leveling up
Why do we write classes as a series of powers that you unlock sequentially through play?
One. Getting new toys is fun. This is the main reason I think? A class is an advent calendar of bespoke novelties. The greater the number of available classes, the more bespoke they are -- in the GLoG zone, people often write their own, even!
Two. Having everything up front can be overwhelming. It can be helpful to get just a little bit at a time, so you can master it before getting the next thing.
Three. Starting small lets you appreciate growth. Strong powers feel stronger after having to make do with weaker powers.
Four. It provides a sense of narrative progression for the character. If not a full character arc, at least a noticeable change between the beginning and the end.
Five. It gives you something to strive for. A suggestion of what to do in various open-ended situations: Do the thing that will get you more XP, so you'll level up!
That's it, that's the post.