Code_of_Conquest_Bright_Dawn/docs/hero_classes.md

Perfect — these class archetypes are strong foundations. Below is a fully fleshed-out design document that expands each of your 10 hero classes with:

1. A generalized backstory (broad enough for players to personalize).
2. Two skill trees per class (with flavor and functional intent).
3. For spellcasting classes, a spell tree by level (tiers of progression).

All designed to feel consistent across your Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma archetypes.

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🛡️ Strength-Based Characters

GUARDIAN

Alignment: Good Description: Guardians are stalwart defenders of light and justice. Whether serving as city protectors, temple champions, or wandering peacekeepers, their code of honor binds them to defend the weak. Each Guardian’s story is their own—a farmer turned hero, a knight fallen from grace, or a soldier seeking redemption.

Skill Trees:

• Bulwark Tree (Defense Focus)

  • Iron Will – Reduces damage taken.
  • Deflect – Chance to block ranged or magic attacks.
  • Last Stand – Gain armor and regen HP when below 25%.
  • Fortress – Party-wide defense aura.

• Valor Tree (Offense Focus)

  • Precision Strike – Bonus damage with melee weapons.
  • Riposte – Counter-attack when blocking.
  • Holy Challenge – Taunts enemies, increasing their aggression toward you.
  • Guardian’s Oath – Boosts allies’ morale (buff to nearby allies).

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BLOODBORN

Alignment: Evil Description: Bloodborn are forged in the crucible of agony. They believe power is born from suffering, and that mercy weakens the spirit. Some were enslaved warriors, others mad experiment victims—now unleashed vengeance given form.

Skill Trees:

• Crimson Path (Offense Focus)

  • Rend Flesh – Bleed enemies for lasting damage.
  • Frenzy – Gain attack speed as HP lowers.
  • Bloodlust – Restore HP per kill.
  • Executioner’s Rite – Huge critical hit chance when target <30% HP.

• Tortured Flesh (Endurance Focus)

  • Pain Tolerance – Reduces incoming damage when bleeding.
  • Sanguine Shield – Converts damage taken into temporary HP.
  • Undying Rage – Survive fatal blow with 1 HP once per combat.
  • Blood Feast – Heal massively after killing an enemy.

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🏹 Dexterity-Based Characters

RANGER

Alignment: Good or Neutral Description: Rangers are masters of the wilderness—trackers, scouts, and hunters. They thrive in solitude, guided by the rhythm of nature. Some defend forests from civilization’s encroachment; others serve as elite archers for noble causes.

Skill Trees:

• Beastmaster Tree (Companion Focus)

  • Call of the Wild – Summon a loyal beast.
  • Pack Instinct – Boosts pet attack and defense.
  • Shared Survival – Heal your pet when you heal yourself.
  • Alpha Bond – Merge senses with your pet for heightened awareness.

• Sharpshooter Tree (Marksmanship Focus)

  • Quickdraw – Increased attack speed with bows.
  • Piercing Arrow – Arrows ignore partial armor.
  • Rain of Arrows – Multi-shot area attack.
  • Eagle Eye – Doubles critical hit chance when undetected.

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ASSASSIN

Alignment: Evil Description: Born from the underbelly of cities or raised by shadowy guilds, Assassins live for precision and silence. Every kill is an art form, and every target’s final breath is their masterpiece.

Skill Trees:

• Shadow Arts Tree (Stealth Focus)

  • Fade Step – Become briefly invisible.
  • Backstab – Massive critical from stealth.
  • Smoke Veil – Escape combat, dropping enemy aggro.
  • Phantom Edge – Shadow clone attacks alongside you.

• Venomcraft Tree (Poison Focus)

  • Toxin Coating – Coat blades with poison.
  • Virulent Strike – Poisons spread between enemies.
  • Death’s Kiss – Bonus damage to poisoned foes.
  • Noxious Cloud – Area poison that slows and weakens.

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📚 Intelligence-Based Characters

ARCANIST

Alignment: Good or Neutral Description: Arcanists are scholars of the arcane, shaping elemental forces through study and sheer intellect. Each Arcanist’s past is different—some taught in grand academies, others self-taught hermits obsessed with understanding creation.

Skill Trees:

• Elementalist Tree (Damage Focus)

  • Fireball – AoE fire attack.
  • Frost Lance – Slows targets.
  • Thunderstrike – Chance to stun.
  • Elemental Mastery – Boosts all elemental damage.

• Chronomancer Tree (Utility Focus)

  • Haste – Increase speed.
  • Time Warp – Rewind health and position briefly.
  • Mana Surge – Restore MP faster.
  • Temporal Collapse – Massive AoE time distortion (endgame).

Spell Tree by Level:

• Novice (Lv 1–5) – Spark, Frost Bite, Ember Bolt
• Adept (Lv 6–10) – Fireball, Ice Shard, Lightning Arc
• Expert (Lv 11–15) – Chain Lightning, Cone of Cold, Meteor Fall
• Master (Lv 16+) – Elemental Storm, Time Stop, Arcane Nova

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HEXIST

Alignment: Evil Description: Hexists wield forbidden knowledge—grimoires of curses and decay. They manipulate life energy to cripple foes and empower themselves, believing pain and entropy are the universe’s true constants.

