Some races may have a preferred class; for example, Gnomes in ''Dungeons & Dragons'' will often end up as an illusionist. In the original (pre-Advanced) ''Dungeons & Dragons'', non-human characters' race was their class; in later versions of the game, Demi-humans and other non-human characters were treated just like humans in that their race and their class were separate.
This section coveres all versions of '' Dungeons & Dragons '', which includes Advanced Dungeons & Dragons .
Taken from ''Men & Magic Volume I'', ''Monsters & Treasure Volume II'', and ''The Underworld & Wilderness Adventures Volume III''.
Taken from ''Supplement I - Greyhawk'', ''Supplement II - Blackmoor'', ''Suplement III - Eldritch Wizardry'' and ''The Strategic Review''.
Taken from The Basic, Expert, Companion, ''Master and Immortals Dungeons & Dragons Rules'', and ''The Rules Cyclopedia'' (a compilation of the Basic through Immortals Rulebooks).
- Arcane Archer An Elven archer who can magically empower arrows.
- Arcane Trickster Combines Magic, sneakiness and a tendency for mischief.
- Archmage Those who can bend magic in even stranger and more powerful ways than most.
- Assassin A master of killing and concealment.
- Blackguard The true champion of evil, a nemesis for all those who are good.
- Dragon Disciple They begin to realise their draconic background and change to meet it.
- Duelist A dashing warrior who is nimble and precise.
- Dwarven Defender An Iron wall with legs and a beard.
- Eldritch Knight Combining martial weapons with arcane lore and spellcasting to make a balance between fighting and casting
- Hierophant A god's champion on earth; only the highest priests can become these.
- Horizon Walker The ultimate traveller - and not just on the earth.
- Loremaster Book smarts are what these people excel at.
- Mystic Theurge Combining Arcane power with Divine Magic, a Theurge explores magic in all forms
- Red Wizard A wizard who becomes even more focused on a particular area of magic; from the evil land of Thay
- Shadowdancer Uses the shadows to move from place to place, very tricky.
- Thaumaturgist A master at summoning aid from outside this world.
These classes were detailed in a section of variant rules covering a more generic approach to character class creation.
- Expert (not to be confused with the NPC class of the same name)
- Spellcaster
- Warrior (not to be confused with the NPC class of the same name)
The player character did not have a character class in ''Ultima VII'', ''VII Part II'', or ''VIII'', and class choice has far less significance in games beyond Ultima IV. Included in the list are the corresponding Virtue and the starting town in Ultima IV.
These two games had all the classes above, and in addition:
The final game in the series added the Gadgeteer class.
The original game did not have anything resembling a class system; however, in many later games, the characters are assigned to classes, even if it is not possible to create new characters.
Basic Classes:
- Battlemaster (バトルマスター) (Fighter+Warrior)
- Mahousenshi (魔法戦士) (Mage+Warrior)
- Paladin (パラディン) (Fighter+Priest)
- Kenja (賢者) (Sage; Mage+Priest)
- Ranger (レンジャー) (Thief, Monster Tamer, Merchant)
- Super Star (スーパースター) (Dancer, Goof-Off)
Special Classes:
- Yuusha (勇者) (Hero; Battlemaster, Ranger, Sage, Superstar)
- Dragon (ドラゴン) (must find special book)
- Hagure Metal (はぐれメタル) ( Metal Babble , must find special book)
Basic Classes:
- Battle Master (バトルマスター) (Warrior + Grappler)
- Magic Warrior (魔法戦士) (Warrior+Mage)
- Sage (賢者) (Mage+Priest)
- Super Star (スーパースター) (Minstrel+Jester)
- Monster Hunter (魔物ハンター) (Thief+Shepherd)
- Pirate (海賊) (Thief+Sailor)
- Paladin (パラディン) (Grappler+Priest)
- God Hand (ゴッドハンド) (Battle Master+Paladin)
- Tenchiraimeishi (天地雷鳴師) (Sage+SuperStar)
Final Class (for the hero):
- Hero (勇者) (Master 3+ advanced classes)
- Onion Knight
- Fighter
- Monk
- Hunter
- Knight
- Thief
- Dragoon
- Viking
- Karateka
- Mystic Knight
- Ninja
- White Wizard
- Black Wizard
- Red Wizard
- Scholar
- Geomancer
- Conjurer
- Bard
- Shaman
- Warlock
- Summoner
- Sage
- Onion Knight
- Squire - The basic warrior-type class.
