Skills (manual)
Skills
Heroes start out with at least one skill, and gain more as they advance in levels. Skills come in different types: passive, combat, noncombat, and buff.
Passive skills are always active—you don't have to do anything, and you continually gain the benefit.
Combat skills can only be used in combat, and generally help heroes inflict damage, hinder their opponent, or something similar. They require power points (PP) to use.
Noncombat skills can be used only when you're not in combat. They can do any number of things, such as heal your hero or temporarily improve one of your abilities. They require power points (PP) to use.
Buffs are also noncombat spells, but they can be cast on other players as well as yourself. They require power points (PP) to use.
Unimplemented Skills. Because the game is in early beta testing, there are a number of skills that still haven't been added to the game. There are some gaps in the skill tree which will eventually be filled in but for the moment are empty. Also, after level 16 there are no more level-based skills.
Skill Points
Skill points let players improve skills. Each skill starts at 0 and can have up to 10 skill points invested in it. Players earn skill points when they level up, and may obtain skill points by other methods.
(Not implemented yet ...) For buffs, only the skill points of the buff TARGET count. That is, if a player with 10 points invested in a buff casts it on you and you don't know the skill at all or don't have skill points invested, you will receive the skill at the base effectiveness. In other words, skill points represent the player's mastery of the skill -- no points, no mastery. On the reverse, if a player with 0 skill points casts a buff on you and you have 5 points invested, you receive the buff at the 5-point level. In this case, it doesn't matter how inexperienced the other player is, your mastery still carries through.
Skills by Class
Each class skill is listed below, along with its effect. (A few are in flux right now. Buffs don't register skill points at all yet.) Equations are given to explain how invested skill points will affect the ability. Equations have an X to denote a multiple of the number of current skill points invested. They also list a Max: line just to simplify what the value of a maxed-out skill would look like.
Damage spells with caps can have "hard caps" (absolute limit) or "soft caps" (point at which damage becomes lessened by some factor).
Elemental
1. Throw sparks
| Equation: 4-7 + 2X + (level/2), hard capped at 15 + 3X
Max: 24-27 + (level/2); hard capped at 45 |
2. Air shield
| Equation: defense increased by 5 + 3X; capped at 35; duration = (30 + X)
Max: +35 defense; cast for 40 minute duration |
3. Icebolt
| Equation: 5-10 + ((2-3)*X) + level + [intellect factor]; soft capped at 30 + 3*X
Max: 5-10 + ((2-3)*10) + level + [intellect factor]; soft capped at 60 |
4. Groundquake
| Equation: Foe hit and foe dodge reduced by 5 + X, chance to stun
Max: Foe hit and foe dodge reduced by 15, chance to stun |
5. Proper hydration
| Equation: Regenerate PP at a rate of round((X+2)/3) per turn; get a bonus point at 10
Max: Regenerate 5 PP/turn |
6. Lightning bolt
| Equation: 2-8 + 2-8 + 3X + level + [intellect modifier]; soft cap at 60 + 3X
Max: 34-46 + level + [intellect modifier]; soft cap at 90 |
7. Fire shield
| Equation: attacker takes 5 + 2X + round(level/5); duration = 30 + X
Max: attacker takes 25 + round(level/5); duration = 40 minutes |
8. Stone armor
| Equation: defense = 10 + 2X + level; capped at 30 + 2X; duration = 30 + X
fire, ice, and elec resist = 5 + (X/2)% Max: +50 defense, 10% fire, ice, elec resist; duration = 40 minutes |
