Ulysses nodded, “I had thought you might say something like that, but if you please, break down your thoughts in their entirety.”
Walker shot straight into it, “Skills aren’t like evolutions. Those are abilities that someone receives from the protocol, almost like a gift. Sure, you can push it a little, maybe get the kind of evolution you want, but from what I can see, there isn’t much work involved in unlocking them. Skills won’t be like that. They’re going to be the single driving force that sapients will have to survive Symphony, and maybe even more.”
“More?” Ulysses said with a raised eyebrow, “Ah, you’re worried about the Evolvers and the greater Omniverse, correct?”
“Yeah. Our guys, our people, are starting out in a smaller, scaled-down world. Sure, it’ll be massive eventually as we continue to add things, but for now, it’s tiny compared to everything else in the big, bad, greater versi.” He scratched his chin, putting things together in his head, “The Founders are about to enter the Conservatory, if my understanding of Symphony’s current time dilation is correct. They need skills to survive, as no matter how much we train them, when they go up against mid to upper-tier monsters, they will fail. Not they might, they will, and they’ll fail all at once. This is our way to even the playing field, and it should be so personal that they’ll see the skills as a part of themselves. Something to grow and nurture.”
Ulysses didn’t wave a hand or write on the board, yet writing appeared just below the circle stating skills.
[Skills]
Must be earned. Personalized to the Sapient
“As you refine how you would like your system to be, I will add further data points to the system. Then, after completion, I will create a baseline model that we can further improve.”
Walker grinned, “Nice, that’s perfect. Okay, so they’re earned and personalized to the sapient.”
“Yes. But you stated you wanted everything. Even with as much of my attention as I’m devoting to you, that seems a little far-fetched.” He paused a moment as a bi-plane flew overhead, the noise not allowing him to speak. It disappeared only seconds later. He waved a hand, “Ignore that. So, I have to ask. Is there a limit to this? And if so, what is that limit?”
“You mean how many options they’ll have?” He waited for Ulysses to nod, “Well, shit, I see what you’re talking about…” Walker paused as he collected his thoughts. Going through his memories, he thought about how he’d organized skills before and put things in order. “So...skills will evolve, but not in the standard Evolver style. Skills are going to have levels.”
Ulysses added that to the board, “Why use levels?”
“Because of basic human psychology. The need to feel progress is intrinsic in us if not other species across the versi. Levels are an identifier that they’re moving forward for themselves. That they’ve achieved something noteworthy, and they’ll increase based on how they’re used. Initially, a skill will be pretty basic.” He thought about one of his most tenacious Founders, “Take running for an example-”
A second board popped up next to the original.
Example:
[Running]
“Why are you using brackets?”
“So that skills have a separation within their overlays. You may want to consider this with many items within the upgraded Communication system. Currently, much of what the system shows is basic and unrefined.”
Walker waved a hand, “I’ll get to aesthetical choices when I can. For now, this is fine. Okay, so running starts out at level one, as all of the skills do. It needs to have the potential to upgrade in any direction the Sapient takes it. Maybe they want to run in armor, which is different than outright sprinting. Maybe they want to run with small hops. Who knows, maybe they recently discovered parkour, which is its own form of movement. Or even sprinting-”
Ulysses held up a hand, “That is not running though. To run, is to run. To sprint, is to sprint. Those are intrinsically different skills. Running implies that the Sapient is moving their legs, their lungs, and their arms at a set intensity, allowing for a steady duration. Sprinting, however, is to burn energy at a high rate for greater speed and intensity while trading away duration and increasing fatigue.”
Walker shook his arms in the air, “Exactly!”
Ulysses looked at him strangely, “Why the celebration? You just gave me the wrong definition of skills.”
“Because you figured out the differences. Keep in mind, man, I’m spitballing. I have an idea of how everything is supposed to go, but it doesn’t mean it's perfectly refined. You,” He pointed at the part in front of him, “just gave me a strong definition of different skills. Which means I can just throw things at you, and you’ll refine it down for me, right?”
Ulysses shrugged, “that I can do. After all, this may be your dozenth time creating a system, but it is my first. I would prefer if it is as refined as possible from the beginning.”
Walker waved a hand, “Meh, we can update things as they go. We just need to make sure we don’t build a system that allows people to go out of control right at the start. The idea is for them to build themselves up, not have it handed to them. Otherwise, we may end up creating something more monstrous than a monster.”
“Another Slicer?”
Walker nodded soberly, “Another Slicer.”
Both boards updated.
Example:
[Running- lvl 1]
This allows for subtle improvements in the Sapients' ability to move swiftly. This is the first step in the ongoing journey to mastering one's movement.
[Skills]
Must be earned. Personalized to the Sapient
Skills can upgrade over time.
Walker looked over both, “Fancy write-up you’ve got for running there.”
Ulysses nodded without looking at it. “Yes, I wanted to provide information to the Founders immediately after we activate the Skill system. Once everything is planned to a high degree, I will place it into the system all at once.”
