beetles |
| 9 | 1d6 Snakes | Bog Viper |
| 10 | 1d4 Spiders | Giant Spider |
| 11 | 1 Elephant | Swamp Treant |
| 12 | Wizard | Fen Oracle |
Desert
| 2d6 | Encounter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 Dragon | Sand Worm |
| 3 | 1 Bear | Desert Roc (Bear, but flying) |
| 4 | 1 Tiger | Sand Raptor |
| 5 | 2d6 Wolves | Hyenas |
| 6 | 1d6 Hawks | Sunwing |
| 7 | Wandering NPC | Salt Nomad |
| 8 | 2d6 Deer | Desert Goat |
| 9 | 1d6 Snakes | Black Scorpion |
| 10 | 1d4 Bulls | Giant Beetle |
| 11 | 1 Elephant | Earth Elemental |
| 12 | Wizard | Ember Scribe |