Classes

Acquiring And Changing Classes:[]

In the world of Elos, most (but not all) sentient beings start with two Class Slots, which start out empty. By performing some set of actions, they are given the option to fill an empty class slot with a particular base Class. For instance, after practicing very basic fire magic for a while they might get the option to become a Fire Mage. Such a class starts out at level 1 for humans, though for elves it is believed to start at level 200. Typically, a human will acquire their first class sometime in their mid to late teens, though exceptions are common. A second class can be acquired the same way, but many people delay acquiring a second class for various reasons (in hopes of gaining access to rarer classes, to have more time to spend figuring out their direction in life before choosing a second class, or other reasons). A person's level is considered to be the highest level of any of their classes. It is rumored to be possible to acquire a third class slot, but the overwhelming majority of people don't know for sure if it's even possible to do so. Getting a third class slot seems to require a minimum level of 350, plus accomplishing a feat of particular daring-do.

Classes can 'evolve' to a different class when certain conditions are met. Class evolution is normal at certain levels - many classes get evolution opportunities at level 100, and almost all have evolutions at level 200 (though most humans never reach level 200), and again at level 300. However, specific classes may have very non-standard evolution levels. Evolutions are never mandatory, but are generally overall improvements, though sometimes weaken particular aspects of a class.

It is possible, though rare, for someone to 'drop' a class, freeing up a class slot but losing all progress made in that class. Dropping high-level classes may be a good way to acquire extremely powerful rare classes. It is unclear what happens to floating attribute points gained from leveling a class when it is dropped.

Classes are not of equal quality. The term "rare" is sometimes used to describe better classes that are harder to get, but could also be used to describe less popular classes, which may be less popular due to being weaker. In practice, information on how to get some classes is often kept secret, and those known to have such classes who do not have backing may be quietly assassinated to help preserve the power of institutions with monopolies (noble houses, healing orders, et cetera).

The Benefits of Classes:[]

There are certain benefits to leveling up that are universal to all classes. Every class grants five spendable attribute points at each level-up (exception: third classes only grant one point on level-up). These spendable attribute points may be allocated freely among the six attributes (once, you don't get to change your mind). Upon reaching level 200, aging slows down dramatically (this is important for short-lived races such as humans). Aging may be further slowed by reaching level 300.

Besides the spendable attribute bonuses, each class grants a set of class-specific static attribute bonuses. For instance, Fire Mage grants +5 Vitality, +10 Intelligence, and +10 Wisdom. Note that these bonuses do not accumulate on class evolution - the newly evolved classes bonuses will replace the old classes bonuses.

In addition, every class has ten class skill slots, split in to five for passive skills and five for active skills. Class skills may have requirements (such as a minimum level in the class), or may be granted immediately upon entering the class. If your number of active or passive class skills from a particular class exceeds five, then you will have to choose some to forego so that you can fit them in to the five active skill slots or five passive skill slots. All progress in dropped skills is lost.

And finally, each class has certain special benefits. Most commonly a percentage boost applied in some manner to a specific category of skill (example: "All healing magic skills are improved by 100%"). A single class can have several such benefits - three or four is common. Some benefits take other forms (example: "All fighting styles using hand to hand combat are more refined"), while some benefits are entirely unclear in their meaning (example: the class "Kin of Ash" has a line "Your will is ash and embers" appear in the section listing special class benefits). These benefits are not restricted to the class granting them, and multiple such benefits stack linearly. For instance, if you have two classes each granting +100% effectiveness to Healing Magic, then Healing Magic skills from either class will operate at +200% effectiveness.

Classes are divided in to combat classes and production classes. Both can gain levels from training the associated skills, though this is usually only a viable strategy at low levels (less than 50). Combat classes can gain levels from killing foes, while production classes can gain levels from producing items. In each case, there are limits which become increasingly severe as level increases. For combat classes, at higher levels it becomes increasingly necessary that the foes slain be high level, while for production classes it becomes increasingly necessary the the items produced be made from rare materials.

Classes obtained through rare evolutions often have highly specific chunni-ish names. A base class might have a name like "Fire Mage" or "Spearman", but classes evolved at higher levels often have names like "Prophecy of the Wind" or "Rose of Everlasting Winter". This correlates slightly with class quality, but is not a reliable indicator even amongst classes available at the same level - for instance, "Kin of Ash" is likely of substantially higher quality than "Empress of Eternal Ash" even though it has a less chunni name and both being rare classes specialized in ash magic evolved to at level 300. And both are likely dramatically better than "Prophecy of the Wind" (which is probably evolved to at level 100, and thus likely much much weaker).

The system divides classes among a number of different archetypes - "Warrior", "Mage", "Ranger", "Hunter", "Smith", etc. This is seen through the Identify skill, which tells you the archetype of the highest level class a person has. However, this division of archetypes seems rather crude, often assigning a class to an archetype it isn't a good fit for (the class "Azarinth Healer" is assigned to the "Healer" archetype, but is more oriented towards close-combat than healing), or disregarding the classes name (there is a "Hunter" archetype, but the class "Azarinth First Hunter" is considered to be part of the "Warrior" archetype instead, despite its name and it having tracking & sensory skills). Generally, a Warrior is likely to have skills oriented towards weapon-based close combat, while a Mage is likely to have skills for ranged attacks that consume mana and, at higher levels (say, 150 or thereabouts), flight or short range teleportation.

In addition to the systems divisions, people in Elos apply their own descriptions. They talk of "tanks" (the meaning is the same as the RL gaming term), "body enhancer" classes (refers to classes oriented towards skills in the Body Enhancement category, especially those that improve basic physical capabilities; at lower levels such classes often have "Enhancer" in the name), and "creator" classes (refers to elemental magic classes with a [element name] Creation skill that lets them create their element directly out of mana; such classes are considered to have extra mystic significance or potential). Readers have also applied terms like "weapon user" classes (those like "Spearmaster" or "Prodigy of the Spear"), though I don't believe that term has occurred in the story.

A hidden benefict of the classes is the self change as of evolve. We talk here about a increase of the "harmony" which allows the body’ to accept said changes from a near instinctual perspective. More harmony with the magic born within the individual will lead to an improvement of control, the magic flow will be smoother with less resistance, spells activated faster (the spell cooldowns remained the same). Those change are gradual, but there are some skills can help improving the harmony. It's with the 3rd stage of Deviant of Humanity Ilea feels a great increase of harmony and with this she was abble to control two more ash limbs. (ch. 593-594)

The Third Class[]

For many, it's unknown. For the powerful, just some rumors. Only the greatest can only be capable to reach the possibility to possess a third class.

To get the third class, the minimum level required is 350 and it's necessary to complete some achievements beyond the limits of humanity. Even Ilea is a irregularity for unlocking it this soon.

The announcement[]

Following requirements have been met. Has unlocked at least one unique class. All class skills leveled into the third tier. Has defeated a level 750 creature or higher without assistance. You have fought and survived three battles against a level 1000 creature or higher. Has significantly contributed to the defeat of one or more level 1000 creatures or higher.

You have proven to be truly extraordinary. The potential of one additional Class has been unlocked.

Additional Classes exceeding your race’s limitations will have subdued effects. They cannot be chosen as main Classes due to their abnormal nature.

The subdued effects[]

Three active skills
Three passive skills
Grants one spendable attribute point

Classes unlock[]

Other[]

Choosing the third class unlock the Core skill points. This points replace third tier skill points.