Character Class and Attributes

Besides movement controls, most of the player actions in an RPG are performed indirectly by the player characters. This means that the player selects an action to undertake and the character performs it accordingly. The success or failure of the action is determined by the character’s numeric attributes. Video games have internal programming that simulates the die-rolling that generates random results in tabletop RPGs. Some attributes in character creation are purely cosmetic, while others give the player benefits to certain actions. Attributes can also depend on a character’s class. Class is similar to a character’s occupation, and different classes have opposing strengths and weaknesses. The most common classes in fantasy RPGs include fighters, rogues, magic-users, and clerics, with sideline classes including rangers, monks, druids, and dual-classed characters, such as fighters who also cast spells. Fighters generally underline combat-ready attributes, such as strength and dexterity, because they need to be tough and show prowess in a fight. Magic-users have to be smart, because they read spell books and comprehend complex magical algorithms, so they stress more powerful intelligence and wisdom. Rogues capitalize on quickness, stealth, and subterfuge, often in the form of attributes such as dexterity and charisma, because they have to be good at getting into places where they’re not supposed to be and equally good at getting out again. And so on. Making a great fantasy RPG character is a bit like baking a cake. Each one will be different, because each contains a different mixture of ingredients.