History Main / CharacterClassSystem

* RanceQuest has this as an AffectionateParody of DragonQuest. However, the diversity within a given class is extremely wide due to the FantasyKitchenSink nature of the world and SchizoTech.
** Fighters, depending on the character in question, may fit any one of the sub-categories of [[FantasyCharacterClasses The Fighter Classes]]. Yes, any.
** Guards are {{Stone Wall}}s whose job is to protect other units. It sounds like a narrow job, but even this class manages to contain characters as different as a school student to the leader of JAPAN!
** Gunners are usually TheArcher, though they can be TheGunslinger. [[VideoGame/RanceII Maria]] uses a [[{{BFG}} bazooka]] called the Tulip. Yes, Bazooka.
*** GunsAreWorthless: Muskets, [[SengokuRance like in the previous game]], are powerful but have limited uses. Okay in random battles, but near-worthless for boss battles.
** Healers, depending on the character in question, may fit any one of the sub-categories of [[FantasyCharacterClasses The Cleric Classes]].
** Rangers, depending on the character in question, may fit any one of the sub-categories of [[FantasyCharacterClasses The Rogue Classes]].
** Sorcerers, depending on the character in question, may fit any one of the sub-categories of [[FantasyCharacterClasses The Magician Classes]].
** Sparters are the {{Bare Fisted Monk}}s. For the record, both the {{Maid}} and the WildChild belong to this class.
** Civilians include any character that does not fit in any of the other seven classes. They are also the only class that can hunt and use {{Cute Monster Girl}}s. Humorously, this is the class that contains everything from a bisexual sadistic princess to a miko from Portugal, so the term Civilian is a NonIndicativeName.

* RanceQuest has this as an AffectionateParody of DragonQuest. However, the diversity within a given class is extremely wide due to the FantasySink nature of the world and SchizoTech.
** Fighters, depending on the character in question, may fit any one of the sub-categories of [[FantasyCharacterClasses The Fighter Classes]].

** Healers, depending on the character in question, may fit any one of the sub-categories of [[FantasyCharacterClasses The Cleric Classes]].

* The ''ModernWarfare'' series uses classes for its multiplayer.

* Completely inverted in ''VideoGame/TheLastRemnant'', where your character class is determined by the abilities you use. Different character classes have different bonuses, so it can be worth only using certain skills in order to obtain a desired class.

* Completely inverted in TheLastRemnant, where your character class is determined by the abilities you use. Different character classes have different bonuses, so it can be worth only using certain skills in order to obtain a desired class.

* ''{{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.

* ''TeamFortress2'', and its predecessor TeamFortressClassic, (and ''it's'' predecessor ''Team Fortress'') are based entirely around classes. There are nine total, each balanced for different playstyles, situations, and enemies.

* ''DungeonsAndDragons'' is the most famous, and the TropeMaker.

*** ''{{Pathfinder}}'', a spinoff of d20, is a CharacterClassSystem as well.
* ''WorldOfDarkness'' is effectively a CharacterClassSystem, with your [[TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade clan]], [[TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse auspice]], [[TabletopGame/MageTheAscension tradition]], etc acting as your class.

* ''TeamFortress2'', and its predecessor TeamFortressClassic, (and ''it's'' predecessor ''TeamFortress'') are based entirely around classes. There are nine total, each balanced for different playstyles, situations, and enemies.

* ''{{Rifts}}''

* ''WorldOfDarkness'' is effectively a CharacterClassSystem, with your [[TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade clan]], [[TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse auspice]], [[MageTheAscension tradition]], etc acting as your class.

* ''WorldOfDarkness'' is effectively a CharacterClassSystem, with your [[VampireTheMasquerade clan]], [[TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse auspice]], [[MageTheAscension tradition]], etc acting as your class.

* ''{{Pokemon}}'' is [[YourMileageMayVary arguably]] a version of it, with ''every breed of pokemon'' as a different class.
* Ditto ''ShinMegamiTensei'' and its demons.

* ''WorldOfDarkness'' is effectively a CharacterClassSystem, with your [[VampireTheMasquerade clan]], [[WerewolfTheApocalypse auspice]], [[MageTheAscension tradition]], etc acting as your class.