“How are you going to do that, by the way?” Walker asked, curious as hell about how the Universal Personality was going to build a system from scratch. When Walker had done it, it’d been with intent and the power of his soul. It was a little messy, but he’d gotten the job done. He had no idea how Ulysses would do it here.
“The guide token is paying dividends currently. This portion of my metaphysical space is dedicated to testing items and vehicles as prescribed from your own memories, thankfully received, as well as what we’ve discovered within the token. In another portion of my metaphysical space, the parts are directly working on and inventing a codified language for system designing. In another, they are discovering new potential magic scenarios from the allocation you generously donated. We do not have a great amount, but that only makes the tests more important. As the Symphony universe becomes seeded with more life, including magical life, more of my attention will be dedicated to learning to work with it.”
The scope of the whole thing blew away Walker. Ulysses and his parts were turning into something he never could have planned for. “That’s fucking cool. So, you’re basically a giant research machine.”
“Somewhat, yes. Only I’m not only doing research, but conducting experiments live.” He waved a hand and a part appeared holding a futuristic gun. Another Ulysses appeared a hundred yards away from it, standing with his chest puffed out.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
The part with the gun turned a few knobs and then pulled a lever near the button, causing a squeak to erupt rather than the blast he had expected. A tiny green light appeared at the end, its energy coalescing brighter and brighter until a large orb of green shot out directly at the part with the puffed-out chest. When it touched him, his body chunked into tiny pieces that flew in every direction. Before any of it could touch the ground, it faded and disappeared, leaving no evidence that such a thing had just occurred.
Walker put a hand over his mouth, “What the fuck, man? Did you just kill yourself?”
“Not quite. That part never truly died; only its physical manifestation did, which is easily replaced. If you recall from your time within Kwaya’s metaphysical space during the training program, you can create almost anything you want here, as long as you have the soul power to do so.”
Then it hit him, and he understood how Ulysses was doing all of this. “And you’re a Universal Personality, the soul of a universe.”
Ulysses gave him a stilted grin, “And one whose dimensions are constantly expanding, in no small part thanks to you. You are the reason all of this can happen and the reason I exist in the first place. That’s why I’m happy to help you with whatever you need, Walker.” His face changed to something different. Something Walker couldn’t quite put his finger on. “Anything you need, I will do my utmost to help with. We’re partners, and I take the intent behind that term with the utmost seriousness.”
Walker tapped his chin as he looked at where the previously living part had been before going kaboom. He should have felt put off by how the god-like entity was acting, blowing up people like that. But oddly enough, he wasn’t. Instead, he recognized one simple fact.
He had a powerful backer in his corner for the first time since starting in the protocol. Virgil was his friend and an amazing assistant who had been with him since the beginning. All of his assistants were amazing. But this was a different level; hell, it was a different scale of power entirely. And, as he’d noted before, it was exactly what he’d need to see his plans through.
After Ulysses showed the power he was willing to bring forth for him, they got down to serious business. Walker realized that his partner could create physical replicants with manifested equipment, which caused a series of ideas to ping off in his head.
Some were silly, and some were nonsensical, but a few really jumped out for attention. Primarily, that they could test every skill they came up with using physical manifestations. They were as real as anything could be. Which meant they could get actionable data out of them. That was when they got down to business.
Ulysses listened to Walker, continuously writing on the board as they refined their plans. For his part, Walker explained how Mana Veins worked, describing them with exacting detail from his memories. Ulysses still had most of Walker’s memories; only some were fuzzy, requiring the entity to finally show at least one general weakness. That weakness was solved immediately when he assigned a percentage of himself to analyze his former reflection memories to better work with Walker’s vision. He told Walker all of this with a grin, “A fraction of a fraction.”
Walker shrugged it off and explained how to attach skills to different portions of the Founder’s body, which is when Ulysses pointed out a large issue.
“Your plans are well-devised, Walker, but you’re forgetting one thing. The Founders will not have infinite space for extra skills. I applaud you for your decision-making and understanding of design. Or I should say I applaud Virgil. Regardless, the potentiality of the skills inscribed upon the Founders will take up a great amount of space. As they further refine the focus of their skill, that space will shrink; however, for our current purpose and as they begin to use their skills, they will fill up most of the available space.”
Walker grimaced as he thought about it. He tried to look at it from multiple angles but finally had to relent as he realized he wasn’t smart enough to solve the issue, “What’s the solution?”
“You will have to have prescribed periods wherein they are allowed to take on new skills. For instance, I estimate that should a skill level reach twenty-five, it will more than halve the required space on the Sapient's mana blueprint. You could then offer new options for skills available.”
Walker tapped his chin as he thought, “Geez, it’ll shrink that much? So, how many skills should we offer at the beginning?”
“As I recall, you plan on bifurcating the skill system between Professions and Masteries, correct?”
He nodded, “That’s the plan right now, and I don’t see any reason to stop it.”
