Definition

• Classes are simply starting packages with a collection of starting items (abilities/upgrades)
• Usually only appears in Roguelites and within ability systems that have no foundational domains or themes
  • Some abilities may share a common theme but that is optional per ability
• Usually games with this approach have some classes with unique abilities and some classes with common abilities
• Usually has less control over the direction of character growth over the course of each playthrough
• Usually does not use a level system
• Can still have domains, but domain stats are mostly determined by upgrades

Examples

• The Binding of Isaac
• Ziggurat
• Brotato
• Slay the Spire

Thoughts

This is the standard system for roguelites, and I love roguelite games.

The primary strengths of upgrade-based systems are:

1. They are compositional (I love composition)
2. They are extensible
3. They easily create rich adaptability
4. They support (and to some degree require) randomness

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This has been the default character system for most of my game designs over the past decade, but currently I’m not so certain it is the best choice for Marloth.

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