Archetypes & Traits
Dear Erisians,
If you have not yet read the previous post on character creation, it’s advised to start there to understand our philosophy vis-a-vis character creation systems.
Let’s get started addressing both the archetype and trait systems.
Archetypes
Our class system has two tiers: a base archetype and an advanced class that can be selected later in the game. Your chosen archetype determines your energy gains per level, the number of available skill points, and your access to specific skills and equipment.
The four basic archetypes are as follows:
- Fighter: Versatile and martial, preferring to answer challenges with steel. Serves as a tank or damage dealer. Can wear heavy armor and use a wide range of weapons including swords, axes, crossbows, polearms, spears, and shields.
- Healer: Mystical and devoted, channeling divine magic to support and sustain allies. Serves as a healer or buffer. Can wear light armor and use blunt weapons, shields, and healing/buffing magic.
- Mage: Seeker of knowledge, mastering the arcane arts to overpower foes. Serves as a damage dealer or crowd controller. Can wear cloth armor and use staves, wands, and offensive/defensive magic.
- Rogue: Stealthy and dexterous, utilizing underhanded tactics to gain the upper hand. Serves as a damage dealer specializing in stealth. Can wear light armor and use daggers, bows, and unarmed combat. Also gains invisibility and a bonus to run speed.
The following table details the energy gains per level for each archetype:
| Archetype | Health | Mana | Stamina |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fighter | 14 | 1 | 3 |
| Healer | 12 | 4 | 2 |
| Mage | 10 | 7 | 1 |
| Rogue | 12 | 1 | 5 |
Traits
Traits allow for further character specialization. There are currently 21 traits, each providing a boost or penalty to your attributes. Traits with negative costs grant additional points to spend elsewhere.
As a rule, you cannot choose two conflicting traits (e.g., Awkward and Charming). Future updates will introduce new traits that may grant new skills, improve resistances, or provide other unique bonuses. This system allows for a vast number of specialized character builds.
| Trait | Effect | Cost | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awkward | -5 Charisma | -4 | 40 Charisma |
| Charming | 5 Charisma | 6 | 40 Charisma |
| Foolish | -5 Spirit | -4 | 40 Spirit |
| Frail | -5 Endurance | -4 | 40 Endurance |
| Genius | 10 Intelligence, -5 Strength | 8 | 50 Intelligence |
| Giant | 10 Strength, -5 Intelligence | 8 | 50 Strength |
| Lithe | 10 Agility, -5 Endurance | 8 | 50 Agility |
| Nimble | 5 Agility | 6 | 40 Agility |
| Oblivious | -5 Perception | -4 | 40 Perception |
| Observant | 5 Perception | 6 | 40 Perception |
| Paranoid | 10 Perception, -5 Charisma | 8 | 50 Perception |
| Philosopher | 10 Spirit, -5 Perception | 8 | 50 Spirit |
| Seductive | 10 Charisma, -5 Spirit | 8 | 50 Charisma |
| Sluggish | -5 Agility | -4 | 40 Agility |
| Smart | 5 Intelligence | 6 | 40 Intelligence |
| Strong | 5 Strength | 6 | 40 Strength |
| Stupid | -5 Intelligence | -4 | 40 Intelligence |
| Sturdy | 10 Endurance, -5 Agility | 8 | 50 Endurance |
| Tough | 5 Endurance | 6 | 40 Endurance |
| Weak | -5 Strength | -4 | 40 Strength |
| Wise | 5 Spirit | 6 | 40 Spirit |
The character creation system in Eris Online emphasizes meaningful, permanent choices through race selection, attribute allocation, archetypes, and traits, fostering deep strategic planning and replayability. We encourage players to dive in, experiment with builds, and share your experiences as we iterate based on community feedback to refine this foundational aspect of the game.
David
Lead Developer
