Thank you so much! We gathered 134 comments in the contest (Not all were submissions, but it was more than I expected!). I gave everyone that participated +5 Rep (until I hit the daily 20 limit - dammit) and I did my best to come up with actual Skills. As stated, I took the freedom to change the submissions. All of the cards listed below are assumed to exist in the fictional world.
I didn't use all of them. I tried to leave a comment when I didn't. Thanks everyone for participating.
Nero's selection will come from these below, as promised. Some user might be isekai'd as well. We'll never know.
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From Student Joe Thomas
> [Fractal Dexterity]
>
> +60 * X Dexterity
>
> -20 All Attributes
>
> "The intricacies and nuances of one's self are like a manifold. They branch and split before rejoining at the whole."
>
> Effect: You can equip other [Fractal Attribute] Skills without using a Skill slot. You gain bonus Dexterity based on the amount of [Fractal Attribute] Skills you have.
Dean Xalazuniox' commentary:
> That is a common contestant to "Which is the best Skill set to have" and I've heard of them several times. There are hundreds of people with very deep pockets looking to complete the whole set, as the lure of 360 to all attributes in one first-tier Skill slot is very enticing. I insist our students keep in mind that Attributes scale up as tiers go, and static bonuses are quickly overshadowed.
>
> However, completing the whole set is almost impossible. Even reaching the break-even point when you get three of these Orange-only Skill cards is hard. Thus people refrain from equipping them until they have at least four. Worse yet, once word is out that you have them, it is usually cheaper to put a bounty on the person's head than to buy the cards.
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From Student FacelessM
> [Doppelganger]
>
> ??? Attributes (varies)
>
> "Walk a mile in someone else's feet. Or their shoes, if you steal that too."
>
> Effect: Spend (Creature's Rank or 10) points of mana, whichever is higher. You can mimic the shape and Skill of a touched creature. You retain your Attributes. If a creature is of a tier higher than yours, only the abilities up to your own tier are copied. You lose use of all your own Skills for the duration. Your equipment does not change shape, which can lead to some problems. You can dismiss this effect at any time. The copied creature is aware of the Skill use while it is active.
Guild Master Amaryllis' commentary:
> I know of a brothel that has forced two people with very low Level caps to take this Skill. They whore themselves out as copies of a pet succubus the brothel owner has. Since they never leveled up, the patrons can enjoy all the buxomness and sweet, sweet lasciviousness of the succubus without the pesky and generally deadly life-draining effects. Honestly, most people's builds suck and people will automatically think you're some sort of assassin or deviant by voluntarily taking this. Did I tell ever you the two prostitutes that sell themselves out as succubi are male? Or that the brothel owner sometimes sent the real succubus if he didn't like some patron?
>
> Erm, what did you have in mind, My dear FacelessM? (Wink wink).
>
> - Hushed whispers.
>
> What is it Zuni? I shouldn't talk about prostitution in such an excelsior institution as the Lyceum? Tehe, give it up. Everyone here is an adult, they should know about that.
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From Student APlankOfWood
> [Parental Love]
>
> ??? Varies
>
> "I think a parent is someone, who loves unconditionally. There is no perfect formulae, to who a parent can be."
>
> Effect: All children you conceive are protected from Essence poisoning while they gestate or hatch. While they are affected by Essence poisoning, you lose 1 point of mana per hour. As long as your offspring are within (Perception ^ 2) yards, you can sense their direction and general condition. You gain 1 Attribute point for every living child you have.
Professor Glom's Commentary:
> There is a misconception that women that Delve can't get pregnant. It is the other way around, people! Pregnant women, even those in the early stages of pregnancy before detection that delve suffer an abortion as Essence poisoning kills the baby!
>
> Let me tell you a legend about one chieftain from my people that used this Skill. He had three hundred children. Yes, squiigs have lots of children. So, he suffered from an acute version of the [Heart Bond] curse. He knew every time one of his children got a splint in their fingers! He died from grief when a plague swept his village.
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From Student William Bergqvist
> [Inner Anima]
>
> +3 All Attributes
>
> "Control of the inner anima allows one to surpass one's limits."
>
> Effect: After 10 minutes of meditation, choose one Attribute. That Attribute is lowered by 80%. Two Attribute of your choice go up by 65% of the points lost. You can dismiss this Skill's bonus and effect anytime. Lost Attribute points return at the rate of 1 per minute.
Professor Tinkwezilsky's Commentary:
> It is one concern several students have, that their Attribute spread will suffer. That their gear will lack. That this or that Attribute is crap. It isn't. All nine are very important, and missing on one or another will hurt you sooner or later. Maybe even kill you. That's why build planning, realistic build planning is so important. We have the resources, the knowledge, and the advisors ready to give you a throughly explanation, including costs. This Skill is not bad as you gain thirty percent on top of what you lose, though.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
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From Student Allister Hale
> [Legion Commander]
>
> +3 All Attributes
>
> "A true leader of the Legion leads from the front."
>
> Effect: Permanently Lower all your Attributes by 10%. You grant half of the lost points to every designated friendly unit in a square.root(Charisma) yards range.
Professor Bezzias's Commentary:
> Ah, a fine piece of our history. The Immortal Empire's Eternal Legion was a sight to behold. Their strategy was based on sinergy and strength in numbers, as anyone that ever wondered what would be like wearing a heavily modified [Legion Officer Armor] with lots of friends around would feel like. I recommend reading Master Irving's treatise on the fall of the Immortal Empire, "Not so Immortal after all". It details how hubris and a sense of invulnerability led to the fall of the greatest nation of the past. it is a lesson I beg those in leading roles learn.
