Tuesday, July 14, 2009

My Conception of the Base Classes

I want to talk briefly about the six base classes and how I imagine them feeling.

The Mage

The mage will have high MP, but low HP.  A mage will tend to increase their Wisdom score as they level up, so that their spells will be more potent, but they may find value in raising their other statistics in order to become more durable in combat.

The Mage's deck will consist primarily of skill cards which grant additional abilities and higher levels of magic proficiency, and spell cards, which allow the Mage to utilize their MP.  The Mage will also have a monster card serving as a familiar.  The Mage may also have a few item cards equipped such as a cloak and staff.

The Bard

The Bard has decent MP and average HP.  A bard will tend to increase their Wisdom and Agility scores as they level up.  Agility will impove their performance abilities while Wisdom will improve their magical potency.  Bards do what they can to avoid direct combat, and their Strength and HP scores will be correspondingly low.  Their trade depends upon having an audience, and they work best in a group.

The Bard's deck will consist of skill cards, usually including at least one "entertainment" skill such as Music or Dance that allows them to enact spell-like powers without spending MP while focusing on the task of performing, as well as item cards, such as instruments or costumes that will enhance their performance abilities, and spell cards, which allow them to use their MP to cast low-level spells.

The Thief

The Thief has low MP and average HP.  A thief will tend to increase their Agility score as they level up, giving them more sneakiness as well as a knack for getting out of tight spots.  They may also find it useful to increase their HP or Strength if they find themself getting into a lot of scuffles, or their Wisdom if they want to improve their likelihood of accomplishing knowledge-oriented skills.

The Thief's deck will consist of skill cards, providing them with both social and combat abilities that others would consider too underhanded to employ, and an abundance of item cards, including tools such as lock-picks, light weapons such as knives, and valuables acquired during their adventuring, usually in transit to be sold for cash.

The Ninja

The Ninja has low MP and average HP.  A ninja will tend to increase their Agility score or their Strength or HP scores as they level up, doing all of this with a focus on effective, agile combat techniques, surprising their opponent with their speed and untrackable nature.  Ninjas may also choose to discipline themselves by devotion to the spiritual life, spending points in Wisdom to increase the effectiveness of their Chi-based skills.

The Ninja's deck will consist of skill cards offering a variety of physical or spiritual benefits, and item cards, such as throwing weapons, although many Ninjas prefer to fight unarmed.

The Warrior

The Warrior has low MP and high HP.  A warrior will typically raise their Strength score as they level up, to maximize the effect of what they do best: damage.  They may also choose to raise their other scores.  Some Warriors even decide to increase their Wisdom and MP to gain the ability to cast a very small number of primitive spells, trying to offset, at least in some small way, their greatest weakness.

The Warrior's deck will consist of skill cards offering greater weapon proficiency and the ability to perform certain acts of courage and bravery in the protection of others, and a few expensive item cards such as weapons, heavy armor, a helmet, and a shield.

The Paladin

The Paladin has decent MP and average HP. A paladin will typically raise their Strength or Wisdom score as they level up giving them more potence in combat and in their practice of divine magic, although some paladins may choose to ready themselves for a more defensive role by raising their HP.  Because a paladin is devoted to their deity, certain types of magic are forbidden to them, but other magic may be granted that is far more potent than what could be cast by a Mage of the same level.

The Paladin's deck will consist of skill cards and item cards much like the warrior, and a deity card and spell cards to aid in the practice of divine magic.  Many of the Paladin's skill cards will grant higher levels of proficiency in divine magic.  At 6th level, paladins acquire a mount and add a monster card to their deck.

No comments:

Post a Comment