Arcanist – Wizards who prefer the arcane arts go by this calling, studying at only the most prestigious institutions in the world to hone their craft and out-perform their betters. Arcanists use the forces of fire, ice, and ether to tear up entire battlefields and make their power known. An adept arcanist is a sight to behold and to be feared.
Assassin – Often cited as scoundrels and lowlifes, these quintessential rogues are as varied as their methods of dispatching foes. Assassins can specialize in ranged attacks to pepper their foes from afar, in close-range combat to dance around their enemies, or dabble in poisons and chemicals that subdue their targets before they fall.
Cleric – Not simply healers, menders, and physicians, clerics act as spiritual leaders for the majority of the world. Some prefer to act as advisors and healers in local churches and monasteries while others prefer to don armor and take up the cause of their Dragongod on the battlefield. Bear in mind that not all clerics pray to the same Dragons — some seek the fires of Destriss just as those who revere the mighty Vahaliat.
Conjurer – Some mages choose to advance along a different path than those stodgy arcanists in their colleges. Conjurers prefer to channel the power of creation itself to summon forth supernatural forces to destroy, otherworldly creatures to fight on their behalf, and illusory dangers to confuse and confound. Powerful conjurers are even able to bring forth entire new realities.
Defender – Some warriors take up the blade or the mace as their weapon of choice. Others prefer the shield. Defenders, in a way unlike others, can interject themselves between their allies and any foes that would approach them. These canny fighters disrupt and dismantle defenses while remaining stout bulwarks against all harm that would dare oppose them.
Disciple – Monastic disciplines are as old as the world, and those who follow the old ways are among the most skilled combatants in it. Through devotion and conditioning, these devout warriors cast off the rigors of armor for the steel of flesh. While some choose to wield weapons, all disciples must show a level of proficiency with their own bodies to channel their own essential energy. Some are even able to channel the power of dragons to heal and empower their fists with radiance.
Druid – Wardens of the wilds, druids often serve as clan leaders, though that’s far from the only path some might take. While not fundamentally opposed to civilization, these spellcasters have a connection to the undying world parallelled by none. Druids are adept at summoning animals to fight alongside them, at controlling plants to entangle and poison their foes, at taking on animalistic characteristics to enhance their abilities. Some particularly powerful druids are able to transcend the limitations of flesh and become the beasts they live alongside.
Hunter – Expert archers and trappers, hunters are common in all societies in the world as providers of food for their clans and villages. Often cited as being able to bullseye a beast from any range, these marksmen are capable of taking down nearly any foe with their projectiles. Many of them make use of traps to set up ambushes and kite their foes into greater danger. Once a skilled hunter has you in their sights, it’s rare that you’ll escape.
Invoker – There’s a reason every arcane college in the world focuses on defense against the dark arts in their core curriculum. The infamous invoker is a rare spellcaster who delves into these arts headlong to channel the power of the night sky and the anguish of the mortal soul. Some prefer to use pain to quell their adversaries through cruelty while others create fields of solid darkness to impale their hapless victims. There are even some who use the magic of gravity and time to warp bodies and spirits or send their enemies into an endless nether to never be seen again.
Knight – Heavily armed and armored, these skilled fighters make great use of their knowledge of tactics on the battlefield. Many who bear the knight’s emblem do so for monetary gain or notoriety, while others prefer to take up arms in the name of a righteous cause, even if that cause is war itself. One truth is known across the land — an experienced knight is a foe that won’t be easily felled. Only a fool tests the age of those who survive when others tend to die young.
Oracle – The mysterious power of the mind eludes even those who have spent lifetimes of research and study, but oracles are able to tap into it as keenly as one reaches out with a hand. With mental control and restraint, they focus their powers into spells that assault the minds of their foes directly. These priests are bastions of fortitude who also serve as adept healers while supporting their allies. The most powerful oracles can portend fates and see futures, and only those who can see the threads of fate dare change them.
