Early on in Princess Maker 2 you'll earn the majority of your daughter's stat points through jobs. Once you've earned enough money, however, you should start to segue over to classes. Located under the Learn tab when you Schedule your daughter's month, classes are an invaluable source of learning for your up-and-coming princess - and aside from the fee, there are almost no downsides to taking them.
This guide will teach you the ins and outs of classes in Princess Maker 2, and provide some recommendations on which classes your daughter should take - and when. First, though, some basics.
The Basics
There are ten classes in all in Princess Maker 2, and unlike with jobs they're unlocked automatically when you begin the game. Each class has a fee, and that fee needs to be paid each day your daughter is taking a class. If you run out of money before a block of classes ends your daughter will be forced to stop for the remainder of the class.
Like jobs, classes raise your daughter's stats. Unlike jobs, however, classes seldom lower her stats. This allows you to make gradual improvements to your daughter without needing to balance stat gain and loss. (There are a few minor exceptions, noted below.) Once you have enough money classes are by far the best, fastest, most efficient means for improving your daughter.
Once your daughter takes a particular class enough times she'll be moved up to a more advanced rank. You'll need to pay more for your daughter to take that class again, but her stat gains improve with each rank. Some stats barely improve - or won't improve at all - until you reach higher ranks in a class.
Like jobs, classes incur a Stress penalty on your daughter. That said, the stress buildup is much lower with classes, clocking in at a relatively low +1 Stress per day. As long as she starts off at zero Stress you can safely send your daughter to three Classes each month without an attitude changes, so long as you give her some Free Time the next month. If your daughter is too stressed, or has become a Delinquent, she may waste her days in class, earning no stat bonuses.
Class Listings
Below are the ten classes in Princess Maker 2. You can access them at any time, so long as you have enough money. Classes are only unavailable during the Harvest Festival.
Science
Fee: 30G / 40G / 50G / 60G
Stat Changes:
- Intelligence +
- Faith -
- Magic Defence -
Your daughter learns about the sciences. Science is one of two classes where your daughter can lose stats, making it detrimental to your character development in the long term. Losing Faith can, at higher class levels, turn your daughter into a Delinquent. No other class raises Intelligence as quickly, however, so if you use Science in short bursts you'll probably find it quite handy.
Poetry
Fee: 40G / 60G / 80G / 100G
Stat Changes:
- Art +
- Sensitivity +
- Elegance +
- Intelligence +
Your daughter takes a lesson in the creative arts. Overall Poetry is quite a useful class, covering a broad spectrum of stat gains (and pumping them up quite a bit when you reach the higher levels, as well). Poetry's one major downside is the Sensitivity gain, which can make your daughter Delinquent if you don't keep an eye on her stats. Not the best choice if you're zeroed in on a particular stat, but useful if you want a broad improvement to your daughter.
Theology
Fee: 40G / 60G / 80G / 100G
Stat Changes:
- Intelligence +
- Faith +
- Magic Defense +
Your daughter learns more about the holy mysteries of the world. Theology is a fantastic class to take if you're raising a magic user, as Intelligence fuels her MP and Magic Defense is handy against a handful of enemies. The Intelligence gain from Theology is not massive, however, so you may want to balance this with a bit with Science. Theology will prevent your daughter's Faith and Magic Defense from dropping too drastically.
Strategy
Fee: 50G / 70G / 90G / 110G
Stat Changes:
- Intelligence +
- Combat Skill +
- Sensitivity -
Your daughter learns the finer points of the art of war. Strategy is a handy class if you intend to make a well-rounded combatant who can operate well at physical fighting and spellcasting. Pair Strategy with Magic and you'll have a ferocious, smart little fighter. The hit to Sensitivity is both a positive and a negative, depending on your daughter's build, and you may want to balance this class out with something that will keep her Sensitivity at roughly the same level.
Fencing
Fee: 40G / 70G / 130G / 190G
Stat Changes:
- Combat Skill +
- Combat Attack +
Your daughter learns how to fight with a sword. Fencing is a great early-game class if you intend to raise a fighter, especially if you decide not to invest in your daughter's Strength (which also raises Combat Attack, albeit much more slowly). Fencing gets very expensive as your daughter moves up levels, so raise your daughter's Combat Attack to 100 and try to keep it there by avoiding jobs that reduce Strength.
Occasionally the Fencing dojo will come under attack by an enemy warrior who will try to take its sign. If you fight the opponent and lose - or decide not to intervene - Fencing will be unavailable for a few months.
Kung Fu
Fee: 30G / 40G / 50G / 60G
Stat Changes:
- Combat Skill +
- Combat Defense +
Your daughter learns how to fight with her fists. Kung Fu is a fantastic class throughout the game if you intend to mold your daughter into a physical fighter, and even at high levels it remains inexpensive compared to other classes. You'll want to invest in Kung Fu first and foremost if you intend to go exploring, and it remains a decent (albeit slow) option later on for raising Combat Defense. Note that Combat Defense will not start to rise until you reach the more advanced classes.
Magic
Fee: 60G / 70G / 80G / 90G
Stat Changes:
- Magic Skill +
- Magic Attack +
Your daughter learns how to sling spells. Magic class is a must if you intend to raise a spellcaster, as this is basically the only way to make your daughter's spells useful against enemies. Pair it with Science, Poetry, Theology, and / or Strategy for raising Intelligence and you'll have a powerful mage in no time. (Though keep in mind that you'll want some Stamina and Combat Skill so enemies don't just steamroll your daughter with physical attacks.)
Manners
Fee: 40G / 50G / 60G / 70G
Stat Changes:
- Decorum +
- Elegance +
Your daughter learns how to navigate high society. Manners is a must if you intend for your daughter to achieve any blue blood endings, as Decorum contributes to her Social Reputation and Elegance is needed to satisfy several officials at the Palace. If you want the best ending in the game (Ruling Queen) you'll need to invest a lot into Elegance, and the Manners class is a great way to do it - just make sure any jobs your daughter performs don't sap the stat away again.
Painting
Fee: 40G / 50G / 60G / 80G
Stat Changes:
- Art +
- Sensitivity +
Your daughter learns how to craft works of art. Painting is a solid early class that allows you to raise both Art and Sensivity without losing other stats. This is quite handy if you want to send your daughter to work at the Hairdresser at age 11. Sensitivity can be detrimental if it goes too high, so try to keep it well below your other stats, lest your daughter decides to run off for a month.
Occasionally the teacher, Filkins, will ask if your daughter wants to paint something. Give him 100 gold for materials and your daughter will create a masterpiece, based on her Art skill. You can submit these paintings to the Art Festival during the Harvest Festival and try to win the top prize. Once your daughter reaches 90 Art she'll churn out a painting called 'Advent Angels', and so long as her Art stat is close to (or at) 100 when she creates the painting she'll win every time.
Dance
Fee: 50G / 70G / 90G / 110G
Stat Changes:
- Stamina +
- Charisma +
- Art +
Your daughter learns how to cut a rug. Dance class is a must if you want your daughter to win the Dance Party at the Harvest Festival, as it feeds directly into the contest's requirements. It's also useful for building up a fighter, as this is one of few ways to raise your daughter's Stamina (which directly applies to her HP) without her other stats suffering. Dance class is a bit expensive, especially at higher levels, so you may not get to this one right away.
Dance class does not require a specific dress for your daughter. She can wear whatever. That said, your daughter will need to buy a dress from the Tailor to participate in the Dance Party, during the Harvest Festival.