Current Events > Games with branching class systems?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I'm thinking of, for example, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones or Secret of Mana 2

Id also accept games like ogre battle, where there technically aren't branching paths but there are classes that logically progress from earlier ones (soldier can become either knight or a fencer, which can become paladin or swordmaster, though you're not restricted to that class and can move between them as long as you have the prerequisite stats)
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Dragon Quest 7 sort of
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Bioware RPGs

If you master the mage and jester class you can become a luminary, and if you master the luminary and paladin classes you can become a druid (not sure on the classes so don't quote me on these but that's the basic structure)
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Xcom 2 isn't branching so much, but after each promotion you pick an ability from one of two paths

I'm also reminded of Golden Sun (the Lost Age) where classes were determined by collectible Djinns (each character could have up to 8, and there were four different elements for them).
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Godnorgosh posted...

Sacred Stones got a lot of flak for being too easy, but that class system was pretty dope

Yeah, strong agree
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Etrian odyssey v
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Final Fantasy tactics series?
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the mmo Everquest 2 does this. or did....I haven't touched it in over a decade. but last time I played, you start as a basic class and then when you hit like level 10, you pick from a handful of advanced classes. so like you start as a warrior "fighter" or something. and then you can eventually turn into a paladin or a shadow knight or ranger or whatever.

Runescape?
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Godnorgosh posted...

Sacred Stones got a lot of flak for being too easy, but that class system was pretty dope

Honestly, I think Sacred Stones is the best FE game, with its only major flaw being the lack of difficulty.
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Maple Story 2, comes out in a month!! Shit is gonna be so good!
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Ragnarok online has a weak version of this.

Novice to 1st job then it branches
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I think the Final Fantasy Tactics games have something like that, or at least they have a job change system where a character can switch jobs but carry over some of the skills they learned in previous ones. Like having a red mage that used to be a white mage, so she has more healing skills.

Balrog0 posted...

Godnorgosh posted...

Sacred Stones got a lot of flak for being too easy, but that class system was pretty dope

Yeah, strong agree

Rikiaz posted...

Honestly, I think Sacred Stones is the best FE game, with its only major flaw being the lack of difficulty.

100% agreed. Sacred Stones had the perfect combination of a great story, fun characters, enjoyable support conversations, lots of different features/options at your disposal, all while being decently challenging (not enough for some Fire Emblem veterans, but perfect for newcomers to the franchise) and having great re-play value. I'm actually playing through it again right now. I'm doing a "harem protagonist" playthrough only using Ephraim and the female characters.

All he wants is to be able to bang his sister in peace...
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Baldur's Gate 2/Neverwinter Nights.

You can switch class whenever you feel like it and start leveling a new class till you hit the levelcap, bit restrictions apply.

You can make a fighter mage, but heavy armor restricts spellcasting. So you do have to plan ahead a little.
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Sajo posted...

Ragnarok online has a weak version of this.

Novice to 1st job then it branches

Oh, that's a good one! Been so long I forgot about that
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FFTA is kind of that way as people have said, but it really just affects stats when leveling, as you could technically grind all the abilities for all the classes for a character without much effort and you get to choose your two skill sets.
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Anteaterking posted...

FFTA is kind of that way as people have said, but it really just affects stats when leveling, as you could technically grind all the abilities for all the classes for a character without much effort and you get to choose your two skill sets.

Yeah, that's what I was trying to describe with my ogre battle example. IMO that's less interesting but the options are kinda limited so I'd still like to hear more
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Nazanir posted...

Baldur's Gate 2/Neverwinter Nights.

You can switch class whenever you feel like it and start leveling a new class till you hit the levelcap, bit restrictions apply.

You can make a fighter mage, but heavy armor restricts spellcasting. So you do have to plan ahead a little.

That isn't really an accurate description of Baldur's Gate's class system. You can't switch classes whenever you feel like it and, in many cases, not at all.

The only circumstance in which you can switch class is when Dual Classing. Something only humans can do. And even then, that isn't switching a class as it is stopping progress of the starting class and adding the new class on top of it. It is also dependent on your character stats.

Other races can Multi-class, have two or three classes at the same time, but they can't change them later.

