diff --git a/rogueviz/ru/classes.cpp b/rogueviz/ru/classes.cpp
index 385a18bf..15c3cff3 100644
--- a/rogueviz/ru/classes.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/ru/classes.cpp
@@ -176,8 +176,8 @@ struct xy {
 
 enum class stat { str, con, wis, dex };
 
-constexpr stat allstats[] =  { stat::str, stat::con, stat::wis, stat::dex };
 constexpr int qstat = 4;
+constexpr array<stat, qstat> allstats = { stat::str, stat::con, stat::wis, stat::dex };
 
 template<class T> struct statarray : array<T, qstat> {
   statarray() {};
@@ -309,6 +309,7 @@ struct man : public entity {
   int last_action;
 
   int experience;
+  stat profession;
 
   statarray<int> base_stats;
   statdata current, next;
diff --git a/rogueviz/ru/ru.cpp b/rogueviz/ru/ru.cpp
index a0085162..be07f73e 100644
--- a/rogueviz/ru/ru.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/ru/ru.cpp
@@ -481,7 +481,15 @@ void add_platf_hooks() {
   pushScreen(run);  
   }
 
+void start_new_game() {
+  enable();
+  randomize_stats();
+  cmode = mode::menu;
+  pushScreen(initial_stats);
+  }
+
 auto chk = arg::add3("-ru", enable)
+  + arg::add3("-ru-start", start_new_game)
   + arg::add3("-ru-cheat", [] { arg::shift(); load_cheat(arg::args()); })
   + addHook(mapstream::hooks_loadmap, 100, [] (hstream& f, int id) {
     if(id == 67) {
diff --git a/rogueviz/ru/stats.cpp b/rogueviz/ru/stats.cpp
index 45a495b2..a2c72374 100644
--- a/rogueviz/ru/stats.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/ru/stats.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,29 @@
 namespace rogue_unlike {
 
+// -1 to downgrade
+int stat_upgrade_cost(stat s, int bonus = 0) {
+  return 10 * (m.base_stats[s] + bonus);
+  }
+
+void randomize_stats() {
+  for(auto s: allstats) while(m.base_stats[s] > 1) {
+    m.base_stats[s]--; m.experience += stat_upgrade_cost(s);
+    }
+  auto mainstat = stat::str;
+  for(int i=0; i<500; i++) {
+    auto s = hrand_elt(allstats);
+    auto uc = stat_upgrade_cost(s);
+    if(uc <= m.experience) {
+      m.experience -= uc;
+      m.base_stats[s]++;
+      if(m.base_stats[s] > m.base_stats[mainstat]) mainstat = s;
+      }
+    }
+  m.profession = mainstat;
+  for(auto s: allstats)
+    m.current.stats[s] = m.base_stats[s];
+  }
+
 struct statinfo {
   char key;
   string name;
@@ -15,17 +39,53 @@ string prettystat(ld cur) {
   return format("%.lf", cur);
   }
 
-void draw_stats() {
+struct profinfo {
+  char key;
+  string name;
+  string desc;
+  };
+
+statarray<statinfo> profdata;
+
+vector<string> professions = { "Warrior", "Morpher", "Sorcerer", "Rogue" };
+
+void stat_screen(bool editable) {
 
   statdata[stat::str] = {'s', "Strength", "Affects the strength of your physical attacks."};
   statdata[stat::con] = {'t', "Toughness", "Affects the amount of hitpoints you have."};
   statdata[stat::wis] = {'w', "Wisdom", "Affects the power of your alchemy."};
   statdata[stat::dex] = {'d', "Dexterity", "Improves your 'chill time' power."};
 
+  profdata[stat::str] = {'w', "Warrior", "Warriors start with a powerful axe."};
+  profdata[stat::con] = {'m', "Morpher", "Morpher start with an ability to transform into small animals."};
+  profdata[stat::wis] = {'s', "Sorcerer", "Sorcerers start with an ability to cast fire spells."};
+  profdata[stat::dex] = {'r', "Rogue", "Rogues start with an ability to detect hidden passages and traps."};
+
   render_the_map();
   draw_inventory_frame();
   dialog::init("the Alchemist", 0xC000C0);
 