- Chemist - The basic mage-type class.
- Knight - A stronger form of the Squire. Can equip heavy armor.
- Archer - A bowman, uses Charge to deal more damage.
- Priest - A class that uses white magic to aid allies.
- Wizard - A class that uses black magic to defeat foes.
- Monk - This class uses his/her fists, yet has variable abilities.
- Thief - A rogue-type class that can steal from enemies.
- Time Mage - A mage that messes with time to aid allies or disable foes.
- Oracle - Uses various status-dealing abilities to render foes useless.
- Geomancer - Uses the ground they stand on to deal damage.
- Lancer - uses spears to attack enemies from distances.
- Mediator - Persuades the foes you are fighting to join you.
- Summoner - Summons powerful beings to aid your team.
- Samurai - Uses his/her powerful weapons to harm foes.
- Ninja - Throws various weapons to deal damage.
- Calculator - Calculates abilities and such to aid your party or deal damage to enemies.
- Dancer - Does dances to deal status ailments to enemies.
- Bard - Sings to aid allies.
- Mime - Prestigous class. Can mimic abilities on the field.
- ''Base Class → Promoted Class''
''All of these classes can be acquired in the player's party unless stated otherwise.''
- Social Knight → Paladin
- Armor Knight → General (Super Famicom only; General is standalone on the NES)
- Pegasus Knight → Dragon Knight
- Commando
- Thief
- Fighter
- Pirate (cannot join your team on Super Famicom version)
- Mercenary → Hero
- Mage → Sage (Maric only)
- Monk/Cleric → Bishop
- Lord
- Archer → Sniper
- Hunter → Horseman (Promotable on Super Famicom only)
- Soldier (Super Famicom only, enemy only)
- Shooter (Famicom only)
- Mamkute
- Dancer (Super Famicom only)
''Technically, Jugdral classes do not have set promotions; rather, each character has a set class they can upgrade to. But they generally follow these lines. The weapon type name (Sword, Axe, Lance, or Arch) in a class name means that the unit is restricted to that type of weapon. "Armor" units are restricted to one type of weapon until promotion.''
- Junior Lord → Lord Knight
- Free Knight → Forest Knight
- Axe Knight → Great Knight
- Lance Knight → Duke Knight
- Social Knight → Paladin
- Trobadour → Paladin
- Dancer
- Bard → Sage
- Shaman → Sage
- Mage → Mage Knight
- Swordfighter → Forrest (Seisen No Keifu only)
- Swordfighter → Sword Master
- Swordfighter → Mercenary (Thracia 776 only)
- Arch Knight → Bow Knight
- Bowfighter → Sniper
- Fire Mage → Mage Fighter
- Wind Mage → Mage Fighter
- Thunder Mage → Mage Fighter
- Dark Mage (enemy only)
- Thief → Thief Fighter
- Axefighter → Warrior
- Barbarian (enemy only)
- Hunter (enemy only)
- Mountain Thief (enemy only)
- Pirate (enemy only)
- Pegasus Rider → Pegasus Knight (Promotable in Thracia 776 only)
- Pegasus Knight → Falcon Knight
- Dragon Rider → Dragon Knight (Promotable in Thracia 776 only)
- Dragon Knight → Dragon Master
- Sword Armour → General
- Axe Armour → General
- Lance Armour
- Bow Armour
- Baron (enemy only)
- Emperor (enemy only)
- Prince → Master Knight
- Princess → Master Knight
- Queen (enemy only)
- Priest → High Priest
- Bishop (enemy only)
- Dark Bishop (enemy only)
- Civilian (NPC only)
- Child (NPC only)
- Long Arch (enemy only)
- Iron Arch (enemy only)
- Killer Arch (enemy only)
- Soldier, Archer (Thracia 776 only)
- Dark Prince (enemy only)
---
''Add extra T776 classes here'' --are we missing any?
