eveofdarkness.orgDAoC's race/class history from old patch notes
DAOC character creator greys out some classes for some races. Fewer people know when each combination became possible: e.g., Lurikeen could not be Heroes at launch, and Highlanders could not be Friars until 2010.
I needed a list, for checking the OpenDAOC server code. It has some commented out pieces and some conflicting info. In general, OpenDAOC is focused on classic DAOC. So, it doesn't include data, etc for post Shrouded Isle combinations. I looked for a dated list and didn't find one, so it was time to do the homework and build one.
It has gaps, help fill them (see Help wanted).
How we did it
- Patch notes. We read all 164 "Patch Notes: Version …" pages of the Camelot Herald wiki, versions 1.06 to 1.113 (2001 to about 2012), through the Wayback Machine. (Source: wiki category, captured 2025-05-21.) We searched every page for sentences that name a race and a class together with "can now be", "can become", "is now available to" and similar wording.
- Race/class lists. We used the wiki's 45 class pages and 19 race pages, and its older new-player guide, "Character: Select".
- The official site. darkageofcamelot.com's class library has no race/class table. A few class pages mention races, and we quote those below.
A keyword search can miss a change that is worded differently. Treat "not found" below as "not found by us".
What each expansion added
| Expansion | Released | New races | New classes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trials of Atlantis | 28 Oct 2003 | Half Ogre, Frostalf, Shar | none |
| Catacombs | 7 Dec 2004 | none | Heretic, Warlock, Valkyrie, Vampiir, Bainshee |
| Labyrinth of the Minotaur | Nov 2006 | Minotaur | Mauler |
(Sources: wiki pages for Trials of Atlantis, Catacombs and Labyrinth of the Minotaur. Labyrinth of the Minotaur's day varies by source: the wiki says 5 November 2006, and EA's press release is dated 15 November 2006. Europe got it on 14 February 2007.)
Half Ogre, Frostalf and Shar came with Trials of Atlantis, not Catacombs. Catacombs added classes only. The Minotaur is one race with a clan in each realm: Korazh in Albion, Deifrang in Midgard and Graoch in Hibernia.
Race/class changes in the patch notes
These are all the race/class changes we found in twelve years of patch notes. There are few of them.
| Patch | Date | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1.55 | 25 Nov 2002 | "Lurikeen can become Heroes." |
| 1.62 | spring 2003 | "Elves can now be Blademasters." |
| 1.75 | 6 Apr 2005 | Kobold Warlock now shown in the creator (display fix) |
| 1.102 | 14 Apr 2010 | Nightshade for Celts |
| 1.102 | 14 Apr 2010 | Mauler for Inconnu, Kobolds and Lurikeens |
| 1.102 | 14 Apr 2010 | Friar for Highlanders and Avalonians |
| 1.102 | 14 Apr 2010 | Shaman for Dwarves |
Notes on the table:
- 1.62 has no date on its page. It falls between 1.61 (1 April 2003) and 1.64 (12 August 2003).
- 1.75 fixed a display, not a rule. The note reads "Kobolds will now correctly list that they can become Warlocks in the Character Creator." The combination already existed.
- 1.102 has its own section, headed "Class Race Combinations".
- The official Friar page agrees: "Until patch 1.102 only the Briton race could become a Friar, now Avalonians and Highlanders can join them." (Source: Friar class page.)
The mystery list
The wiki's class pages describe the game as it is today, and they allow the combinations below. None of them is in the older new-player guide's table, and our search of patches 1.06 to 1.113 found none of them being added.
| Realm | Combination | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Albion | Inconnu Minstrel | |
| Albion | Inconnu Wizard | |
| Albion | Avalonian Necromancer | |
| Albion | Half Ogre Mauler | may date from the Mauler's release |
| Midgard | Kobold Berserker | |
| Midgard | Valkyn Thane | |
| Midgard | Frostalf Bonedancer | |
| Midgard | Troll Warlock | the wiki's Warlock text leaves Troll out |
| Midgard | Troll Mauler | may date from the Mauler's release |
| Hibernia | Elf Animist | |
| Hibernia | Sylvan Champion | |
| Hibernia | Lurikeen Blademaster | |
| Hibernia | Shar Warden | |
| Hibernia | Firbolg Mauler | may date from the Mauler's release |
Two explanations fit. They may have come after 1.113, in 2012 or later, or a patch may have added them in wording our search missed.
Where the sources disagree
| Combination | Says yes | Says no | We think |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minotaur Blademaster | wiki Minotaur page | wiki Blademaster page | yes |
| Valkyn Valkyrie | wiki Valkyrie page | wiki Valkyn page, official Valkyrie page | no |
| Highlander Heretic | wiki Heretic page | wiki Highlander page | probably not |
| Dwarf Spiritmaster | old new-player guide | wiki Spiritmaster page | no |
Pages behind the table: - Wiki: Minotaur, Blademaster, Valkyrie, Valkyn, Heretic and Highlander. - Official site: the Valkyrie page speaks of "Norse, Frostalf, and Dwarven women".
AI answers
We also asked an AI search engine which classes Minotaurs could play. It gave them almost every class, including the Bainshee, which is female-only. Minotaurs are male-only. The official lore says "only the males journeyed to the human lands". (Source: Labyrinth of the Minotaur lore.) Check AI answers about old game rules against a primary source.
Fixed rules
- Female only: Valkyrie and Bainshee.
- Male only: Minotaur.
Help wanted
- Do you know when any of the mystery combinations arrived? A patch number or a rough date would help.
- Do any patch notes after 1.113 have a "Class Race Combinations" section?
- Did your Minotaur ever have a class not listed here?
We will update this post with corrections and credit the people who send them.
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