#skill trees

It's like if Skyrim had infinite skills. You figure out how to do something, skill unlocked. The skills you use get stronger and unlock related skills.

The best part is that there's rarely a point system. If you acquire a skill and it's not very useful to you, it rarely prevents you from getting a more useful one.

So thanks to @thatguyender​ for starting this, I made two lists: a skill tree list for Mad Jack, my OC kickboxer, and a skill tree list for Freakazoid. I’ve had these thoughts way at the start - since when I first started the fic, I also thought of it game-design-wise - but never really sat down and wrote them out.

Though I expect myself to put a balance patch cuz I might have overdone it for Freakazoid... Eh. shrugs

First off, Mad Jack, my DL OC, Crane’s wingmate/crazy partner and Descent deuteragonist. She’s in a manner of speaking, a jack of all trades but also a skilled brawler. I do see her having some abilities/skills like old human Crane’s (power, survival, agility) because she is still a human fighter thrown in the same situation as he was (and not an overpowered infected). She’s no mercenary, though but she makes up by being crafty like a con artist.

Power

- Professional kickboxing brawler for 9 years (give or take). As true to her name, Mad Jack the Wild Dog, she can be a real berserker in combat. And when need to be defensive, tai chi (a lil hobby she took up in recent years) so that she can divert attacks thrown at her. 

- She's ambidextrous. Able to use double weapons faster and effective than Crane would one handed weapon.

- She has a couple of power moves like Crane's. A suplex move, a roundhouse kick, maybe a dual wielding move etc. Can even put a man in a head choke

- She knows how to use guns. Had used them in the past. But she actually won't use guns right now (there's reason to my madness here, story purpose). If in game, her skill in using firearms would be the last thing unlockable down the tree. And if unlocked, added with her ambidexterity, she can be very deadly. She can use bows easily btw.

Agility

- Almost on par to old Crane's parkour skills (had learned them from her cous), relearning the ropes and such.

 - More agile in combat and escaping/dodging than on parkour, where she puts her energy into.

 - She has high tolerance to pain. Like a berserker, she can endure being inflicted when in a pinch.

- Taunts, bring the fight to her and not to other people.

- Thanks to tai chi, she can regenerate stamina faster (have a mental moment to get like a second wind) 

- Will bite. Helps her get out of a sticky situation

Survivor

- Not a pro survival expert unlike someone who puts corpse grime onto himself. But willing to learn if it means surviving (doesn't mean she likes it)

- She has an eye for detail and is very resourceful, something from her past job. Which means she has better chance in looting than human Crane.

- Good with her words, twice good at bartering/haggling with shops (except with the Ravs. They know her tricks)

- She pickpockets. In battle, out of battle. She literally pulled a flash grenade off a Demolisher's body while being chased by it

- (tw blood, was a little unsure about putting this down) With her blood perk (poisonous to anyone infected), she can coat a bit on her weapons just by running her bloodied thumb/finger on it. Preferably sharp weapons work best.

- Open to new ideas on devices and tools if they can help with her survival. Example, the ascenders from the Junction. Plus only way to keep up with Freakazoid.

- Uses methods and tools that’s meant to distract enemies or lure them to a location. Examples: loud devices, fire alarms, her taunting.

Next up, Freakazoid (aka Kyle Crane as Sentient Day Hunter/Volatile).

And oh boy this is a long list. I might have given Jack more work as his teammate than I anticipated... Oh well. I’ll nerf him later.

Also, I took some liberty to base his infected passive and active abilities on the Night Hunter. With inspiration on other games’ abilities cough.

Power

- He still has the standard moves, windmill, drop kick, etc. Plus some Hunter moves like Arial Ground Pound, leapfrog, etc. In a way, he fights like his old self with new tricks as an Sentient infected. A super soldier 

- Pick claws or fists anywhere, anytime. Claws swipe faster, dealing damage faster than punches but of course, punches hit harder.

- Has tendrils like a Hunter so can grapple an enemy (anything weaker than a volatile) to bring them right to him so that he can smash their head to the ground. Can also pull himself to an enemy (anything stronger than a Viral/Biter/Common) and literally kick them.

- He has a blade bone on his right and now a bone-spike gun on his left. That doesn't mean they're more effective than normal weapons or that he can't use weapons - they just serve as being convenient. He can use weapons but they break faster than normal human Crane would (which means future craftsmen gotta make him weapons suitable for his strength. Note to self, make that for side quests)

- With his infected side, can get a defense and power boost like Jack's second wind ability

- Charge into a large group like a bulldozer, stunning his enemies (edited)

Agility

- Also has the same agility moves as his old self, but with some new tricks as well. 

