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While exhausting, this list is by no means exhaustive. If you think up a cliché you would like to play, write out a clear, clever description (“what it’s good for”) and ask your GM to consider it. If it’s well-done and does not unfairly tip the balance of the game, he just might go for it!
This list was cobbled together from a number of sources, including members of the Risus Talk List (especially Guy Hoyle) and members of the Pulp Games List, (especially Joe Coleman’s list of Pulp-Style Archetypes). Any similarity between this list and the others is purely intentional (after all, why should I reinvent the wheel, right?)
Absent-minded professor Forget head if it wasn't attached, invent miraculous but troublesome device or substance, leave isolation chamber doors ajar, accidentally shrink the kids
Anthropologist Know aboriginal folktales, know tribal customs, eat disgusting things, speak obscure languages
Antiquarian Quote from obscure authors, know obscure facts, cite reference
Archeologist Discover/explore ancient ruins/burial chambers/temples, read hieroglyphics
College student Party, chase girls, cram for test, go to class, write home for money
Ghost Chaser Know all about ghosts, set up cameras to catch ghosts on film, disprove fake ghosts, get rid of real ghosts
Librarian Sort books, find newspaper articles, “shh!”, find obscure information, repair books
Linguist Know obscure languages, translate ancient inscriptions, pronounce the unpronounceable
Occult Scholar Know weird phenomena, remember strange names, find ancient incantation
Professor's Aide Pull books for Professor, do research for Professor, teach classes for Professor, give credit to Professor
Psychic Investigator Study psychic phenomena, test subjects for ESP and Telekinesis
Aviator/Aviatrix Fly plane, tinker with engine, storm barns, make an emergency landing
Big Game Hunter Shoot wild animals, interpret native drums, speak native languages, survive in the wild
Explorer Drive dogsled teams, climb mountains, push back the frontiers of the known world, map uncharted areas, get antsy when you’re home too long, go somewhere nobody else has ever heard of, meet people you can’t talk to, stumble on lost civilizations, collect exotic memorabilia, tell stories about how you got that scar, learn scandalous phrases in foreign languages
Human Fly Climb skyscraper without gear, walk across tightrope, tip off photographers
Jungle King/Queen Raised by animals, keen sight and smell, great strength and agility, communicate with animals, survive in the wild, swing from vine, wrestle alligator
Mountain Climber Rappel down sheer cliff faces, wear spikes on your shoes, have lots of rope
Noble Savage Be confused by technology, spout ancestral wisdom, not be corrupted by modern values
Treasure Hunter Follow treasure maps, explore sunken wrecks,
All-American Athlete Run, swim, jump, throw, wrestle, be a good sport
Baseball Hero Pitch, field, throw, bat, slide, chew
Boxer Punch, jab, jump rope, work on footwork
Football Hero Tackle, kick, throw, catch, block
Golf
Swimmer
Dive, hold breath, cross
Tennis Pro Serve, volley, wear white
Track and Field Run, jump, put shot, throw javelin/discus
Wrestler Grapple, pin, throw opponent
Accountant Cook the books, add columns, calculate interest rates
Antique Dealer Know value of antiques, discuss characteristics of old craftsmanship, haggle with sellers, outbid competitors at auctions
Bookshop owner Obtain obscure titles, dust shelves, know where any book in the shop is, know what’s in all the books
Financier/Banker Wear suits, calculate interest/mortgage rates, invest in companies, make loans
Industrialist Build factories, mass produce goods, buy smaller companies
Stockbroker Wear suits, read ticker-tape information
Bankrobber Wear masks, “Stick ‘em up!”,
Bootlegger Make ‘shine, drive fast on rural, mountain roads
Burglar Break into houses, find hidden safes, walk quietly
Counterfeiter Make phony money that looks real
Criminal Mastermind Conquer the world, devise fiendish tortures, utilize exotic devices, create elaborate plots, explain plan to enemy before you kill him, hire henchman without explaining what happened to the dozens of other henchmen you hired, secret escape route, destroy secret base
Femme Fatale Trade money for love, seduce the rich and elderly, disguise true nature, fall in love for real with hero.
