diff --git a/__pycache__/adventurers.cpython-312.pyc b/__pycache__/adventurers.cpython-312.pyc
index d2c5d26..61f9698 100644
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diff --git a/__pycache__/app.cpython-312.pyc b/__pycache__/app.cpython-312.pyc
index 77a4919..b4b5c63 100644
Binary files a/__pycache__/app.cpython-312.pyc and b/__pycache__/app.cpython-312.pyc differ
diff --git a/__pycache__/main.cpython-312.pyc b/__pycache__/main.cpython-312.pyc
index b3863c4..fbc2f36 100644
Binary files a/__pycache__/main.cpython-312.pyc and b/__pycache__/main.cpython-312.pyc differ
diff --git a/adventurers.py b/adventurers.py
index d2131c2..48fb9c4 100755
--- a/adventurers.py
+++ b/adventurers.py
@@ -44,6 +44,12 @@ class Adventurer:
     def __str__(self):
         return f"{self.player_class}"
 
+    def get_subclass_dict():
+        subclasses = {}
+        for subclass in Adventurer.__subclasses__():
+            subclasses[subclass.adv_class] = subclass
+        return subclasses
+
     def get_json(self):
         char_dict = self.__dict__
         char_json = json.dumps(char_dict)
@@ -113,6 +119,7 @@ class Adventurer:
 
         
 class Fighter(Adventurer):
+    adv_class = "fighter"
     prime_requisite = "strength"
     requirements = None
     progression = [
@@ -133,12 +140,13 @@ class Fighter(Adventurer):
     ]
     def __init__(self, c_id, level, attributes={}) -> None:
         Adventurer.__init__(self, c_id, level, attributes)
-        self.player_class = "fighter"
+        self.player_class = Fighter.adv_class
         self.progression = Fighter.progression
         self.hp = roll_dice(self.level, 8)
         self.ac = armor[self.armor]
 
 class MagicUser(Adventurer):
+    adv_class = "magic user"
     prime_requisite = "intelligence"
     requirements = None
     progression = [
@@ -175,7 +183,7 @@ class MagicUser(Adventurer):
     }
     def __init__(self,c_id,  level, attributes={}) -> None:
         Adventurer.__init__(self, c_id, level, attributes)
-        self.player_class = "magic user"
+        self.player_class = MagicUser.adv_class
         self.progression = MagicUser.progression
         self.hp = roll_dice(self.level, 4)
         self.armor = "None"
@@ -185,6 +193,7 @@ class MagicUser(Adventurer):
         self.spell_book = self.select_spells()
 
 class Cleric(Adventurer):
+    adv_class = "cleric"
     prime_requisite = "wisdom"
     requirements = None
     progression = [
@@ -221,7 +230,7 @@ class Cleric(Adventurer):
     }
     def __init__(self,c_id,  level, attributes={}) -> None:
         Adventurer.__init__(self, c_id, level, attributes)
-        self.player_class = "cleric"
+        self.player_class = Cleric.adv_class
         self.progression = Cleric.progression
         self.hp = roll_dice(self.level, 6)
         self.armor = random.choice(list(armor.keys()))
@@ -234,6 +243,7 @@ class Cleric(Adventurer):
         self.spell_book = self.select_spells()
 
 class Thief(Adventurer):
+    adv_class = "thief"
     prime_requisite = "dexterity"
     requirements = None
     progression = [
@@ -254,13 +264,14 @@ class Thief(Adventurer):
     ]
     def __init__(self,c_id,  level, attributes={}) -> None:
         Adventurer.__init__(self, c_id, level, attributes)
-        self.player_class = "thief"
-        self.progression = Fighter.progression
+        self.player_class = Thief.adv_class
+        self.progression = Thief.progression
         self.hp = roll_dice(self.level, 4)
         self.armor = random.choice(list(armor.keys()))
         self.ac = armor[self.armor]
 