- Lord (Roy -- Sword of Seals) (Swords) → Master Lord (Restricted to Swords)
- Lord (Hector -- Blazing Sword) (Axes) → Great Lord (Axes, Swords)
- Lord (Lyn -- Blazing Sword) (Swords) → Blade Lord (Swords, Bows)
- Lord (Eliwood -- Blazing Sword) (Swords) → Knight Lord (Swords, Lances)
- Cavalier (Swords, Lances) → Paladin (Swords, Lances, Axes)
- Knight (Lances) → General (Lances, Axes)
- Nomad (Bows) → Nomad Trooper (Bows, Swords)
- Bandit (Axes) → Berserker (Axes) (Bandit available only in Sword of Seals)
- Pirate (Axes) → Berserker (Axes)
- Shaman (Dark Magic) → Druid (Dark Magic, Staves)
- Monk (Light Magic) (Male Only) → Bishop (Light Magic, Staves) (Male) (Monk class exists only in Blazing Sword)
- Cleric (Staves) (Female Only) → Bishop (Staves, Light Magic) (Female)
- Mage (Anima Magic) → Sage (Anima Magic, Staves)
- Fighter (Axes) → Warrior (Axes, Bows)
- Mercenary (Swords) → Hero (Swords, Axes)
- Myrmidon (Swords) → Swordmaster (Swords)
- Troubadour (Staves) → Valkyrie (Staves, Anima Magic)
- Thief (Swords) (Both Games) → Assassin (Swords) (Blazing Sword only)
- Wyvern Rider (Lances) → Wyvern Lord (Lances, Swords)
- Pegasus Knight (Lances) → Falcoknight (Lances, Swords)
- Dark Druid (Blazing Sword only -- Enemy, Nergal only, possibly Brammimond) (All Magic)
- Archsage (Blazing Sword only -- Ally, Athos only) (All Magic)
- Soldier (Enemy or NPC only) (Lances)
- Archer (Bows) → Sniper (Bows)
- Bard (Nils, in ''Blazing Sword''; Elphin, in ''Sword of Seals'')
- Dancer (Ninian, in ''Blazing Sword''; Lalum, in ''Sword of Seals'')
- Magic Seal (Blazing Sword only -- Enemy, Kishuna only)
- Mamkute (Sword of Seals only -- Fae only)
- Prince (Blazing Sword only -- NPC, Zephiel only)
- Emperor (Sword of Seals only -- Enemy, Zephiel only)
- Lord (Eirika) → Great Lord (Restricted to Swords)
- Lord (Ephraim) → Great Lord (Restricted to Lances)
- Manakete (Myrrh only)
- Journeyman (Ross only) (Axes) → Pirate (Axes) OR Fighter (Axes) OR Journeyman level 2 (Axes)
- Recruit (Amelia only) (Lances) → Cavalier (Lances, Swords) OR Knight (Lances) OR Recruit level 2 (Lances)
- Pupil (Ewan only) (Anima Magic) → Mage (Anima Magic) OR Shaman (Dark Magic) OR Pupil level 2 (Anima)
- Journeyman level 2 (Ross only) → Hero (Swords, Axes) OR Journeyman level 3 (Axes) (15% Critical Hit bonus)
- Recruit level 2 (Amelia only) → Paladin (Swords, Lances) OR Recruit level 3 (Lances) (15% Critical Hit bonus)
- Pupil level 2 (Ewan only) → Sage (Anima, Light, Staves) OR Pupil level 3 (Anima, Light, Dark, notable because it is the only class that can use all three without use of cheats)
- Thief (Swords) (Can Steal, Can use Lockpicks) → Rogue (Swords) (Can use Lockpicks) (Pick skill - Can open chests and doors without Keys or Lockpicks) OR Assassin (Swords) (Can use Lockpicks) (Silencer skill - Can insantly kill the opponent)
- Myrmidon (Swords) → Swordmaster (Swords) (15% Critical Hit bonus) OR Assassin (Swords) (Can use Lockpicks) (Silencer skill - Can instantly kill the opponent)
- Pirate (Axes) (Can walk on water) → Berserker (Axes) (15% Critical Hit bonus, Can walk on water) OR Warrior (Axes, Bows)
- Fighter (Axes) → Warrior (Axes, Bows) OR Hero (Swords, Axes)
- Mercenary (Swords) → Hero (Swords, Axes) OR Ranger (Swords, Bows)
- Archer (Bows) → Ranger (Bows, Swords) OR Sniper (Bows) (Sure Strike skill)
- Cavalier (Swords, Lances) → Paladin (Swords, Lances) OR Great Knight (Swords, Lances, Axes)
- Knight (Lances) → Great Knight (Lances, Axes, Swords) OR General (Lances, Axes, Swords) (Great Shield skill - Can negate incoming damage)
- Mage (Anima Magic) → Sage (Anima Magic, Staves, Light Magic) OR Mage Knight (Anima Magic, Staves)
- Troubadour (Female only) (Staves) → Mage Knight (Anima Magic, Staves) OR Valkyrie (Light Magic, Staves)
