Classes is a term used to divide up people into different roles - which is most commonly used to describe the various paths that adventurers take. which determines their abilities and tasks on and off the battlefield. It also has many social meanings, implying where they ought to work, towards which purposes and ideals, and to which causes they typically align themselves. Druids for example are composed of orders that teach Primal Magic magic and even a secret language, all towards the purpose of protecting different parts of Nature - and one might lose one’s druid status if one violates it. Another example is Champions and Clerics, whom rather directly serve a Divinity’s cause, and therefore must try to live up to their rules and ideals.
The term class is on occasion used to refer to Castes and levels of wealth and influence, but this should instead be referred to as one’s Caste, Standing or at least “Social Class.”
While many adventurers fit the archetypical classes well, many are of a mixed nature (multi-classing), and even more (NPCs) find paths that are only reminiscent of the traditional classes.
Classes are often divided between warriors, also called martials, and mages, also called spellcasters. Those who combine much of the two, like Magi, are sometimes called a spellsword or a “gish.”
The classes that most (PCs) fit into are: Alchemist Animist Barbarian Bard Commander Champion Cleric Druid Exemplar Fighter Guardian Gunslinger Inventor Investigator Kineticist Magus Monk Necromancer Oracle Psychic Ranger Rogue Sorcerer Summoner Swashbuckler Thaumaturge Witch Wizard