Classes

Classes
All players begin their journey at level 1 in one of the following classes. At character creation, players will have the option to select a base class and a bonus of +2 to a base ability score, or a hybrid class (which will recieve this bonus 4 levels into their exclusive tree). Players may have up to two classes in any combination of hybrid and base classes, and can recieve the +2 bonus twice. Players also have the option to select a prestige class starting at level 12, which replaces the base or hybrid class that gave access to it (eg. if a Cleric/Fighter player selects the prestige class Monk out of the Cleric Preservation tree, that player becomes a Monk/Fighter). A player may only have one prestige class and one base or hybrid class.

Base Classes
You've played an RPG before, right?

Fighter
A master of arms and defensive and offensive maneuvers. Access to the Rage, Protection, and Balance trees., allowing unmatched effectiveness with weapons and armor. Fighters may eventually access the Barbarian and Samurai prestige classes.

Rogue
A cunning and deceitful combatant who prefers to engage opponents unaware. Access to the Archery, Skullduggery, and Dueling trees, allowing a multitude of tools to strike unimpeded at helpless targets. Rogues may eventually access the Swashbuckler and Assassin prestige classes.

Mage
A manipulator of the flow of Aether who can manifest extravagant displays of power. Access to the Elemental, Arcane, and Illusion trees, maximizing both defensive and offensive magical capabilities. High level mages may become Psionic or Battlemage prestige classes.

Cleric
A member of the clergy who mends and destroys body and soul. Access to the Preservation, Necromancy, and Healing trees, bolstering themselves and allies both living and dead. Clerics beyond level 12 may prestige into Necromancer or Monk.

Hybrid Classes
Hybrid classes combine some of the abilities of two base classes, as well as some unique to hybrid classes, and offer a somewhat less straightforward play-style.

Druid
One with the natural world, the Druid is employed in the service of spirits, plants and animals to heal and cast down. Blending the techniques of Mages and Clerics, Druids can access the Healing, Wild Magic, and Elemental trees, granting high flexibility in offensive and support spells, as well as melee and shapeshifting capabilities. The only prestige class available to Druids is Battlemage.

Paladin
Paladins represent the militant arm of the church, who in addition to defending the faithful with shield and steel, relentlessly pursue and destroy wizards who stray from the path of righteousness. A mix of Cleric and Fighter, Paladins may use the Protection and Preservation trees, as well as their unique Zeal tree, enabling the total destruction of any enemy magic user. The prestige classes available to Paladins are Monk and Knight.

Ranger
A hybrid of the Fighter and Rogue, Rangers are relentless and hardy warriors of the wilderness, extremely difficult to kill in any situation. Rangers may access the Balance and Archery trees, and through their unique Beastmastery tree, form an unbreakable bond with, and fight alongside, a mighty beast of the wild. The only prestige class available to Rangers is Samurai.

Bard
While the battlefield may not seem the most appropriate place for a musician, the flamboyant Bard possesses a power to rival the most ferocious warriors and accredited wizards. In addition to accessing the Mage's Illusion and Rogue's Dueling trees, the Bard's unique Music tree allows the Bard to bolster themself and their allies while interfering with enemy casters, or perform the strange and terrifying Blade Dance. Bards are able to access two prestige classes, the Psionic and the Swashbuckler.

Prestige Classes
Upon reaching level 12, players may place their feat point in the highest ability tier of a tree. For some trees, that ability unlocks a prestige class, which replaces the class from which the player accessed that ability. If a player has two classes that both allow access to the same prestige class, the higher level class is replaced. This can result in the loss of certain class abilities and features, but will also result in gaining many features of the selected prestige class. Prestige classing is not required nor does every optimal build depend on a prestige class. It is ultimately a choice the player must make.

Knight
The apex of the Protection tree, which specializes in absorbing and mitigating damage against the player and allies while wearing heavy armor and a shield. Knights train with heavy armor from a young age, and are thus able to move much more easily in it than other armored warriors. Knights are also sworn to place themselves in harm's way on behalf of those weaker than themselves, and may perform powerful defensive and protective combat maneuvers.

