{"schemaVersion":1,"record":{"key":"mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-character-classes","type":"mechanic","id":"game-mechanics--gm-character-classes","lang":"en","title":"Character classes","summary":"A class defines a character’s tools, strengths and role, changing how they solve problems and contribute to a team.","updatedAt":"2026-10-21","status":"active","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-character-classes/","jsonUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-character-classes.json","markdownUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-character-classes.md","aliases":[],"tags":["Game design techniques","Abilities","Character"],"sourceIds":["source-07b65da1dc2fe9b3","source-83fdca653df94ce5","source-9f534bd1171b0ab1","source-64b5d9613b4b6662","source-342e085753c5e586","source-4fbe0ec86af26f62","source-d7b824ec8d06ee50","source-8a51b8719e42ba1a","source-e86545dce21ba1dc","source-0a031a39aeeef0d8"],"sources":[{"id":"source-07b65da1dc2fe9b3","title":"Game Mechanics: Character classes","url":"https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/character-classes","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-83fdca653df94ce5","title":"Diablo (1996)","url":"https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/character-classes/game/diablo","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-9f534bd1171b0ab1","title":"Battlefield 3 (2011)","url":"https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/character-classes/game/battlefield-3","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-64b5d9613b4b6662","title":"PlanetSide 2 (2012)","url":"https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/character-classes/game/planetside-2","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-342e085753c5e586","title":"Battlefield 4 (2013)","url":"https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/character-classes/game/battlefield-4","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-4fbe0ec86af26f62","title":"Star Wars Battlefront II (2017)","url":"https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/character-classes/game/star-wars-battlefront-ii-2017","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-d7b824ec8d06ee50","title":"Insurgency: Sandstorm (2018)","url":"https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/character-classes/game/insurgency-sandstorm","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-8a51b8719e42ba1a","title":"Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Breakpoint (2019)","url":"https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/character-classes/game/tom-clancys-ghost-recon-breakpoint","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-e86545dce21ba1dc","title":"Battlefield 6 (2025)","url":"https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/character-classes/game/battlefield-6","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-0a031a39aeeef0d8","title":"Deep Rock Galactic","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/","verifiedAt":null}],"sections":[{"id":"principle","title":"How it works","body":"A selected class defines an ability set and gameplay role."},{"id":"variants","title":"Variants","body":"### How the technique works\n\n<a id=\"gm-character-classes-rule\"></a>\n\n- A selected class defines an ability set and gameplay role. <a id=\"gm-character-classes-definition\"></a>"},{"id":"context","title":"Context and limits","body":"All 199 Game Mechanics entries at the check date: player actions, systems, presentation techniques and contested patterns. Entries are grouped by their first source-card category; all categories appear in their descriptions. Definitions use original wording. References link to game-specific galleries; images and videos remain at the source."}],"relations":[],"placements":[{"catalogId":"game-mechanics","id":"gm-character-classes","title":"Game design techniques","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/game-mechanics/#gm-character-classes","categoryIds":["gm-category-character","gm-category-abilities"]}],"supersededBy":[],"attributes":{"preview":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-21","title":"Character classes","description":"A class defines a character’s tools, strengths and role, changing how they solve problems and contribute to a team.","image":{"src":"images/mechanics/drg-loadout.webp","width":1440,"height":810,"game":"Deep Rock Galactic","sourceUrl":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/","originalUrl":"https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/548430/ss_4cac98f49fde6e994a64e813baaf7b34a195d2cc.1920x1080.jpg?t=1792497307","credit":"Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing","rights":"© Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing. All rights reserved.","caption":"The Driller’s equipment","alt":"Deep Rock Galactic: the Driller loadout shows a flamethrower, pistol, explosive charges and reinforced drills.","markers":[{"x":49,"y":94,"label":"The selected class is Driller"},{"x":86,"y":43,"label":"Drills provide a distinct way to create routes"}]},"tips":["Give each class a useful action beyond dealing damage.","Explain a role through a task, not only a list of statistics."],"examples":[{"title":"Deep Rock Galactic","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/"}]}},"endsAt":null,"provenance":"Editorial reference index based on the 199 public Game Mechanics pattern pages checked on 2026-10-20. Original concise RU/EN definitions by gamemechanics.pro; pattern names, category associations and game-reference URLs retained from gamemechanics.org. The source gallery includes a film analogy. Linked materials retain their original rights; references are upstream attributions, not independent verification.","license":"CC-BY-4.0","codeLicense":"MIT","attribution":"gamemechanics.pro contributors","catalogKey":"catalog/game-mechanics"}}