- Can wall run, wall latch, wall climb far better than Aiden. Talons sharp enough to latch on a wall longer than Aiden can stay in the air.

- With tendril locomotion, can dart around fast but still hindered with turns/rotations like the Night Hunter. Escape is also more convenient by tendril. He can yeet himself out of combat.

- Faster health regen than his old self at night, slower in day. All thanks to his infected side.

- Instantly leaps onto an opponent like a Night Hunter but rather than sinking teeth down, he snaps the neck

Survivor

- He has some of his old skills, minus his haggle/talk for the time being. Jack helps him with that until he finds people not too freaked out by him. You know, because of his new body situation?

- Still can do throwing stars - because why wouldn't you want an infected throwing shuriken like Genji?

- Has the infrared eyesight of an infected where he can see human enemies behind walls. This can be switched on and off game-mechanic-wise and isn't effective in daylight.

- Not just with camouflage, can land critical stealth skills after being cloaked or in darkness.

 - UV resistance/block duration increase down his skill tree.

Infected - this is a new branch on Crane’s skill tree I made as a category, special thanks to Ender for the idea. Since there are some things like mutations, his telepathic way of communication, and skills/abilities that don’t fit with the other three categories entirely (even though the above, it’s a harmonic mixture between his old and new self)

- Pretty much higher defense (iron skin), higher attack (claws), faster regen, better scenes (can track infected/human easy like a bloodhound)

- Howls, can inflict fear into humans and staggers enemies. Good with clearing space against groups

 - With his mutations, he can be undying in combat (final passive skill in the tree). This gets reset back to normal until the next fight. He can also give this to his infected allies, namely Jack (concept in the works btw, may not be included), a sorta telepathic link to them to prevent them from dying.

- Tempted to give passive ability that he can feast on infected to regain back some health, considering the kind of person in the past to eat anything he grabs in the middle of an outbreak. Jack will most likely stop him on that. Or not. She can't completely control this beast.

-- Below are skills not lockable on the tree but gained after defeating a rare type of enemy; Sentient Volatiles.

- Invisibility - his first infected skill he starts with. Can go invisible as long as he has stamina to burn. Helps with his crit stealth kills. Uninfected human enemies can still see him however.

- Rage - Lets out the beast from within, as long as he has stamina to burn.

- Doppelganger - second infected skill, gained after defeating another sentient Volatile like him. Creates a shadow to distract enemies off him (similar to Mother's fight with her clones)

- Other newer skills he'll obtain after defeating three other Sentient Volatiles, in the works currently. 

and a sidenote from story; he has this territory bubble where his presence makes infected not want to come to him. So his presence helps safezones be warded off from troubling infected. Didn't know if should have been under infected branch

And that’s it.

CONFESSION:

Skill Tree 1 One for All

Bare Arms: When allies are inside PhaseBlock they regenerate a portion of health.

On Point: Critical hit damage and elemental effect status increase.

Vibration: While damaging an enemy there’s a chance for that damage to scatter to nearby enemies, dealing reduced damage.

Smooth Soul: Health and Shield capacity increase.

Revitalize: Health regenerates by a certain percentage for a short time.

Revoke: When an enemy takes damage from the action skill four orbs generate and heal Tiora and her allies.

Healing Frenzy: While PhaseBlock is active, when an enemy is killed Tiora and her allies regain health based on their level.

Brave Heart: While PhaseBlock is active gain increased gun damage and accuracy.

Can’t Touch This: Movement and reload speed increased while shields are depleted.

Blue Skies and Good Times: Shield Recharge Delay decreased and Shield Regeneration speed increase.

Unbreakable Barrier:(Kill Skill Augmentation) PhaseBlock now absorbs elemental damage dealt by any source. The energy gathered can be applied to enemies with they come into contact with the barrier.

Dogtags: For every ally within PhaseBlock weapon accuracy, gun handling, grenade damage, and elemental damage is increased for everyone.

Skill Tree 2 One Woman Army

Head Strong: Melee and Grenade damage increase.

Expansion: Increased Action Skill Cooldown Rate and Action Skill duration.

Killer Instinct: When Tiora makes a headshot her weapon damage, reload speed, and movement speed increase for a short time.

Iron Fist: Melee attacks now does corrosive damage and increase damage dealt with corrosion.

Defiance: Every time Tiora shoots and misses an enemy her melee damage increases for a short time. When she melees after missing the damage she would have dealt with her weapon is added to the attack.

Back Atcha: When Tiora takes damage from a melee attack there's a twenty-five percent chance her shield will distribute the same amount of damage back.

Blowing Bubbles: Hold R2 to throw a PhaseBubble instead of a grenade, the bubble envelopes an enemy and explodes.

