TRAINER CLASSES
INTRODUCTION TO TRAINER CLASSES
Trainer Classes are a special type of Feature that also act as a gateway to a number of related Features. The Class itself is the Class Feature for a Trainer Class, and it is required to take any other Features in that Class.
Unlike other roleplaying games where a character tends to stick to only one class, and multiclassing is rare or difficult, in Pokémon Tabletop United, characters are expected to take a number of different Classes as they gain Levels and advance. Each Trainer Class represents a narrow specialty, of which an adventuring Trainer will likely pick up several during their journey.
There is no minimum level to start taking multiple classes in Pokémon Tabletop United, but a Trainer can only ever take a maximum of four Classes.
Unless otherwise noted, you can only take any given Trainer Class once. Some Classes are known as Branching Classes, and you can take them multiple times (each time taking up one of your four Class slots), choosing different specialties each time, such as Grass Ace and Fire Ace within Type Ace.
If you take a Class with the [Branch] tag multiple times, any Features with the [Branch] tag must belong to a specific Branch. You must purchase these Features multiple times to use their effects that change based on the Branch. This overrides the rule that you cannot take Features with the same name multiple times. You may want to tag each Feature with the Branch it belongs to for easier tracking.
Example: If you take "Stat Ace" and designate Attack as your Chosen Stat, then take the Feature "Stat Link," then take "Stat Ace" again and designate Speed as your Chosen Stat, you may only use "Stat Link" with Attack until you purchase "Stat Link" again for Speed.
Classes are separated into several categories in Pokémon Tabletop United.
Introductory Classes are basic Classes that can provide the basis for many character builds. They are Ace Trainer, Capture Specialist, Commander, Coordinator, and Mentor.
Battling Style Classes specialize in a distinct set of battle strategies. They are Berserker, Cheerleader, Duelist, Enduring Soul, Juggler, Rider, Taskmaster, and Trickster.
Specialist Team Classes collect Pokémon with a particular trait and bring out the potential of that trait. They are Stat Ace, Style Expert, and Type Ace.
Professional Classes make use of SKILLS that are less tied to the Pokémon League pursuit, such as research and crafting, but nonetheless find ways to improve their Pokémon and help their allies. They are Chef, Chronicler, Fashionista, Researcher, and Survivalist.
Fighter Classes fight alongside their Pokémon. They are Athlete, Dancer, Hunter, Martial Artist, Musician, Provocateur, Rogue, Roughneck, and Tumbler.
Supernatural Classes wield superhuman powers. They are Aura Guardian, Channeler, Hex Maniac, Ninja, Oracle, Sage, Telekinetic, and Telepath.
Weapon Specialist Classes embody a style of martial combat that utilizes weapons. They are Arcanist, Fortress, Marksman, and Skirmisher.
Elementalist Classes represent Trainers with a supernatural tie to a Pokémon type. They are Swarmlord, Shade Caller, Herald of Pride, Spark Master, Glamour Weaver, Fire Bringer, Wind Runner, Apparition, Druid, Earth Shaker, Frost Touched, Prism, Miasmic, Stone Warrior, Steelheart, and Maelstrom.
