TALENT AND SKILL THESAURUS

ARCHERY



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HELPFUL TIP:

When planning a cast member's talents and skills, think about how genetics, personality traits (both positive attributes and flaws), past experiences, environment, and the character's roles (within a family, a community, and society) all factor into what strengths may form. These special qualities should tie into the story, not only to make the character interesting but also to help him achieve his goal.
DEFINITION:
The art of shooting with a bow and arrow

DESCRIPTION:
A character with this ability can consistently hit a target at long range. Archers may hone their skills for sport and enter competitions, hunt game to provide for themselves, their family or tribe, or even utilize this skill as a form of self defense in dire circumstances. In some cultures as well as in fiction, archery is a prized skill in battle.

BENEFICIAL STRENGTHS OR ABILITIES:
Deep concentration and the ability to ignore distractions
Forearm strength
Strong eyesight
Flexibility
Being a skilled tracker (if hunting)
Having knowledge of the anatomy of one's prey (if hunting animals for food) or human anatomy & armor instabilities (when in battle)

POSITIVE TRAITS SUITED FOR THIS SKILL OR TALENT:
FOCUSED, ALERT, ANALYTICAL, CALM, CENTERED, DISCIPLINED, NATURE-FOCUSED, INTROVERTED, OBJECTIVE, OBSERVANT, ORGANIZED, PATIENT, PERSISTENT

NEGATIVE TRAITS SUITED FOR THIS SKILL OR TALENT:
FUSSY, PERFECTIONIST

REQUIRED RESOURCES AND TRAINING:
Contemporary archers may practice at indoor ranges with stationary targets or outdoor ranges which may have stationary, 3D, or both. If a character has access to private property, they could also practice using a natural barrier (such as hillside) or man-made barrier (foam blocks, special nets, or hay bales) to catch stray arrows. Understanding how to stand, aim, brace one's arm and grip just firm enough to have a steady shot yet avoid torquing the bow are common lessons.

To become truly skilled, an archer must put hundreds of hours into study and practice and a mentor or teacher will speed up the learning curve. To be convincing as an archer, your character should know his or her equipment and how to maintain it, and utilize arm and chest guards to ensure clothing does not get in the way while protecting the body from injury.

ASSOCIATED STEREOTYPES AND PERCEPTIONS:
That archers are loners who prefer nature to people (stereotype)
That archers are reckless, as in "the character shooting close enough to scare someone but not wound" plot device (stereotype)

SCENARIOS WHERE THIS SKILL MIGHT BE USEFUL:
Hunting to provide for one's family or community
In situations where one must protect oneself and stealth is required
When one must hit a target at a distance yet not raise an alarm among one's prey or enemies
In a world where technologically advanced weaponry is monitored or hard to come by