Standard RPG Classes
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One of the easiest ways to make characters in an RPG is to make your players make the characters. This lacks for characterization, but it saves memory, so it was popular in the 8-bit era. Not so much so now, except in MMORPGs. Not surprisingly, certain trends have developed in doing so.
Some classes are unique for individual characters. The character may or may not be able to change classes, if that is permissible. Some classes are only available later on. These are usually better than the starting classes, and often more diverse. Some classes are Always Male, and some are Always Female. Some are always a certain race as well, but in other games, some races are made for certain classes, but any race can be one.
The class archetypes are:
- The tank: Think of this guy as a wall who just soaks up the damage. If somebody else is taking damage, he's not doing his job.
- The thief: This guy steals. He's the only character who can. He may randomly steal when attacking, or attack and steal as separate commands. He's usually one of, if not the fastest moving classes. Whatever the case is, you'll probably want one.
- Physical Glass Cannon: Typically with a martial arts or barbarian theme, this guy is physically strong but often has poor equipment. He will, however, have either higher HP than other characters, or higher evasion.
- Magical Glass Cannon: Way in the back row. Usually a wizard, this guy does not want to be taking any damage. At least not physical damage. Can typically hit with many elements and cause a few negative status conditions. May also cause positive status conditions related to offense.
- Healer: Typically a must-have class. Can heal, raise the dead but not plot death, cause a few negative status conditions, defensive positive status conditions, and has a little bit of offense. Also belongs in the back row. Often has a medical or religious theme.
- Long ranger: Long range fighter. Typically uses bows, though sometimes uses guns. Common in tactical RPGs and MMORPGs, where he functions as a puller.
- Mon keeper: Common in MMORPGs. Keeps "pets", but they're little more than Mons he uses to attack enemies. Usually one of the better classes, and often requires special training.
- Buffer: Don't get confused. This guy is an expert at both negative and positive status effects. Is useful in MMORPGs and tactical RPGs, but not so much in traditional RPGs and mon games.
- Hybrid: This is a combo of two or more of the aforementioned types. Can be balanced or biased toward one type. Usually a Master of None. If it's superior to one or more of the classes it's based on, it will require special training.
- Expert: Does something not here, but is important (sometimes game-critical) when it's done.
- Spoony Bard: A useless class. But might not always be useless.
Tabletop Games
- The original version of Dungeons & Dragons had six classes: Fighter, Magic-User, Cleric, Thief, Elf, and Dwarf (the "tank"). These are the Ur-classes that the above classes descend from.
- This class list carried over to a Japanese game which was later turned into an anime, Record of Lodoss War - the prototypical "fantasy anime."
- Defied in "point-buy" character creation systems, where one can select whichever abilities one wants for one's character as long as one has enough points. Zig-Zagged in point-buy systems that use templates, when the templates correspond to the character classes in other games.
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