House Rule - The following classes are available starting at Level 2: Martial Artist, Rogue, Hunter, Tumbler, Berserker, Skirmisher, Arcanist, Fortress
House Rule - The following classes are available starting at Level 10: Telepath, Telekinetic, Aura Guardian, Channeler, Elementalists (all)
HOW TO READ CLASSES Trainer Classes are presented similarly to a “Skill Tree” format. They begin with a Class Feature which acts as the gateway into the rest of the Class and provide a basic function that is emblematic of the Class. Remember that these Class Features do count for the purposes of prerequisites that require a certain number of Features within a Class. Trainers may only ever have a maximum of four Class Features. The Class Feature for any Class counts as a feature within that Class, for the purposes of any prerequisites or effects referring to number of features within a Class. Example: The Dancer Feature "Dance Form" states that you learn two Dance Moves immediately, plus one more for each additional Dancer Feature you have. The Feature "Dancer" itself counts as a Dancer Feature, so you gain an additional Dance Move. DESCRIPTION Each Trainer Class is presented with a description of the type of Trainer who embodies that Class. Of course, this isn’t meant as an absolute constraint on how to play your character, but it’s there to provide an easy guide for someone who isn’t sure how they should characterize and develop their Trainer. ASSOCIATED SKILLS In addition, each Trainer Class has a list of Associated Skills. These aren’t necessarily all required for the Class, but they are Skills that show up somewhere in the prerequisites for the Features in the Class (or as prerequisites to its prerequisites), sometimes as the only option and sometimes as part of a large set of options. ROLES Finally, each Trainer Class has a rating assigned to its Roles. A total of five points, denoted by Poké Ball symbols, are distributed among five different categories to rate how much the Class is dedicated towards each Role. Note that these don’t rate a Class’s effectiveness at the role! They just show how much the Class focuses on each role, usually as a rough translation of how many Features contribute toward each role. Use these to help you pick Classes that suit what you want your character to accomplish, but be sure to pick classes which suit the flavor of your character first and foremost. Active Pokémon Support means the Trainer Class is built to use its actions to support and buff their Pokémon. This can range from motivating a Pokémon to fight better to directing the movement of allies around the battlefield. Usually, Classes marked with this role spend AP on their Features, use Standard Actions to activate them, or a combination of both. Their resources and actions are limited and must be carefully budgeted. Passive Pokémon Support means the Trainer Class is made to support their Pokémon but doesn’t require actions in combat to do so. Often, this means the benefits are acquired outside of combat, such as through Tutoring or enhanced training bonuses. Some Classes focusing heavily on this role may have activated effects in battle, but they tend to be Swift or Free Actions. Classes dedicated to this role are less concerned about budgeting actions or resources in the middle of battle. Crafting means the Trainer Class focuses on creating items that can help both themselves and their allies. These Classes often require dedicating resources or time to acquiring materials for their craft and usually do not have many Features using a Standard Action in battle. Trainer Combat means the Trainer Class is designed to get into the heat of battle themselves and will likely use their Standard Actions in battle to fight. Classes dedicated to this role tend to have Stat Tags in their Features to help Trainers keep up with Pokémon in combat. Most of them will grant the Trainer Abilities and Moves as well. Travel and Investigation means the Trainer Class is designed to ease the burdens of travel or aid in out of combat situations. This is the most varied role, with Classes dedicated to it specializing in activities that range from clearing out Wild Pokémon to social maneuvering and research to pathfinding in the wilderness. Note that these Roles don’t say anything about the flavor of a Class. Cheerleader, Taskmaster, and Commander are all primarily Active Pokémon Support Classes, but they each approach that Role in a very different way. When building a Trainer, you neither want to spread yourself too thin nor specialize too narrowly. Some roles synergize better with others. Mixing Active Pokémon Support and Trainer Combat is sometimes difficult, for example, because you have a finite number of Standard Actions to use in battle and AP per scene, and your Classes will compete for those. Static or non-combat Roles such as Passive Pokémon Support or Travel and Investigation pair well with those active Roles, but if you only dedicate yourself to passive effects, you’ll have nothing to do in battle yourself or ways to spend AP. Crafting is always useful. However, you risk spreading your money thin with too many Crafting Classes.
House Rule - The following classes are available starting at Level 10: Telepath, Telekinetic, Aura Guardian, Channeler, Elementalists (all)
