Character Class System: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

One of the major differences between [[Character Class System|Character Class Systems]] (besides the classes that they offer) is how they handle "multiclassing". Because classes determine a character's abilities, giving a character ''multiple'' classes is a good way to expand their abilities, but the extent to which this is possible differs greatly. Sometimes classes are completely mutually exclusive, and a character is stuck with whatever class they have until they die. Sometimes they can "upgrade" their class at a certain point, either plot-based or level-based -- this upgrade may be linear (eg, a Squire becomes a Knight) or may allow for a branching path to different [[Prestige Class|Prestige Classes]] (eg, a Knight can upgrade to [[The Paladin]] ''or'' a [[Black Knight]], but not both). Some systems are more lenient about multiclassing, allowing characters to change classes whenever they want; however, these systems build in drawbacks as well. Usually, either you can only be one class at a time (eg, if you change classes from Knight to Mage, you lose all Knight abilities and gain all Mage abilities), or you can only ''advance'' one class at a time (eg, if you're a Knight/Mage, you have to choose whether to increase your combat skills as a Knight or your casting skills as a Mage; you can't do both at once). Both approaches have the advantage of increased versatility (a larger number of abilities) at the price of decreased potency (each individual ability is less powerful).

In [[RPG|RPGs]], the most common type of [[Character Class System]] is the [[Class and Level System]]. See also [[Fighter Mage Thief]] for a common set of 3 types of classes seen in RPG class systems. However, many [[FPS|FPSes]] that feature classes don't have levels, relying instead on player skill. See [[Common Character Classes]] for a list of classes that frequently turn up in games with [[Character Class System|Character Class Systems]]. See [[Point Build System]] for the main alternative to a [[Character Class System]].

 

 

* ''[[Team Fortress 2 (Video Game)|Team Fortress 2]]'', and its predecessor [[Team Fortress Classic (Video Game)|Team Fortress Classic]], (and ''it's'' predecessor ''Team Fortress'') are based entirely around classes. There are nine total, each balanced for different playstyles, situations, and enemies.

* The ''[[Modern Warfare]]'' series uses classes for its multiplayer, though unlike the above, each class's weapons, equipment, and whatnot are entirely decided by the player.

== [[Web Comics]] ==

* ''[[Homestuck (Webcomic)|Homestuck]]'' has a system for SBURB players, which creates a mythological role for a character that forms the basis of their personal arc within a session and determines their powers. It combines a Class, such as Thief or Bard, with an aspect such as Light or Rage, leading to such combinations as Heir of Breath, Seer of Light, Knight of Time, and Witch of Space.

 

{{reflist}}