Beyond the Pale Crunch: Classes
In Beyond the Pale, I wanted classes to feel both unique and as part of a shared whole, something consistent, something that fit with other classes to provide a sense of unity and cohesion.
As such, some classes are part of “archetypes”. Individual classes may draw upon unique spells/abilities and traits/feats but they can also pick from a pool of shared abilities and feats from their archetype.
For example, Wizards and Mages can both fling fireballs. As such, they both have access to the base ‘fireball’ spell at lower levels. As a Wizard and Mage level up they deviate drastically, the same fireball spell working in conjuncture with other spells and traits, making the outcome different.
The following list is the list I have so far for classes. It is a work in progress so keep that in mind.
Mage (Archetype: Arcane Sorcerer)
Mages are the ‘efficient’ casters, who cast a small number of spells with great efficiency, who work at reducing the overall cost of casting and recasting their spells. As they level up they begin to excel at various types of damage dealing but also counter magic, discerning magical properties, laying magical traps and manipulating the events on the board directly.
Wizard (Archetype: Arcane Sorcerer)
Wizards are ‘rolling’ casters, as in their power grows the longer they fight. The more they cast, the more benefits they gain, such as extra spells, more damage, etc. They also focus on a wider range of spells of shared use, such as a wide range of illusion spells as a whole or damage spells as a whole. Wizards, as they level up, gain more control and power over the field, able to buffer and funnel enemies into ideal places, intimidate foes with words of power and provide widespread aid to their party.
Arcanist (Archetype: Arcane Sorcerer)
Arcanists are ‘stationary’ casters, gaining power and efficiency the longer they channel one spell, like a bolt of force constantly gaining power. This leads to them utilizing a small pool of offensive spells and a larger pool of utility or defensive spells. As they level up they begin to gain skill at evading damage, moving instantly across short distances and being able to convert their skills into more devastating ‘short term’ strikes.
Blood magic is a high utility caster, with little offensive skill but high benefits to what they do have. Primarily, they have spells and abilities that augment their chance to hit, deflect damage, mark areas as trap tiles and can debilitate enemies. As they gain levels they gather a few, stronger offensive skills but primarily focus on crippling enemies or transferring spell effects to allies.
A ‘minion’ caster, the primary focus of the Necromancer is creating minions. At later levels they gain offensive and utility spells, such as destroying biological matter or preserving dead things at a touch. Gaining levels primarily allows them to control more minions, make minions stronger or use minions and cast at the same time.
Oracles are another utility caster, this time focused on the aid of others. Primarily, oracles help by offering tactical advice, providing insight or creating vivid dream-states in both allies and enemies. Leveling up they are able to have some degree of precognition, able to predict and shift the flow of combat around them and others to minimize damage.
Druids are more melee combat oriented casters, casting on the go. Early on they start off by manipulating themselves and their surroundings to allow them to close distance. As they level up they begin to take on new powers, like partial shapeshifting, the ability to interact with human biology, the absorption of plant and animal traits.
Witches strike a middle ground between Druid and Arcane Sorcerers. In particular, witches can do what each of them can do, though they specialize in blending the two paths together. They are focused on more stealth or debilitating effects, gaining strength in either spell offense or defense as they level up.
Runesmiths are trapmasters and enchanters. Typically, they focus on depleting a limited pool of runes, prepared prior to the encounter, creating a brutal but very limited burst of power. Runesmiths must ration their runes and supplement them with enchantments. As they level up they gain access to a wider range of runes, as well as gaining ways to create runes on the fly, restore spent runes or give them multiple charges.
Vigilante (Street Fighter Archtype)
Vigilantes enter the fight from a point of strength but quickly begin to decline afterwards; starting strong but ending weak. They focus on brutal assaults that throw the enemy into disarray and spend their advantage as best they can. Afterwards they begin to falter, once the enemy recovers they need to rely on holding action, escape or allies to provide support for them. As they gain levels they extend this advantage time and shorten their recovery time.
Street Soldier (Street Fighter Archetype)
Street Soldiers are front line fighters, who utilize combat tactics and direct damage to influence the enemy team. Unlike the Vigilante, they stay consistent through the battle, with less burst but more control and aid to their allies. They can suppress enemy attacks, dictate battle movements and deal damage out without downtime.
Scrapper (Street Fighter Archetype)
Scrappers are fighters who survive against all odds, who find a single enemy’s weakness and makes them pay for it. They can enter and exit combat with ease and blitz targets while they’re distracted. They are also highly adaptable, able to deal damage even while disarmed. At higher levels they’re capable aiding allies in recovering and reviving, fighting through pain and damage and ambushing targets when they least expect it.
Runners focus on going from point A to point B quickly. They can quickly move through enemy ranks, dodge incoming fire and typically focus on quickly disabling an enemy before moving on. These abilities also apply to a runner driving a vehicle. If you need to snatch an item from enemy clutches, weave through battle to apply medical treatment or simply get a package to a destination on time, a Runner is your best bet.
Detectives are highly observant and exploitative fighters. In battle they typically wait patiently for an ideal attack, one that cripples an opponent, allowing for their partners to deal with them accordingly. Additionally they gain tactical insight in battle, able to direct allies attacks and to take notice of things in the chaos of combat. As they grow more experienced, detectives are able to use their observances to slip out of sight, make near impossible shots or bluff their way through danger.
Thieves are highly agile, stealthy combatants. They specialize in front loading damage in ambush, bleeding back out of sight and performing hit and run attacks. As they level up they can sabotage enemy workings, use their surroundings to mask escapes and disable enemies silently.
Avenger (Warden Archetype)
Avengers are a largely melee oriented class, focusing on dealing with enemies far larger, deadlier and more powerful than they. Avengers combine slight bits of magic, brutal pragmatism and exploiting any weakness they find in bringing down supernatural foes. As they level up, Avengers focus on widening the gap in advantages as best they can, disabling numerous targets at once or a single target multiple times, making it an easier kill.
Exorcist (Warden Archetype)
Exorcists blend bits of magic, a tad of martial force and a lot of insight into a single package. Using their occult knowledge they can discern arcane weaknesses, exploit monster vulnerabilities and defend their allies from magical and supernatural attacks. As they grow more experienced they are able to apply their occult knowledge in broader strokes, such as forging enchanted ammunition, expelling spirits from a location and engaging in magical medicine.
Hunter (Warden Archetype)
Hunters fight the supernatural from afar. Utilizing deadly marksmanship, supernatural ammunition and a cool head in the face of the unknown, hunters gun down their foes as quickly as they can to survive. As hunters gain levels they adapt more and more to changing scenarios, bringing more weapons, ammunition, explosives and unflinching nerve to battle.
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