Fugitive From Justice Disguise oneself, hide in shadows, protest innocence,
Gangster Dark suit with black shirt & white tie, execute squealers, carry out the orders of Mr. Big
Gun Moll Heavy makeup, sexy in a cheap and tawdry way, cynical
Henchman Follow orders without wondering what happened to other henchmen
Hit Man Not talking much, wearing a cheap suit, looking intimidating, stalking targets, telling people to go out in the alley but still not talking much.
Oriental Mystic Hypnotize do-gooders, be inscrutable, create illusion, quote Confucius and Lao Tsu
Reformed Gangster Old contacts, streetwise, keep nose clean, frequently suspected by police, not trusted by other crooks
Thug Pistol-whip victims, brutalize victims, take it on the lam, never squeal, plan heist, steal things, have no personality
Crackpot Inventor/Mad Scientist Come up with amazing device/plan to revolutionize the world, have weird/crazy/menacing laugh
Inventor/Gadgeteer Fix almost anything but it looks weird, invent half-baked contraptions, put together intricate gadgets out of common objects, stammer and sweat around women
Gentleman Spy Master of disguise, ladies’ man, marksman, sophisticate
Spy Cross enemy lines, infiltrate enemy territory, collect vital information, attend swanky parties, sit in smoky taverns, collect latest rumors and gossip, use cover identities, plan escape route, sneak around, decode secret messages, eavesdrop, stay out of the way, disguise, know foreign languages, get back with information
Painter Wear beret & smocks, stretch canvases, mix paints, live in a loft
Sculptor Work with clay, use chisels, make busts/statutes
Ambassador Negotiate treaties, enjoy immunity from petty crimes, throw formal balls,
Bored Civil Servant Insist on filling out paperwork in triplicate, refuse to rush
Diplomat Carry important messages, be an emissary, pal around with foreign courtiers, indulge in intrigue, keep your eyes and ears open, know what to kiss and when, know about what’s in vogue
Politician Kiss babies, shake hands, make promises, negotiate compromises,
Ace Reporter Sniff out a scoop, drink like fish, smoke like chimney, bang out a story, protect sources, transcribe conversation
Crusading Journalist Have a cause, write about cause, make up facts in support of cause, get other people to join cause
Foreign Correspondent Live in exotic locales, know best restaurants and bars, send reports to home office, have contacts in local government
News Photographer Have a big camera, flash bulbs in people’s faces, make dark jokes at murder scenes
Tabloid Hack Be nosy, be pushy, crank out sensationalized stories to sell more copy, be insensitive
Agency Detective Tail suspects, gather information/evidence, intimidate, pick locks
Amateur Detective Trouble magnet, find clues professionals overlook
Beat Cop Walk beat, direct traffic, find donuts, drink stale coffee, chase fugitive
Costumed Vigilante Wear strange costume, foil dastardly crime, track criminal to lair, duke it out, escape from certain death, protect secret identity, drive flashy vehicle, send clueless assistants on senseless tasks, rescue clueless assistants
G-Man Agent of FBI/Treasury Dept/Federal Bureau of Narcotics, smoke like a chimney, snappy black suit, trenchcoat,
Hard-Boiled Private Detective Broke all the time, never give up on a case, drink gallons of bad coffee, incorruptible, doggedly pursue clues
Police Detective Interrogate suspect, deduce, flash badge, drink gallons of stale coffee
Policeman Arrest criminals, interrogate criminals, drink gallons of bad coffee, smoke like a chimney, find donut shop
Private Investigator Weakness for attractive women, dark sense of humor, cynical worldview
Scientific Detective Observant of smallest detail, condescending
Vigilante Seek to bring justice and law and order by whatever means necessary
Western Lawman Wear cowboy hat, ride horses in city, promote the Code of the West
Judge Wear robes, pound gavel, know the law, sentence crooks, be distinguished member of community
Lawyer Make deal, interrogate, know the law, twist the law, find loophole, “Objection!”