Samurai
The ultimate expression of a warrior who wields two blades, the Samurai is found at the end of the Balance tree. Restricted to spears, swords, mauls, and bow weapons and unable to wield shields at all, the Samurai's attacks gain much greater speed than those of their less-trained counterparts, and are much more difficult to defend against. At the same time, the Samurai has opportunities to parry and counter that are exceeded only by the Swashbuckler, even while channeling whirlwind attack.

Assassin
Striking from the shadows, the ideal outcome for the assassin is to eliminate an opponent before they even have time to react. Sitting at the top of the Skullduggery tree, the assassin to effectively use either melee or ranged weapons, preferably while hidden or stealthed - in fact, the assassin can even execute some attacks from stealth without blowing their cover, under the right conditions. Poisoned arrows, thrown dirt, vanishing from plain sight, and death defying-leaps are just some of the tools available to the assassin to eliminate their targets.

Swashbuckler
A master duelist also effective against multiple foes, the Swashbuckler improves on its Duelist tree attacks by bolstering the player's ability to engage multiple foes simultaneously, and move much more rapidly around an opponent while striking and evading. The Swashbuckler, like the Samurai, also enjoys increased parry window times as well as attacks that trigger parries. The Swashbuckler's movement options allow their attacks to blend better with dual wield, two handed weapon, or even sword-and-shield attacks and combos.

Psionic
Mages who specialize in mind-manipulating magic, Psionics have mastered the Illusion tree. The illusions and mental attacks of a psionic are especially hard to resist, and psionics who focus on their telekinetic abilities can remotely strike a foe with fists and walls of psychic energy, some may even manifest a telekinetic blade that passes through solid objects to sever the nerves of a hapless opponent.

Battlemage
In a world ruled by those who rule the flow of Aether, there are those who wield magic as a weapon of war. Trained for the front lines of combat, a Battlemage is the ultimate expression of an Elemental Mage. Battlemages do not suffer from the same equipment restrictions as other mages and may cast with full effectiveness in a full suit of heavy armor and large shield. Optimally effective against multiple foes in close combat as well as long range, a Battlemage aims to be the biggest threat on the battlefield.

Necromancer
While all clerics are tasked with the duties of preserving the body and shepherding the spirit into and beyond death, there are certain clerics who interpret these holy vows a little differently. Sacrificing the ability to cast spells from the Healing tree, these clerics still retain the ability to support and bolster their allies, while healing themselves whenever they deal shadow damage, and doing increased damage with spells and minions.

Monk
While most clerics are of the ecclesiastical cloth, it is not uncommon to encounter those of a more monastic point of view. Often pacifists but not always, monks have dedicated their religious experience to the lifelong examination of metaphysical and cosmic mysteries, the unraveling of which can transmit reality-bending supernatural powers. Clerics who choose this prestige class sacrifice much - the ability to cast spells, wear armor, or wield most weapons - but are granted the permanent effects of the preservation spells Vigilant Spirit, Elusive Spirit, and Unbreakable Spirit, as well as a new set of Unarmed attacks. Furthermore, Monks may temporarily transfer the effects of these spells to nearby allies, at the cost of losing it themselves for the duration.

Trees
With all this talk of trees, it might help to illuminate that concept. There are 16 class trees arranged in a wheel that needs a better visual diagram. Each of the 8 base and hybrid classes are able to access 3 adjacent trees. Each of these trees represents a core concept in RPG's, primarily combat styles and schools of magic. Clockwise from the top, the trees are:

Each contains 6 active and 6 passive nodes, and the passive nodes at the end of certain trees unlock the prestige classes discussed above. Placing points in a tree also adds +1/point to one of your offensive or defensive stats, as well as a certain amount of hit points. Placing points in a passive node confers a bonus that is always applied, and active nodes represent spells, skills, and special attacks that are activated by button and trigger press sequences. A player will recieve 2 points to place into nodes at character creation, and one at every level up for a total of 21 at maximum level. Players are permitted up to two classes, so these points may be distributed into a maximum of 6 trees. Each tree has a total of 12 available nodes, but not all are required to reach the top.