NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: Stats & Skills
As Alex finally stops crying and starts thinking about his two new unique skills, the system abruptly pulls him back to reality.
[Host continues to amaze the system. His LUK, which was twice as high as the average, has now become five times as high. Host now looks like a completely average person. Host should take a look at himself.]
A mirror suddenly appears before him.
Alex stares in surprise. He’s lost a significant amount of weight, looking like a version of himself that actually exercised. He even looks younger—maybe not stunning, but definitely... normal. Almost like he did many, many years ago.
Alex mutters, “System, can you explain my second skill? [Genius Conjurer] is pretty self-explanatory for now, but what about [Statistical OCD]? It doesn’t seem like a bane to me at all! I can use 4 stat points and get 9 stats? How is that not overpowered?
“Also, [Hellish Greed] took 3 skill slots away, but all my basic skills now fall under this sub-skill? So, in the end, I’ve got 5 additional skills! Not to mention, my stats were reset, and even my luck is 5 now! How is this a bane? It sounds insane!”
[Host has indeed lost 2 INT points and cannot see the bigger picture. While host is not wrong, the Fantasy Realm evaluates this skill as more or less neutral. It is overall 1.65% skewed toward being a bane instead of a boon. This skill forever prevents you from specializing in any one stat, which will have severe repercussions when it comes to class selection and maximizing your main attributes. Haven't you heard of “a jack of all trades, master of none”? Also, host's level is too low for certain explanations... Skill slots are similarly restricted at host's current level. Furthermore, being forced to learn all 8 basic skills instead of focusing on one will be resource-intensive and difficult. However, these concerns are irrelevant at your current level. For now, you’re correct, this skill is quite beneficial for your situation. Had the reset of your base stats been planned, this skill’s rating would even be a D since you gained so many basic stats.]
[Since the host is now an avatar of mediocrity—except for your extraordinary LUK and respectable MNA, of course—your chances of survival have increased from under 2% to over 20%. Congratulations.]
Alex gulps. Being ten times more likely to survive sounds good... but 20% still doesn’t seem like the brightest future.
“System, tell me more about these stats and the basic skills you mentioned!”
[Host cannot learn skills yet and is too low-level to understand advanced concepts. However, here is basic information regarding stats, skills in general, and the basic skills required by your unique skill.]
Physical Stats:
STR (Strength):
Function: Governs raw physical power, melee damage, and carry capacity.
Effects:
Melee Damage: Increases unarmed and melee weapon damage.
Limited Ranged Damage: Some bows and throwing weapons benefit from STR.
Carry Capacity: Determines how much weight can be carried without becoming encumbered.
Physical Force: Impacts physical strength checks, like breaking barriers or escaping grapples.
Synergy: Works well with PHY to boost endurance and resilience in physical combat.
AGI (Agility):
Function: Governs movement speed, attack speed, weapon precision (melee and ranged), and evasion.
Effects:
Attack Speed: Increases the speed of physical attacks.
Evasion: Boosts dodging ability, reducing the chance of getting hit.
Weapon Precision: Improves accuracy and critical hit chance with both melee and ranged weapons.
Movement Speed: Increases speed in combat and exploration.
PHY (Physique):
Function: Governs endurance, health points (HP), stamina, and health regeneration.
Effects:
HP Calculation: HP = PHY × 10.
HP Regeneration:
Stamina: Hidden value affecting strenuous activities (e.g., running, fighting).
Physical Resistance: Increases resistance to physical damage and toughness in combat.
SNS (Sense / Perception):
Function: Enhances sensory awareness, ranged accuracy, and reaction time.
Effects:
Detection: Improves awareness of hidden threats and traps.
Ranged Accuracy: Boosts long-distance precision for ranged weapons.
Reaction Time: Aids in dodging surprise attacks.
Environmental Awareness: Heightens sensitivity to changes in surroundings.
Mental Stats:
INT (Intelligence):
Function: Governs magical learning, spell effectiveness, and mental sharpness.
Effects:
Magic Skill Unlock: Unlocks certain spells that require INT. Higher INT is required for more complex spells.
Spell Potency: Slightly boosts combat magic (damage, control, casting speed).
Tactical Thinking: Improves analytical skills and decision-making.
Skill Unlocks: Unlocks advanced non-magical skills (e.g., crafting, engineering).
MNA (Mana):
Function: Governs MP pool, MP regeneration, and spell power.
Effects:
MP Calculation: MP = MNA × 10.
MP Regeneration: MP regen = MNA × 0.1 per minute.
Spellcasting Power: Directly affects the potency of magic.
MP Pool: Increases mana available for combat and spells.
SPR (Spirit):
Function: Governs willpower, mental resilience, and spiritual/faith-based magic.
Effects:
Magic Resistance: Increases defense against mental attacks and illusions.
Willpower: Improves resistance to fear and confusion.
Spiritual Magic: Enhances healing, protective spells, and buffs.
Mental Fortitude:
CHA (Charm):
Function: Governs social interaction, persuasion, and charm-based magic.
Effects:
Social Influence: Boosts success in persuasion, deception, and charm-based situations.
Charm Magic: Increases effectiveness of magic that manipulates emotions or controls others.
Negotiation: Enhances diplomacy, allowing for easier information gathering or conflict resolution.
Leadership: Improves ability to lead and inspire, affecting NPC and companion reactions.
Miscellaneous Stat:
LUK (Luck):
Function: Influences chance-based outcomes, such as critical hits, dodging, and loot drops.
Effects:
Critical Hit Chance: Increases odds of landing critical hits.
Dodging Fatal Blows: Helps avoid dangerous situations through luck.
Loot Drops: Raises chances of finding rare items.
Miscellaneous Outcomes: Can affect puzzles, random events, or NPC interactions.
Key Formulas:
HP Formula: HP = PHY × 10
Example: 20 PHY = 200 HP
HP Regeneration Formula: HP regen = PHY × 0.05 per minute
Example: 20 PHY = 1 HP/minute
MP Formula: MP = MNA × 10
Example: 15 MNA = 150 MP
MP Regeneration Formula: MP regen = MNA × 0.1 per minute
Example: 15 MNA = 1.5 MP/minute
Skill System Overview:
Skill Slots: Players start with 5 skill slots, gaining 1 additional slot every 5 levels. This does not include innate or class-specific skills.
Skill Levels: Skills start at level 0 and can only be leveled up to the player's overall level.
Skill Acquisition & Improvement Costs:
To learn a skill, players need skill books, FC (Fantasy coins, the currency of the realm), and must meet stat and skill requirements. Rare skills require soul crystals (a rare item)
Basic Skills:
Each basic skill corresponds to a specific stat and serves as a prerequisite for intermediate and advanced skills. While broad, they are essential for building any foundation of power.
[Since host can not learn a single one of the basic skills for now, host can ask again should he survive his tutorial mission]
[If the host survives the tutorial mission, more skill information will become available.]
Warning: Tutorial mission starting in 0 days, 0 hours, 5 minutes.
Alex gulps. He’s terrified but, strangely enough, kind of excited.
He's a bit annoyed that the system just dumped all that information on him. Can he even remember all of it? Most of the information about stats is just common sense, STR makes you stronger, while INT makes you smarter! That part he can remember. His skills are easy to handle too since...he doesn’t have a single one he can actually use!
As the minutes tick down...
Warning: Tutorial mission starting in 0 days, 0 hours, 0 minutes, 5 seconds.
[Host is a very fun individual to observe and tease. This system hopes host will continue to humiliate himself in exciting ways. Good luck.]