Dedicated Physician Work long hours in hospital, work miracles at the 11th hour, treasure Hippocratic oath
Dentist Brushing, cleaning, drilling, causing pain
Family Doctor Diagnose illness, make house call, treat disease, stitch up wound, prescribe remedy
Forensic Specialist Know poisons, know telltale signs of causes of death,
Jungle Doctor Concoct medicines out of exotic plants, champion cause of native peoples
Nurse Assist doctors, care for patients, wear white uniforms, take temperature, dispense medications, push people around in wheelchairs
Orderly Push people around in wheelchairs, look tough for agitated patients
Plastic Surgeon Look at people for ways to “improve” them, have a project girlfriend/wife, maybe have underworld contacts
Psychiatrist Ask pointless or infuriating questions, analyze neurosis, prescribe mind-altering drugs, make everything relate to sex
Psychologist Same as Psychiatrist, but can't prescribe drugs
Surgeon Cutting, stitching, sweating in operating room
Flying Ace Fly planes, dogfight, diving out of the sun to surprise opponents
Foreign Legionnaire Have past to forget, march out into desert, fight Arabs,
Marine Red-blooded patriot, drive tanks, one-man army
Military Veteran Use rifles and bayonets, reminisce about the Great War, nightmares
Sailor Swab decks, tie knots, “Aye, aye, Captain!”
Soldier Clean rifle, fire rifle, know about tactics and strategy, sleep whenever you can, stay awake during guard duty
Soldier of Fortune/Mercenary Overconfident, have contacts with gunrunners, use military training to make a living
Stalwart Lieutenant Loyal, carries out orders from commander
Deep-Sea Diver Wear lead shoes, hold breath, explore sunken wrecks, salvage sunken ships, fight off sharks
Sailor Swab decks, tie knots, raise sails, stow cargo
Ship's Captain Wear captain’s hat, have three-day stubble for beard
Cowboy Ridin', ropin', brandin', spittin', and shootin'.
Gambler Betting, cheating, winning, running very fast.
Hobo Hop freight train, sing mournful songs, panhandle, do odd jobs, hobo code, drink anything alcoholic
Race Driver Drive fast, tinker with car engines,
Trusty Grease-Monkey Work on engines, fix engines with chewing gum and bailing wire, face and hands always smudged with grease
Acrobat Jumping around, doing lots of flippy things, having a gift for finding naturally-occurring uneven bars in urban sprawls
Circus Performer Walk tightrope, get shot out of cannon, swing from trapeze
Concert Pianist Virtuoso performance, nimble fingers, impeccable evening wear
Escape Artist Dislocate shoulder to escape straitjacket, hide key/lockpick in mouth, mystify audiences
Film Crew Operate camera, rig lights,
Jazz Musician Play in smoky clubs, improvise music, play in band, be late for a gig
Movie Star Look glamorous, idolized by millions, sign autograph, memorize lines/blocking, party into the wee small hours, seduce
Musician Read music, perform, be temperamental/perfectionist, write music, wear hair long
Radio Announcer Use radio voice, mimic other voices/accents/dialects, “And now, a word from our sponsor!”
Stage Actor/Actress Learn lines/blocking, chew scenery, hang out at swanky nightspots
Stage Hand Raise/lower curtains, move scenery, keep track of props, operate trap door, sweep stage
Stage Magician Sleight of hand, misdirection, the hand is quicker than the eye, sawing people in half without hurting them, make dramatic gestures, wear tuxedo and top hat, pull rabbit out of hat
Stunt Man Survive a great fall, throw fake punch, escape from crashing vehicle, slide along a bar, look kinda like a movie star
Aging Friend/Servant/Attendant Speak confidentially with employer/family friend, worry, give sage advice
Driver Wear uniform, tinker with car engine,
Native Guide Know path through desert/wilderness/jungle, carry burdens
Secretary Take dictation, type, make phone calls, make appointments
Short Order Cook Wear grease-stained t-shirt, make classic American cuisine, ring bell, “Your order’s up!”
Taxi Driver Know back alleys, drive fast, scare tourists/pedestrians, yell at other drivers
Clergyman (should specify faith/denomination) Long-winded, preachy, forgive sinners, sermonize
Missionary Live among “the people”, try to “civilize the heathen,”
Social
Bon Vivant/Dilettante/Socialite Throws around lots of cash, seen it all, drink gallons of champagne, expect to be waited on