With later editions was added the Thief (later Rogue) and Ranger classes: Cleric, specializing in healing and supportive magical abilities.Magic User (renamed "Mage" and then "Wizard" in later editions), featuring powerful magical abilities, but physically weak.Fighting Man (renamed "Fighter" in later editions), focused on combat abilities, but almost entirely lacking in magical abilities.In its original release Dungeons & Dragons did not include a Thief class but instead provided the following set of three classes: Thus it is usual to find one (or more) classes that excel in combat, several classes (called spell-casters) that are able to perform magic (often different kinds of magic), and one or more class that deals with stealth. The Fighter is strong and focuses on weapon based combat, Mage is a ranged fighter with a variety of magic and Thief is physically frail but focuses on speed or stealth. In fantasy games, Fighter, Mage, and Thief form a common archetypal trio of basic classes each ones' abilities offsetting the other's weakness.
Their differences may range from simple equipment changes, such as sniper classes armed with sniper rifles, to unique gameplay changes, such as medic classes that are tasked with healing and reviving injured allied players. In shooter games and other cooperative video games, classes are generally distinct roles with specific purposes, weapons or abilities, with little relation to the RPG context. Some systems eschew the use of classes and levels entirely others hybridize them with skill-based systems or emulate them with character templates. It is common for a character to remain in the same class for its lifetime although some games allow characters to change class, or attain multiple classes. RPG systems that employ character classes often subdivide them into levels of accomplishment, to be attained by players during the course of the game. Classes may be considered to represent archetypes, or specific careers. In role-playing games (RPGs), character classes aggregate several abilities and aptitudes, and may also detail aspects of background and social standing, or impose behavior restrictions. In tabletop games and video games, a character class is a job or profession commonly used to differentiate the abilities of different game characters. ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) ( October 2015) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. This article possibly contains original research.