83 lines
4.5 KiB
Markdown
83 lines
4.5 KiB
Markdown
### **What Are Ability Trees?**
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Ability Trees are how characters in _Vaelora_ grow beyond raw attributes and skills. Each tree represents a specific **heritage, culture, profession, or discipline** and is structured in **tiers**, with each tier granting access to powerful abilities.
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> **Key Concept:**
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> Ability Trees are _specializations_. Skills determine _what you can attempt_. Ability Trees define _what you excel at and how you bend the rules_.
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### **Types of Trees**
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There are several types of Ability Trees:
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1. **Species Trees** – Reflect your lineage’s inherent traits. (_e.g., Tul resilience, Myou sporecraft, Tlaxcal ferocity._)
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2. **Culture Trees** – Represent the customs and training of the society you grew up in. (_e.g., Mentralian Knightly Orders, Annwyn’s spirit wards, The Reaches’ frontier cunning._)
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3. **Profession Trees** – Paths zf deliberate mastery, often requiring formal training or initiation. (_e.g., Shayakar, Oathknights, Sworn Blades._)
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### **Tree Structure**
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Each Ability Tree is divided into **four tiers**, increasing in both power and cost.
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- **Tier 1:** Entry-level abilities; foundational for the tree’s theme.
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- **Tier 2:** Intermediate powers or deeper specialization.
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- **Tier 3:** Advanced abilities; characters who reach this tier are renowned in their field.
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- **Tier 4:** Apex abilities; rare and narrative-defining.
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At each tier, you typically **choose one ability** from the tree.
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- Some trees (like _Knightly Orders_ or _Oathknights_) also require a **vow, geas, or code** to maintain your abilities.
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- Magical trees may require **rituals, sacrifices, or spirit bindings** to unlock their power.
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### **How to Advance**
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- Advancing in an Ability Tree requires **Marks**.
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- When you **fail a skill check**, you may record a **Mark** for that skill (once per session per skill).
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- To raise a skill, you must spend Marks equal to the _new rank_.
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- To unlock an ability in a tree, you must meet its **skill rank requirement** and spend Marks.
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> **Costs**:
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> **Abilities:** cost = Tier × 3 Marks.
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**Marks spent on Abilities must come from the tree’s associated “leading skills.”**
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- Example: The **Knightly Orders** tree uses Marks from _Melee, Tactics, or Etiquette_.
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- Some abilities may specify a single required skill.
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### **Requirements & Branching**
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1. You must unlock **Tier 1** of a tree before advancing to its later tiers.
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2. Some trees **branch**: unlocking the Core Tree (e.g., **Shayakar Core**) allows you to branch into multiple cultural or specialized sub-trees (e.g., _Knightly Orders_, _Sworn Blades_, _Oathknights_).
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3. You can progress in **multiple trees**, but your Marks are limited: each choice matters.
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### **Ability Types**
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Abilities vary widely in function but generally fall into these categories:
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- **Passive bonuses** (always on): _+1 die to Spirit rolls when resisting fear._
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- **Conditional bonuses**: _+1 die to Melee when defending allies._
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- **Mark manipulations**: grant or modify **Marked Dice** (Persistent, Risky, Cooperative, etc.).
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- **New actions**: allow techniques or rituals not normally available.
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- **Narrative effects**: allies rally to your banner, spirits whisper secrets, you may impose fear in enemies.
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### **Maintaining Abilities**
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Some trees impose ongoing **codes, geasa, or vows**.
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- Breaking them may disable abilities until you **atone**, accrue **Corruption Dice**, or cause permanent loss.
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- Magical trees often require ongoing **spirit pacts, resources, or rituals** to sustain power.
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### **Example: Advancing in a Tree**
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- Mara is a Tul Shayakar (Knightly Order: Verdant Chalice).
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- She has 2 ranks in _Melee_ and 1 in _Spirit (Discipline)_.
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- She wants to unlock a Tier 2 ability in Verdant Chalice.
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1. She checks the requirement: Tier 2 needs one leading skill at **Rank 2**. ✅ (_Melee 2_)
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2. She spends **6 Marks** (Tier 2 × 3) from the leading skills (_Melee, Tactics, or Spirit_).
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3. She chooses **“Purifying Presence”**: once per session, she can remove 1 Corruption die from a willing ally.
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Mara now embodies her Order’s healing presence in play.
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### **Why It Matters**
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Ability Trees define a character’s **identity** and **legend**. They are the difference between a _competent warrior_ and a **Verdant Chalice knight whose presence inspires hope in a corrupted battlefield**.
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>[!info] **Advice:**
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> Players should plan their Ability Trees with both mechanics and story in mind.
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> GMs should use tree unlocks as milestones: trials, initiations, or spiritual awakenings give the abilities weight.
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