Skill name: Rage
Type: Weakness/Offensive
Who can use it? Malaki
What does it do at minimum level? Malaki are cursed with constant anger and frequently turn to violence as an outlet for that rage. For that reason, Malaki frequently spar, train, and meditate to cool their tempers. If the rage goes uncontrolled, they snap into a mindless frenzy and reave until the point of exhaustion, unconsciousness, or death.
What does it do at maximum level? At max levels, Malaki have 80% chance of beating their instinct to reave. However, they may occasionally use that instinct as fuel for battle.
What are its limitations and costs? N/A
What are its pre-requisites? N/A
Hmm. I constantly think of the Malaki as actually really controlled creatures that unleash their rage in battle. I can't imagine them going crazy to do any good if they're to survive in the Badlands—let alone protect the Acanthan portal. I'm not going to offer critique because I know I'd have negative bias as a result of these thoughts. It certainly makes more sense within the RP than cannibalism, though. >_>
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Skill name: Tough Leather
Type: Physical
Who can use it? Malaki
What does it do at minimum level? After five minutes, the Malaki's hide becomes slightly thicker.
What does it do at maximum level? Malaki's hide almost instantaneously becomes an inch thicker.
What are its limitations and costs? N/A
What are its pre-requisites? N/A
A sort of natural defensive armor? That sounds really neat, but how do they do this? Naturally, we don't need full explanations, as we certainly don't have huge explanations for how Dracovari read minds—it's just something they do. However, how would a Malaki actually cause this to happen to themselves? Sort of like how we flex?
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Skill name: Wing Fragility
Type: Physical
Who can use it? Anyeli
What does it do at minimum level? The bones in an anyeli's wings are semi-hollow to assist in flight. However, that leaves the wings more fragile than normal bones in the anyeli. At lower levels, you would not want to be tackled onto your back during a sparring match.
What does it do at maximum level? Wings have become much more durable. Although still lightweight, the bones have become almost as hard as iron. It could almost be used as a shield, although that would still leave the wing tendons and muscles vulnerable.
What are its limitations and costs? N/A
What are its pre-requisites? N/A
Love it, personally. With stronger wings, they'd be able to overcome their current weakness of being hampered by weather, too. Plus a warrior Anyeli would be drastically different than the more sneaky type as a result, as they'd definitely need this to keep their wings.
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Skill name: Mental Susceptibility (or maybe a revised mental shield)
Type: Mental
Who can use it? All Species
What does it do at minimum level? Has 0% resistance. The door to your mind is pretty much wide open.
What does it do at maximum level? By this point, your mind is stubborn and less accepting of outside intrusions/suggestions. 50% resistance for non-telepathic classes. 90% for telepathic classes.
What are its limitations and costs? Can be physically taxing when the mind is under attack.
What are its pre-requisites? If a character is insusceptible to mental control, there should be an IC reason for that.
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While I do see reason for criticism for this being an all species weakness, imo your notion of a revisited mental shield is very good. Normal people should have some degree of natural protection against telepathy, with telepaths getting an extra bonus with mental shield to keep their most secure thoughts safe. Otherwise, high level telepathy just rips through any defenses. That said, I think telepaths should have to develop mental shield seperately, or have extra levels of this available to them for such a high chance. Maybe not 90%, but 70%--which sounds pretty fair. Still possible to get in their heads, but not very easy either.
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Skill name: Nightshade
Type: Elemental
Who can use it? Skotadi
What does it do at minimum level? Can sense (but not control) Shades from shadows within a quarter mile radius
What does it do at maximum level? Can sense, summon, and possibly control Shades from within a mile radius. Higher the level, the higher possibility of controlling the Shade.
What are its limitations and costs? Shade needs to be in the vicinity. Must be dusk/nighttime, or any time during the month of Duminas. Note that Shades possess more free-will during Duminas and are therefore more difficult to control.
Once summoned, the Shade becomes more aware of life around it. Imbued with enough shadows, the Shade becomes semi-tangible and absorbs the energy of any living creature upon physical contact.
What are its pre-requisites? Max Elemental Manipulation
(actually level 4 is highest possible for anyeli?). Possibly high elemental shield so the Shade doesn't get the wrong person.
Can I say how much I love this idea? Can I make a skotadi next?
Sure I can, but I wouldn't have the time! Woe is me. ;(
However, if Shades are existing (forgive my lack of knowledge here), does this make them already sentient creatures? Or are they more elemental?
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The other three vari classes have mental-related skills, so odd how rutilus would be so different. So here's something to balance it out. Possibly?
Skill name: Weapon Soul
Type: Offensive/Mental
Who can use it? Rutilus
What does it do at minimum level? Can embed a mild emotion into the weapon.
What does it do at maximum level? During combat, each strike of the weapon would spread the emotion to the target. Ie: Fear
or in the case of a rutilus Cupid, love.
What are its limitations and costs? Max combat skill for the weapon.
What are its pre-requisites? Lengthy use of the weapon.
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If a Peteulanus is controlling his enemy, and his ally kills the enemy, won't he feel it too? >=)
Skill name: Sympathy
Type: Weakness
Who can use it? Creatures/Others with empathic/telepathic links.
What does it do at minimum level? If one feels sad or is in pain, the other feels it with equal intensity.
What does it do at maximum level? Higher probability of temporarily blocking the connection or preventing the feeling from being shared.
What are its limitations and costs? Limited to same ranges as determined from "Greater Companion Bond" or "Telepathy" or "Summon Bonded Dragon"
What are its pre-requisites? Must be bonded or have some form of telepathic/empathic link.
This one works best with “Mind Control” and the “Bonds.” For Bonds it is very practical, and mind control...well...you're directly linked. Telepathy is like a quick glance/dive. Mind control? That definitely has reason to feel the pain. It'd need high infliction to quell if it comes, too.
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Skill name: Chimera
Type: Physical
Who can use it? Therians
What does it do at minimum level? Can morph one major body part (ie: head, arm) while the rest stays human.
What does it do at maximum level? Turn into the combination of up to 3 creatures.
What are its limitations and costs? Limited to existing Forms. Cannot perform while low on energy. Major calorie burner.
What are its pre-requisites? Max Morph, have at least 2 Forms.
The beginning of this sounds like morph...but then that maximum shows real potential. In a lot of cases it might not be as useful, if you were to say have 3 avian forms, or have a rat form and a lion-esque form. It'd certainly give us reason to carefully plan each form, though...
My only question is how a Therian would actually learn this. It would be painful as heck if this went wrong, and cause death if someone screwed up their transformation. I'd say that heavy mastery is a good idea, and it'll require high Form to be of any real use anyway. It'll limit it to only “strong” characters in practical use...but hey, with the danger involved...