Index: binaries/data/mods/public/globalscripts/VisibleClasses.js
===================================================================
--- /dev/null
+++ binaries/data/mods/public/globalscripts/VisibleClasses.js
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+/**
+ * This class provides a cache for accessing visible classes metadata stored in JSON files.
+ * Note that visible classes need not be defined in JSON files to be handled in-game.
+ * This class must be initialised before using, as initialising it directly in globalscripts would
+ * introduce disk I/O every time e.g. a GUI page is loaded.
+ */
+class VisibleClassesMetadata
+{
+	constructor()
+	{
+		this.data = {};
+
+		let files = Engine.ListDirectoryFiles("simulation/data/visible_classes", "*.json", false);
+		for (let filename of files)
+		{
+			let data = Engine.ReadJSONFile(filename);
+			if (!data)
+				continue;
+
+			if (data.code in this.data)
+			{
+				error("Encountered two class with the code " + data.code);
+				continue;
+			}
+
+			this.data[data.code] = {
+				"code": data.code,
+				"icon": data.icon || undefined,
+				"name": data.name || data.code,
+				"description": data.description || ""
+			};
+		}
+	}
+
+	getData(code)
+	{
+		if (this.data[code])
+			return this.data[code];
+		return {};
+	}
+
+	getIcon(code)
+	{
+		return this.getData(code).icon;
+	}
+
+	getName(code)
+	{
+		return this.getData(code).name || code;
+	}
+
+	getDescription(code)
+	{
+		return this.getData(code).description;
+	}
+}
Index: binaries/data/mods/public/gui/common/tooltips.js
===================================================================
--- binaries/data/mods/public/gui/common/tooltips.js
+++ binaries/data/mods/public/gui/common/tooltips.js
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 var g_DamageTypesMetadata = new DamageTypesMetadata();
 var g_StatusEffectsMetadata = new StatusEffectsMetadata();
+var g_VisibleClassesMetadata = new VisibleClassesMetadata();
 
 /**
  * If true, always shows whether the splash damage deals friendly fire.
@@ -1028,8 +1029,8 @@
 	if (!template.visibleIdentityClasses || !template.visibleIdentityClasses.length)
 		return "";
 
-	return headerFont(translate("Classes:")) + ' ' +
-		bodyFont(template.visibleIdentityClasses.map(c => translate(c)).join(translate(", ")));
+	let classNames = template.visibleIdentityClasses.map(c => translate(g_VisibleClassesMetadata.getName(c)));
+	return headerFont(translate("Classes:")) + ' ' + bodyFont(classNames.join(translate(", ")));
 }
 
 function getLootTooltip(template)
Index: binaries/data/mods/public/simulation/components/Identity.js
===================================================================
--- binaries/data/mods/public/simulation/components/Identity.js
+++ binaries/data/mods/public/simulation/components/Identity.js
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
 		"</element>" +
 	"</optional>" +
 	"<optional>" +
-		"<element name='VisibleClasses' a:help='Optional list of space-separated classes applying to this entity. These classes will also be visible in various GUI elements. If the classes need spaces, underscores will be replaced with spaces. Choices include: Amphitheater, Archer, ArmyCamp, Arsenal, ArtilleryTower, Axeman, Barracks, Bireme, BoltShooter, BoltTower, Bribable, Camel, Cavalry, Champion, Chariot, Citizen, City, Civic, CivilCentre, Colony, Corral, Council, Crossbowman, Defensive, Dock, Dog, Economic, Elephant, ElephantStable, Embassy, Farmstead, Field, Fireship, FishingBoat, Forge, Fortress, Gate, Gladiator, Gymnasium, Hall, Healer, Hero, House, Infantry, Javelineer, Library, Lighthouse, Maceman, Melee, Market, Mercenary, Military, Monument, Naval, Outpost, Palace, Palisade, Pikeman, Pillar, Pyramid, Quinquereme, Ram, Range, Ranged, Relic, Resource, RotaryMill, SentryTower, Ship, Shipyard, Siege, SiegeTower, SiegeWall, Slave, Slinger, Soldier, Spearman, Stable, Stoa, StoneThrower, StoneTower, Storehouse, Support, Swordsman, Syssiton, Temple, TempleOfAmun, TempleOfApedemak, TempleOfMars, TempleOfVesta, Theater, Tower, Town, Trade, Trader, Trireme, TriumphalArch, Village, Wall, Warship, Wonder, Worker.'>" +
+		"<element name='VisibleClasses' a:help='Optional list of space-separated classes applying to this entity. These classes will also be visible in various GUI elements. If the classes need spaces, underscores will be replaced with spaces. See simulation/data/visible_classes for details.'>" +
 			"<attribute name='datatype'>" +
 				"<value>tokens</value>" +
 			"</attribute>" +
Index: binaries/data/mods/public/simulation/data/visible_classes/archer.json
===================================================================
--- /dev/null
+++ binaries/data/mods/public/simulation/data/visible_classes/archer.json
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{
+	"code": "Archer",
+	"icon": "whatever/link",
+	"name": "Archer",
+	"description": "Archer units can attack at long-range, firing deadly volleys on your enemies."
+}