Ulysses held up a hand, showing the blueprint of a sapient with Mana Veins, exactly as Walker had described them. He tried not to show how much it annoyed him. “Watch.”
A scrolling percentage appeared over their body as Ulysses brought forth some of Walker’s vision.
Sapient:
[Skill system]
Choice: Mastery
Level: 1
Current amount of skills: 5
Average level of all skills: 1
Highest level skill: 1
[Sword Techniques]
Lowest level skill: 1
[Equipment Repair]
Ability to take on new skills: No
Walker stepped closer so he could really look at things. The Mana Veins throughout the body were definitely filled to the brim with writing, but Walker didn’t know what any of it said. Rather than allow the mysteries of the universe to continue in an uncontrolled manner, he chose to ask about it.
“What’s all the writing say?”
Ulysses zoomed in on one of the fingers, and further writing appeared beside it. Walker’s universal translator kicked off, which surprised him.
Sword technique options:
Enhanced grip
Precision grip
Dextrous movement
Swift movement
…
It zoomed in a second time even closer, showing hundreds of small permutational options.
Enhanced grip options:
Hand strength improvement
Finger dexterity improvement
Grip endurance improvement
Grip sensitivity improvement
…
Walker looked up at him, “So each skill-”
“Is made up of dozens of other, smaller skills, yes,” Ulysses said with a nod, “That is the only way to create a greater amount of potential growth within skills and allow for the personalization features you’re requesting. The unused skills are passive and untrained. They simply sit in the background, waiting for the Sapient to discover them, thus earning their levels, as you put it. I’ve had multiple parts attempting to create different systems, and this is the best we could find so far.”
“What happens if they focus on speed rather than strength.”
Ulysses pointed at the board again and Walker watched as all of the strength options faded away. Other options joined together, creating smaller and longer lines of text that slowly took over the area.
Rapid precise finger movements: Increases the speed and surety of individual finger movements, allowing for the execution of complex sequences that include adaptive movement
Agile grip coordination: Enhances the coordination of each finger into a synchronous whole, further developed by increased control of different techniques.
Ulysses joined Walker in looking at it with him, "The first increases the speed and precision of movement for the Sapients' fingers. The second increases the coordination, so each finger works with the others as a whole. Together, they greatly increase the subjects dexterity and agility, allowing for more advanced Sword Techniques.”
Walker looked up, “Wow, that’s awesome! What level would you say this guy is-’ The board changed again before he finished speaking.
Sapient:
[Skill system]
Choice: Mastery
Level: 75
Current amount of skills: 25
Average level of all skills: 75
Highest level skill: 75
[Flowing Sword Master]
Lowest level skill: 75
[Superior Repair Master]
Ability to take on new skills: No
“At level seventy-five, if you start Sapients with five skills each, most will be able to hold a few dozen skills. What is greatly interesting to me is that the larger the subject, the more skills they can hold. Fascinating how Mana Veins work.” Ulysses shook his head, “However, this specific example is averaged at seventy-five just to show you how it would work. The odds of a Sapient reaching exactly seventy-five in all skills simultaneously is extremely unlikely—my simulations show that most will move their skills forward in spurts, often ignoring lesser-used skills until they develop a personal fondness for them, or discover a sudden and great need.”
“And what if I wanted them to have the option to take on a profession?”
Ulysses raised an eyebrow, “While holding a Mastery?”
Walker grinned, “Uh-huh.”
“Then you would have to further reduce the amount of skills they can start with. I’m assuming you would want to allow Professionals the option of choosing a Mastery as well.” Walker nodded, “Then that would also reduce their allotted amount of starter skills at incipience.”
Walker ran his fingers through his hair, “I know it would weaken them right out the gate only to let them have a few to start with. But, you know, it’s not a terrible thing.” Walker cracked his neck, “You unfuzz the memories about the Milestone system yet?”
“Ah.”
“Yah. I want them to be able to buy skills with their milestone points. Otherwise, what’s the point of trying to reach those achievements? If we start them out with fewer skills initially in both Mastery and Professions, they have more choice in what they want to pick up as time passes.”
His face became slightly gloomy, “I know I’m making a warlike world, but still, I don’t want every master to only know how to kill. Professions, as you know, can be greatly cathartic and relaxing. If we only allow Masters to kill, and Professionals can’t defend themselves because they can’t grab martial skills, we’re fucked. Everything we’ve built goes out the window.”
The blueprint changed again, dropping into the low digits and showing only three skills for the potential swordsman.
“This will allow them to pick a profession at their own speed, and allow them to choose milestone skills going forward, per your request.”
Walker smiled, “Great! Thank you. So, three skills to start. I feel like that’s still enough to get by, but how should we arrange them? Like, what should be offered at the beginning? Should we do it categorically?”
“Such as?”
“Movement, equipment, techniques?”
“Are you certain that you would like to go down that route? I feel that may be too generic.”
“What are you thinking of offering them then?” Walker asked with a raised brow.
“Everything.”