So far we know that certain races will be able to choose specific classes. And with that there are some classes which can't be played by race X or Y.
My question to the community here is; Should the lore of Terminus or racial lore (or none at all) explain why certain races can be those classes?
In other words, are all paladins tied somehow to the world of Terminus and therefore are able to be chosen as a carrier by race X and Y?
Are classes a result from "divine, celestial, whathaveyou"- forces in Terminus that define what classes are possible at this specific time on the planet of Terminus?
Or do we as players willingly accept that it's a design choice, no questions asked.
Personally, I like the idea of having the lore of the race explain why there are specific class"preferrences" by that race. I also like how the formation of classes is being stimulated by things within Terminus. Worshipping the same god for example could allow you to become wizards for example. And it could be this overlapping worshipping of the same god that links races with one another based on classoptions.
Then again, not everything has to be explained.. or does it?
Another reason for this post was, the thought of where do abilities, spells, class specific skills originate from.
Sometimes in games it feels off when you gain a level a new ability or spell pops onto your hotbar, no matter where you are or what you were doing.
I find it more interesting that when I level, someone or something I can go out to in the world, interact with and learn or grow. And this would be a process of gaining new spells and abilities.
Similar to a dnd wizard (if I'm not mistaking), you need to find spells or books and learn from them to evolve.
It doesn't really require a genius to think of ways how each class can have such paths. (trainers, runes, tablets, scripts, prayer, scrolls, beings in the world,...)
Great post. Some answers to your question can be found in this newsletter from 2017. https://pantheonmmo.com/newsletter/2017_february_classes_of_pantheon/
The short answer is that some combinations have foundations in the lore (but aren’t necessarily overtly stated), while others are more of a practical nature (e.g. Ogres don’t have the dexterity to play an instrument and be a Bard). There has been some further discussion and theorycrafting about why certain races can’t be certain classes as well. For example, the Archai may not be able to be Summoners given their history as a slave race on their homeworld. As with most of the lore, my preference is for there to be reasons, but keep it mysterious. Relay it in tales and subtle ways that sparks the imagination.
I was thinking about this very question lately, and it led me to make a video about this very topic. I posted a link over in the fan creations sections if you want to check it out. I talk about the Monk, Wizard, and Enchanters from a lore perspective.
I watched your post that very same day, Therek. Good fun, well done.
My aim here is to stir up opinions on; should it be explained in the game itself via lore or not. This as a "further explanation" of the dev's choices on class and race combos.
Would you like to know why dwarves are destined to become bard, cleric, paladin, enchanter, rogue, warrior and not dire lords or druids. Does it have to do with their planet of origin or with their racial inherent motivations or perhaps it's their legacy of their high king that dictates them this or that.
Or should all this lore not be present at all and dwarves just start as paladin from sec 1 in the game?
What influence do the classes have that this specific race can not pick..? Do the dwarves fear them, hate them, lost connection with the way of a ranger (for example).
Or should it just be left abscent in the starting village of the dwarves and no dwarf is familiar with other classes but their own? No questioned asked.
OR do you start as a common dwarf without a class and get introduced in the different possible classes and choose your class from there? (not going into how long this period should be)
I think there is room for stories that depict the class tendencies of each race, yet don't define things in an explicit way. Makes me think of the signature character stories we've been told so far. These are characters in the world and there are definetely class connections to them. I think of this lore as being the kind of detail that can be inferred through the racial lore at the outset. So when you pick your race and class during character creation, I don't think there should be a lengthy lore description of how that race and class connect. To detail why certain races can't be certain classes would be a level of detail might be better left to the imagination.
Perhaps as the world develops (eg. launch into expasions), certain races become the dominant class in Terminus. For example, Halflings undertake to seek and exterminate the Silent Wraith and in doing so become the definitive Druid class.