Skills are the learned aptitudes and specific competencies of an Incarnation. Where Attributes represent raw, innate potential, and Abilities represent unique innate actions, Skills represent the focused application and refinement of that potential through practice, study, and experience. They are the measure of what an Incarnation can do, not just what it is.

An Incarnation’s journey of skill acquisition is profoundly shaped by its core Anatomy. The physical Vessel and metaphysical Psyche create aptitudes that govern the ease and potential of learning, making the path to mastery a unique expression of a being’s nature.

The Philosophy of Skill - Capacity, Not Knowledge

A Skill is not a repository of information; it is an engine for analysis and action. Improving a Skill doesn’t just make an Incarnation better at a task; it grants them deeper layers of Insight, fundamentally changing how they perceive and interact with the world.

The Dynamics of Skill, Attributes, and Anatomy

Skills, Attributes, and Anatomy are deeply interconnected.

Governing Attributes

Each Skill is “governed” by one or more Attributes, which provide a baseline effectiveness and influence the rate of skill gain.

Anatomical Influence: Aptitude

An Incarnation’s Anatomy creates natural talents, primarily influencing the rate at which skills are learned.

• Example (Psyche): A Psyche with a strong, positive attunement to the [logic] Archetype will learn all Intellect-governed skills, like Science and Engineering, at a significantly faster rate.
• Example (Vessel): A Vessel with [Multi-jointed Servitor Arms] may have a higher aptitude for learning the Crafting skill, reflecting its innate precision.

Attribute Improvement Through Skill Use (Feedback Loop)

The dedicated use of governed Skills can lead to minor, long-term improvements in their parent Attributes, creating a satisfying feedback loop where acting strong makes you stronger.

The Fruits of Mastery: Techniques

Mastering a Skill is more than a numerical increase; it is a journey of personal empowerment that culminates in the development of Techniques. Techniques are special, powerful actions unlocked through high proficiency in a Skill. They represent an Incarnation’s expertise being forged into a unique, personal style.

The System of Techniques

• Source: Techniques are learned exclusively by reaching pre-defined milestones in a specific Skill (e.g., at levels 25, 50, 75, and 100).
• Choice & Agency: Upon reaching a milestone, the player is presented with a choice between two or three new Techniques. This allows the player to define their character’s personal style and ensures that two masters of the same skill can have very different capabilities.
• Function: Techniques are active or passive modifications to how a skill is used. They might be powerful new combat maneuvers, unique social strategies, or expert crafting methods.

Example: The Stealth Skill

• At Skill Level 50, unlock a choice:
  • Technique [Silent Takedown]: Unlocks a new non-lethal melee action that can be performed from stealth.
  • Technique [Ghostly Presence]: A passive technique that reduces the sound and visual detection range of the character.
• At Skill Level 100, unlock a choice:
  • Technique [Misdirection]: Allows the character to throw an object to create a sound, distracting enemies.
  • Technique [Vanish]: A high-cost, high-cooldown technique that allows the character to become briefly invisible, even while being observed.

Skill, Insight, and the Subjective Interface

The most important function of the Skill system is how it transforms the player’s experience by providing Insight. A high Skill level allows the player to pierce the veil of subjectivity.

• Insight-Technical (from Crafting, Science skills): An agent with high Engineering skill might look at a damaged engine and see the specific broken components highlighted in their UI.
• Insight-Social (from Persuasion, Intimidation skills): A high skill in social interaction may allow the UI to display an NPC’s “Receptive” or “Skeptical” status during conversations.

This system ensures that progression feels meaningful. Leveling up a Skill is not just about bigger numbers; it’s about gaining a more profound understanding of the game’s world and unlocking a personal style of mastery through the choice of Techniques.