Some classes, like Paladins, can't be dual or multi-classed or changes at all. If you create a Cavalier at the start, you're stuck with it unless you start over.
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Keep em coming fellas

I think battle of wesnoth which is free (or used to be) has this too
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Bump for day ce
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Vandal Hearts
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Zikten posted...

the mmo Everquest 2 does this. or did....I haven't touched it in over a decade. but last time I played, you start as a basic class and then when you hit like level 10, you pick from a handful of advanced classes. so like you start as a warrior "fighter" or something. and then you can eventually turn into a paladin or a shadow knight or ranger or whatever.

They stopped that a while ago for combat levels. They still do it for tradeskill though.
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Balrog0 posted...

which is free (or used to be)

Still free :D

Recently got ported over to Steam instead of a standalone but it's an amazing turn based strategy game if a bit RNG heavy for anyone who's a fan of the genre.

Der Langrisser is another TBS with branching classes for the heroes:
https://imgur.com/szA5neg

DW6 and 7 are probably the best examples.
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Anteaterking posted...

FFTA is kind of that way as people have said, but it really just affects stats when leveling, as you could technically grind all the abilities for all the classes for a character without much effort and you get to choose your two skill sets.

You do have to unlock the jobs by learning enough abilities in starting jobs, so it's kind of branching. Fairly easy to do in A1, much harder in A2 (Some jobs need to be unlocked by quests, and some jobs require learning multiple abilities in multiple jobs).
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While you can switch in Tactics Ogre: LUCT, you can't switch in Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen. If you change your mind later you have to recruit and train a new unit from scratch. Your class options are also restricted based on your stats.

Seiken Densetsu 3 has a branching class system and you can't go backwards so make sure you are getting the class change you want. It also has branching characters. With each character having 4 classes and 6 different main protagonists you'll need to play the game 8 times total to experiment with every class. Also gives you ample opportunity to see each of the 6 main protag stories although there's only 3 main stories and 2 characters converge on a main story with the only difference being the introduction.

Wizardry series in general has a branching class system. You got some basic classes and then can class change as well. There are some good classes, evil classes, and neutral classes. Good classes can't be used on a team with evil classes but fortunately you can change your character configuration any time you want.
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Tactics Ogre TKOL has path-branching classes in a way, though mostly in the form of logical restrictions/promotions. For instance, units can become Beast/Dragon Tamers, but only if they've never slain a beast/dragon. Clerics can eventually become Priests, but only if they've slain a very low (under 5?) amount of living units. Knights can ascend to Swordsmasters eventually, provided they've dodged three attacks consecutively.
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Valkyria Chronicles 2 has it as well.
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Tyranthraxus posted...

While you can switch in Tactics Ogre: LUCT, you can't switch in Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen. If you change your mind later you have to recruit and train a new unit from scratch. Your class options are also restricted based on your stats.

Hmm did they change that for OB64? I could have sworn you could go back and forth there, too, but its been a while
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Godnorgosh posted...

Sacred Stones got a lot of flak for being too easy, but that class system was pretty dope

Came here to say this.

dungeon travelers 2

has 5 base classes, each with their own class promotion tree sorta like this https://files.catbox.moe/ayxxny.png

the middle class of the final tier can be reached from either of the second tier classes but depending on which route you pick will have different skills/stats
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Balrog0 posted...

Tyranthraxus posted...

While you can switch in Tactics Ogre: LUCT, you can't switch in Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen. If you change your mind later you have to recruit and train a new unit from scratch. Your class options are also restricted based on your stats.

Hmm did they change that for OB64? I could have sworn you could go back and forth there, too, but its been a while

Can't remember for certain but I know you absolutely cannot change in MOTBQ. You can recruit as many units as you can pay for, though. Including pre-upgraded units (Paladins can recruit Knights, for example)

Although not many classes were locked behind weird gimmicks. Werewolf was the main one where you had to let the werewolf boss deliver the killing blow to a fighter, run away, and resurrect the fighter before defeating the werewolf boss. You also had to fight him WHILE he was a werewolf and killing your fighter during the day wouldn't do anything.

A lot of other classes were locked behind items. Vampire / Princess / and the coveted Lich was locked behind 2 items, needing one item for a sorcerer and another to upgrade the sorcerer to the lich.
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