Class question

[Warlord Firehand]

I've been reading and maybe I'm missing it, but when do the PCs realize what class's they are? I have thought about easing them into their chosen class bit by bit during book 1.
Like after the session and EXP is given, they get a little token and eye opener of what they are, not including memories but just class related stuff.... Stuff they have for gotten over the months or years they have been prisoners.

So what are Thoughts on when they realize there class? I do t want them starting out knowing they are a warrior, wizard, cleric etc... I want this to be eased into as they retain their identity then memories will follow book to book...

Thanks

[Varun Creed]

End of book 3. :)

[Misroi]

In general, they know they're a fighter or wizard or cleric or whatever right out of the gate, mostly because there's not a fun way to represent this. While it may seem like a good idea, most of the first few sessions will be "OK, I try casting a spell!" or "I move into flank and see if I can sneak attack!" If the players built their characters, then they know what their characters can do, and the "roleplaying" opportunities take a backseat to forcing the PCs to learn how to do anything.

I think the more interesting thing is that they know they can cast spells or sneak attack creatures, but find evidence that they were once much better at it than they are now. How scary/awesome would it be to find out that the party's wizard once snapped her fingers and snuffed out someone's soul? How terrifying would it be for the rogue to realize that they were once frighteningly good at "enhanced interrogation techniques"? How much would it shake the priest of Shelyn to learn that he was once Zon-Kuthon's favored? That is far more intriguing to learn than spending the first few sessions discovering that you're actually a bard.

[The Golux]

You know you are the class that you are at the beginning of the AP... You don't know what class you used to be, though, and they don't have to be the same.

[Franz Lunzer]

The Golux wrote:

You know you are the class that you are at the beginning of the AP... You don't know what class you used to be, though, and they don't have to be the same.

This!