9. Tornado
| Equation: damage = 4-8 + 3X; foe to-hit and dodge reduced by 10 + X
Max: 34-38 damage; foe to-hit and dodge reduced by 20 |
10. Lifeblood manipulation
| Equation: heals 50 + 5X% of HP; costs 20 - round(X/2) PP
Max: heals 100% of HP when cast; costs 15 PP |
11. Metalmorph
| Equation:
Cost = 20 - round(X/2) to convert metal Max: can convert all 6 metals, cost = 15 PP |
12. Firestorm
| Equation: 15-30 + 10X + 2*level + [intellect bonus]; no cap
Max: 115-130 + 2*level + [intellect bonus] |
13. None (water-themed skill; TBA)
| Equation:
Max: |
14. Fire within
| Equation: +10 + X% max PP; +X% spell damage
Max: +20% max PP; +10% spell damage |
15. None (earth-themed skill; TBA)
| Equation:
Max: |
16. None (air-themed skill; TBA)
| Equation:
Max: |
Naturalist
1. Ant's strength
| Equation: 5 + X STR; 10 + X max HP; duration = 30 + 3X minutes
Max: +15 STR; +20 HP; duration = 60 minutes |
2. Charge of the bovine
| Equation:
weapon damage multiplied by 1.5 + (X/10); to-hit increased by 10 + (level) + X, capped at 30 Max: weapon damage x 2.5; to-hit +30 |
3. Mantis reflexes
| Equation: 5 + X REF; 5 + X initiative; duration = 30 + 3X minutes
Max: +15 REF; +15 initiative; duration = 60 minutes |
4. Echolocation
| Equation: 10 + X% item drop
Max: 20% item drop |
5. Memory of the elephant
| Equation: 5 + X INT; 10 + X max PP; duration = 30 + 3X minutes
Max: +15 INT; +20 max PP; duration = 60 minutes |
6. Armadillo armor
| Equation: damage absorption = 2 + X + round(level/6); duration = 30 + 3X minutes
Max: 12 + round(level/6); duration = 60 minutes |
7. Snout of the swine
| Equation: 15 + X% chips; duration = 30 + 3X minutes
Max: +25% chips; duration = 60 minutes |
8. Starfish regeneration
| Equation: regenerate 2 + round(X/2) HP/turn; get a bonus point at 10
Max: regenerate 8 HP/turn |
9. Talons of the raptor
| Equation: melee damage +3 + X + round(level/3); capped at 10 + X; duration = 30 + 3X minutes
Max: melee damage +13 + round(level/3); capped at 20; duration = 60 minutes |
10. Trample of the rhino
| Equation: weapon damage multiplied by 2.5 + (X/10); to-hit +10 + 2X + (level), capped at 50
Max: weapon damage x 3.5; to-hit +30 + (level), capped at 50 |
11. Summon wolf
| Equation: wolf does 4-8 + X + floor(level/5) damage; duration = 30 + 6X
Max: wolf does 14-18 + floor(level/5) damage if it hits; duration = 90 minutes |
12. Nurture versus nature
| Equation: sidekick bonus of 10 + X; duration = 30 + 3X minutes
Max: 20% sidekick bonus; 60 minute duration |
13. Spines of the echidna
| Equation: attacker takes 5 + X damage; duration = 30 + 3X minutes
Max: attacker takes 15 damage; duration = 60 minutes |
14. Sinus of the shark
| Equation: +3 + round(X/3)% chances of combat adventures; duration = 30 + 3X minutes
Max: +6% chances of combat adventures; duration = 60 minutes |
15. Summon water buffalo
| Equation: duration = 30 + 6X; damage is either:
6-(6+X) + X + floor(level/6) or 12-18 + 2X + floor(level/5) Max:duration = 90 minutes; buffalo does damage if it hits: 16-26 + floor(level/6) or 32-38 + floor(level/5) |
16. Maul of the cave bear
| Equation: weapon damage multiplied by 3 + (X/5); to-hit +15% + X% of current to-hit, minimum of 20 + X
Max: weapon damage x 5; +25% increase to to-hit, minimum bonus of +30 |
Gadgeteer
1. Stun gas
| Equation: foe hit and foe offense reduced by 5 + (X/2); chance of stun 20 + X%
Max: foe hit and offense reduced by 10; chance of stun 30% |
2. Upgrade armor
| Equation: (still working out the mechanics)
Max: |
3. Basic martial arts
| Equation: to-hit increased by 10 + X
Max: to-hit increased by 20 |
4. First aid
| Equation: out of combat cures 10-20 + 3X HP; in combat, heals 6-10 + 2X;
