The Class list:

• Barbarian
• Bard
• Fighter
• Monk
• Mystic
• Ranger
• Rogue
• Shapeshifter
• Sorcerer
• Wizard
• Multiclass Characters

BARBARIAN
Example character:  None from the books (although Dalt might have started out as one).

BARD
Example Character: Corwin possibly either started out as a Bard, or spent one or two levels as a Bard somewhat later in his youth.  Random is also musically gifted, but it's unclear if he can motivate other's well (although it makes a pretty good king later in life), so he might have just picked up Perform as part of being a Rogue.

FIGHTER
Example Character:  Any number of people could be partly or wholly fighters. Of the Nine Princes, perhaps only Brand has no official martial training whatsoever.

MONK
Example Characters: There are certainly versions of Benedict that might include levels of Monk.  Many of the family might have studied martial arts at some point, simply to learn how to survive a fight when unarmed or unarmored.

MYSTIC

Description:  An explorer of the shadowed recesses of the mind and soul.  A master of the Occult.
Vitality: d6 plus Constitution modifier, per level.
Class Skills: The mystic's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Knowledge (Arcane) (Int), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), and Survival (Wis).

• Skill points at 1st character level: (4 + Int Modifier) x 4.
• Skill points at each additional level: 4 + Int Modifier.

       Base          Fort  Ref   Will  Defense  Reputation  Mystic  Mystic Powers
Level  Attack Bonus  Save  Save  Save   Bonus     Score     Points  Known (by level)
-----  ------------  ----  ----  ----  -------  ----------  ------  -----------------
1      +0             +0    +0    +2     +2         0         2     1
2      +1             +0    +0    +3     +2                   3     2
3      +1             +1    +1    +3     +3        +1         4     3
4      +2             +1    +1    +4     +3                   7     3/1
5      +2             +1    +1    +4     +3                   10    4/2
6      +3             +2    +2    +5     +4        +1         15    4/2/1
7      +3             +2    +2    +5     +4                   20    5/3/2
8      +4             +2    +2    +6     +4                   27    5/3/2/1
9      +4             +3    +3    +6     +5        +1         34    6/3/3/2
10     +5             +3    +3    +7     +5                   43    6/3/3/2/1
11     +5             +3    +3    +7     +5                   52    7/4/3/3/2
12     +6/+1          +4    +4    +8     +6        +1         63    7/4/3/3/2/1
13     +6/+1          +4    +4    +8     +6                   74    8/4/4/3/3/2
14     +7/+2          +4    +4    +9     +6                   87    8/4/4/4/3/2/1
15     +7/+2          +5    +5    +9     +7        +1         100   8/4/4/4/3/3/2
16     +8/+3          +5    +5   +10     +7                   115   8/5/4/4/3/3/2/1
17     +8/+3          +5    +5   +10     +7                   130   8/5/4/4/4/3/3/2
18     +9/+4          +6    +6   +11     +8        +1         147   8/5/5/4/4/3/3/2/1
19     +9/+4          +6    +6   +11     +8                   164   8/5/5/4/4/4/3/3/2
20     +10/+5         +6    +6   +12     +8                   183   8/5/5/5/4/4/3/3/2

Wisdom   Bonus Mystic Points (by Mystic Level)
Score    1-2     3-4     5-6     7-8     9-10    11-12   13-14   15-16   17-18  19-20
------   ---     ---     ---     ---     ----    -----   -----   -----   -----  -----
1-9       Can't use Mystic abilities.
10-11     -       -       -       -       -        -       -       -       -      -
12-13     1       -       -       -       -        -       -       -       -      -
14-15     1       3       -       -       -        -       -       -       -      -
16-17     1       3       5       -       -        -       -       -       -      -
18-19     1       3       5       7       -        -       -       -       -      -
20-21     3       3       5       7       9        -       -       -       -      -
22-23     3       5       5       7       9        11      -       -       -      -
24-25     3       5       7       7       9        11      13      -       -      -
26-27     3       5       7       9       9        11      13      15      -      -
28-29     5       5       7       9       11       11      13      15      17     -
30-31     5       7       7       9       11       13      13      15      17     19
32-33     5       7       9       9       11       13      15      15      17     19
34-35     5       7       9       11      11       13      15      17      17     19
36-37     5       7       9       11      13       13      15      17      19     19
38-39     5       7       9       11      13       15      15      17      19     21
40-41     5       7       9       11      13       15      17      17      19     21
42-43     5       7       9       11      13       15      17      19      19     21
44-45     5       7       9       11      13       15      17      19      21     21
46-47     5       7       9       11      13       15      17      19      21     23
48-49     5       7       9       11      13       15      17      19      21     23
50        5       7       9       11      13       15      17      19      21     23

Mystic Powers: Mystics activate their powers by spending mystic points. The mystic has a limited selection of available powers, although with each level the mystic learns new powers according to the table above.  Once known, a power can be activated at any time, provided the mystic power cost can be paid.  A list of mystic powers can be found listed in the section "Mystic Powers".

Weapon Proficiencies: Mystics begin play with the feat Weapon Proficiency (simple).

RANGER

Example Characters:  Obviously, Julian.  (The ranger's limitation on HD of creatures controllable with Animal Friendship is lifted when one is 'home'.  "Home", for Julian, would be 'anywhere in Arden or Arden Shadows).

ROGUE

Example Characters:  Caine is definitely part Rogue of which all others are but Shadow (how else does he get enough skill points to do all the things he does?).  Random is also a rogue with a different emphasis (performance, gambling), and Bleys might be as well.

