Two factors instantly distinguish one character on Abattoir from another: its class, and its race.

Class

A character's class is somewhat like its career or job - it dictates the types of skills (and in some cases, spells) that will be available to that character as it progresses through the levels. Classes themselves can be grouped into 3 broad categories:

Basic classes

These classes are suitable for any player and pose a normal challenge.

Mage | Cleric | Thief | Warrior | Vampire | Druid | Ranger | Augurer

Advanced classes

These classes, only available to remorting characters, lack certain benefits (such as free equipment) that the Basic classes enjoy. They are also generally harder to play at the early levels and require a lot of experience to progress. However they also receive more skills and spells than Basic classes to make up for this.

Delver | War-Wizard | Sword-Mage | Deathknight | Nightblade

Remort classes

These classes are only available to characters of a Basic or Advanced class who have reached level 100 already. They can then opt to 'remort' into one of the remort classes, starting again at level 2, but with a near-complete list of skills and spells. A player who completes the remort classes is considered to have passed the most important test of eligibility to become an Immortal of Abattoir.

Master | Guardian

Race

Character races, on the other hand, are all roughly equivalent, each offering some benefits and drawbacks to the prospective adventurer. Some are more suited for hand to hand combat, some for the arcane arts, and others for stealth and thievery. Therefore it may be worth picking a race that specialises in the abilities needed by a chosen class: alternatively, it might be better to choose a race that has attributes making up for what the character will not learn as part of its class.

Human | Elf | Pixie | Half-Elf | Half-Troll | Half-Orc | Half-Ogre | Gith | Golem
Zombie | Drow | Smurf | Sapling | Demon | Spirit | Mercury | Halfling | Dwarf

Comparison table