+  dialog::addSelItem("class", profdata[m.profession].name, 'c');
+  dialog::add_action_push([editable] {
+    dialog::init("the Alchemist: class", 0xC000C0);
+    dialog::addHelp(
+      "During their apprenticeship, Alchemists focus on one of multiple specializations.\n\n"
+      "Game-wise, this affects the abilities you start with, which also affects what things you can do close to the start of the game. "
+      "You should be able to find the basic abilities of other classes early. However, you will also find the basic ability of your "
+      "own class, making it more powerful, so it will always be the strongest."
+      );
+    dialog::addBreak(100);
+    for(auto st: allstats) {
+      if(!editable && st != m.profession) continue;
+      dialog::addBoolItem(profdata[st].name, st == m.profession, profdata[st].key);
+      dialog::add_action([st] { m.profession = st; });
+      dialog::addBreak(50);
+      dialog::addHelp(profdata[st].desc);
+      }
+    dialog::addBack();
+    dialog::display();
+    });
+
   dialog::addSelItem("free experience", its(m.experience), 'x');
   
   for(auto st: allstats) {
@@ -34,7 +94,7 @@ void draw_stats() {
     string s = its(bas);
     if(cur != bas) s += " (" + prettystat(cur) + ")";
     dialog::addSelItem(statdata[st].name, s, statdata[st].key);
-    dialog::add_action_push([st] {
+    dialog::add_action_push([st, editable] {
       render_the_map();
       draw_inventory_frame();
       dialog::init(statdata[st].name, 0xC000C0);
@@ -43,13 +103,59 @@ void draw_stats() {
       dialog::addSelItem("base value", its(m.base_stats[st]), 0);
       dialog::addSelItem("current value", prettystat(m.current.stats[st]), 0);
       dialog::addBreak(100);
+      int uc = stat_upgrade_cost(st);
+      dialog::addSelItem("upgrade", its(uc) + " XP", 'u');
+      dialog::add_action([uc, st] {
+         if(m.experience < uc) { addMessage("Not enough XP!"); return; }
+         m.base_stats[st]++; m.current.stats[st]++; m.experience -= uc;
+         });
+      if(editable) {
+        uc = stat_upgrade_cost(st, -1);
+        dialog::addSelItem("downgrade", its(uc) + " XP", 'd');
+        dialog::add_action([uc, st] {
+           if(m.base_stats[st] <= 1) { addMessage("Impossible to go lower!"); return; }
+           m.base_stats[st]--; m.current.stats[st]--; m.experience += uc;
+           });
+        }
+      dialog::addBreak(100);
       dialog::addBack();
       dialog::display();
       });
     }
 
-  dialog::addBack();
+  if(!editable) dialog::addBack();
+  if(editable) {
+    // need to delete the handler so that we cannot exit this dialog
+    keyhandler = [] (int sym, int uni) { dialog::handleNavigation(sym, uni); };
+    dialog::addItem("start the game!", 'z');
+    dialog::add_action([] {
+      popScreen();
+      cmode = mode::playing;
+      switch(m.profession) {
+        case stat::str:
+          find_power("dagger").gain(1, 1); // no axe yet
+          break;
+        case stat::con:
+          find_power("polymorph").gain(1, 1).flags |= IDENTIFIED | PARTIAL;
+          break;
+        case stat::dex:
+          find_power("the thief").gain(1, 1).flags |= IDENTIFIED | PARTIAL;
+          break;
+        case stat::wis:
+          find_power("fire").gain(1, 1).flags |= IDENTIFIED | PARTIAL;
+          break;
+        }
+      });
+
+    dialog::addItem("reroll", 'r');
+    dialog::add_action(randomize_stats);
+    }
+
   dialog::display();
   }
 
+void initial_stats() { stat_screen(true); }
+
+void draw_stats() { stat_screen(false); }
+
 }