Reaver – Terror. This is the feeling that those who encounter a reaver on the field of battle use to describe the experience. These gruesome warriors use fear as a weapon to instill their victims with dread before cleaving them asunder with their enormous weapons. Reavers are characterized by the dark magic they wield in tandem with their ferocious attacks to press every advantage they can. Some warriors fight for honor. These monsters fight for blood.
More classes coming!~
Unlocking Classes
To unlock certain classes, specific abilities might need to be acquired first. These abilities act as prerequisites for taking a level in that class. There are four advanced classes that require an ability learned from a corresponding basic class:
- Assassin requires Rogue’s Feint, the level 3 Rogue ability.
- Conjurer requires Mage’s Breath, the level 3 Mage ability.
- Knight requires Warrior’s Prowess, the level 3 Warrior ability.
- Oracle requires Priest’s Mercy, the level 3 Priest ability.
As such, these classes have a minimum character level requirement of 4. Only a character of level 4 or higher can take levels in these classes because you’ll need three levels in their corresponding basic class to qualify.
Likewise, there are four advanced classes that represent the core aspects and tenets of their individual sources of magic. These specialists require the ability to cast tier 2 spells in their respective sources. As such, the minimum character level to enter each of these classes is 3, but doing so will force the character to forgo important abilities only gained by taking a third level in mage or priest.
- Arcanist represents the Arcane source and requires Arcane 2 before a level can be taken.
- Invoker is a master of the dark arts and requires Eldritch 2 to take a level in the class.
- Clerics are conduits for the Dragongods and as such require Draconic 2 to enter the class.
- Druids are nature spellcasters and require Wild 2 before joining a druidic circle.
Four martial classes require only training with a specific type of weapon thematically appropriate to their kit. Since weapon training is acquired at level 1 as part of the Rogue or Warrior class or as a Mage or Priest who takes a training ability, these classes can be entered as early as character level 2.
- Defenders are masters of the shield. They require weapon training in any shield to enter the class.
- Disciples utilize their body in ways that set them apart from the average combatant. They’ll need weapon training with unarmed attacks to study under a master.
- Hunters focus on using ranged attacks to chase down and entrap their prey. They require weapon training with a projectile weapon of some kind.
- Reavers use painfully large weapons to terrorize the battlefield. Weapon training with any two-handed weapon is enough to enter the class.
Still other classes that exist with more stringent requirements to join their ranks. These classes are still in development. They’ll be detailed here when they’re ready. Thanks for being patient!
NOTE: Choosing the Dark Side
Dragonpact is a game of heroes and villains, and the players are intended to be the heroes.
You’ll note that some of the classes above have an innate draw toward the darker end of the good and evil spectrum. These classes, while inherently dealing with themes that some might find uncomfortable, can often make for enticing stories. A warrior may begin their career as a dark knight serving a darker lord and take up the path of light after some soul searching (and after hearing the voice of their dead father). Others may not be so lucky.
While adventures are generally designed for heroic characters to live out the fantasy of saving the world one village at a time while progressing to more grand prospects, there is nothing to prevent less-than-heroic characters from fulfilling the tasks required in their own way. The story you choose to tell and the acts that accomplish your goals are for your group to decide on.
The designer of this game doesn’t condone playing outright evil characters, but far be it from me to tell you how to enjoy your game. Talk with your Dragonmaster about how best to fulfill your heroic fantasies, and if that entails playing a non-heroic character, make an effort to come to an understanding about how to best do that. Maybe everyone in your group feels the same. An evil campaign can be an interesting and healthy outlet for certain emotions and drives if it’s done in a safe space with understanding people. The game allows for that.
My only recommendation is that a level of maturity and care be used, because it can turn south real quick if everyone isn’t on the same page. All it takes is one line crossed, one bridge too far, or one errant “stop taking it so seriously” or “you’re being too sensitive”. Many people have seen relationships fall out and friendships ruined over what began as a simple game, and no one wants that.
As always, the only rule is that everyone has fun, whatever that means. I won’t dictate how anyone goes about that, but I encourage you to steer away from the murder-hoboing. In my experience, that kind of gameplay is only fun for a few minutes before it gets really old.