“Any more questions?” Sum offered as its eyes became one again.
“What’s next for us?’ Fayde asked. She knew from Sum’s look a moment ago that any more questions like the purpose and function of the System would only end in more vague, non-answers, and be more trouble than was worth asking.
“If you were being introduced into the System the normal way, you would be presented with your starter class options a while ago. Would you like to view the options now?”
“Better be something good.” Fayde said with a huff.
“Starting options are the same for everyone. What you become from there is dependent on your actions.”
A semitransparent screen appeared in front of each of them. They couldn’t see the screens in front of the others, only their own screen. On each screen was the same prompt.
Please Select a Class:
1. Heavy Warrior 2. Medium Warrior 3. Light Warrior 4. Archer 5. Mage 6. Healer
As they focus on a class, details about the class were presented on another screen. Lith and Fayde took the time to look over all of the options.
Heavy Warrior:
A tanky class that features high survivability and damage. It is the slowest class, and lacks magical defense, but makes up for it with a larger health pool compared to other classes.
Class Skills: Taunting Roar, Mighty Swing
Attributes Per Level: Vitality +10, Toughness +10, Strength +5, Endurance +5, Dexterity +2,
Free Points Per Level: 5
The description and attribute distribution looked standard for a font line tank class. Some of the attributes seemed to overlap in meaning, but they probably represented different aspects of the word. For example, Toughness and Endurance could be seen as correlated in their meaning to resist change but could be broken down in two separate ways when applied to a body. Toughness might apply to how resistant to damage a body was whereas Endurance might apply to how long one could endure. Another way of looking at the difference was Toughness was a Damage Threshold and Endurance was Stamina. They wouldn’t know until they chose a class and gained a level more than likely, but it was a good basis to go on. Vitality, Strength, and Dexterity were easier to figure out. Vitality probably translated into Health, Dexterity into Speed, and Strength being the most transparent as to what it affected, the literal strength of the muscles of the body. Maybe the other classes could shine light on the other attributes and how they affected the body.
Medium Warrior:
A strictly marshal class, Medium Warriors have less armor than Heavy Warrior but more than Light Warriors. They are the middle ground of a tank and a skirmisher. They lack magical defense but offer a more tactical approach to combat.
Class Skills: Dodge, Parry
Attributes Per Level: Vitality +10, Endurance +5, Strength +5, Toughness +5, Dexterity +5
Free Points Per Level: 7
Compared to the Heavy Warrior, the Medium Warrior had more base attributes per level, but broke even in overall attributes because of the Free Points gained per level. Looks like the System didn’t want to give one class any more advantage over the other. When it came to Class Skills though, the Medium Warrior was more versatile, although seemed to lack a damage dealing skill out the door, not to discredit Parry. A well-executed parry could leave an enemy open to a fatal blow, turning the tide of any fight.
Light Warrior
While lacking in durability compared it the heavier combat classes, the Light Warrior is the fastest. Be you a skirmisher or an assassin, the Light Warrior is a whirlwind on the battlefield, dodging blades and spells in equal measure.
Class Skills: Stealth, Sneak Attack
Attributes Per Level: Dexterity +10, Endurance +10, Strength +5, Vitality +5, Toughness +2
Free Points Per Level: 5
Like the Heavy Warrior, the Light Warrior seemed to be a specialized class favoring speed and stamina over strength and durability. It even mentioned two combat styles in the description. The attribute distribution was also similar to the Heavy Warrior, offering only 5 free points. But that was the end of the melee classes.
Archer
Whether in cover or at a distance, you always hit your target. Archers are fast and precise killers.
Class Skills: Power Shot, Archer’s Eye
Attributes Per Level: Perception +10, Dexterity +10, Wisdom +5, Endurance +5, Strength +2
Free Points Per Level: 5
The Archer had two new attributes that were being modified: Perception and Wisdom. Perception obviously meant visual acuity. Wisdom, however, was ambiguous in their interpretations. Did it mean one would just become wiser, gaining more insights passively? Surely the system wouldn’t make life that easy. So, what else could make someone wise? Lith and Fayde both had combat experience from their time as military members and military contractors. One could say that an Archer was a technologically simplified soldier. So, could Wisdom affect situational awareness and intuition? It did make more sense, but maybe the Mage and Healer classes could provide more insight, and more attributes.
Mage
A damage focused magic user, the Mage is the starting point for those who want to channel the underlying forces of reality and shape it. While not as physically strong as melee classes, the magic you wield can bypass most defenses.
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Class Skills: Mana Bolt, Mana Shield
Attributes Per Level: Intelligence +10, Will+10, Wisdom +5, Perception +5, Vitality +2
Free Attributes Per Level: 5
The Mage class offered two new attributes, Intelligence and Will. Having no previous experience with magic before, determining how these attributes affected them was a bit of a mystery. Normally, intelligence was used to imply or quantify how smart someone was, but with no previous knowledge of magic how could someone know anything about it? Maybe it would be used for calculations? A “smart machine” from their world could store and decipher a lot of information, thanks to the efforts of Alan Turing during WWII. Would Intelligence make the human brain a better thinking machine when applied to spell casting? Then there was Will. When you forced your will on something, you exerted control over it. So, would Will help someone control magic? The description of the class also mentioned the mana. That meant there was a measurable aspect to the amount of magic someone could cast. Did Intelligence or Will affect the amount of mana one had? They would have to figure that out later.
Healer
A role not typically meant for combat, the Healer is the support caster class, meant to aid their allies during and after combat.
Class Skills: Heal, Cure
Attributes Per Level: Intelligence +10, Will +10, Dexterity +5, Vitality +5, Endurance +2
Free Points Per Level: 5
Compared to the Mage, the Healer class was presented as more mobile with higher Dexterity and Endurance. But they still focused on Intelligence and Will, meaning that both of those attributed were directly correlated to the ability to use magic.