 class Dwarf(Adventurer):
+    adv_class = "dwarf"
     prime_requisite = "strength"
     requirements = {'constitution' : 9 }
     progression = [
@@ -279,13 +290,14 @@ class Dwarf(Adventurer):
     ]
     def __init__(self,c_id,  level, attributes={}) -> None:
         Adventurer.__init__(self, c_id, level, attributes)
-        self.player_class = "dwarf"
+        self.player_class = Dwarf.adv_class
         self.progression = Dwarf.progression
         self.hp = roll_dice(self.level, 8)
         self.armor = random.choice(list(armor.keys()))
         self.ac = armor[self.armor]
 
 class Elf(Adventurer):
+    adv_class = "elf"
     prime_requisite = "intellgence"
     requirements = {'intelligence' : 9 }
     progression = [
@@ -314,7 +326,7 @@ class Elf(Adventurer):
     }
     def __init__(self,c_id,  level, attributes={}) -> None:
         Adventurer.__init__(self, c_id, level, attributes)
-        self.player_class = "elf"
+        self.player_class = Elf.adv_class
         self.progression = Elf.progression
         self.hp = roll_dice(self.level, 6)
         self.armor = random.choice(list(armor.keys()))
@@ -323,6 +335,7 @@ class Elf(Adventurer):
         self.spell_book = self.select_spells()
 
 class Halfling(Adventurer):
+    adv_class = "halfling"
     prime_requisite = "dexterity"
     requirements = {'constitution' : 9, 'dexterity' : 9 }
     progression = [
@@ -337,7 +350,7 @@ class Halfling(Adventurer):
     ]
     def __init__(self,c_id,  level, attributes={}) -> None:
         Adventurer.__init__(self, c_id, level, attributes)
-        self.player_class = "halfling"
+        self.player_class = Halfling.adv_class
         self.progression = Halfling.progression
         self.hp = roll_dice(self.level, 6)
         self.armor = random.choice(list(armor.keys()))
diff --git a/app.py b/app.py
index 310c56f..e9ae2f1 100644
--- a/app.py
+++ b/app.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/python3
 import zlib
 from main import *
+from adventurers import *
 from flask import Flask, render_template, redirect, request, make_response
 from flask_session import Session
 
@@ -37,6 +38,20 @@ def party():
 @app.route('/character', methods = ["GET","POST"])
 def characters():
   if request.method == "GET":
-    c_id = request.args.get("id", default=0, type=int)
-  character = returnCharacter(c_id) 
-  return render_template("character.html", character=character)
+    c_id = str(request.args.get("id", default=0, type=int))
+    cookie_encoded = request.cookies[c_id]
+    cookie_compressed = base64.urlsafe_b64decode(cookie_encoded)
+    character_dict = json.loads(zlib.decompress(cookie_compressed).decode())
+    chosen_class = character_dict['player_class']
+    c_id = character_dict['id']
+    level = character_dict['level']
+    adv_dict = Adventurer.get_subclass_dict()
+    chosen_class = adv_dict[chosen_class]
+    # note, i wonder if i can find a way to use the dict in a one liner, like from hw1
+    # makes a new character of the correct player class
+    new_char = chosen_class(c_id=c_id, level=level)
+    # loads in all the values from the dict
+    for k, v in character_dict.items():
+        # https://realpython.com/ref/builtin-functions/setattr/
+        setattr(new_char,k, v)
+  return render_template("character.html", character=new_char)
diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index 9adc1ae..76a92a5 100755
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -102,7 +102,11 @@ def returnCharacter(c_id):
 def main():
     adventurer_party = returnParty(party_size=2, party_level=2)
     for adv in adventurer_party.adventurers:
-        print(adv.get_json())
+        print(adv.adv_class)
+    adv_dict = Adventurer.get_subclass_dict()
+    test_class = adv_dict['fighter']
+    new_char = test_class(c_id=1,level=1)
+    print(new_char.adv_class)
 #        for line in adv.vertical_sheet:
 #            print(f"{line}")
 #        print()
diff --git a/templates/character.html b/templates/character.html
index 2f14812..048d536 100644
--- a/templates/character.html
+++ b/templates/character.html
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
                 <div class="block has-text-centered">
                     <div class="columns">
                         <div class="column" >
-                            <pre>{{character.vertical_sheet | join("\n")}}</pre>
+                            <pre>{{character.vertical_sheet() | join("\n")}}</pre>
                         </div>
                     </div>
                 </div>