Class System
Overview
The Class System is RELL Seas' core character identity framework. Rather than locking players into a rigid role, it gives every character a weapon class foundation - and then layers the Combat Potential System on top, allowing skills, posters, and Haki cards to be mixed and matched freely. The result is a build system where two players with the same weapon class can play completely differently depending on their collected cards and skill choices.
⚔️Weapon Classes
At character creation, players choose a weapon class. This choice defines the character's base attack animations, M1 combo chain, and the primary weapon type they begin with. The class choice is not irreversible - the progression system provides paths to branch into other weapon types - but your starting class shapes your early playstyle and the first set of abilities you develop.
🔄Cross-Class Ability Transfer
One of RELL Seas' defining features is the ability to equip skills across class lines. Through the Combat Potential System, players can transfer specific abilities to any class - so a Swordsman can equip a Gunner's mobility skill, or a Brawler can use a weapon-specific combo finisher. This is not unlimited: skill slots are finite and transfer requires unlocking the target skill first.
How It Works
Skills are unlocked through the progression system, boss drops, and faction events. Once unlocked, a skill can be slotted into any class loadout that has an open skill slot. The core class identity (M1 chain, primary weapon type) does not transfer - only active and passive ability skills.
🃏Combat Potential System
The Combat Potential System is directly inspired by Helldivers 2's Stratagem system. Rather than a fixed skill bar tied to your class, Combat Potential gives you a modular 'poster board' - a set of skill slots that you fill with collectible poster cards. Each poster card is a standalone ability: a mobility tool, a combat extender, a defensive option, or a special move.
Design Inspiration
"Like Helldivers 2, the system rewards collection and experimentation. You bring the posters (stratagems) that fit your intended role for that session - aggressive, defensive, support, or evasive. The synergy between your chosen posters, your Haki cards, and your weapon class defines your effective playstyle."
Poster Skill Sources
- ▸40 faction crews - each crew drops unique faction-specific poster skills when their members are defeated
- ▸Talent system - the talent trees (Mining, Cooking, Fishing, etc.) each unlock passive poster bonuses tied to that playstyle
- ▸Land Events - completing certain land events rewards rare poster cards not available through combat alone
- ▸Sea Events - naval encounters (especially the Legendary Ship and Marine Warship events) drop high-tier combat posters
- ▸Boss fights - each boss has a unique poster card in their loot table; defeating a boss for the first time guarantees one
- ▸Dungeons - dungeon completion rewards include poster cards scaled to the dungeon's depth and difficulty
🎴Poster Types
Agile Poster
Movement and mobility posters. These cards give the player aerial extenders, repositioning tools, and approach/escape options. Example: Sir Pitcher - a Geppo-based aerial grab combo.
Combat Poster
Offensive and combo-extension posters. These cards add extra hit sequences, powerful finishers, and burst damage windows to the player's existing attack chain.
Stealth Poster
Evasion and counter-attack posters. These cards give players tools to slip behind opponents, fake movements, or punish missed attacks.
Support Poster
Utility and team posters. These cards offer healing, buff windows, or abilities that benefit nearby allies. Critical for crew-based play.
⚡Flash Dash
Flash Dash is a core movement ability available to all classes - it is not a poster skill but part of the base character kit. Flash Dash allows the player to burst in any direction with a speed spike, passing through the startup frames of enemy attacks. It is directional: front/back dashes do not grant i-frames, while left/right dashes do.
i-Frame Rule
Left and right Flash Dashes grant i-frames (invincibility frames). Front and back Flash Dashes do not. This rule applies equally on land and on ships - the i-frame mechanic is consistent across all environments.
Combat Role
Flash Dash is the primary defensive tool available before investing in Haki cards or combat posters. Mastering its directional i-frame coverage is considered a fundamental skill in RELL Seas PvP.
🔁Mode Switching
RELL Seas includes a Mode Switching system that lets players shift between combat stances mid-fight. Mode switching changes which ability set is active - allowing a player to, for example, toggle between a sword-forward stance and a Haki-forward stance without pausing.
Notes
- ▸The Combat Potential System was confirmed in the Movie 2 RELL Seas developer showcase.
- ▸Sir Pitcher (Agile poster) was specifically shown in Movie 2 as an example of a Combat Potential poster.
- ▸The 40 faction crews each drop unique poster skills - defeating different faction crews is the primary method for expanding your Combat Potential board.
- ▸Flash Dash i-frame rules (left/right only) were confirmed explicitly by the developers and apply both on land and on moving ships.
- ▸Keybind customization covers all abilities including Haki keys and poster activations - confirmed in Movie 3.
- ▸The Helldivers 2 comparison was made by the RELL Seas development team themselves when describing the Combat Potential System.