- Cleric (Female only) (Staves) → Bishop (Staves, Light Magic) (Slayer skill - inflicts additional damage to monsters) OR Valkyrie (Staves, Light Magic)
- Monk (Male only) → Bishop (Light Magic, Staves) (Slayer skill - inflicts additional damage to monsters) OR Sage (Light Magic, Anima Magic, Staves)
- Priest (Male only) → Bishop (Staves, Light Magic) (Slayer skill - inflicts additional damage to monsters) OR Sage (Staves, Anima Magic, Light Magic)
- Shaman (Dark Magic) → Druid (Dark Magic, Anima Magic, Staves) OR Summoner (Dark Magic, Staves) (Summon skill - can conjure Phantoms on the battlefield)
- Wyvern Rider (Lances) → Wyvern Lord (Lances, Swords) or Wyvern Knight (Lances) (Pierce skill - can ignore opponent's Defense)
- Pegasus Knight (Lances) → Falcoknight (Lances, Swords) or Wyvern Knight Wyvern Knight (Lances) (Pierce skill - can ignore opponent's Defense)
- Necromancer (Dark Magic, Staves) (Enemy only during the main game, however a player-controlled Necromancer named Lyon can join you in Map mode)
- Soldier (Lances) (Enemy only)
- Brigand (Axes) (Enemy only)
- Pontifex (NPC character who cannot equip weapons)
- Queen (NPC character who cannot equip weapons
- Revenant → Entombed (Monster class, uses no weapons, and is enemy only)
- Mauthe Doog → Gwyllgi (Monster class, uses no weapons, and is enemy only)
- Tarvos → Maleduin (Monster class, uses axes and bows, and is enemy only)
- Bonewalker → Wight (Monster class, uses bows, lances, and swords, and is enemy only)
- Gorgon Egg → Gorgon (Monster class, gains HP on each turn until it maxes out HP and hatches into a Gorgon, which can use Dark magic)
- Cyclops (Monster class, uses Axes)
- Dracozombie (Monster class, cannot use weapons)
- Ranger → Lord (Swords) (Ike Only)
- Myrmidon → Swordmaster (Swords)
- Archer → Sniper (Bows)
- Fighter → Warrior (Axes; Axes, Bows)
- Knight → General (Lances; Lances, Swords)
- Sword Knight → Paladin (Swords) (Choose from Lances, Axes, or Bows as an additional weapon upon promotion)
- Lance Knight → Paladin (Lances) (Choose from Swords, Axes, or Bows as an additional weapon upon promotion)
- Axe Knight → Paladin (Axes) (Choose from Swords, Lances, or Bows as an additional weapon upon promotion)
- Bow Knight → Paladin (Bows) (Choose from Swords, Lances, or Axes as an additional weapon upon promotion)
- Pegasus Knight → Falcon Knight (Lances; Lances, Swords)
- Wyvern Rider → Wyvern Lord (Lances; Lances, Axes)
- Mage → Sage (Fire, Wind, Thunder Magic) (Choose from Staves or Knives as an additional weapon upon promotion)
- Priest → Bishop (Staves; Staves, Light Magic)
- Cleric → Valkyrie (Staves; Staves, Swords)
- Thief → Assassin (Knives) (Only Volke can promote into an Assassin)
- Soldier → Halberdier (Lances)
- Berserker (Axes)
- Bird Tribe (Crow/Raven, Hawk, or Heron) (Beaks) (Heron cannot attack)
- Beast Tribe (Cat, Tiger, or Lion) (Claws)
- Dragon Tribe (Red or White) (Breath)
- Princess Crimea (Elincia Only)
- Bandit (Enemy Only)
- Daein King (Ashnard Only)
Character classes in ''Rifts'', and other games by Palladium Books , are often split between two types: (R.C.C.), which is the character's species, and '''Occupational Character Class''' (O.C.C.), which is the tradtional character class or occupation. Some R.C.C.s are a character class in and of themselves, while others can have a separate O.C.C. as well. Human characters usually only need to choose an O.C.C. Some Palladium games have a third '''Psychic Character Class''' (P.C.C.), denoting otherwise human characters with psychic powers. In ''Rifts'', these are considered an R.C.C., signifying that the character has spent their life training in the use of their abilities, rather than learning another more specialized trade, such as soldier or robot pilot.
