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Character classes represent the skills and abilities a character develops on their journey through the world. Each class represents a basic template, with certain strengths and weaknesses that “go with the package.” Creative players learn to layer classes onto a character to produce a distinctive set of abilities to make the character entertaining to play, useful to the party, and effective in driving the story.

Requirements

Virtually every class has some basic requirements to entry: they may require a certain technology level in the region, or access to a special school, or particular circumstances of birth. They may require certain skills or feats, or that the character pass some trial or pledge themselves to a powerful entity (mortal or otherwise).

NPC Classes

The most basic classes in the game are NPC classes. They are available almost everywhere, and they are common among the non-adventuring population. Most supporting characters have 1-3 levels of an NPC class. If such a character later takes up an adventuring life, the GM may allow the character to convert NPC class levels into other class levels over time, as the character learns to apply prior knowledge to new uses.

The NPC classes are:

• Commoner: This is the default character class for a playable character, with almost few skills or abilities to recommend it. Most farmers, servants, shepherds, and peasants take levels in this class. Commoner class levels are almost always exchanged at a later date if the character picks up other class levels.
• Expert: This is the class of most skilled non-combatants. Blacksmiths, leatherworkers, sailors, but also many scholars are experts. The class gives them an abundance of skill points, but little else of interest to an adventurer. Experts rarely pick up other class levels, though a retired adventurer may progress as an expert as they pursue their “second career.”
• Warrior: The warrior is a scaled-down version of the fighter class. Militias, shoddy brigands, and armies are mostly stocked with warriors, and led by fighters. With proper training and interest, warrior class levels can be converted to fighter levels.
• Aristocrat: The privileged classes develop as aristocrats instead of commoners or warriors. A level or two of aristocrat may be useful to an adventurer, but most nobles who apply themselves develop other class levels instead.
• Adept: Unschooled individuals with magical aptitude become adepts, and develop skill with a smattering of spells. This class does not generally convert. Unschooled individuals with psionic potential become augurs, though most people do not bother to make the distinction.

Base Classes

Those characters with the right mix of skill, dedication, and access don’t develop NPC class levels, they advance in base class levels.

Prestige Classes

Prestige classes have special (sometimes onerous) entry requirements.

Certain classes