A character archetype is a type of stock character that could be the base of an NPC.
To prepare important NPCs, one can steal the looks and behaviour of any character in media. If necessary you can adjust this character to make the character less recognisable to your players, you could for example swap the genders.
Sometimes giving them magical items, can help define the archetype just as it magic items can define characters.
Reference
E. Schea, M. (2018). Sly flourish’s return of the lazy dungeon master. Sly flourish shop
Highlights or timestamps
Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master Highlights
- Think of a good movie, book, or TV show you’ve watched recently. Then lift the entire package of appearance and mannerism from that characters for your NPC.
— ^708ae4 from Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master highlights
- If you’re worried about an NPC feeling too close to the character you’re basin them on, one way to easily shake up an archetype and make a character unique is to switch its gender.
— ^2b07f1 from Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master highlights