- ''Anti-Monster'' - Colombian soldier turned into a massive supernatural warrior
- ''Borg'' - a Cyborg warrior/soldier
- ''Burster'' - A Psychic human whose powers focus on Pyrokinesis
- ''City Rat'' - Common (or not) street thug
- ''Coalition Dog Pack/Dog Boy'' - A humaniod, intelligent mutant dog used by the Coaliton to literally sniff out magic-users and supernatural beings
- ''Coalition RPA Pilot'' - A soldier of the Coalition States , trained in the use of Giant Robots and the SAMAS power armor.
- ''Crazy'' - A person who has been altered by M.O.M. enhancements. They are stronger, faster, and don't require more than four hours of rest. Much like the juicer they don't survive long and in the process they gain phobias, insanities, and the like. Essentially they become "crazy". Mostly only soldiers are altered but the alterations can be done via the black market.
- ''Cyber-Knight'' - A monastic order of heroes known for their ability to create a blade of pure psychic energy.
- ''Cyborg Shocktrooper'' A Russian cyborg warrior gifted with a specialized and powerful body by their warlord.
- ''Dragon 'Borg'' - a Japanese cyborg with a bionic body styled to resemble a Dragon.
- ''Dragon Hatchling'' - a (relatively) young dragon, usually less than five centuries old
- ''Headhunter'' - A cybernetic mercenary.
- '' Glitter Boy (pilot)'' - A warrior who specializes in piloting and fighting with the powerful Glitter Boy power armor.
- ''Juicer'' - A soldier who's body is augmented with chemical enhancements that give him superhuman strength, speed, and durability, but burn out his body in around five years.
- ''Ley line Walker'' - A spellcaster who has learned to harness the power of the Ley Lines crossing the earth.
- ''Operator'' - An adventuring Mechanic
- ''Psi-Stalker'' - A psychic human mutant who feeds off the energy of magic-users and Supernatural creatures.
- ''Rogue Scholar'' - A wandering historian, teacher, or scholar, often hunted by the Coalition for crimes such as teaching others to read, or helping D-Bees.
- ''Techno-Wizard'' - A combination of spellcaster and mechanic, who creates vehicles and weapons that are powered by magic.
- ''Temporal Raider'' - A D-Bee who controls time-manipulating magic
- ''True Atlanteans'' - The long-lived Human descendants of the original civilization of Atlantis.
- ''Warlock'' - A sorcerer who gains his powers from an alliance with elementals.
''Deadlands'' is something of a hybrid system. The basic character generation process is a classless, skills-based system. Whether a character is a gunfighter or a thief depends on which skills the player picks and emphasizes. However, characters can also pick ''Arcane Backgrounds'' for their character, which introduces a class-like concept into the game, and generally provides the character powers and abilities not available to non-arcane characters.
- ''Black Magician'': An NPC-only Arcane Background, Black Magicians willingly and deliberately make deals with the Reckoners and their Manitou minions for potent spells.
- ''Blessed'': The Blessed are religious beings whose sheer faith allows them to draw pure spiritual energy from the Hunting Grounds to create miraculous effects. Blessed cast their spells using the Faith Aptitude, which several other Arcane Backgrounds (such as Black Magic, Voodoo and Doomsayers) also do. Blessed are detailed in the ''Fire and Brimstone Sourcebook'', while their close relatives, the Voodooists, are introduced in ''The River o' Blood'' and expanded in ''Hexarcana''.
- ''Harrowed'': A Harrowed character has risen from the grave due to their body being possessed by a Manitou. As an undead, a Harrowed has a variety of special powers, but these are balanced by supernatural drawbacks, such as the fact the Harrowed constantly needs to battle their Manitou 'inmate' for control of their body. Because of the presence of the Manitou within their bodies, Harrowed can absorb the life energies of certain abominations to gain mystical powers, such as Soul Eater and Sicken. The process of absorbing this energy is called "Counting Coup". Harrowed are detailed in ''The Book o' the Dead Sourcebook''. Their ''Hell on Earth'' counterparts, the Cyborgs, are detailed in the ''Cyborgs Sourcebook''.
