Character class

In tabletop games and video games, a character class is an occupation, profession or role assigned to a game character to highlight and differentiate their capabilities and specializations.

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. Classes may be considered to represent archetypes, or specific careers. RPG systems that employ character classes often subdivide them into levels of accomplishment, to be attained by players during the course of the game. It is common for a character to remain in the same class for its lifetime, with restricted tech tree of upgrades and power-ups; although some games allow characters to change class or attain multiple classes, usually at the cost of game currency or special items. Some systems eschew the use of classes and levels entirely; others hybridize them with skill-based systems or emulate them with character templates.

In shooter games and other cooperative video games, classes are generally distinct roles with specific mission goals, weapons, or tactical aptitudes and special abilities, with only tangential relation to the RPG context. Their differences may range from simple equipment changes, such as sharpshooter classes armed with sniper rifles, or heavy weapon classes with machine guns and rocket launchers; to unique gameplay changes, such as medic classes that are lightly armed but 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. Many subsequent games adopted variations of the same idea.