diff --git a/src/workshop/BaseCharacter.tsx b/src/workshop/BaseCharacter.tsx
index e79b5f2..ac7eddc 100644
--- a/src/workshop/BaseCharacter.tsx
+++ b/src/workshop/BaseCharacter.tsx
@@ -1,24 +1,36 @@
-import { CharacterClassName, ICharacter, ICharacterActionDecision } from "../off-limits/ICharacter";
+import { CharacterClassName,  equip, ICharacter, ICharacterActionDecision } from "../off-limits/ICharacter";
 import { IWeapon, IItem } from "../off-limits/IWeapons";
+import { Feet } from "./Characters";
+import { AwesomeAmulet } from "./Weapons";
 
-//todo: use this base class somehow in Characters.tsx
 export class Character implements ICharacter {
-    name: string = '';
     health: number = 5;
     position: number = 10;
     weapons: IWeapon[] = [];
     item?: IItem;
-    
+    name: string;
+    characterClass: CharacterClassName = "Cleric";
+    feet = new Feet(this);
+    constructor(public nameInit: string, public key: number, equipItem: IItem|undefined) {
+        this.name = nameInit;
+        equip(equipItem, this);
+    }
     classname(): CharacterClassName {
-        throw new Error("Method not implemented.");
+        return this.characterClass;
     }
     move(){
-        throw new Error("Method not implemented.");
+        this.feet.move();
     }
     chooseAction(): ICharacterActionDecision{
-        throw new Error("Method not implemented.");
+        if (this.health<5) return {
+            use: this.item || new AwesomeAmulet()
+        } 
+        return {
+            attack: this.weapons[0]
+          }
     }
     getASCIIStatus(): string {
-        throw new Error("Method not implemented.");
+        if (this.health>0) return this.characterClass.charAt(0);
+        return "X"; 
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/workshop/Characters.tsx b/src/workshop/Characters.tsx
index 16ba4f4..d18d0d3 100644
--- a/src/workshop/Characters.tsx
+++ b/src/workshop/Characters.tsx
@@ -12,103 +12,31 @@ import {
 //todo: customize the chooseAction() to better fight the dragon
 //todo: update the `getASCIIStatus` function(s) to return X when dead and a unique character per class
 
-export class Warrior implements ICharacter {
-  health: number = 5;
-  position: number = 10;
-  weapons: IWeapon[] = [];
-  item?: IItem;
-  feet = new Feet(this);
-  classname(): CharacterClassName {
-    return 'Warrior';
-  }
-  move(){
-    this.feet.move();
-  }
+export class Warrior extends Character implements ICharacter {
   constructor(public name: string, public key: number) {
-    equip(WarriorStartItem, this);
-  }
-  chooseAction(): ICharacterActionDecision {
-    return {
-      attack: this.weapons[0]
-    }
-  }
-  getASCIIStatus(): string {
-      return "@";
+    super(name,key, WarriorStartItem);
+    this.characterClass = 'Warrior';
   }
 }
 
-export class Cleric implements ICharacter{
-  health: number = 5;
-  position: number = 10;
-  weapons: IWeapon[] = [];
-  item?: IItem;
-  feet = new Feet(this);
-  classname(): CharacterClassName {
-    return 'Cleric';
-  }
-  move(){
-    this.feet.move();
-  }
+export class Cleric extends Character implements ICharacter{
   constructor(public name: string, public key: number) {
-    equip(ClericStartItem, this);
-  }
-  chooseAction(): ICharacterActionDecision {
-    return {
-      attack: this.weapons[0]
-    }
-  }
-  getASCIIStatus(): string {
-      return "@";
+    super(name,key, ClericStartItem);
+    this.characterClass = 'Cleric';
   }
 }
 
-export class Mage implements ICharacter {
-  health: number = 5;
-  position: number = 10;
-  weapons: IWeapon[] = [];
-  item?: IItem;
-  feet = new Feet(this);
-  classname(): CharacterClassName {
-    return 'Mage';
-  }
+export class Mage extends Character implements ICharacter {
   constructor(public name: string, public key: number) {
-    equip(MageStartItem, this);
-  }
-  move(){
-    this.feet.move();
-  }
-  chooseAction(): ICharacterActionDecision {
-    return {
-      attack: this.weapons[0]
-    }
-  }
-  getASCIIStatus(): string {
-      return "@";
+    super(name,key, MageStartItem);
+    this.characterClass = 'Mage';
   }
 }
 
-export class Thief implements ICharacter {
-  health: number = 5;
-  position: number = 10;
-  weapons: IWeapon[] = [];
-  item?: IItem;
-  feet = new Feet(this);
-  move(){
-    this.feet.move();
-  }
-  classname(): CharacterClassName {
-    return 'Thief';
-  }
+export class Thief extends Character implements ICharacter {
   constructor(public name: string, public key: number) {
-    equip(ThiefStartItem, this);
-  }
-  chooseAction(): ICharacterActionDecision {
-    return {
-      attack: this.weapons[0]
-    }
-  }
-  getASCIIStatus(): string {
-      return "@";
+    super(name,key, ThiefStartItem);
+    this.characterClass = 'Thief';
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/workshop/Weapons.tsx b/src/workshop/Weapons.tsx
index 05e4f63..40f6d98 100644
--- a/src/workshop/Weapons.tsx
+++ b/src/workshop/Weapons.tsx
@@ -30,27 +30,49 @@ export class Club implements IMeleeWeapon {
   meleeRange = 1;
 }
 
+export class Excaliber implements IMeleeWeapon {
+  name = 'Excaliber';
+  damage = 100;
+  meleeRange = 1;
+}
+
+export class Crossbow implements IRangedWeapon<Arrow> {
+  damage: 0 = 0;
+  name = 'Crossbow';
+  meleeRange = 50;
+  projectiles = [new Arrow()];
+}
+
+export class Arrow implements IWeapon {
+  name = 'Arrow';
+  damage = 100;
+}
+
 // ITEM VAULT
 // todo: add more and better items!
 export class UselessAmulet implements IItem {
   name = 'Useless Amulet';
 }
 
+export class AwesomeAmulet implements IConsumableItem {
+  name = 'Awesome Amulet';
+  healthBonus = 5;
+}
 
 // ITEM ASSIGNMENTS
 // todo: assign starting items
-export const WarriorStartItem: IItem|undefined = new Club();
-export const ClericStartItem: IItem|undefined = new Club();
+export const WarriorStartItem: IItem|undefined = new Excaliber();
+export const ClericStartItem: IItem|undefined = new Excaliber();
 export const MageStartItem: IItem|undefined = undefined;
-export const ThiefStartItem: IItem|undefined = new Club();
+export const ThiefStartItem: IItem|undefined = new Excaliber();
 
 // TREASURE ASSIGNMENTS
 // todo: assign treasure from chests
 export function GetItemsInTreasureChests(): IItem[]{
   return [
-    new UselessAmulet(), //this will be found by the warrior
-    new UselessAmulet(), //this will be found by the cleric
-    new UselessAmulet(), //this will be found by the mage
-    new UselessAmulet(), //this will be found by the thief
+    new AwesomeAmulet(), //this will be found by the warrior
+    new AwesomeAmulet(), //this will be found by the cleric
+    new AwesomeAmulet(), //this will be found by the mage
+    new AwesomeAmulet(), //this will be found by the thief
   ];
 }