Questions and answers: Classes and Professions

You decide to ask some questions about what, if this were actually a game, you would call character specializations. "So, I've been peeking at status screens since you taught me how yesterday, and I've got a few questions. First, I understand what a Class is conceptually, but can you tell me some specifics? For example, you told me that you weren't a Warrior-Mage, you were a Paladin. What exactly does being a Paladin mean for you in real terms? In games I used to play, Paladins were usually heavily armed, heavily armored warriors devoted to deities of good and law, sometimes with limited magic. I assume it's a little different here in the Realms?"

Brighid cocks her head and considers. "That is a difficult question to answer, but I will try. Every person's class is somewhat unique to them, even if they fall under the same broad name. Paladin is a rare Class, and I do not know any others among the Starchasers, although the Miststalkers had two in our war with them when I was a child. My understanding is that it is a Class which is given to warriors who are strongly devoted to something, not necessarily a deity, and certainly not limited only to good people. For me, it is definitely because I follow the Brighaid. Other Paladins will have other causes, which will lead to different benefits and focuses of the Class." She takes a bite of food and chews thoughtfully.

"It also affects the spells I learn. As a Paladin, my spells are more personal, largely enhancing my capabilities and those of people who are near me. Classes also give access to Talents, which again are somewhat unique to each individual. From what I know, most Paladins have Talents for melee combat and armor use and for inspiring others, but there is a whole section of my Paladin Talent Tree which gives me bonuses towards things which relate to Birgitte, Brigantia, and Braihan. I have a Talent which gives me bonuses for using weapons and armor I crafted for myself, as an example, and another which increases the amount of fire damage I deal to undead, corrupted, or otherwise tainted creatures." She suddenly gives you a broad, saucy grin and adds, "And there is a Braihan-based Talent I have been ignoring which gives me all kinds of bonuses which scale in duration and strength based on the quantity and quality of sex I am involved in. Before you, it seemed like a waste of points, but I am suddenly very interested in the idea of getting tangible benefits for being well-fucked." Brighid moans low in her throat, obviously taken with the idea, and cuddles closer to you. "Mmmm, I think I need to go get a level or two..." You laugh, hug her to your side, give her a kiss, then get back to the lessons at hand.

"Alright, so it sounds like Classes are involved in a lot more than I thought, and a lot more individualized than I'm used to. Good to know. Is there any way to know which Class you'll get before level 10, or to influence which Class you will get?"

Your Companion shrugs. "No one really knows what determines which Class a person gets. It usually relates to your Skills, affinities, Traits, and personality, but no one I have ever heard of has figured out exactly how it works. I have heard rumors that there are groups called Guilds in the Kingdom of Gilhardt which people say can influence the Classes of their members, but I do not know the truth of it. For all the people I know, their Class has suited who they are as a person. If you are curious about yourself ... I honestly do not know what to tell you. Were you a normal young mage and continued gaining levels in the Skills you currently have and similar Skills, I would expect you to end up as a Mage at level 10. With your unique Trait, however, I truly could not guess what Class you will earn, let alone your eventual Prestige Class. Those are hard enough to guess for normal people who do not make a mockery of one of the core rules of the world," She teases you.

You blink. "Wait, Prestige Class? What are those?"

Brighid shakes her head ruefully. "I forget just how little information you were given. Prestige Classes are a more powerful but more specialized evolution of a base Class. They become available at level 25, although you must complete a special Quest to actually gain the Prestige Class. Mother told me that when she reached level 25, she was actually given three different quests which would have given her different Prestige Classes. She never would tell me what the two she did not choose were, she just says 'Those paths are closed and there is no sense looking for them'. Anyway, just like Classes, they are personalized, but to an even greater degree. Classes are usually at least somewhat generic, but many Prestige Classes are completely unique, and even ones which are more common, like Mother's Druid class, have more individualized Abilities and Talents than a level 10 Class. Since you did not know about Prestige Classes, I should tell you about Heroic Classes. I do not know much about them because they require level 50 and the highest level person I know is Fionn at level 31, but people who achieve a Heroic Class almost always become figures of myths and legend. They are supposed to be entirely unique and have many extremely powerful features. It is difficult to know what is truth and what is exaggeration when you are dealing with legends, however. If there are tiers of Class above level 50, I do not know of them."

"Iiiiinteresting," You draw the word out. "So there are more reasons to advance in level than just getting more Attribute points."