SHAPESHIFTER

Example character:  Dara would obviously be the preeminent example of this class.  Members of the Fey or the Courts of Chaos are commonly associated with this class.
Hit Die: d8.
Class Skills: The shapeshifter's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Forgery (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Innuendo (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Read Lips (Int, exclusive skill), Sense Motive (Wis), and Use Magic Device (Cha, exclusive skill).  The Shapeshifter gains skills per the Druid guidelines from the PHB.
Special: The character must take the "Shapeshifter Heritage" feat prior to taking any levels in this class.  (Characters who wish to begin play in this class must use one of the starting 'free' feats on this feat.)

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Shapeshifters are proficient with the following weapons: club, crossbow (hand, heavy, or light), dagger (any type), dart, any mace, morningstar, quarterstaff, rapier, sap, shortbow (normal and composite), short sword. Shapeshifters are proficient with light armor but not with shields.

        Base           Fort    Ref     Will
Level   Attack Bonus   Save    Save    Save    Special
-----   ------------   ----    ----    ----    -------
1       0              +2      +0      +2      Shapechange (1/day)
2       +1             +3      +0      +3      Shapechange (2/day)     
3       +2             +3      +1      +3      Shapechange (3/day)
4       +3             +4      +1      +4      Venom immunity
5       +3             +4      +1      +4      Shapechange (Large)
6       +4             +5      +2      +5      
7       +5             +5      +2      +5      Shapechange (4/day)
8       +6/+1          +6      +2      +6           
9       +6/+1          +6      +3      +6      Shapechange (Tiny)
10      +7/+2          +7      +3      +7      Shape Copy
11      +8/+3          +7      +3      +7      Shapechange (dire)
12      +9/+4          +8      +4      +8
13      +9/+4          +8      +4      +8      Shapechange (5/day)
14      +10/+5         +9      +4      +9      Shapechange (Huge)
15      +11/+6/+1      +9      +5      +9      Timeless body
16      +12/+7/+2      +10     +5      +10     Shapechange (elemental 1/day)
17      +12/+7/+2      +10     +5      +10            
18      +13/+8/+3      +11     +6      +11     Shapechange (6/day)
19      +14/+9/+4      +11     +6      +11     Shapechange (elemental 3/day)       
20      +15/+10/+5     +12     +6      +12     Form Emulate

Shapechange: At 1st level, a Shapeshifter gains the spell-like ability to polymorph into a Small or Medium-size mundane creature (the same CR as the character's level) and back again once per day. The shapeshifter may only adopt one form. The shapeshifter regains wound points (but not vitality) as if he or she has rested for a day. The shapeshifter does not risk the standard penalty for being disoriented while in the other shape.  Vitality costs apply -- each shapechange costs the shapeshifter 10 Vitality.

The shapeshifter can use this ability more times per day at 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 13th, and 18th level, as noted. In addition, the druid a Large creature to their repertoire at 5th level, a Tiny creature at 9th level, and a Huge creature at 14th level. At 11th level, she can take the form of a dire animal, or a demon of comparable Challenge rating, and adds that form as an option (all special abilities inherent to the form apply).

At 16th level or higher, the shapeshifter may use shapechange to change into a Small, Medium-size, or Large air, earth, fire, or water elemental once per day. The druid gains all the elemental's special abilities. At 18th level, the druid can do this three times per day.

Venom Immunity: At 4th level, a druid gains immunity to all organic poisons, including monster poisons but not mineral poisons or poison gas.

Shape Copy: At 10th level, the shapeshifter can, with careful study and exposure to the target, emulate the physical characteristics of a chosen target.  No abilities, knowledge, or mannerisms are gained from this change (it essentially affords the shapeshifter a +30 to any opposed Disguise rolls).

Timeless Body: After achieving 15th level, a shapeshifter no longer suffers ability penalties for aging and cannot be magically aged. Any penalties she may have already suffered, however, remain in place. Bonuses still accrue, and the shapeshifter still dies of old age when her time is up.

Form Emulate: At 20th level, the shapeshifter can, with careful study and exposure to the target (including psychic contact at some point, or prolonged familiarity), emulate the physical and mental characteristics of a chosen target.  In addition to appearance, mannerisms are gained from this change (it essentially affords the shapeshifter a +60 to any opposed Disguise rolls, and ability to pass as the target indefinately).

SORCERER

Example Characters: Fiona is frequently described as a sorceress, and Bleys is very likely multi-classes as a sorcerer as well.

WIZARD

Example Characters:  Brand is a much more 'technical' mystic, hence: Wizard. Also Fiona might multi-class into Wizard to maximize her potential.  Llewella makes a fine Divination specialist in some incarnations.

MULTICLASS CHARACTERS

Example Characters: Amberites are a multi-talented lot, and most would have multi-classed during their lives.  Some of the most notable examples are Corwin (bard/fighter/sorcerer),  Random (fighter/rogue or fighter/bard), and Bleys (he is, after all, "second best at everything").

The class abilities from a character's different classes add together to determine the multi-class character's total abilities. Multi-classing improves a character's versatility at the expense of focus.

Multiclass Features Exception: A character who acquires the barbarian class does not become illiterate.  Barbarians who multiclass automatically become literate.

The abilities of a multi-class character are the sum of the abilities of each of the character's classes.

• Level: "Character level" is the total level of the character, determined by adding all class levels together. "Class level" is the level of the character in a particular class.
• Hit Dice: The character gains Hit Dice from each class, with the resulting hit points added together.
• Base Attack Bonus: Add the base attack bonuses for each class to get the character's base attack bonus. If the resulting value is +6 or higher, the character gets multiple attacks. Find the base attack value to see how many additional attacks the character gets and at what bonuses.
• Saving Throws: Add the base save bonuses for each class together.
• Skills: The character retains and can access skills from all his or her classes.
• Class Features: The character gets all class features of all classes but must also suffer the consequences of all special restrictions of all classes.