Elders

Basic Information

Elders are characters whose main feature are their advanced years.

Even when a formal gerontocracy isn't in place, elders may well hold a place of power in a given society, either as a result of what they have accumulated materially over the course of their lives or in deference to their supposed wisdom.

Elder is also a formal title in some Christian denominations - either as a title in its own right or a generic for deacons and pastors. Where it is not used as a formal title it may still be informally used to indicate an experienced and well-practiced member of the community who is considered a good example of Christian living.

The Arabic honorific 'Sheikh' carries much the same resonance.

List of Elder Archetypes

• Badass Grandpa
• Cool Old Guy
• Cool Old Lady
• Curse Of The Ancients
• Dirty Old Man
• Dirty Old Woman
• The Dumbledore
• Elderly Blue Haired Lady
• The Fog Of Ages
• Former Teen Rebel
• Grandma What Massive Hotness You Have
• Grumpy Old Man
• I Was Quite A Looker
• Little Old Lady Investigates
• Methuselah Syndrome
• Miniature Senior Citizens
• Older And Wiser
• The Obi Wan
• Older Hero VS Younger Villain
• Old Master
• Older Sidekick
• Old Superhero
• Older Than They Look
  • Really Seven Hundred Years Old
• Retired Badass
• Screw Politeness, I'm A Senior!
• Wasteland Elder
• White Dwarf Starlet

See Also

Stock Characters

Sources

Bibliography

1. TV Tropes Wiki

Game and Story Use

• Since presumably most people get old in all but Crapsack Worlds, don't forget to use Elder NPCs from time to time.