Ex-Libris Librarian Archetypes

This document describes the combat and proficiency advancement rates for the various Librarian Colours. For the most part, the Librarian classes are meant for non-player characters. A player role-playing as a Librarian would most likely advance as one of the standard classes. The Game Master could, of course, rule otherwise.

• Purple

This Colour is an honorary position. The Purple Librarian continues to advance as per his existing character class or previous Librarian Colour.

• Black, Red, and Orange

These Colours advance as Warriors with respect to combat BAtCh, but unlike true Warriors, these fighters do not gain proficiency with heavy armour and large melee weapons. Members of these Colours get four noncombat slots per five levels. They have a d10 hit die. Most red, orange, and black Librarians prefer missile weapons such as handguns and rifles. These scholarly fighters never use super-heavy armour such as plate mail. Instead, the combat branch of the library system often wears leather or kevlar.

• Indigo

The Indigo Librarians, as "adventuring" scholars, get a decent mix of combat and noncombat capabilities. Members of this Colour use the Priest’s BAtCh and get one noncombat slot every level. Because of their career in research, Indigo Librarians learn a handful of spells. An Indigo Librarian can learn one spell per level from any spellcasting class except Priest/Protector. They can cast a number of spells per day equal to half their level, rounded up. Indigo Librarians have d8 hit dice.

• White and Grey Librarians

These librarians are much more scholarly than the other types. The White Librarians focus mainly on pure research, while the Grey Librarians use their knowledge for practical purposes (usually as engineers or designers). Members of these Colours use the Mathematician’s BAtCh, HD, skills, and saves. Because of their in-depth research, White and Grey Librarians learn two spells per level and can cast one spell per level per day. These researchers can learn spells from any group except Priest/Protector.

• Blue

These Librarians are efficient scribes and copyists. They have a d6 hit die, four noncombat slots per five levels, and use the Jack’s saves. They learn one spell per two levels and can cast one spell per day per three levels.

• Green and Tan

These Colours tend to advance as a standard character class of the Librarian’s choosing.

• Colourless

This Colour is the spy class of Ex-Libris. They have a d8 hit die, the Warrior’s BAtCh, one attack per round, and four noncombat slots per five levels. They learn one spell per two levels and can cast one spell per day per three levels. They use the Warrior’s saves.

• Yellow

Students completing the Yellow Librarian programme can advance to other Colours. In addition, graduates will have learned eight slots worth of noncombat skills whose check is either knowledge or perception. The Yellow Librarian programme also teaches the basics of self-defence and combat, thus granting the graduate a choice of one form of unarmed combat and one missile weapon (two skills total, each at int(1)).

Changing Class or Colours

Occasionally, a Librarian may change Colour or Class due to promotion, demotion, transfer, or retirement. For example, a Grey Librarian (technician) may invent a useful device that she wishes to start selling. Once she opens her own shop, she could apply to become a Green Librarian. Because the Green Colour is class-independent, she would continue to gain levels/skills as if she were still a Grey Librarian.

In another example, suppose a White Librarian (researcher) starts becoming involved with crime fighting to the point that police work becomes a higher priority than research. He could change Colour designation to Orange, Red, or Black. Once done, he would still retain his skills and spellcasting capabilities from his White designation but would no longer acquire new spells. He would, however, benefit from the improved d10 hit die and BAtCh on subsequent levels.

A retiring Librarian would retain all of her skills and powers granted by her Colour designation. She would simply cease advancing in capability. Alternatively, she could retire and change to a standard character class (like Priest, Investigator, etc.)

A character that already has a character class, but subsequently becomes a Librarian, will usually continue to advance in his or her standard character class. These characters are typically adventurers controlled by the players.

Player Character Librarians

Most players will probably wish to have their characters be members of the standard classes, as they are generally somewhat more powerful than the Librarian Colours. However, there is no reason why a player couldn’t advance his or her character using the Librarian Colour system. Such a character would probably start at 1st level in Ex-Libris. The obvious advantage of playing a Librarian Colour instead of a character class is the improved number of non-combat proficiencies gained through the required 0-Level Yellow Colour programme.

• Summary

The chart below summarises the advancement properties of the various Librarian Colours. Note that Purple, Green, and Tan are honorary Colours and thus advance as a standard Class or previous Colour.