Strength8
Dexterity8
Constitution 9
Intelligence12
Wisdom10
Charisma9
Well, I have that character sheet stuff sorted out. I’m definitely not going to be one of those jerks that forgets to spend his stat points.
Since I already have a few skills, I decide that I want to know more about what they are and so I skip ahead in the manual to that section.
Skills
Skills, skills, skills. They’re the bedrock of much of what you’ll be doing with the System. There are an almost infinite amount of skills available. You can access the list of skills by thinking or saying ‘Skills.' You can refine the list by changing the display parameters.
Bonuses from skills come in one of two forms: Active and Passive. Some skills need to be activated before being used. A common example is the Inspect skill. It will only activate and give additional information when a person is actively inspecting something or someone. A passive skill bonus will always be on and earn a small amount experience constantly. For example, the Run skill gives a bonus to movement all the time no matter what activity the User is doing.
The most powerful skills have prerequisites so plan accordingly. You get ten skill points every time you level that you can spend on any skill to which you have access. You can unlock a skill and get it to level one by either spending one point on that skill or by performing that skill in real life. For example, want the Read skill? You can spend one skill point to get it to level one, or you can read until you get it. However, some skills like Telekinesis can only be unlocked by spending a skill point.
Upgrading a skill is more challenging than it seems. Practicing a skill enough will raise its level, but the higher the level, the harder and more time-consuming it is to level that way. If getting a skill to level two takes about eight hours of practice, then getting it to level three will take sixteen hours, and getting it to level four will take thirty-two hours of practice. You can also upgrade a skill by spending skill points. However, the higher the level, the more skill points are required to upgrade it. To unlock a skill and get it to level one costs one skill point. Upgrading it to level two costs two skill points. Upgrading it to level three costs three skill points. Etc.
Well, I guess it makes sense now. I learned Inspect when I was examining something and Inventory Management when I was taking inventory of the items in the store. That means there are probably a lot of skills I can unlock just by doing regular stuff.
I say, “Skills,” and a new screen appears. At the top of the new blue box is a User interface that has a search function and ‘sort by’ drop-down menu. The ‘sort by’ menu can be modified to organize the list in descending or ascending order by name, skill point cost, current level, or by the group. The search function has an ‘and,' ‘or,' ‘not’ options with multiple boxes so that just about any combination of parameters can be explored.
I see why they have a search feature while scrolling through the skill list. The full list of skills seems unending. Some skills have six or seven prerequisites. Including things like stats, race, faction, and other skills. Just a brief skim through the list amazes me and makes choosing something daunting. I mean, what the heck are Ablative Natural Armor or Elysian Time Fracture Repair? I use the search function to whittle down the list. I eliminate all the skills that have prerequisites, I mean I’m just starting out. No point in looking at stuff I just can’t use yet. There are a lot of skills left, so I organize them by grouping. There are combat skills, crafting skills, academic skills, magic skills, tech skills, stealth skills, and more. At least the groupings help me get a better idea of how to view all the skills. While I’m sure I’ll need a variety of skills if I plan to try to clear a dungeon on my own, the group that intrigues me the most are the academic skills. I mean, I’m supposed to have class this afternoon. What if there’s some super skill that lets me become a genius or something?
I see some skills that initially sound like real duds, scanning through the academic skills Reading, mathematics, writing, analyzing, …?
However, after reading the skill descriptions, it seems like each could help me out. The bonus from reading improves the speed at which I can read. Even at level 1, I’d get a 25% bonus. The math skill points out flaws in mathematics and at higher levels will solve math problems on its own. Writing skill stimulates the part of your brain that puts words together and increases the chance of breaking through writer’s block with a mini-game. However, Analyze seems like the broadest skill in the group. It aids in breaking down problems and information and seeing connections. According to the description, it increases the effectiveness of Inspect too.
There are way too many options to choose from right now, and I realize that planning out a path to optimize my skills so that I can get advanced ones and ones with prerequisites are going to take some time and maybe a spreadsheet. I might want to ask Lillian for some advice in this area, so I don’t waste any skill points.
However, I suddenly realize that there are some skills I know I can use if I’m going to work out my plan to become rich by independently clearing out dungeons. I use the search function to look for the keyword ‘Dungeon.' There’s a long list of results that come up, including some kinky ones, but I focus on three skills that I think will help me with my plan.
Dungeon Scan - Allows the User to scan for dungeons within a specified radius. Higher levels increase the radius of the scan.
Dungeon Inspect - Sub skill of Inspect. Allows Inspect to work on dungeon doors, providing information about the dungeon.
Dungeon Mapping - Sub skill of Mapping, allows Mapping to work in a dungeon, allowing for automatic recording of the area to a special map of the dungeon.
Dungeon Mapping has a prerequisite of the skill Mapping level 1 and Dungeon Inspect requires that I have Inspect level 1. I decide that it’s worth the investment of skill points. Otherwise, I’ll never be able to find a dungeon on my own, and there goes the entire plan. From my initial ten skill points, I spend one on Mapping, then one each on Dungeon Scan, Dungeon Inspect, and Dungeon Mapping. That leaves me six skill points to save for other skills I may want or need.
The abilities section of the guidebook is a lot smaller than the skills portion.
Abilities
Abilities are much rarer than skills since they have to be inherited, taught, or earned. Some books were discovered that teach abilities, but these are rare and very valuable. Other abilities are passed down genetically from parent to child. Some abilities are taught by a master of a particular branch of magic or technology. Some abilities are earned as a reward from special quests bestowed by the System. Each User has one randomly chosen ability assigned to them when they become a part of the System. To view your abilities, just think or say ‘Abilities’ with the intent to view your own.
I say, “Abilities.” Then a new window appears. I realize that the room is starting to get a bit crowded with blue boxes and I close the ones that I’m not using anymore. My ability screen displays one word—Absorb. When I think of the ability, a new window pops up.