Character class

In tabletop games and video games, a character class is a job or profession commonly used to differentiate the abilities of different game characters.[1]

This article is about a broad concept in video games. For information about character classes in Dungeons & Dragons specifically, see Character class (Dungeons & Dragons). For templates in pattern matching, see regular expression.

In role-playing games (RPGs), character classes aggregate several abilities and aptitudes, and may also detail aspects of background and social standing, or impose behavior restrictions.[2] Classes may be considered to represent archetypes,[3] or specific careers.[4] RPG systems that employ character classes often subdivide them into levels of accomplishment, to be attained by players during the course of the game.[3] It is common for a character to remain in the same class for its lifetime; although some games allow characters to change class, or attain multiple classes.[3] Some systems eschew the use of classes and levels entirely;[2] others hybridize them with skill-based systems[5] or emulate them with character templates.

In shooter games and other cooperative video games, classes are generally distinct roles with specific purposes, weapons or abilities, with little relation to the RPG context. Their differences may range from simple equipment changes, such as sniper classes armed with sniper rifles, to unique gameplay changes, such as medic classes that are tasked with healing and reviving injured allied players.

History

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), the first formalized roleplaying game, introduced the use of classes, which were inspired by the units in miniature wargames such as Chainmail.[6] Many subsequent games adopted variations of the same idea. These games are sometimes referred to as 'class-based' systems. As well as tabletop games, character classes are found in many role-playing video games and live action role-playing games. Many of the most popular role-playing games, such as D20 system and White Wolf games still use character classes in one way or another. Most games offer additional ways to systematically differentiate characters, such as race or species, skills, or affiliations.

In fantasy games and role-playing games
Class selection screen in Falcon's Eye.

In fantasy games, Fighter, Mage, and Thief form a common archetypal trio of basic classes; each ones' abilities offsetting the other's weakness. The Fighter is strong and focuses on weapon based combat, Mage is a ranged fighter with a variety of magic and Thief is physically frail but focuses on speed or stealth. Thus it is usual to find one (or more) classes that excel in combat, several classes (called spell-casters) that are able to perform magic (often different kinds of magic), and one or more class that deals with stealth.[2]

In its original release Dungeons & Dragons did not include a Thief class but instead provided the following set of three classes:

  • Fighting Man (renamed "Fighter" in later editions), focused on combat abilities, but almost entirely lacking in magical abilities
  • Magic User (renamed "Mage" and then "Wizard" in later editions), featuring powerful magical abilities, but physically weak
  • Cleric, specializing in healing and supportive magical abilities[7]

With later editions was added the Thief (later Rogue) and Ranger classes:

  • Thief (renamed "Rogue" in later editions), nimble combatant focused on stealth and social skills, also capable of high-damage special attacks balanced by sub-par resistance to injury
  • Ranger, who specialized in wilderness survival skills.

In science fiction and other non-fantasy role-playing games the role of magic user is often filled with a scientist or other intelligence based class, while the cleric becomes a medic or similarly supportive role, and the rogue and/or ranger with an explorer or assassin.[4] Some science fiction and supernatural-themed RPGs also use psychic powers as a stand in for magic.[8] There are also character classes that combine features of the classes listed above and are frequently called hybrid classes.[3] Some examples include the Bard (a cross between the Thief and Mage with an emphasis on interpersonal skills, mental and visual spells, and supportive magical abilities), or the Paladin (a cross between the Fighter and Cleric with slightly decreased combat skills relative to a fighter but various innate abilities that are used to heal or protect allies and repel and/or smite evil opponents).

Some RPGs feature another variation on the classes mechanic. For example, in Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, players choose a career.[5] The career works like a class with abilities (known in WFRP as skills and talents) added to the character based on the chosen career.[9] However, as the player advances and gains more experience he or she may choose a new career according to a predefined career path or change to a completely different career.[9] WFRP is also notable in that characters are encouraged to roll to determine their starting career which is compensated for by free XP which can be spent on more skills.[10]

As an alternative to class-based systems, skill-based systems are designed to give the player a stronger sense of control over how their character develops.[11] In such systems, players can often choose the direction of their characters as they play, usually by assigning points to certain skills.[11] Classless games often provide templates for the player to work from, many of which are based on traditional character classes. Many classless games' settings or rules systems lend themselves to the creation of character following certain archetypal trends. For example, in the role-playing video game Fallout, common character archetypes include the "shooter", "survivalist", "scientist", "smooth talker" and "sneaker", unofficial terms representing various possible means of solving or avoiding conflicts and puzzles in the game.[12] GURPS, which inspired Fallout's system, also used a classless system.[13]

The original PlayStation 2 release of the role-playing video game Final Fantasy XII included a skill-based system in which as the player progressed, they would they would gain buffs and abilities (called licenses) via the game's License Board [14] (of which each party member shared). Final Fantasy XII's re-release Final Fantasy XII International Zodiac Job System and high-definition remaster, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age changed this system by adding a class (or job) system in which classes could be changed, and they each had separate License Boards.

