Cleric: Clerics are masters of divine magic. Divine magic is especially good at healing. Even an inexperienced cleric can bring people back from the brink of death, and an experienced cleric can even bring back people who have crossed over that brink. As channelers of divine energy, clerics can turn away or even destroy undead creatures. Clerics have some combat training as well. They can use simple weapons, and they are trained in the use of armor, since armor does not interfere with divine spells as it does with arcane spells.

Fighter: Of all classes, fighters have the best all-around fighting capabilities (hence the name). Fighters are generally familiar with all the standard weapons and armors. In addition to general fighting prowess, each fighter develops particular specialties of his or her own. A given fighter may be especially capable with certain weapons, another trained to execute specific fancy maneuvers. As fighters gain experience, they get more opportunities to develop their fighting skills. Thanks to their focus on combat maneuvers, they can master the most difficult ones relatively quickly.

Monk: The key feature of the monk is his ability to fight unarmed and unarmored. Thanks to his rigorous training, he can strike as hard as if he were armed and strike faster than a warrior with a sword. Though monks don't cast spells, they have a magic of their own. They channel a subtle energy, called ki, which allows them to perform amazing feats. The monk's best known feat is his ability to stun an opponent with an unarmed blow. A monk also has a preternatural awareness of attacks. He can dodge an attack even if he is not consciously aware of it. As the monk gains experience and power, his mundane and ki-oriented abilities grow, giving him more and more power over himself and, sometimes, over others.

Paladin: Divine power protects the paladin and gives her special powers. It wards off harm, lets her heal herself, and guards her heart against fear. The paladin can also direct this power to help others, healing their wounds. Finally, the paladin can use this power to destroy evil. Even the least experienced paladin can sense evil, and more experienced paladins can smite evil foes and turn away undead.

Sorcerer: Sorcerers cast spells through innate power rather than through carefully trained skills. Their magic is intuitive rather than logical, and therefore allows them a great versatility over the arcane arts. Sorcerers are also able to wield simple weapons and may even don armor if they wish to, although such constrictions to body movement make spellcasting more difficult. They are the masters of magic amongst the classes and capable of great acts of protection or destruction as their moods dictate.

Ranger: The ranger is at home in the wilds of nature, patrolling forests or mountains with the same ease that people traverse city streets. He is proficient with all simple and martial weapons and capable in combat. His skills allow him to survive in the wilderness, to find his prey, and to avoid detection. He also has special knowledge of certain types of creatures. This knowledge makes him more capable of finding and defeating his foes. Finally, an experienced ranger has such a tie to nature that he can actually draw on natural power to cast divine spells.

Rogue: Rogues share little in common with each other. Some are stealthy thieves. Others are silver-tongued tricksters. Still others are scouts, infiltrators, spies, or thugs. What they share is versatility, adaptability, and resourcefulness. In general, rogues are skilled at getting what others don't want them to get: entrance into a locked treasure vault, safe passage past a deadly trap, secret battle plans, a guard's trust, or some random person's pocket money.

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