Blame It On the Game: Increases damage dealt by Action Skill.

On The Field: Increases accuracy and weapon handling.

White Flag: Tiora gains increased gun damage, fire rate, and reload speed after killing an enemy.

Ash to Ash, Dust to Dust: After shooting an enemy, when Tiora throws a grenade it does double the damage. The blast radius is also double.

Knockout: (Melee Override) When Tiora performs a melee attack her fist is enveloped in a PhaseBubble which increases melee and elemental damage.

Skill Tree 3 Sweet Harmony

Bright as the Sun: Elemental Effect Chance increase and shots have a chance to Ingnite enemies.

Fight the Power: When Tiora’s shields are depleted an explosion nova of Shock, corrosion, and incendiary damage erupts from her, damaging all nearby enemies. (Shields must be fully charged in order to active another nova.)

Foreboding Doom: When Tiora or an ally kills an enemy all nearby enemies are struck by shock damage.

Death and Decay: Activating PhaseBlock triggers a corrosive nova, damaging nearby enemies

War and Pain: Increase Cooldown Rate for Action Skill and Elemental Effect Chance. Additionally, Elemental Status Effect and Critical Hit Chance increase.

Rise and Die: When in FFYL, killing an enemy and reviving activates a corrosive nova.

War Cry: When shooting Tiora has a chance to shoot an extra shot.

Sacrifizzle: Activating PhaseBlock around a downed ally makes Tiora switch places with them. The more downed allies in the barrier the shorter the duration of FFYL

Arcane Arts: When allies are inside PhaseBlock, all elemental status effecting it can be used by them.

Level Up: Increases Fire Rate, Reload Speed, and Shield Capacity.

In the Arms of a Fallen Angel: When Tiora falls into FFYL mode she emits an elemental nova, if she kills an enemy with a one she emits another one. With every enemy she kills with a nova she releases another one. This ability last for a short time.

Medal of Honor: Tiora can now use PhaseBlock to pick up small objects to throw at enemies like rocks, grenades, and midgets. 

Amara: Chain Rush

Fl4k: You die, I live

Moze: Oops all ammo

Zane: Boys Support Boys

a mage of hope! typically defined as: one who learns about hope and learns through hope, using that knowledge to accomplish their goals with experience and wizened efficiency.

now, let’s take a look at the themes of hope to get to a central motif, since you didn’t give a preferred one. which is cool! gives me a bit more free reign. now hope is typically represented by belief, positivity, boundless self-efficacy, religion, and angels. what does all of this invoke in my mind? well, it brings to mind the image of someone who preaches the beliefs that they have built to others; beliefs made material by the reality-bending power of the hope aspect. with that in mind, let’s get into some skills!

central motif: the gospel. truth is power. the mage knows this better than anyone. to speak your truth into existence is to bend reality to your will; that’s normal where we come from. but to not only speak of, but to truly believe in the reality that you wish for? that’s something else.

verse I: truth to power - if one of resilient heart believes in something hard enough, there are few things that can stop them from seeing that belief become a truth. this goes doubly for the mage. manifests as buffs for your allies, as well as the ability to centralize belief into reality-bending power.

keep moving forward - the mage’s will knows no limits. channel you and your allies’ internal resolve into a teamwide stat-boost across the board.

manifesto - not even the fabric of the material world can stand against the truths you utter. the mage may channel their belief into what is essentially a wish, allowing them to alter reality. effectiveness varies depending on how big the wish is and how much belief is put behind it. easier when channeling multiple individuals’ belief.

verse IV: faith to might - your faith and trust have always and will always lie in those around you; whether this impedes or assists you comes down to whom that trust is invested in. but those who take this faith to heart? they wield more than words, more than weapons; they wield the boundlessness of pure, unchained potential. the mage and those who place their trust in them know that this is where true power lies.

faithful partners - your experiences have taught you that those you trust are worthy of your unconditional faith, and this manifests as more than simply shared efficacy! you and your allies are more likely to accomplish a goal that they set their heart and mind to, as long as you place your trust in them– whether this manifests as stat boosts in combat, coming across the right information when you need it, or however else you can be assisted, it will come to you when required.

divine protector - trust is a two way street, and sometimes that street facilitates some particularly effective motion. as long as the team trusts and believes in each other, each individual will always have someone to fall back on. in this case, quite literally! in situations of great peril, an ally you trust will always come to your aid, no matter what.

verse VII: suffering to triumph - everyone has their fair share of broken faith and lost hope– some more than others. the mage knows more than anyone how to bounce back from a broken dream, and will gladly share the benefits of this knowledge with others.

turmoil marcher - upon taking damage, all further damage is halved for a varying amount of time depending on power level, up to the span of a combat encounter.