In Citizen Sleeper, a narrative-based game with some strong similarities to tabletop RPGs, players will step into the role of a Sleeper. Sleepers are robotic bodies installed with an emulated human mind. Owned by the corporation Essen-Arp, Sleepers suffer from something called planned obsolescence. If players have ever had a phone or computer start to slow down after a few years, seemingly for no reason, they'll get the gist. Sleepers need to keep their bodies working by using stabilizer drugs, but these come at a cost.
The challenge to the player is to be able to progress through the game while managing the constant, draining need for both stabilizer and food (which restores energy). Choosing the right class can make this slightly easier, especially in the early stages. The main thing to consider when picking a class is the bonuses that players will receive:
- Extractor: restore energy at the base with 1 die
- Machinist: chance to gain bonus scrap items
- Operator: bonus cryo for every successful Interface action
Each class will have bonus points in certain skills, and negative points in others, which are detailed below. It's important to note that players will have a chance to level up these skills as the game progresses, so even if they have a -1 in Intuition, for example, they'll be able to put skill points into this later on.
Extractor
The Extractor is an interesting class. This is the 'tough guy' of the group, with endurance that the other classes lack. However, that's not necessarily much of a bonus in a game like Citizen Sleeper, which is more about using emotional intelligence than getting into fistfights. Still, it does have one big advantage, and that's keeping energy levels up.
At the beginning stages of the game, having to constantly buy (or work for) food is a pain; it takes up time and cryo, both of which are in short supply if players' start to run out of dice. The main perk of the Extractor is that it allows players to restore their energy at the base, but they'll need to spend a die to do it. Still, it's a good option if players need to save their chits. Plus, they'll get +1 Endurance, which does come in handy from time to time (especially later in the game).
However, there are some negatives. Players will have -1 point to Intuition, which is a shame. Intuition is important in Citizen Sleeper, and being able to second guess what might happen next is a boost that becomes more crucial as the plot develops. Still, if players have imagined their character as a big beefy cyborg, this class makes the most sense.
Machinist
The Machinist is good at repairing systems; think of them as organized, meticulous, and detail-oriented. They're good at playing around with machines, optimizing them for better use, and this is particularly useful when their own bodies are mechanical. Machinists aren't so good at the social side of things, which is a distinct disadvantage when players are dealing with conflict.
Usefully, the starting perk of the Machinist gives players the chance to grab extra scrap from time to time. Scrap comes in handy for a lot of reasons - players can sell it, for example, to make some extra cryo. They'll also need it later in the game for other projects, so being able to collect scrap without paying for it is a huge bonus. Players will also get a +1 to the Engineer skill, which means players can dive into manual labor with lower dice rolls and have a better chance of success.
The downside is that the Machinist will have -1 Engage. Engage is useful for resolving conflict and solving problems, which is obviously a useful skill. Still, players can choose to level up in this area later on if they want to, and the bonuses that come with the Machinist class outweigh the negatives.
Operator
The Operator is the thinker of the group (think brains over brawn). They can hack into systems and use their quick wit to navigate difficult social situations, and there are quite a few of those in the game; not everyone is happy to see a Sleeper wandering around, it turns out.
Having hacking skills is an incredibly useful bonus in this indie RPG. Hacking, as it turns out, comes up quite often. The +1 to Interface allows players to get a bonus for every hacking session: for every successful Interface action, they'll get a bonus stash of cryo to spend, which may cover the cost of food for each cycle. Not having to worry about paying for food is a big bonus if players are trying to save cryo for a bigger purchase.
There is, of course, a downside to the Operator. They have -1 Endure, which means they may find physical encounters more difficult to recover from. They're close to the invisible world of data that thrums beneath the surface of The Eye, but physical confrontation can knock them off their feet.
Citizen Sleeper is available on PC, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.