"Oh, yes," Brighid nods. "Even disregarding Prestige and Heroic Classes, both Classes and Professions give access to Talents, and the only reliable means of getting Talent points is from Quest rewards or leveling up. Even Quests aren't all that reliable, and they're a very slow way to gain Talent points at the best of times."

"Hmm, so let's get into Talents then. I am familiar with the term from Earth, but it always seems like things work a little differently in the Realms. In games on Earth, Talents would usually be arranged into a kind of flow chart called a Talent Tree and you would spend one point to activate each node of the tree, which would give a passive effect or activated ability and potentially unlock the ability to pick other nodes further down the line. A lot of the time people would heavily analyze Talent Trees and plan out their picks long in advance. How does that stack up to the Realms?"

Brighid nods along to your explanation. "That is very close, really. Talents here are arranged just like you said, with nodes -- individual Talents -- giving bonuses which can be passive, active, or even both. There are a couple of differences, however. First, Talent nodes cost a variable amount of points to activate; the cheapest I have access to is two points, and it does not provide a large bonus. Second, nodes are obscured until you have everything which is needed to actually activate the Talent node, except for the Talent points themselves. As an example, my Smith Talent Quality Craft I was only revealed once I had put points into both Improved Technique I and Heat Retention I. I knew that both Talents would lead to something, but exactly what was not revealed to me until I had invested in both."

"Well, now that you've brought it up, let's talk Professions. Let's see how well I can guess what they are and what they do from what you've already said and my own observations. Every person I've looked at the Status screen of has had a Profession so far, except for Fionn. Also, so far every Profession I've seen is outside the realm of combat. Further, the Professions I've seen have correlated pretty strongly to the person's best Skill or Skills. So, my guess is that Professions are something you get access to once you reach a certain rank in a non-combat Skill which improves that Skill and, from what you just said, gives access to a Talent Tree related to that Skill. I would assume that they are less impactful than Classes since they're easier to get, and Eilwen has two Professions so I know that is possible as well. So, how did I do?"

Brighid beams at you and says, "You are almost exactly right! The only thing I would note is that Professions really aren't any less powerful than Classes. You could almost say that Classes are the combat-oriented Professions, although that is a little simplistic and misleading. For one thing, you always choose your own Profession, there is no chance involved aside from the fact that everyone who is not Aidan Lostlorn is limited by their affinity for their Skills. I do not have the Affinity to reach Apprentice rank in History or the various Lore skills, much to Mother's annoyance, so I can never become a Scholar. That is the rank required, by the way: Apprentice. Another difference is that Classes of all types give a multiplier to Health, Stamina, Concentration, and Psyche, but Professions do not. However, Professions do increase the effect of Attributes on their related Skill, which can be a very significant benefit. And yes, there is no theoretical limit for number of Professions other than the number of Skills you can take to Apprentice rank. You also need to be level 5. However," She says, "you have to complete a Quest to gain a Profession, just like for Prestige Classes, and each Profession you have increases the difficulty of the tests for any other Profession Quests. Between needing the rank and the increased difficulty, I doubt there are many in all the Realms who have more than three Professions, and the majority of people choose to concentrate on just one. I asked Mama Eilwen about it once as a girl and she told me that she does get more Talent points for having two Professions, but not twice as many. Before you ask, no, you cannot just ignore one Profession and put all the points into the other. Just like Classes, Professions are not something you have, they are something you are. Just as you cannot ignore your need to sleep in order to focus on your need to breathe, you cannot ignore one Profession to benefit another. I do not know the specifics, but Mama Eilwen was very clear about that."

You nod, filing that information away under 'Metaphysics'. "So taking multiple Professions means you will never be quite as good at either as someone who has just one, but you will be much better at both than someone with no Profession in that Skill. One last question on this topic: I've also seen people with Specializations listed with their Professions. I assume those are essentially the Profession equivalent of Prestige Classes?"

"Yes, roughly speaking. Again, you receive much more choice in the matter than with Classes, but otherwise that comparison is fairly reasonable. Specializations become available at Journeyman rank. Before you ask, I have not gotten my Specialization in Smithing yet because I do not meet the requirements for the one I really want. There is a Specialization called Mage-Smith which would let me produce inherently magical items without needing an Enchanter, but the option is not available to me yet. I can see that it exists, and know in general terms what it would allow me to do, but I have not yet discovered what I am missing. You are not offered a Specialization which is impossible for you to achieve, but you are also offered almost no guidance on the requirements."

You grin at Brighid. "You're already reading my mind! I don't know whether to be happy or terrified. Anyway, I think that's enough about Classes and Skills for now."