I enjoy reversals:
- The wise old sage in the party turns out to be a complete moron. When he suggests embracing the cultural differences with the savages in an attempt to negotiate with them and convince them to stop their raids, following his advice only enrages them and forces you to have to wipe out the savages completely to end their renewed killing spree.
- The group's rogue is not a dashing man who has been in and out of jail all his life, a noble rejecting her opulent lifestyle, or otherwise a male noble supplementing the same. He, is in fact, a farmboy who read to many stories of adventures growing up and only wishes he were dashing. He's not very good with his fingers or charming, but he knows far more than the wise old sage and the only reason he's of real use as a Rogue is he's read every book on lockpicking ever written, though he's never tried it himself. He did steal a purse once and went to jail for it, but the only reason he was caught was because he felt really bad and turned himself in.