Lately I’ve been having plenty of thoughts about Pages, and wanted to collect all my musings in one place as coherently as I can. It’s a bit disjointed, but there’s a lot to think about and so a lot to write about, at least while I’ve been struck by the inspiration to set down thoughts to digital ink.
Page [passive 3] — one who fights to preserve their aspect
The Page. The potential man class, the slow burn class, the class that always seems to get dogged on by everyone from Serkets to server mods. The ones who seemingly don’t do anything for the most part. What’s going on with these folks?
I have seen speculation and theories about how Pages are just narratively meant to be Like That, and that a fully realized Page would no longer be a Page and thus might change class entirely to something else, be it a Knight or another class. The idea is fun and immensely interesting to ponder, but for now I want to examine the Page from the angle of it as a class that can stand by itself, that fits alongside the other eleven normal classes without just being a filler class or a stepping stone to something else.
This is by no means an exhaustive treatment of the subject. All I’ve done is gather my thoughts on the various facets of the Page narrative, and stir them all together and let them simmer. I hope what I have cooked up is at least palatable.
Part I — Get Your Head In The Game
Let’s start off with what we know and what we’ve seen for our confirmed Pages so far. Pages are said to possess immense potential — Brain Ghost Dirk points this out in the most in depth class exposition outside of Calliope’s own, and Aradia’s comments on Tavros’ analogous FLARP class (the Boy Skylark) point out that it only really comes into its own at a very high level, in late or end game in other words. Contra this, Vriska, whose words on the subject are so often taken as definitive, suggests that players assigned this class hardly ever reach that potential because they’re not the kind of person who has what it takes to put in the effort to get there. So which is it then? Does Skaia / the narrative just assign people a useless title?
What do you call a player who could hit the field in theory but sits out the game instead? A benchwarmer. Pages, in my estimation, seem to fit that niche — there’s potential there but they gotta keep practicing, otherwise they’re just going to throw off everyone’s game. Of course, the very name of the class itself speaks to a need to train and get good, as pages were historically boys who served in noble households and who would be trained in riding, hunting and combat, and eventually go on to become squires and even knights themselves.
But why is it that Pages have such trouble locking in? Banish the thought that this class is one that lacks their aspect, all three we’ve seen in canon display their affinity with their respective aspects quite readily if you know what to look for. No, Pages are more accurately said to misuse their aspect, and by misuse I mean they use it in ways that don’t advance the goals of the game or the narrative. Maybe they even use it in ways that aren’t even good for them, that’s certainly a possibility to consider. Either way it’s not a productive relationship with their aspect, so to speak. Again, though, why?
Part II — Full Metal Jacket
The active counterpart of the Page is the Knight. Their shared verb is in all likelihood something to do with fighting, protecting, defending. This class pair are the warrior type roles, the soldiers of the session — and what is demanded of them is nothing short of brutal.
Knights are on the front lines. Their aspect is under attack in some way or another and dammit they got a mission to protect it, to fight for it, to use it as their weapon of choice. They’re damn good at what they do with their aspect, even if it takes its toll on them and wears them down to the point that they want to lay down their blade and be discharged from service (I’m looking at you, Dave).
Now, the distinction between active/passive classes can be said to relate to who’s in control in the relationship, the player (active) or the aspect (passive). When it comes to this war then, a Page is not so much a volunteer as a conscript, a draftee, a recruit — and they really aren’t keen on the fight. This is why so often a Page’s misuse of their aspect tends to form a sort of wall around them, trying to make things easier for themselves: see Jake’s insistence on trying to pretend like everything is fine when it really isn’t, or Tavros doing his quests his own way so he doesn’t have to deal with Vriska or the rest of his teammates.
It isn’t entirely effective. The demands of the narrative will not let them hide behind their aspect so easily. To be a Page is to be put through a whole gauntlet of narrative torment — they must, in essence, be subjected to the grueling rigors of boot camp, and be chucked onto the battlefield to prove themselves. It’s a sink or swim, fight or die kind of deal for these guys. Advance or abscond, advance or abscond! Most Pages don’t make it out there — that’s kind of the tragedy of the class.
Part III — Achilles In His Tent, or, How To Train Your Dragon
Why are these unlucky bastards conscripted into this side of the warrior class pair, if they’re so loath to take up their sword? What kind of recruit has all that potential but doesn’t want to fight? If you remember your Iliad, that’s exactly the situation Achilles starts off in, sulking in his tent and refusing to participate in battle. It’s also the situation Odysseus found himself in before the Trojan War even began, as he initially tried to avoid having to honor his promise to join the war by pretending to have lost his mind.
Every Page has their own reason for not wanting to get involved. Some think they don’t have it in them. Others simply cant be bothered. Still others fear what they might be capable of if they do act. Like a dragon brooding in their lair, they would much rather stay right where they are, all that potential for effective action locked away like a weapon unused.
Oh but that won’t stop the narrative or those around them from trying to force it out of them. One of the great frustrations of the class is seeing how many times they could have risen to the occasion, but didn’t, or else how many times they tried, and fumbled their shot. Players of a more active class might try to mentor the Page, to train or help them get stronger, but they oftentimes end up filling the role of a Drill Sergeant Nasty and their methods are ineffective at best and counterproductive or outright harmful at worst.
Part IV — Dracarys
The Page as benchwarmer, the class who’s got promise but still needs practice before they can hit the court. The Page as conscript, to be put through harsh training despite their efforts to avoid the chaos of the battlefield. Combine the two images, and the picture that emerges seems to be that of the Page as a reservist, a soldier-to-be who would much prefer to sit out the war but whose number will come up regardless of their feelings on the matter.
Most of them don’t live up to their promise. Again, that’s the tragedy of the class, the failure rate is much higher than for others. But perhaps there is something to be said for keeping them in reserve. When it comes down to the wire, and the stakes for their aspect are perilously high, it may happen that a Page rises to the occasion at the last minute… and thoroughly decimates the opposition. Achilles leaving his tent, laying waste to the Trojan armies in vengeance for his slain lover. The dragon emerging from its lair to burn all who would threaten it or its hoard.
Jake, every time he Hopesplodes to protect his idea of a better world (namely, one where people he cares about are still alive). Tavros, gathering an entire army of ghosts by sheer power of friendship, right when it seemed that quest line had been abandoned. When a Page does manage to tap into their potential, it’s usually a last-ditch kind of affair, a final Hail Mary to turn things around in favor of their aspect, and boy fucking howdy does it work out spectacularly.
Part V — After The End
We’ve never really seen much of what a post-actualization Page is like yet. Do they return to their old maladjusted ways once the threat is dealt with and they feel like they can leave the field? Do they take with them a better dynamic with / use of their aspect as they resume their place in reserve? The narrative doesn’t usually let a Page linger long in the foreground after their big moment, so there isn’t much in the way of answers so far.
So far we’ve only seen one Page return from their overwhelming victory on the field (hi candy Jake), and only time will tell how rising to the occasion has changed him, if at all. He’s a war hero now. Not too bad for a reluctant reservist.