HOW TO READ CLASSES Trainer Classes are presented similarly to a “Skill Tree” format. They begin with a Class Feature which acts as the gateway into the rest of the Class and provide a basic function that is emblematic of the Class. Remember that these Class Features do count for the purposes of prerequisites that require a certain number of Features within a Class. Trainers may only ever have a maximum of four Class Features. The Class Feature for any Class counts as a feature within that Class, for the purposes of any prerequisites or effects referring to number of features within a Class. Example: The Dancer Feature "Dance Form" states that you learn two Dance Moves immediately, plus one more for each additional Dancer Feature you have. The Feature "Dancer" itself counts as a Dancer Feature, so you gain an additional Dance Move. DESCRIPTION Each Trainer Class is presented with a description of the type of Trainer who embodies that Class. Of course, this isn’t meant as an absolute constraint on how to play your character, but it’s there to provide an easy guide for someone who isn’t sure how they should characterize and develop their Trainer. ASSOCIATED SKILLS In addition, each Trainer Class has a list of Associated Skills. These aren’t necessarily all required for the Class, but they are Skills that show up somewhere in the prerequisites for the Features in the Class (or as prerequisites to its prerequisites), sometimes as the only option and sometimes as part of a large set of options. ROLES Finally, each Trainer Class has a rating assigned to its Roles. A total of five points, denoted by Poké Ball symbols, are distributed among five different categories to rate how much the Class is dedicated towards each Role. Note that these don’t rate a Class’s effectiveness at the role! They just show how much the Class focuses on each role, usually as a rough translation of how many Features contribute toward each role. Use these to help you pick Classes that suit what you want your character to accomplish, but be sure to pick classes which suit the flavor of your character first and foremost. Active Pokémon Support means the Trainer Class is built to use its actions to support and buff their Pokémon. This can range from motivating a Pokémon to fight better to directing the movement of allies around the battlefield. Usually, Classes marked with this role spend AP on their Features, use Standard Actions to activate them, or a combination of both. Their resources and actions are limited and must be carefully budgeted. Passive Pokémon Support means the Trainer Class is made to support their Pokémon but doesn’t require actions in combat to do so. Often, this means the benefits are acquired outside of combat, such as through Tutoring or enhanced training bonuses. Some Classes focusing heavily on this role may have activated effects in battle, but they tend to be Swift or Free Actions. Classes dedicated to this role are less concerned about budgeting actions or resources in the middle of battle. Crafting means the Trainer Class focuses on creating items that can help both themselves and their allies. These Classes often require dedicating resources or time to acquiring materials for their craft and usually do not have many Features using a Standard Action in battle. Trainer Combat means the Trainer Class is designed to get into the heat of battle themselves and will likely use their Standard Actions in battle to fight. Classes dedicated to this role tend to have Stat Tags in their Features to help Trainers keep up with Pokémon in combat. Most of them will grant the Trainer Abilities and Moves as well. Travel and Investigation means the Trainer Class is designed to ease the burdens of travel or aid in out of combat situations. This is the most varied role, with Classes dedicated to it specializing in activities that range from clearing out Wild Pokémon to social maneuvering and research to pathfinding in the wilderness. Note that these Roles don’t say anything about the flavor of a Class. Cheerleader, Taskmaster, and Commander are all primarily Active Pokémon Support Classes, but they each approach that Role in a very different way. When building a Trainer, you neither want to spread yourself too thin nor specialize too narrowly. Some roles synergize better with others. Mixing Active Pokémon Support and Trainer Combat is sometimes difficult, for example, because you have a finite number of Standard Actions to use in battle and AP per scene, and your Classes will compete for those. Static or non-combat Roles such as Passive Pokémon Support or Travel and Investigation pair well with those active Roles, but if you only dedicate yourself to passive effects, you’ll have nothing to do in battle yourself or ways to spend AP. Crafting is always useful. However, you risk spreading your money thin with too many Crafting Classes.
INTRODUCTORY CLASSES
These Classes are well-rounded and can contribute to nearly any character build without forcing you to pick your team to suit a particular strategy. Most of the basic Pokémon Trainer archetypes are represented here. Newcomers to PTU should pick one of these Classes as a foundation and expand on their characters from there with more specialized Class options. Ace Trainer
Skills: Command
Passive Pokemon Support++++
Active Pokemon Support+
A generalist battler that makes the most of Training Features and downtime training to ensure their Pokémon are always in peak condition. Capture Specialist
Skills: Acrobatics, Athletics, Stealth, Survival, Perception, Guile
Travel and Investigation++++
Trainer Combat+
Gotta catch ‘em all! An expert at using Poké Balls and other capture tools to their maximum potential. Commander
Skills: Command
Active Pokemon Support+++++
A leader and expert at using Orders with efficiency to coordinate their allies on the battlefield. They may stand in the back of a fight, but they definitely take an active role in ensuring their party’s victory. Coordinator
Skills: Charm, Command, Guile, Intimidate, Intuition
Active Pokemon Support+++
Passive Pokemon Support++
Pokémon’s not just about battles. Coordinators take to the stage in Pokémon Contests to show off their companions in exciting and fabulous ways, but they can hold their own in a battle as well. Mentor
Skills: Charm, Intuition, Intimidate, Pokémon Education
Passive Pokemon Support+++++
Preparation is half the battle. Mentors are skilled caretakers of Pokémon that know how to draw out their potential, whether by changing the Nature of a Pokémon or teaching it new Moves to give them an edge in battle.
BATTLING STYLE CLASSES
These Classes are dedicated to particular battling styles. Choosing one of these Classes will make a big statement about how your character approaches Pokémon training and battles. Unlike the Specialist Team Classes, choosing a Battling Style Class does not require you to become highly selective about your Pokémon choices, but certain Pokémon do suit certain battling styles better than others. Characters built using an Introductory Class as a foundation easily transition into taking one of these Classes to specialize and develop further.
