Chapter 3: Classes

The first section of each class describes the interests and tendencies typical of that class, as well as information on how others view them. This can help inspire you as you determine your character's actions and define their personality, but you aren't obligated to play your character as this section describes.

This is the attribute modifier that a member of your class cares about the most. Many of your most useful and powerful abilities are tied to this attribute in some way.
For instance, this is the attribute modifier you'll use to determine the Difficulty Class (DC) associated with your character's class features and feats. This is called your class DC. If your character is a member of a spellcasting class, this key attribute is used to calculate spell DCs and similar values.
Most classes are associated with one key attribute modifier, but some allow you to choose from two options. For instance, if you're a witchwarper, you can choose either Intelligence or Charisma as your key attribute.
Additionally, when you choose your character's class, they gain an attribute boost to their key attribute modifier, increasing that attribute modifier by 1. For more about attribute boosts, see Step 6: Finish Attribute Modifiers.

This section tells you how many Hit Points your character gains from their class at each level. To determine your character's starting Hit Points, add together the Hit Points they got when you chose their ancestry and the amount listed in this entry, which equals your Constitution modifier plus a fixed number. Classes that intend for characters to rush into battle with weapons raised gain a higher number of Hit Points each level, while characters who cast spells or engage in trickery gain fewer.
Each time your character gains a level, they increase their maximum Hit Points by the amount listed in this entry. For more about calculating your character's Constitution modifier and determining their Hit Points, see Step 7: Record Class Details.

When you choose your character's class, they gain a set of initial proficiencies. Proficiencies measure your character's ability to perform tasks, use abilities, and succeed at checks. Proficiency ranks range from trained to legendary. For instance, a character trained with a battle ribbon can use it effectively to dispatch foes, while a character who is legendary with the weapon might be able to spell out their name in decorative cursive script with just a flick of their wrist!
Each class entry specifies your character's initial proficiency rank in Perception, saving throws, attacks, defenses, and class DC. You gain the trained proficiency rank in several skills. The exact number depends on your class, and some classes specify certain additional skills that you're trained in. If your class would make you trained in a skill you're already trained in (typically due to your background), you can select another skill to become trained in.
A proficiency rank can unlock various feats and class features, and it also helps determine the modifier for any check you roll or DC you calculate related to that statistic. If your character is trained in Perception, a saving throw, or another statistic, they gain a proficiency bonus equal to their level + 2, while if they have expert proficiency, they gain a proficiency bonus equal to their level + 4. For more about proficiency ranks, see Step 9: Calculate Modifiers.
Spellcasting classes grant a proficiency rank for spell attacks and DCs, which are further detailed in each class's entry. These classes rarely use their class DC.
If something isn't listed in your character's class entry, their proficiency rank in that statistic is untrained unless they gain training from another source. If your character is untrained in something, you add a proficiency bonus of +0 when attempting a check or calculating a DC related to that statistic.

This table summarizes the feats, skill increases, attribute boosts, and other benefits your character gains as they advance in level. The first column of the class table indicates a level, and the second column lists each feature your character receives when they reach that level. The 1st-level entry includes a reminder to select your ancestry and background.

This section presents all the abilities the class grants your character. An ability gained at a higher level lists the required level next to the ability's name. All classes include the class features detailed below, and each class also gets special class features specific to it. Many class features require you to choose between options. Unless the specific ability states otherwise, such decisions can't be changed without retraining.

Each archetype's dedication feat represents your character's dedicated effort learning a new set of abilities, making it impossible to split your focus and pursue another archetype at the same time. Once you take a dedication feat, you can't select a different dedication feat until you complete your dedication by taking two other feats from your current archetype. You can't retrain a dedication feat as long as you have any other feats from that archetype.

Some archetypes include a list of “Additional Feats” that appear in other sources. The list includes each feat's level, which might be different than normal when gained from the archetype. You can take the feat as an archetype feat of that level, meaning it counts toward the number of feats required by the archetype's dedication feat. When selected this way, a feat that normally has a class's trait (such as the soldier trait) doesn't have that class trait.

Sometimes an archetype feat lets you select another feat, such as a class feat of a lower level. You must always meet any prerequisites of the feat you gain in this way. These always count as only one feat for the purposes of your dedication; for example, taking the envoy archetype's Basic Leadership feat to gain the Don't You Die On Me! class feat counts as only one feat, not two.

Some archetypes grant you a substantial degree of spellcasting, albeit delayed compared to a character from a spellcasting class. The spellcasting ability from a spellcasting archetype also allows you to use Cast a Spell activations of items (such as spell chips and spell gems).
Spellcasting archetypes always grant the ability to cast cantrips in their dedication, and then they have a basic spellcasting feat, an expert spellcasting feat, and a master spellcasting feat. These feats share their name with the archetype; for instance, the witchwarper's master spellcasting feat is called Master Witchwarper Spellcasting. All spell slots you gain from spellcasting archetypes are subject to the restrictions within the archetype. For instance, the mystic archetype allows you to pick a connection when you take its dedication feat. If you pick a connection granting divine spells, the archetype then grants you spell slots you can use only to cast divine spells you prepare as a mystic, even if you are a witchwarper with occult spells in your repertoire.
Basic Spellcasting Feat: Usually available at 4th level, these feats grant a 1st-rank spell slot. At 6th level, they grant you a 2nd-rank spell slot, and if you have a spell repertoire, you can select one spell from your repertoire as a signature spell. At 8th level, they grant you a 3rd-rank spell slot. Archetypes refer to these benefits as the “basic spellcasting benefits.”
Expert Spellcasting Feat: Typically taken at 12th level, these feats make you an expert in spell attack modifiers and spell DCs and grant you a 4th-rank spell slot. If you have a spell repertoire, you can select a second spell from your repertoire as a signature spell. At 14th level, they grant you a 5th-rank spell slot, and at 16th level, they grant you a 6th-rank spell slot. Archetypes refer to these benefits as the “expert spellcasting benefits.”
Master Spellcasting Feat: Usually found at 18th level, these feats make you a master in spell attack modifiers and spell DCs and grant you a 7th-rank spell slot. If you have a spell repertoire, you can select a third spell from your repertoire as a signature spell. At 20th level, they grant you an 8th-rank spell slot. Archetypes refer to these benefits as the “master spellcasting benefits.”

Some archetype feats in other books have the skill trait, allowing you to take them in place of a skill feat rather than a class feat. A skill feat still counts to satisfy the requirement of the dedication. There are also class archetypes that can modify your class's abilities as soon as 1st level. You can never have more than one class archetype.