| abstract | - Part of the project to reorganize tropes related to Character Class. Next to leveling up, the class system is one of the most distinctive parts of an RPG. While not all of them have classes, it's ingrained enough that you know that Fighter or Warrior means someone with lots of armor, a Thief is someone with a lot of speed who steals things, a Mage is someone slinging spells around, etc. There are 3 main types of RPG Class Systems.
* Type 1: Single Class Characters. In this system, a given character starts off in a given class and will remain that class forever. Games in this system usually, though not always, give you characters with predetermined classes, and if these classes never overlap, than the class label is more a description of the character's abilities than a traditional class.
* Type 2: Class Evolution. Similar to type one, this system still locks a given character on a certain track, however their class title will change at some point, either due to leveling up enough or completing a side quest. A Warrior may become a Knight, a Thief a Ninja, an all sorts of other upgrades. The upgraded class is usually, though not always, unquestionably superior to the previous class, likely having better ability growths, new abilities, and the ability to use better weapons and armor. Occasionally this system will give the player a branched choice, for example, letting an Archer class change into a Sniper with better stats, or a Mounted Archer with more mobility.
* Type 3: Class Swap. In this system, a character may change what their class is in a way other than upgrading as in type 2. There are 2 main sub-types of this system.
* Type 3a, Job System. Named after what Final Fantasy calls this, this system allows character to change classes more or less on a whim. There may be minor penalties for changing, but you'll still be at your same Character Level, just having a different ability set. This system lends itself to having a separate leveling system for classes, meaning changing classes will have you keep your Character Level, but your new job has to be leveled up.
* Type 3b, Reincarnation. Named after the system in Disgaea, this system allows a character to change classes, but they have to drop back down to level one. Games using this system may allow the character to keep some of their stats or abilities as they change class, the important part is that the only way to change classes is to go back to level one. Keep in mind that it's possible for one game to use multiple types, for example, a Pokémon that is part of an evolutionary line could be considered under type 2, but a Pokemon that isn't part of a line could be considered a type 1. Examples of Orphaned/Sandbox/Drafting RPG Class System include:
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