The Skills
Introduction
The Skill system, with each skill placed into an overarching category, places an emphasis on mastery over specific cognitive, arcane or physical fields. It removes the need to level “stat skills” like strength or dexterity and instead offers an organic progression through each overarching category. As an example, as one develops and masters more skills in the 'Strength' tree, they will find themselves becoming stronger and more enduring, as well as more easily familiar with new skills of that type.
The Categories
Though there are many categories, they are best interpreted from the lens of the skill the character is using; generally, all categories are foundational and build towards an overall familiarity to skills within their respective trees.
Strength: Strength is, simply, strength. It is physical strength; the overall force one can command with their body, modified by their weight, size and circumstance. Strength applies to nearly all physical actions in some way, and greater heights within this statistic offer improved volume of strength as well as control. On top of pure physical mastery, strength provides one with the most obvious fundamentals of endurance such as the durability of their body and muscles, as well as improved stamina.
Dexterity: Dexterity augments one's reflexes, precision, reaction time, the nimbleness of their movements and the general alacrity of the hands. It can apply to all skills in this way, but generally is specifically tied to rogue-like skills that test the reflexive coordination and grace of the individual in question.
Intelligence: Intelligence is, literally, the intelligence of the character. As it is acquired by mastering skills involving knowledge and understanding of the world and the people, plants, animals and other things within it, intellect is truly what the name implies.
Perception: Perception improves upon a character's ability to perceive the world around them, in a variety of different ways. It offers one improved awareness of their surroundings as well as the ability to piece together audible, visible and somatic cues more quickly and clearly. Some would say it is the ability to master the senses, though even this is a fairly banal method of description.
Arcana: Arcana is the overall mastery a character has over the arcane, and it is acquired through the mastery of Raw Magics over time. This improves the character's basic rudimentary understanding of magic as a whole, almost acting as a sixth sense. This can improve one's overall magical stamina over time as the mage learns to endure their consequences with greater fortitude, to increase the efficiency of their ether conversions, as well as menially reducing the risks when introducing one to new magics or abilities.
Craft: Craft is one's overall ability to craft things skillfully, as well as pick up new crafts with greater ease and understanding. It augments one's ability to craft efficiently and speedily, as well as tying in multiple crafting skills together to create exceptional constructs.
Science: Science is the overarching skill regarding one's knowledge of the world around them and the elements that compose it, as well as how to interact with those elements. As one becomes more skilled in science, they can begin to interact with scientific enigma and earthly anomalies with an initially greater level of understanding, capable of quickly determining theories and testing them against the basic standards of fact they have acquired amidst their studies.
Charisma: Charisma is one's overall ability to persuade and socialize with others, whether for the sake of business, pleasure or anything in-between. Charisma seeps into nearly everything in which conversation plays a part.
Mercantilism: Mercantilism is not just one's ability to effectively trade, but it is the overall ability one has to pick up lucrative and practical life-skills. It is the skill of a business-owner as much as a famed cook, and overall affects one's ability to effectively acquire money and other resources.
Artistry: One's overall artistic talent, applying to all of their musical or aesthetic endeavors across fields.
The Trees
Strength
Blades, Axes, Polearms, Blunt Weapons, Unarmed Combat, Shields, Bodybuilding, Flight, Running, Swimming
Dexterity
Acrobatics, Stealth, Ranged Weaponry, Gunslinging, Thrown Weapons, Larceny, Disguise, Dancing, Climbing, Mount
Intelligence
Spycraft, Cryptography, Linguistics, Teaching, Logistics, Tactics, Cartography, Psychology, Sociology, Law, Politics, Research
Perception
Appraisal, Investigation, Deception, Meditation, Interrogation, Torture, Hunting, Tracking, Navigation, Survival, Seafaring
Arcana
Bane, Brand, Squall, Mentalism, Malformity, Oath, Remnant, Resonance, Sigilic Pyromancy, Summoning, Blood Magic, Chronomancy, Eminence
Craft
Smithing, Carpentry, Ceramics, Trapmaking, Construction, Glassblowing, Leatherworking, Alchemy, Artificing, Necromancy
Science
Physics, Medicine, Apothecary, Alchemy, Poison, Chemistry, Mathematics, Engineering, Clockwork, Biology, Architecture, Astronomy, Archaeology
Charisma
Negotiation, Rhetoric, Persuasion, Seduction, Storytelling, Leadership, Etiquette, Intimidation, Acting
Mercantilism
Business, Finance, Fishing, Animal Husbandry, Animal Handling, Botany, Agriculture, Jewelsmithing, Mining, Tailoring, Cooking, Brewing
Artistry
Drawing, Painting, Singing, Instrumentals, Sculpting, Cosmetology, Design, Writing, Calligraphy