Skill Trees:

• Malefic Arts Tree (Curse Focus)

  • Wither – Reduces target’s defense.
  • Hex of Misery – Deals damage over time and reduces healing.
  • Soul Rot – Spreads curses between enemies.
  • Dark Empowerment – Boosts damage per active curse.

• Necrotic Path Tree (Summoning Focus)

  • Raise Dead – Summon weak undead.
  • Soul Leech – Regain HP when minions attack.
  • Grave Tide – Summon undead horde temporarily.
  • Lich Form – Become undead temporarily for massive boosts.

Spell Tree by Level:

• Novice (Lv 1–5) – Rot Touch, Curse of Weakness
• Adept (Lv 6–10) – Wither, Soul Leech
• Expert (Lv 11–15) – Bone Spear, Plague Cloud
• Master (Lv 16+) – Death Coil, Summon Lich, Unholy Blight

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✨ Wisdom-Based Characters

CLERIC

Alignment: Good Description: Clerics channel divine power through prayer and unwavering faith. Whether from temples, shrines, or hidden monasteries, their power comes from devotion to benevolent deities and their eternal struggle against darkness.

Skill Trees:

• Sanctity Tree (Healing & Support)

  • Healing Light – Restore HP to ally.
  • Cleanse – Remove curses/debuffs.
  • Guardian Angel – Revive ally with portion of HP.
  • Divine Radiance – Heal over time aura.

• Retribution Tree (Battle Cleric)

  • Smite – Holy damage attack.
  • Holy Ward – Boost defense for allies.
  • Blessed Weapon – Adds radiant damage to melee attacks.
  • Judgment – Massive single-target divine strike.

Spell Tree by Level:

• Novice (Lv 1–5) – Light Heal, Smite, Bless
• Adept (Lv 6–10) – Greater Heal, Holy Fire, Purify
• Expert (Lv 11–15) – Sanctuary, Revive, Divine Shield
• Master (Lv 16+) – Resurrection, Wrath of the Heavens

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WARLOCK

Alignment: Evil Description: Warlocks forge pacts with dark entities to channel forbidden power. Each contract comes with a price—often their soul or sanity—but grants terrifying might that rivals even the gods.

Skill Trees:

• Pact Magic Tree (Damage Focus)

  • Eldritch Blast – Signature ranged spell.
  • Corrupting Ray – Reduces target’s resistances.
  • Soul Drain – Steal HP and MP.
  • Abyssal Eruption – Large AoE shadow explosion.

• Infernal Pact Tree (Summoning Focus)

  • Summon Imp – Small demon ally.
  • Hellfire Aura – Damages nearby enemies.
  • Dark Bargain – Sacrifice HP for mana.
  • Infernal Legion – Summon multiple demons.

Spell Tree by Level:

• Novice (Lv 1–5) – Dark Bolt, Drain Life
• Adept (Lv 6–10) – Shadow Grasp, Corrupting Ray
• Expert (Lv 11–15) – Infernal Gate, Soul Drain
• Master (Lv 16+) – Abyssal Rift, Summon Demon Lord

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💋 Charisma-Based Characters

LUSTWRAITH

Alignment: Evil or Chaotic Neutral Description: Lustwraiths wield allure as their weapon. They charm, dominate, and collect humanoids as companions or slaves. Legends say their very touch can bind minds. Their origin is shrouded in desire and corruption—some were succubi, others mortals consumed by vanity and power.

Skill Trees:

• Seduction Tree (Control Focus)

  • Charm – Temporarily turn enemies into allies.
  • Enthrall – Extend charm duration.
  • Obsession – Charmed allies deal more damage.
  • Dominion – Permanently enslave a weak-willed target.

• Soul Feast Tree (Empowerment Focus)

  • Essence Drain – Gain HP/MP from dominated followers.
  • Mirror Desire – Redirect damage to charmed ally.
  • Ecstatic Pulse – AoE charm with reduced duration.
  • Heartbreaker – Sacrifice a follower to regain full HP/MP.

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TAMER

Alignment: Neutral or Good Description: Tamers form bonds with beasts and magical creatures, commanding their loyalty through compassion, strength, or song. They serve as guardians of the wilds and mediators between man and monster.

Skill Trees:

• Bondmaster Tree (Companion Focus)

  • Beast Call – Summon a captured creature.
  • Empathic Link – Share damage between you and your beast.
  • Group Command – Control multiple beasts.
  • Soulbond – Permanent synergy buff to your primary beast.

• Warden Tree (Nature Control)

  • Thorn Lash – Vine-based attack.
  • Wild Regeneration – Heal both you and nearby beasts.
  • Territorial Howl – Buffs allies, intimidates enemies.
  • Verdant Storm – AoE nature attack that roots foes.

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✅ Summary Table

Attribute	Good Class	Evil Class	Primary Role	Spellcaster
Strength	Guardian	Bloodborn	Tank / Melee DPS	No
Dexterity	Ranger	Assassin	Ranged / Stealth DPS	No
Intelligence	Arcanist	Hexist	Elemental Mage / Curse Mage	Yes
Wisdom	Cleric	Warlock	Healer / Dark Caster	Yes
Charisma	Tamer	Lustwraith	Beast / Human Controller	No (Hybrid Magic)

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Would you like me to format this as a YAML or JSON schema next, so your game can load class metadata dynamically (e.g., backstory, skill_trees, spell_trees, alignment tags, etc.)? That’s ideal if you plan to store these in /data/classes/ for procedural generation and easy balancing.