Max: 40-50 out of combat; 26-30 in combat |
5. Supercomputer skills
| Equation: (still working out the mechanics)
Max: |
6. Upgrade weapons
| Equation: (still working out the mechanics)
Max: |
7. Metal detector
| Equation: +15 + X% item drop
Max: +25% item drop |
8. Advanced martial arts
| Equation: offense increases by 10 + 3X + level power
Max: +30 + level offensive power |
9. (none - skill TBA)
| Equation:
Max: |
10. Improved tinkering
| Equation: improves options for upgrade armor (at 0 points) and upgrade weapons (at 5 points)
Extends the duration of all gadgeteer buffs/skills by 10 + X minutes Max: improves upgrade armor and weapons; all gadgeteer buffs/skills get +20 minutes |
11. Electric net
| Equation: deals 4-8 + 2X + sqrt(level) damage; reduces foe dodge by your level * (.5 + (X/10))
Max: deals 24-28 damage + sqrt(level) damage; reduces foe dodge by 1.5 * your level |
12. Catalyze
| Equation:
Time bonus with increasing X? Max: Can convert all metals |
13. Shock grenade
| Equation: damage = 5 - 15 + 3X + (level/2);
foe to-hit and offense reduced by 20 + 2X Max: damage = 35-45 + (level/2); reduces foe to-hit and offense by 40 |
14. Stealth
| Equation: +3 + round(X/3)% chances of noncombat adventures
Max: +6% chances of noncombat adventures |
15. Sniper
| Equation: Ranged damage +5 + 2X
Initiative +10 +2X Max: Ranged damage +25; Initiative +30 |
16. Battle armor
| Equation: Defense increases by 30 + level*(X+1)
Max: Defense = +30 + 11*level |
Psion
1. Aura: vim
| Equation: to-hit and dodge = 10 + X;
Max: to-hit and dodge = +20 |
2. Knit flesh
| Equation: heals 2-4 + 2-4 + ((2-4)*(X/2))
Will also remove one or two negative effects (stitches, concussed?) Max: 4-8 + 10-20 |
3. Telekenesis
| Equation: 4-8 + X + (level/2) + [intellect bonus]; hard cap at 20 + 2X
Max: 14-18 + (level/2) + [intellect bonus]; hard cap at 40 |
4. Aura: mystery
| Equation: spell damage increased by 2X + (level/2); might need a cap?;
combat spell cost -1 Max: spell damage increased by 20 + (level/2); might need a cap?; combat spell cost -1 |
5. Premonition
| Equation: initiative increases by 5 + 2X + (level/5)
Max: initiative increases by 25 + (level/5) |
6. Mind jab
| Equation: 8-16 + 3X + level + [intellect modifier]; soft cap at 30 + 3X
Max: 38-46 + level + [intellect modifier]; soft cap at 60 |
7. Wind warrior
| Equation: does 3-5 + X + round(level/3) if it hits
Max: does 13-15 + round(level/3) if it hits |
8. Aura: keen observation
| Equation: XP gain increased by 1+ (X/2)%; +20 + X% chips drop
Max: +6% XP gain; +30% chips drop |
9. Knit bone
| Equation: heals 10-20 + 10-20 + 3X HP
Removes several negative effects (stitches, concussed, still bleeding) Max: heals 50-70 HP |
10. Meditation
| Equation: grants 10 + 2X minutes to bedtime each rollover
Max: grants +30 minutes to bedtime |
11. Electronic understanding
| Equation:
Electronic robots take 50 + 5X% damage from psion spells; Max: Psion spells will do 100% damage to electronic robots, and 20% damage to positronic robots |
12. Aura: vigor
| Equation: regen 2 + round(X/3) HP/turn; +20 + X% max HP
Max: regenerate 5 HP/turn; +30% maximum HP |
13. Psionic blast
| Equation: 15-30 + 8X + level*3 + [intellect modifier]; no cap
Max: 95-110 + level*3 + [intellect modifier] |
14. (none -- skill TBA)
| Equation:
Max: |
15. Biofeedback
| Equation:
Starting at 0: Fire and ice resist = 5 + X Max: Fire, ice, sonic, and psychic resit +15% |
16. Aura: mental magnetism
| Equation: +/- 3 + round(X/3)% chances of noncombats
Max: +/- 6% chances of noncombats |
Notes
- Also worth mentioning in this context are Effects which you can get through other means. They are temporarily and don't cost any power points (PP).