6.1 How Classes Work

When you first create a character, you choose a class. Each class grants some basic class features to all members of that class. In addition, each class has a number of archetypes that grant more powerful and specific abilities.

6.1.1 Base Class

Your class grants you a specific set of benefits. They are listed under the heading “Base Class Effects”. If you have multiple classes, you only gain these benefits for one of your classes, which is called your base class.

6.1.2 Archetypes

Each class has five class archetypes. An archetype is a collection of thematically related abilities. For example, barbarians have the Battlerager archetype, which grants abilities related to being angry and flying into a rage in combat.

Archetype Ranks

You have an archetype rank associated with each of your archetypes. Each ability from an archetype has a minimum rank required to gain the ability. When you gain a rank in an archetype, you gain all abilities associated with that rank. In addition, some of your existing abilities may increase their power based on your rank in that archetype.

At 1st level, you choose a single archetype from your class (or classes). You become rank 1 in that archetype, and you do not have any other archetypes. At 2nd and 3rd level, you choose an additional archetype from your class or classes. Each time, you become rank 1 in that archetype.

After 3rd level, you never gain additional archetypes. Instead, at each level, you increase your rank in one of your existing archetypes. Each archetype rank has a minimum level, as shown on Table 6.1: Archetype Ranks by Level. The minimum level is included in each class table as a reminder. In practice, this means that you have to increase all of your ranks evenly instead of specializing in a single archetype.

Duplicate Archetypes

Clerics and paladins have an identical Divine Magic archetype. You cannot gain two archetypes with the same name.

6.1.3 Multiclass Characters

You can spend two insight points to become a multiclass character (see Insight Points). If you do, choose a class you don’t already have. You gain the following benefits relating to that class.

• You choose whether the class becomes your base class. If your base class changes, you lose all benefits of your original base class, and instead gain the benefits of your new base class.
• If the class has any special class abilities which are not part of an archetype, such as a warlock’s soul pact ability, you gain those abilities.
• Whenever you gain a new archetype, you may choose an archetype from any class you belong to.

You may gain access to multiple classes in this way, spending two insight points for each class.

6.1.4 Late Multiclassing

If have multiple archetypes when you become a multiclass character, you may exchange any number of your existing archetypes for that many archetypes from your new class. However, you must always have at least one archetype from your base class.

The GM can decide whether you are allowed to become a multiclass character after level 1. Multiclassing can significantly change your character’s abilities. That may not be narratively appropriate for all campaigns. In general, the higher level you are before multiclassing, the stronger the narrative justification should be.