Cheerleader
Skills: Charm
Active Pokemon Support++++
Passive Pokemon Support+
One of four Classes based on the four Training Features, Cheerleader expands on the battling style of the Inspired Training Feature. They’re able to motivate their allies with Orders and are great for a Trainer with Pokémon that can defend and support allies.
Duelist
Skills: Focus
Active Pokemon Support++++
Passive Pokemon Support+
One of four Classes based on the four Training Features, Duelist hones in on the Focused Training Feature and the battling style it promotes. Their core mechanic is based on controlling the momentum of battle and gaining a steady advantage using one Pokémon at a time without much Switching.
Enduring Soul
Skills: Athletics, Focus
Passive Pokemon Support+++++
A defensive Class that seeks to outlast its opponents, the Enduring Soul can give even the most frail Pokémon immense staying power. They may not aim to hit the hardest, but they will be sure to remain standing at the end of the day.
Juggler
Skills: Acrobatics
Active Pokemon Support+++++
Jugglers swiftly swap through their entire Pokémon teams in a fight, forcing opponents to keep on their toes. They can make the most of a versatile team by ensuring that they always have the Pokémon they want out facing their foes and catching them off guard.
Rider
Skills: Acrobatics, Athletics
Passive Pokemon Support++
Active Pokemon Support++
Trainer Combat+
One of four Classes based on the four Training Features, Rider makes the most of Agility Training by applying it to the art of mounted combat. From the back of their Pokémon, they can bark Orders or swat away would-be attackers that get too close. Trainer and Pokémon work in concert to create a devastating combination.
Taskmaster
Skills: Intimidate
Active Pokemon Support+++
Passive Pokemon Support++
One of four Classes based on the four Training Features, Taskmaster embraces the cruel battling style of the Brutal Training Feature. It is a high-risk, high-reward Class that gains an offensive edge at the expense of giving their own Pokémon Injuries through a grueling training regime.
Trickster
Skills: Guile
Active Pokemon Support++++
Passive Pokemon Support+
Tricksters are specialists in commanding their Pokémon to use Status-Class Moves, whether they are inflicting their foes with Poison and Burn, flooding the battlefield with Hazards, or weakening their opponents with Combat Stage reducing Moves.
SPECIALIST TEAM CLASSES
These Classes have zeroed in on a particular kind of Pokémon they prefer using, and taking them will steer your character’s team in that direction. Many prominent Trainers in the Pokémon franchise, such as Gym Leaders and their protégés, create specialized teams and would be well represented with these Classes. While this list may appear small, it’s simply because each of these Classes has many variations – 5 different Stats for Stat Ace and Style Expert each and 18 different Types for Type Ace!
Stat Ace
Skills: Command, Focus
Passive Pokemon Support++++
Active Pokemon Support+
A specialist in one of the five Combat Stats: Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed.
Style Expert
Skills: Charm, Command, Guile, Intimidate, Intuition
Active Pokemon Support++++
Passive Pokemon Support+
An advanced Contest competitor that specializes in one of the five Contest Stats: Beauty, Cool, Cute, Smart, and Tough. They have battling styles that reflect their Contest specialization as well.
Type Ace
Skills: Varies by Type
Passive Pokemon Support+++
Active Pokemon Support++
A battler that primarily uses Pokémon of a certain elemental Type.
PROFESSIONAL CLASSES
These Classes represent a skillset that one might not expect to see in the life of a wandering Trainer, such as an academic field of study or professional skill. These skills often prove useful to battlers, such as preparing combat-boosting food as a Chef or breeding Pokémon with the Pokémon Caretaker talents in Researcher, but they can all represent professional interests outside of conquering the Pokémon League or Contest Circuit.
Chef
Skills: Intuition
Crafting+++++
A crafting Class that creates food for them and their allies, which can provide an instant buff in battle and turn the tide.
Chronicler
Skills: Perception
Passive Pokemon Support++
Travel and Investigation++
Active Pokemon Support+
A perceptive type of Trainer who records everything they run across for posterity. Analyzing their records not only gives them insight into people and places, but also an edge in battle and the ability to Tutor Moves to their Pokémon.
Fashionista
Skills: Charm, Command, Guile, Intimidate, Intuition
Crafting+++
Passive Pokemon Support+
Active Pokemon Support
A crafting Class that makes Held Items for all sorts of different occasions and can teach their Pokémon to make better use of Held Items.
