These are the possible stem builds that Brennan has affectionally named if he had his way. Note: These actually do not currently reflect the skills and abilities situation in Desolation. It’s what Brennan would want. Still loves you.
Base Classes
Soldier
The king of all things combat, the soldier can administer a serious beatdown to any opponent. Being able to master nearly all sorts of armor, melee, and ranged combat is a huge bonus to the soldier class. With the biggest amount of HP bonus at the soldier’s disposal, the soldier can soak up damage as well as bring it. However, the soldier has difficulty in mental ability, and is bad at anything other than beatdown.
Main stats: STR, CON
Thief
All things sneaky and much more. The thief is a small arms specialist, and receives the highest progression in light armors and unarmored. The thief’s health progression is good and receives a decent amount of MA points. The thief also gets the biggest unarmed skills, along with bows and whips, and all small weapons. However a drawback is that the thief is unable to equip most heavy armors and equipment. Thieves also have access to subterfuge and perception, and is able to escape easily in emergencies.
Main stats: ACC, REF
Engineer
Not very tough, but able to build and equip mechanised armor, the most damage-absorbing armors in the game. The Engineer also gets a bonus to demolitions, and can set bombs on the ground to further damage opponents that it fights. Not only that, but the Engineer also can equip heavy weapons - the highest damage dealing equipment in the game that there is. Watch out, coming through! To offset that however, engineers have the lowest amount of health progression in the game, yet, have the highest mental action progression.
Main stats: ACC, INT
Medic
Weak, but nerdy, the medic gets the second highest around of MA bonus to their game, which allows them to heal for massive amounts. The comparatively low amount of health is offset by their ability to heal, which effectively prolongs their life by perhaps twice. Melee combat isn’t the medic’s style, go for light firearms like pistols or submachine guns.
Main stats: INT, CHA
Combination Classes
===Soldier/Thief = Rogue=== A combination of both Soldier and Thief this build attempts to balance out the soldier’s weak mental performance in exchange for a little less beatdown. A strong class nevertheless, the soldier is augmented by thief skills such as llapgoch and disarm(?), and will bring a new sort of hurt to its opponents.
Main stats: STR, ACC
===Soldier/Engineer = Heavy Weapons Guy=== Making up for the Engineer’s overall weak performance in combat is a couple of Soldier levels to buff them up. Not only can the engineer build and equip mechanised armor but they are also able to hold extremely heavy weapons due to the technical proficiency that grants them that ability. The Heavy Weapons Guy is a weapons platform, and as an added bonus, will also have demolitions at their disposal.
Main stats: STR, CON
===Soldier/Medic = Combat Medic=== The combat medic is a popular class among most players today, being able to recover rapidly inbetween downtimes. However the combat medic suffers the same problems as a medic does - low health and low combat skills. The best thing to do is however, whip out either pistols or submachine-guns, and beat enemies into submission, before healing up.
Main stats: ACC, INT
===Thief/Engineer = Trapper=== Does a tree in the woods make a noise if it falls? Ponder these questions no more as you create traps out of bombs to blow the bejesus out of enemies who fall into them. Currently an unpopular class as there is little things to do with it.
Main Stats: ACC, REF
===Thief/Medic = Assassin=== Combining decent stat progression along with good mental health is a good way to go. The medic now has some levels in subterfuge, which can be used for all sorts of evil things. If Brennan had his way, he would LOVE for a build of this type to be able to utilise poison-type attacks that deal a wide range of damage.
Main Stats: INT, REF
===Engineer/Medic = Combat Support=== All of the important stuff that uses your brains in one class! This class suffers because of lack of combat skills, but no matter, because if taken into a party, this class can heal, set bombs, and still be decked out in decent armor because of the engineer’s speciality in mechanised armors. The ultimate support specialist.
Main Stats: INT, CON