A Class in Classes

Most role-playing games involve classes,
Which shape what the players can do.
Some patterns emerge across series,
And trust me: I’ve tried quite a few.

There’s often a class just called “fighter”
Or “warrior”—something like that.
Their brawn is quite handy for melees,
But that’s about it—kind of flat.

There might be an archer or sniper,
Who does the job best with a bow.
Except with a bonus for flyers,
The damage per hit is quite low.

For power and range put together,
The wizard or mage is on top,
But magic is pricy and fleeting.
They don’t fare so well once they stop.

In games where a party assembles,
There should be a cleric or priest.
They’re special for healing their allies,
But combat? For that, they’re the least.

A thief or a rogue may be present,
Despite being heroes in name.
They’re swift and amass the provisions,
But fighting with daggers is lame.

In some games, you may see a knight class,
The one with the highest defense.
They have to be strong for their armor,
But speed’s not their forte, which makes sense.

You might find a type of arcanist
Who summons foes back from the dead
Or someone who captures the weak ones
And swaps their alignment instead.

Take note that a bard or a dancer
Is there to give allies a boost.
They may or may not be the same class
To have the foes’ powers reduced.

The monk class is often bare-handed
But nimble and tough to suffice.
Berserkers are forceful yet flimsy.
The druid can shape-shift; that’s nice.

The paladin’s power is holy.
The gambler leaves fighting to chance.
I may have omitted some patterns,
But these are enough for a glance.