Hey Tarnished and Ashen Ones! 🗡️✨ Let's talk about something that's been on my mind since my latest deep dive into the Lands Between. We all know FromSoftware games are masters of atmosphere and challenge, but there's this one layer of their RPG design that feels like a beautifully wrapped gift you're never quite allowed to fully open. I'm talking about the class system and its tantalizing, yet underutilized, lore connections. It's like finding a secret door in a castle, only to discover it's been bricked up from the inside—so much potential just waiting to be unleashed!

These starting classes are more than just stat distributions and starting gear. They're these little narrative seeds planted right at the beginning of your journey. Think about it: choosing the Prisoner in Elden Ring isn't just picking a battle-mage; you're stepping into the rusted boots of an exile from the Raya Lucaria academy, your face hidden by an iron mask. Or selecting the Hero? You're not just a strong dude with an axe; you're carrying the bloodline of a Badlands chieftain, sharing a heritage with the mighty (and terrifying) Hoarah Loux himself. In Dark Souls, picking a Sorcerer makes your character a native of the mystical land of Vinheim. This lore is the secret sauce, the hidden embroidery on the game's vast tapestry.

But here's the rub, and it's a big one. This incredible backstory you choose... it basically vanishes into the mist like a phantom after the character creation screen. NPCs don't react to it. The world doesn't acknowledge it. Nepheli Loux, a fellow warrior of the Badlands in Elden Ring, should have something to say to a Hero-class Tarnished—a nod of kinship, a challenge from a rival clan, anything. But nope. It's radio silence. The same goes for the Royalty class in Demon's Souls. You'd think other nobles or commoners would have a unique line of dialogue for the one true heir to the throne walking among them, but the game treats you like any other wandering soul. This disconnect is the single biggest missed opportunity in their otherwise flawless worlds.

Imagine the possibilities if FromSoftware leaned into this in their 2026 project! This isn't about turning their games into full-blown dialogue trees like Baldur's Gate 3 (though, a girl can dream 😉). It's about adding that subtle, signature FromSoft layer of depth.

• The Outsider Effect: A class like the Wretch or Deprived? NPCs in walled cities might eye you with suspicion, their dialogue laced with distrust, treating you like a stray dog sniffing at their gates. Your very presence could be a pebble tossed into the still pond of their routines.

• The Royal Treatment: Starting as a noble-born class? Certain knights might offer grudging, groveling respect, while revolutionaries spit at your feet. It would make the world feel alive and reactive, like a complex ecosystem where you're a new variable.

• Questline Twists: This could even tie into their legendary multi-ending tradition. What if your class background offered a slightly different path to an ending, or changed the context of a major story beat? A Prophet's ending might have a more divine revelation, while a Warrior's might be earned through pure, unadulterated conquest. The replay value would skyrocket faster than a spell from the Carian Regal Scepter!

For me, this is the next evolution. FromSoftware's storytelling is a masterclass in environmental暗示 and fragmented lore—it's like trying to reconstruct a magnificent stained-glass window from scattered, shimmering shards. Adding class-based narrative reactivity would be like finding a few key, colored pieces that perfectly snap into place, making the overall picture just that much clearer and more personal. It would transform your starting choice from a simple gameplay decision into the first line of your character's unique story within the world.

So, here's my hope for the future: Let our choices in the creator's crucible echo through the game's haunting valleys and towering citadels. Let the world see us not just as another player character, but as the Prisoner, the Hero, the Royal heir we chose to be. That final, missing piece of immersion would make these already perfect worlds feel truly, completely lived-in. Until then, we'll keep dreaming and speculating! What class-specific interaction do you wish you could have seen? Let me know below! 👇💬

The Potential vs. The Reality: A Quick Breakdown

Class Lore Potential	Current In-Game Reality	Dream Scenario for 2026
Hero (Elden Ring): Badlands chieftain descent.	Zero recognition from Nepheli Loux or other Badlands folks.	Unique dialogue options, potential alternate quest branch involving the Badlands tribes.
Royalty (Demon's Souls): Heir to a throne.	Treated like any other peasant by NPCs of noble birth.	Special access to certain areas, disdain or reverence from NPCs based on their allegiance.
Sorcerer (Dark Souls): From the land of Vinheim.	No mention of your homeland's unique magical traditions.	Vinheim-specific sorcery teachers or unique commentary on your magical style from other mages.
Prophet (Any Game): A seer touched by the divine.	Your prophecies are for your eyes only.	NPCs seeking you out for visions, or zealots treating you as a messiah/heretic.

It's time for these starting narratives to stop being ghost stories told only to the player and start being conversations with the world itself. The foundation is already there, rock-solid and fascinating. Now, let's build something truly legendary on top of it. 🔥