Researcher
Skills: Education Skills, Survival
Crafting++
Passive Pokemon Support+
Travel and Investigation+
Trainer Combat+
Researchers study various academic fields and apply them to Pokémon: General Knowledge, Apothecary, Botany, Chemistry, Climatology, Crystal Artifice, Occultism, Paleontology, and Pokémon Caretaking.
Survivalist
Skills: Survival
Travel and Investigation++
Active Pokemon Support++
Trainer Combat+
A wilderness-oriented Class that can specialize in a variety of terrains, gaining the ability to create impromptu traps, fight using the environment, and help their allies cope with their surroundings.
FIGHTER CLASSES
These Classes fight in battle alongside their Pokémon. Their abilities can’t be brought to bear during official Pokémon League battles, barring full contact rules, but they are useful while traveling through the wilds or confronting criminals. Not all Fighting Classes directly deal damage; some, such as the Dancer, play a more supportive role.
Athlete
Skills: Athletics
Trainer Combat++++
Passive Pokemon Support+
A front-line fighter who specializes in training themselves and boosting their Stats.
Dancer
Skills: Acrobatics, Charm
Trainer Combat+++
Active Pokemon Support+
Passive Pokemon Support+
A supportive Class which can boost its own Combat Stages as well as those of its allies. Best as a supplementary Class, paired with other Fighter Classes.
Hunter
Skills: Acrobatics, Charm
Trainer Combat+++
Active Pokemon Support+
Passive Pokemon Support+
A unique fighter who works best when cooperating with their Pokémon to corner foes and assault them with Attacks of Opportunity.
Martial Artist
Skills: Combat
Trainer Combat+++++
A front-line fighter that can specialize in a variety of fighting styles and excels at Fighting-Type offense.
Musician
Skills: Charm, Focus
Trainer Combat+++
A versatile supporter and Special Attacker that can swap between debuffing foes, buffing allies, and attacking with sound-based Moves on a whim. Provocateur
Skills: Charm, Guile, Intimidate
Trainer Combat+++++
Mislead, frighten, and seduce. The Provocateur specializes in disorienting Social Moves and the Manipulate Maneuver.
Rogue
Skills: Acrobatics, Athletics, Stealth
Trainer Combat+++++
A tricky fighter that excels in Dark-Type offense and using the Dirty Fighting Combat Maneuver.
Roughneck
Skills: Intimidate
Trainer Combat+++++
A fighter specializing in using fear to overwhelm their foes. They can not only debuff their opponents but also come with a suite of Features and Moves to improve their survivability in battle.
Tumbler
Skills: Acrobatics
Trainer Combat+++++
A quick fighter based on mobility and Flying-Type offense.
SUPERNATURAL CLASSES
These Classes wield supernatural powers. The majority of these Classes are meant for Trainer Combat and can be treated similarly to the Fighting Classes, but they often also have utility powers which help during investigative adventures. The Pokémon franchise has many examples of characters with magical abilities, but this category also exists as an easy guide for GMs who wish to tone down some of the more fantastical aspects of the Pokémon world, at least on the Trainer side.
Aura Guardian
Skills: Intuition
Trainer Combat++++
Travel and Investigation+
Mystics who specialize in reading the Auras of others. High in Fighting-Type offense.
Channeler
Skills: Intuition
Active Pokemon Support+++
Travel and Investiagtion++
A Class with the ability to bond closely with Pokémon and link them together with a mystical power for potent synergy in battle.
Hex Maniac
Skills: Occult Education
Trainer Combat+++++
Hex Maniacs fight their foes using curses and hexes that debilitate and disable them.
Ninja
Skills: Combat, Stealth
Trainer Combat++++
Crafting+
A stealthy fighter with many tricks up its sleeve, such as Hazards, Illusions, and Poisoned Weapons.
Oracle
Skills: Intuition, Perception
Travel and Investigation+++
Trainer Combat++
Oracles are mystics who can read the lines of fate and divine the future with their powers.
Sage
Skills: Occult Education
Trainer Combat+++++
Sages defend and protect their allies with Blessing Moves.
Telekinetic
Skills: Focus
Trainer Combat++++
Travel and Investigation+
Telekinetics are Psychics who can move objects from afar, letting them wield weapons from across the battlefield, or toss foes up in the fair to flail helplessly.
Telepath
Skills: Focus, Intuition
Travel and Investigation+++
Trainer Combat++
Mind readers who have a focus on out-of-battle investigation with their powers but can mentally assault their foes as well.