A type of GameSystem where a character's abilities are determined by the class that they choose. Most common in RolePlayingGames, but recently it has begun appearing in other genres, particularly {{First Person Shooter}}s. A character class is defined by the abilities that it lends to a character -- as such, two different characters of the same class are theoretically interchangable, in that they can play the same role in the game because of their similar abilities. However, {{Character Class System}}s have varying level of CharacterCustomization -- ranging from characters of a given class being literally identical to having so much variety that character class is no longer even a good indicator of that character's abilities. {{Character Class System}}s frequently include one or more {{Point Build System}}s as part of their rules to increase customability.

One of the major differences between {{Character Class System}}s (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}}es (eg, a Knight can upgrade to ThePaladin ''or'' a BlackKnight, 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}}s, the most type of CharacterClassSystem is the ClassAndLevelSystem. See also FighterMageThief for a common 3 types of classes seen in RPG class systems. However, many {{FPS}}es that feature classes don't have levels, relying instead on player skill. See CommonCharacterClasses for a list of classes that frequently turn up in games with {{Character Class System}}s. See PointBuildSystem for the main alternative to a CharacterClassSystem.

A type of GameSystem where a character's abilities are determined by the class that they choose. Most common in RolePlayingGames, but recently it has begun appearing in other genres, particularly FirstPersonShooters. A character class is defined by the abilities that it lends to a character -- as such, two different characters of the same class are theoretically interchangable, in that they can play the same role in the game because of their similar abilities. However, {{Character Class System}}s have varying level of CharacterCustomization -- ranging from characters of a given class being literally identical to having so much variety that character class is no longer even a good indicator of that character's abilities. {{Character Class System}}s frequently include one or more {{Point Build System}}s as part of their rules to increase customability.

[[AC:FirstPersonShooters]]

* The d20 system of ''DungeonsAndDragons'' fame is the most famous.
** ''{{Pathfinder}}'', a spinoff of d20, is a CharacterClassSystem as well.

* The ''ModernWarfar''e series uses classes for its multiplayer.

* ''{{Shadowrun}}''

* ''TeamFortress2'', and its predecessor TeamFortressClassic, (and ''it's'' predecessor TeamFortress) are based entirely around classes. There are nine total, each balanced for different playstyles, situations, and enemies.

* {{Team Fortress 2}}, and its predecessor TeamFortressClassic, (and ''it's'' predecessor TeamFortress) are based entirely around classes. There are nine total, each balanced for different playstyles, situations, and enemies.
* The ModernWarfare series uses classes for its multiplayer.
* TransformersWarForCybertron has [[CommonCharacterClasses Soldiers, Scouts, Scientists, and Leaders]].

* The d20 system of DungeonsAndDragons fame is the most famous
** {{Pathfinder}}, a spinoff of d20, is a CharacterClassSystem as well.
* WorldOfDarkness is effectively a CharacterClassSystem, with your [[VampireTheMasquerade clan]], [[WerewolfTheApocalypse auspice]], [[MageTheAscension tradition]], etc acting as your class.
* {{Shadowrun}}

* FinalFantasy has used classes, usually called Jobs, from the very beginning. They run the gamut of "no class changes whatsoever" to "can change classes at will" to "can have all classes' abilities at once" to "[[{{Dissimile}} doesn't actually uses classes]]".
* A staple of DragonQuest as well, at least after the first game (where there was only one character in your party).
* {{Pokemon}} is [[YourMileageMayVary arguably]] a version of it, with ''every breed of pokemon'' as a different class.
* Ditto ShinMegamiTensei and its demons.

* Many games based on the DungeonsAndDragons GameSystem
** BaldursGate
** IcewindDale
** NeverwinterNights
** PlanescapeTorment
** KnightsOfTheOldRepublic, using the StarWars d20 variant
* {{Diablo}}
* DragonAgeOrigins
* MassEffect

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* Diablo

* {{Team Fortress 2}}, and its predecessor TeamFortressClassic, are based entirely around classes. There are nine total, each balanced for different playstyles, situations, and enemies.

[[AC:RolePlayingGames]]
* Most {{RPG}}s use some version of the CharacterClassSystem

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In {{RPG}}s, the most type of CharacterClassSystem is the ClassAndLevelSystem. However, many {{FPS}}es that feature classes don't have levels, relying instead on player skill. See CommonCharacterClasses for a list of classes that frequently turn up in games with {{Character Class System}}s. See PointBuildSystem for the main alternative to a CharacterClassSystem.