- ''Hexslinger'': A more militant version of the Huckster, a Hexslinger uses his or her magic to improve his gunslinging abilities, hence the name. First introduced in the Hucksters and Hexslingers Sourcebook, they are further expanded in ''Law Dogs'' and finalised in the ''Lone Stars: The Texas Rangers Sourcebook'', by which stage they have been renamed Shootists.
- ''Huckster'': Roughly equivalent to the common Mage or Wizard . Due to the nature of their world, Hucksters pretend to be cardsharks, professional gamblers or any other type of person for whom constantly carrying around a deck of playing cards is not abnormal. When a Huckster casts a spell, a hand of playing cards manifests itself in his hand and vanishes after the spell is finished.
- ''Martial Artist'': Martial Artists are introduced in ''The Great Maze'', and refined in the ''Hexarcana'' Sourcebook.
- ''Mad Scientist'': Unlike the other Arcanes in the Weird West, the Mad Scientist Edge is passive in nature. A Mad Scientist has the dubious honor of having attracted the not-so malevolent attention of one or more Manitou , who whisper dark secrets into the mind of their witless ally and provide inspiration for all manner of mystical machinery. Most of the Steampunk technology in Deadlands has its origin in the fevered mind of a Mad Scientist , but the magical energies channeled by the creator during the building of the invention generally make mass production impossible. A variety of Mad Scientists, such as Dr. Hellstromme, have achieved this, which has lead to the wide-spread of Ghost Rock Boilers, Steam Tarantulas, Clockwork Automatons and several of the more exotic (read dangerous) weapons floating around the Weird West. In Deadlands: HoE, it was Mad Scientist Dr. Hellstromme who created the Ghost Rock Bomb which led to earth's current apocalyptic state.
- ''Shaman'': Shamans are detailed in the ''Ghost Warriors'' Sourcebook.
- ''Anti-Templar'': Anti-Templars are detailed in the Last Crusaders Sourcbook.
- ''Doomsayers'' are an evolution of Blessed, being magically gifted people who draw their power by worshipping radiation. With powers such as Mutate, Doomsayers are one of the more potent, and disliked, arcane backgrounds. Doomsayers are divided into two groups: the base Doomsayers (who wear green robes and preach that mutants are the prophesized rulers of Earth, and that all norms should be mutated) and the Schismatics (who wear purple robes and are content with equal rights for humans and mutants). Doomsayers are detailed in the ''Children o' the Atom Sourcebook''.
- ''Junker'': The Hell on Earth evolution of the original Mad Scientists (or, to be more accurate Metal Mages- characters with both the Mad Scientist and the Huckster Arcane Backgrounds), Junkers scavenge for debris to construct powerful new gizmos. Originally they powered their creations with imprisoned Manitou, but with the release of ''The Junkman Cometh: The Junker Sourcebook'', they have become more like 'Techno-Shamans', powering their machines with the spirits of technology.
- A ''Syker'' is a character who has developed powerful psychic abilities. Most Sykers come from military training facilities, primarily concentrated on Banshee (the location for ''''). The exception to this are Sykers who developed "wildly", that is, they came into their powers suddenly and have received no training. Sykers are detailed in the ''Brainburners Sourcebook''.
- ''Templar'': Templars are detailed in the ''Last Crusaders Sourcbook''.
- ''Toxic Shaman'': When the Ghost Rock Bombs were dropped, and the world transformed into a toxic wasteland, many of the nature spirits were affected by the mystical corruption. As a result, spirits of pollution and of animals suited for this toxic world (such as Cockroach) gained greater power and the spirits of pure nature were severely weakened. Toxic Shamans channel the mystical energies of these "Toxic Spirits" in the same way their predecessors -the Shamans - channeled the power of the nature spirits. Toxic Shamans are detailed in the ''Spirit Warriors Sourcebook''.
- ''Witch'': Witches are detailed in ''The Wasted West: The Hell on Earth Worldbook''.
There are many games with character classes (the articles on these games include information about the classes they use):
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