The decision to use an archetype class system in Vanguard has been met with mixed feelings by the fanbase. Some like it; others dislike it, and still others just don’t know what to think. This has led some fans to wonder: Just what is an archetype system, and what’s all this hubbub about?

Simply put, an archetype system is a set of guidelines used in class creation. The various classes are put into groups, and each group is defined with a primary role. The idea is that each class within the group will perform this primary role as well as any other class within the group.

So what does this mean to the player?