Classes

Amtgard Playtest Guide V8.6 “Sappy”

Please refer to this document for the currently active playtest from the 2024 interkingdom Circle of Monarchs meeting

From the Rulebook

Playing a class in a Battlegame is a chance to combine physical abilities with tactical and strategic acumen to achieve victory. Classes in Amtgard are designed so that each one brings a unique and valuable set of skills to the field which can be used as part of a team. Often abilities which do not seem useful to you personally may be invaluable when used on teammates. Before picking a class for a game it is important to understand a few simple concepts.

Portraying A Class

This section contains a few examples of archetypal medieval and fantasy character types. While the names of the classes reflects a European centric viewpoint, that does not define how you must portray them. You can easily play the Barbarian or Warrior classes as a samurai or the Healer as a necromancer. With a little flair and creativity, the Scout class makes an excellent pirate. Your character and persona are defined through your actions and behavior, not the name of the class that gives you your abilities. The classes exist in a strict form to maintain game balance on the field; it is up to you to give them life, substance, and personality.

Classes are listed in the following manner:

Class Format

Name

The name of the class.

Examples or Role-play Suggestion

This lists historical or fantasy examples of each class plus a brief overview.

Garb

Garb that is required to denote playing the class. You are required to dress in medieval/swords and sorcery looking garb in addition to the class specific garb. Failure to do either will result in playing the Peasant class.

Requirements

A few classes list experience requirements. If you do not meet these requirements you may not play nor gain credits in that class.

Look The Part

Look the Part is an additional bonus

granted prior to the game for having made a visually significant effort to contribute to the swords-and-sorcery atmosphere of Amtgard. This can be in the form of accessories, visually impressive garb, or anything else that promotes a more immersive visual experience. Note that this portrayal need not be specific to a given class, but instead specific to the character portrayed. Look The Part abilities are available at first level and are in addition to all other class abilities.
Example: A player has a Look The Part ability of Scavenge 1/Life and a normal class ability of Scavenge 1/Life would have Scavenge 2/life.
Look The Part is a game-by-game bonus awarded by the game reeve.

Armor

Maximum point value of armor the class may wear. You can wear armor with a point value higher then you are allowed use of, but in these cases the armor simply gives you the maximum allowed for your class.

Example:

a Scout wearing full plate still only gets three points from it.

Shields

Largest size shield available to a class.

Weapons

Types of weapons the class can use.

Limitations

Some classes have restrictions. For example, Barbarians are restricted from receiving Enchantments from other classes.

Levels and Abilities

Most classes receive Abilities at each level. Some Abilities are presented as a choice. Ability choices may be changed before each new game. Any Ability choice presented as ‘Choose x of y’ allows you to choose up to x of the following y abilities. No duplicates may be chosen unless otherwise noted.

Monster

No sword and sorcery setting is complete without monsters, those creatures from imagination or legend, both good and evil, that are somehow more (or less) than human. Monsters in Amtgard can represent the smallest, friendliest sprite, the largest most fearsome dragon, or anything else in between.

Examples:

Centaurs, Dragons, Dwarves, Werewolves, Vampires, Deadly Slime.

Monster is a special class, playable only in games where the game designer and local monarch have given their permission for the class to be used. They have no specific class identifier but should be garbed appropriately and/or designated before the game begins. A player’s level in the Monster class determines which Monsters they may portray. For more information and rules regarding the Monster class please refer to the Dor Un Avathar.

Peasant

Players without class sashes or minimum garb must play Peasant. The only equipment available for peasants to use is a single short weapon or a single dagger. They may not wear armor or use shields and do not have any class abilities.

Credits and Levels

If you wish to fight or participate in a battlegame, you must conform to one class for each game. A person may advance in level in a class after having the requisite credits and passing a class test administered by your class Guildmaster. Only one attendance credit may be given on a single day, although Kingdoms may award bonus credits according to their corpora. You must play the class you wish to gain credit in. If no class is played but fighting takes place, you may take a Warrior credit. Players who reeve may take a Reeve Credit, and players who otherwise participate may take a Color Credit. Kingdoms are allowed to award a maximum of 12 total bonus credits (credits above and beyond attendance credits) to any player in a single month and no more than 3 bonus credits may be issued per 1 attendance credit. All classes gain new abilities and levels at the following rate:

All classes gain new abilities and levels at the following rate:

Level	Credits required
1st	Less than 5 credits in that class
2nd	At least 5 and less than 12 credits in that class
3rd	At least 12 and less than 21 credits in that class
4th	At least 21 and less than 34 credits in that class
5th	At least 34 and less than 53 credits in that class
6th	53 or more credits in that class

Class Starting Equipment

Class	Weapons	Armour	Shields
Anti-Paladin	All Melee, Javelins	4	Large
Archer	Dagger, Short, Bow	2	None
Assassin	Dagger, Short, Long, Light Throwing, Heavy Throwing, Bow	2	None
Barbarian	All Melee, Javelins, Rocks	3	Medium
Bard	Dagger	0	None
Druid	Dagger	0	None
Healer	Dagger	0	None
Monk	All Melee	0	None
Paladin	All Melee, Javelins	4	Large
Peasant	Single Short	0	None
Scout	Dagger, Short, Long, Heavy Thrown	3	Small
Warrior	All Melee, Javelins	6	Large
Wizard	Dagger	0	None

Links

• Different Fighting Styles by Glorious
• Get Some Class! by Judas
• V7 rules Fighting Classes and Abilities 7.5