While that's fair, I wasn't really talking about [class X] preconceptions. I was talking only about the "oh, you're an Adventurer..." preconceptions. Which I don't think are unwarranted, most of the time, specifically because "Adventuring" almost always signifies engaging in an awful lot of violence, and acquiring an awful lot of money, over a very short period. (How many campaigns cover more than, say, a 5-year span of in-game time?) Just as becoming a soldier who fights on the front lines changes a person's behavior and the way they equip themselves, so too does becoming an Adventurer who goes spelunking, tomb-raiding, monster-slaying, and evil-wizard-squishing.
All that is pre-supposing that the PCs go spelunking for a living. Personally, I prefer when my (non-'adventuring) PC gets swept up in the tide of events.
The 'party' (another such word!) are 12th level. One is a captain of the kings bodyguard, another a swashbuckling courtier, another a noblewoman who keeps her arcane mastery...private.
None of us are 'adventurers'.
We are at the King's Ball, the highlight of the social season. We are in best bib-and-tucker, but that fancy sword at the swashbuckler's hit is a Rapier of Speed, and his
mage armour and Bracers of Defence protect him adequately, thank you very much! I wouldn't be at all surprised if the noblewoman's purse holds much more than seems possible, and heaven only knows what she has in there!
Suddenly, the stained-glass ceiling high above the ballroom is shattered, and black-clad ninja-types (no, we cannot assume that they are Shadow Monks!) abseil down. "Protect the King!" shouts the bodyguard PC, and while the courtier draws his slim blade, the noble lady seems to draw a strange staff from...where?
Later, the disheveled crew take refuge in a tavern; ball-gown torn, powdered wig askew. "Ah, adventurers!" exclaims the barkeep.
Bite me.
That said, I do think there are some things that can work on preconceptions. People who wear armor made from furs, for example, will probably be assumed to be from a "less civilized" area and therefore more familiar with the wilderness than the city. People who do wear robes will probably be taken as clerks at the least, and potentially wizards (especially if wizards are a common sight in a particular area). People who wear plate are, quite naturally, going to be seen as soldiers of some kind--probably mercenaries, unless they wear some heraldic or religious symbol. If you've got leather armor, and you take decent care of it, you'll probably be taken for a mercenary of some kind (everyday people don't wear armor of any kind). Somebody's got a great weapon on their back, or a sword at their side, people are going to assume they know how to fight and probably don't have too many qualms about doing so when properly incentivized. Etc.
Exactly! They can make educated guesses based on perceived evidence, but they absolutely cannot infer game-mechanics! Like 'class'.
Now, if a given character intentionally tries to subvert these rules-of-thumb (a Fighter who prefers extra-light leather armor, or wearing armor under slightly baggy clothing, for example), then sure, people will probably draw mistaken conclusions. But if your character gets seen "properly" kitted up, people are going to draw conclusions from that--and I find it difficult to believe that you can quickly and easily switch back and forth between "civilian" and "adventuring" gear unless you explain how and where you're making the change, and what you're doing with the gear you stow/stash.
My first 5E character was a fighter with the Magic Initiate feat.
Mage armour meant that he never wore armour. He wore fine clothes, and had
prestidigitation to remain looking good. Wearing a rapier is expected of a noble like Lord FlashHeart-'Flash' to his friends-and it's just as well that he was a talented fencer when he chanced across a dragon army attacking a village. He and his new friends saved some lives that day.
What did the governor say when he met us? "Ah, adventurers!"
Bite me.