“We need to think about party formation.” Stated Lith. “There are six classes and six of us. Either we can each take a different one, or some of us can double up. What do you think we should do Fayde?”
She thought for a moment before speaking. There were six people in her family, and six classes. Was that intended or a coincidence? Before she could ask Sum a question about the classes, Matia spoke up.
“I’m picking Heavy Warrior.” She said as she clicked the class and a following prompt that asked her to confirm her selection. As soon as her selection was made, a suit of heavy plate mail appeared on her. A simple round shield manifested on her left arm with a longsword on her hip. She staggered a bit from the weight of the armor and shield before righting herself with a grunt.
“Matia!” Fayde exclaimed. “We’re supposed to talk this over. Why are you putting yourself on the front line? The Heavy Warrior is made to take a lot of damage.”
“You should have left that class for me. It’s my job to protect you all.” Lith agreed.
“You two are supposed to be the smartest people in the family, our leaders.” Matia retorted. “Sure, you could lead from the front, but if something happens to you, if you overestimate yourself and underestimate whatever we face then we lose one of the main supports in this family.”
Fayde and Lith were left flabbergasted. Matia was smart and insightful, but equally impulsive. She would have done better as a light warrior, as the attributes would have complemented her nicely, but with her decision already made, what else could they do?
“I’ll still be taking the Heavy Warrior class as well then.” Lith said about to repeat the process.
“Lith, wait.” Said Fayde and Lith stopped the selection. “We should each pick one of the available classes, and respect Matia’s wishes. She’s almost an adult woman. She can make decisions that don’t require our interference.”
“Fine.” Lith said with a huff. “So should I take medium warrior then?”
“No. I’ll take medium warrior. The skills and attributes fit my martial arts training better.” Fayde had practiced several martial arts when she was working as a military contractor and private security. She was verry skilled with swords and other weapons to boot. Realistically, she could be considered the “all-rounder” of the family, but that only made her a better fit for the medium warrior class. “You were a combat medic in the Army. Healer is a role better suited for you.”
Lith looked unconvinced at first. She was right. He was a combat medic in the U.S. Army. But that was years ago, and he never made it past basic training because of an injury that led to his now previous sciatica condition. If he hadn’t been injured, Lith had planned to continue in the medical field and become a doctor. With resignation, he had to admit to himself that Healer was the better class for him. Being the healer of the group would allow him to assume a paternal role. He could still help his family, just not directly at first. Maybe he could incorporate combat into the healer class later on.
“Okay.” He said with a sigh. “I’ll hold off until everyone else has made their selection just in case. We still need to figure out Light Warrior, Archer, and Mage however.”
Fayde made her selection as the medium warrior and a set of half plate armor appeared, covering her chest, forearms, thighs, and shins. Instead of a shield and longsword appearing to match her set, two Shashka manifested. One on each hip. They had cross guards and a larger rounded pommel to offset the weight of the curved blades. Fayde before looking at the rest of their family. They still had to make class decisions for Trevor, Enki, and Guidry. So far of the three that had made class selections, the two melee fighters were female, and one of the casters was male, breaking the typical sex roles associated with classes. Should that be the standard for them? Fayde and Lith had always been on the mind that roles based on sex and gender were ridiculous. That really wasn’t her decision to make for her children, however. They were adults for the most part and could make their own choices.
“Trevor. Enki. Guidry. What would you like to be?” Fayde asked.
They remained silent for moments, contemplating. Fayde and Lith had just talked about how certain attributes complemented the skills that had already been trained. What skills did they have? What suited them best?
“I’ll take light warrior.” Trevor said. If her mom and younger sister were going to accept front line roles, she would join them. Show the men that woman could be just as deadly on the battlefield. With a nod from her mom, she selected and accepted the class. Trevor got a suit of black leather armor and two short swords.
That just left Enki and Guidry to choose between Archer and Mage. Neither of them were melee or front line classes. One of them relied on observation and timing, while the other demanded mental flexibility. In Fayde’s opinion, Enki was better suited for the archer and Guidry the mage classes.
“I’m not sure.” Enki said. “I’d rather be a front-line melee class like mom, but if we’re each going to start a different class then I can’t really decide between Archer and Mage.” He turned to his nephew. “Why don’t you decide for me Guidry?”
“Me?” He asked.
“Yes, what would you like to be? I’ll pick the other to round out the family.”
Guidry took only a moment to decide. “I want to be a mage.”
“Then I’ll be the Archer.”
“You sure that’s ok?” Guidry asked.
“Of course.” Enki said as he made his selection. Similar to Trevor, he was decked with black leather armor, but a bow and quiver of arrows appeared on his back.
Guidry made his selection of Mage, and his clothes were replaced with a deep blue robe with a book on his hip. He frowned as he looked and felt over his robes.
“What’s wrong baby?” Trevor asked.
“There’s no wand.” He said with a pout, which caused Fayde, Lith, and Trevor to smile and chuckle to themselves. He was a young teen, but still a child at heart.
Lith was the last one to make his selection after waiting to see if one of the children wanted to be a healer instead. Like Guidry he was given a robe, however it was white instead of a dark blue. Similarly, Lith found a book on his hip. What the books were for he had no idea, but when he opened it he found the writing on the pages were moving around.
“Umm, Sum.” Lith entreated. “Why are the words on the pages moving?”
“Because you haven’t resolved a path yet.” It answered. “You’ll find the first two spells available to you and young Guidry will make themselves known to you as soon as you make it to the integration trial. Anything beyond that will be on you to coax the secretes of the book out of.”