In other games

Many cooperative video games, primarily shooter games, use class-based systems to provide different tactics and styles of play and promote teamwork and cooperation. These classes may only have differences through equipment, or they may have notable gameplay differences. Most video games do not allow players to use elements of multiple classes at the same time, though they typically allow players to switch classes before or during a match through a menu. Some games have progression systems for each individual class with class-specific unlockable items, though many do not.

Examples of shooter games with classes include the Battlefield series, Star Wars Battlefront II, Rising Storm 2: Vietnam, and Insurgency: Sandstorm.[15][16] All of these examples include a "heavy" or "support" class, a less-mobile class armed with some sort of machine gun that is focused around suppressive fire and team support; they also have classes that are simply the standard rifleman class with additional unique equipment (such as "demolitions" classes, typically riflemen with additional explosives).

One notable example is the team-based first-person shooter game Team Fortress 2, which features nine distinct classes divided into three categories: Offense, Defense, and Support. Offense classes (Scout, Soldier, Pyro) specialize in assaulting and overwhelming enemies; Defense classes (Demoman, Heavy, Engineer) specialize in defending positions and preventing enemy advances; and Support classes (Medic, Sniper, Spy) specialize in increasing the team's survivability or sabotaging the enemy. Each of these classes feature notable gameplay differences that are meant to suit their categories; however, they are not fully limited by their categories, with each class being capable of performing offensive and defensive tasks to varying degrees of effectiveness. They also all have strengths and weaknesses in a rock paper scissors-esque style; for example, the Spy is strong against slow or stagnant enemies such as the Heavy and Sniper, and he has equipment that specifically counters the Engineer's constructions, but his stealth abilities are nullified by the Pyro's fire, and he is impractical against more mobile classes such as the Scout. Somewhat similarly to fantasy games, each class is also treated as its own character, with unique personalities, backstories, and interactions with other classes.

A derivative of these types of classes are seen in hero shooters, where each hero has distinct abilities and weapons that often combine archetypical conventional classes or are simply unique on their own.

See also

References
  1. Voorhees, Gerald (1 November 2009). "The Character of Difference: Procedurality, Rhetoric, and Roleplaying Games". Game Studies. 9 (2). ISSN 1604-7982. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  2. Adams, Ernest (2010). Fundamentals of game design (2nd ed.). New Riders. pp. 465 to 466. ISBN 9780321643377. OCLC 460601644.
  3. Tresca, Michael J. (2011). The evolution of fantasy role-playing games. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co. pp. 82–85. ISBN 9780786460090. OCLC 697175248.
  4. Moore, Michael E. (2011). Basics of game design. Boca Raton: A K Peters/CRC Press. pp. 133 to 135. ISBN 9781439867761. OCLC 746925670.
  5. "10 Great Things About 'Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay'". GeekDad. 2018-09-28. Retrieved 2019-06-11.
  6. Smith, PhD, Howard (2018). "Dungeons, Dragons, and Resilience: Role playing as a thought model for complex resilience". Resilience News. Global Resilience Institute at Northeastern University.
  7. "Original 'D&D' and 5th Edition, Some Side-by-Side Comparisons Part I". GeekDad. 2015-02-11. Retrieved 2019-06-11.
  8. Moore, Michael E. (2011). Basics of game design. Boca Raton: A K Peters/CRC Press. p. 227. ISBN 9781439867761. OCLC 746925670.
  9. "Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay Preview – Class and Career". Cubicle7 (makers of WFRP 4). Retrieved 2019-06-11.
  10. "Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition Review". Gaming News, Reviews, and Articles - TechRaptor.net. 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2019-06-11.
  11. "The Division has 'classless characters,' second screen detailed". Engadget. Retrieved 2019-06-12.
  12. Guide, Daniel Acaba 2010-11-03T03:27:00 306Z. "Fallout: New Vegas character build guide". gamesradar. Retrieved 2019-06-11.
  13. "Fallout: The first modern role-playing game". Engadget. Retrieved 2019-06-12.
  14. BradyGAMES, ed. (2006). Final Fantasy XII Official Strategy Guide. DKPublishing. p. 18. ISBN 0-7440-0837-9.
  15. "PC Games Guide: Battlefield 2 - A Guide To Soldier Classes in this First-Person Shooter". Altered Gamer. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 2019-06-12.
  16. GameSpot Staff (2017-11-22). "Star Wars Battlefront 2 Tips: Which Class Is Best For You?". GameSpot. Retrieved 2019-06-12.
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