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From Student Azgaroth
> Submission rejected by the Dean.
Guild Master Amaryllis' Commentary:
> Aww, come on, Zuni! There's a whole bunch of Skills and buids that are rejected or not even talked about because they are too lewd! Like the "forbidden" [Harem Master] Class, for example! The fake morality of modern times, let me tell you! There's nothing wrong with getting stronger by rubbing naughty bits here and there. Assuming people know what they are doing, which they don't most of the time... Anyway, That Skill has potential. If you knew how many Adventurers just go wild in the privacy of a Dungeon.
>
> YES! I see you blushing back there! Quit being bashful, for crying out loud. Azgaroth my dear, go on with your dreams. There's nothing wrong with picking up girls, or boys, in a Dungeon. Just be nice to them or you won't [Egress] alive, did you hear me?
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From Student rangi4mayor
> [Dual Class]
>
> +3 All Attributes
>
> "Not to be confused with the duel-ist Class."
>
> Effect: When equipping a Class, you can use two Class cards instead of one. If you do, their Attribute bonuses will be averaged then lowered by 15%. You must discard one Special traits from each Class. There's a chance that another special trait from either. 20% to lose from one and 2.5% to lose from both. The trait lost in this way is chosen at random.
Professor Glom's Commentary:
> This one is a good choice. At first seems like a loss but it is an investment for the future. Anyone can do the math and notice that by combining two yellow cards, the result will be on par with a blue Class. Most people wouldn't dare to think of burning purple Classes for that single added special power, much less two orange Classes. The random loss is also a problem if there's one particular trait you're looking after.
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From Student NobodySpecial
> [Undying]
>
> +20 Vigor
>
> "Beware, o Undying warrior. For even the mightiest promontory is still wittled down into sand by the fluid sea."
>
> Effect: Upon receiving a fatal wound, spend all but 5 ponts of your remaining points of Stamina and Mana. Gain 5000 points of Vigor for as many seconds as the points spent.
Professor Tinkwezilsky's Commentary:
> The flavor text says it all, people. Read it again, i beg you. The effects of five thousand Vigor are obvious. Do you know what is the best reaction when you see this Skill triggering? Run and wait. Grapple, as the target won't have any resources to be a real threat. Do interfere with their ability to restore these resources. Hit the potions, for crying out loud. Don't let them rest. Worse yet, sometimes it triggers for just a scratch. It is still a solid life-saver if you can retreat.
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From Student Badonkamonk
> [Essence Engine]
>
> +12 Endurance
>
> +12 Willpower
>
> "The fuel of progress."
>
> Effect: You can absorb Essence from crystals to replenish one of your resources. A point of stamina costs 10 Essence while a point of mana costs 14 Essence. You can restore resources at a rate of square.root(Vigor) points per second.
Dean Xalazuniox's Commentary:
> Essence and Anima, or the very lifeforce that drives us are two sides of the same coin. Mana and stamina aren't that different after all. Most people find this Skill to be antieconomic as you are spending the valuable Essence you obtained from monsters in order to kill more monsters, but with proper planning, it can be a solid investiment for when one finds themselves in a pinch. And believe me, you will.
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From Student gemroth
> [Overcharge]
>
> +20 Willpower
>
> "There are no kill like overkill."
>
> Effect: Spend X mana. Increase the effect of a Skill or attack by 20% per point of mana spent. If you spend more than square.root(Vigor) points in a single use, you take damage.
Professor Glom's Commentary:
> I think everyone should have an enhancement Skill. Or at least seriously consider them. While [Overcharge] is not as strong as [Power Attack] or [Empower Attack], or even with [Focused Strike], it is much more versatile. An overcharged healing spell might be what saves one of your teammates from bleeding to death.
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From Student Wingsolution
> [Accelerated Recovery]
>
> +10 Vigor
>
> +7 Endurance
>
> +7 Willpower
>
> "The Essence of regeneration is linked to the Essence of time itself."
>
> Effect: Halve the recovery time for your abilities and negative debuffs. You always recover wounds and all resources as if you were resting at double the normal rate, or triple if actually resting. You can regenerate even lost limbs over a long period of time.
Guild Master Amarylli's Commentary:
> The last ability of this Skill is the best. Regenerating magic is expensive, and most just learn to live with the loss of a limb or fingers. No more. For prolonged engagements, it is also very good for solo Adventurers or those daredevils that live with that extra edge, always takng risks.
Professor Tinkwezilsky's Commentary:
> I'd like an addedndum, to urge everyone to consider the use of both resources in your builds, even if it is just to convert one into the other. Letting your resource pool there unused is a waste.
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From Student ArahVhel
> [Summon Einherjar]
>
> +3 All Attributes
>
> "To my side, My noble Warriors- Lyneth."
>
> Effect: Pay X mana: Activate one Class card and up to five Skill cards and summon one warrior spirit to aid you. The summoned Einherjar will have double the Attribute bonuses of the cards combined or up to 3*X of the Attributes, in proportion to the maximum. It lasts for 24 hours unless an upkeep of ( X / 2) is paid at midnight. You can only have one Einherjar at a time. The cards are destroyed by the summoning.
Dean Xalazuinox's Commentary:
> Expensive. Very expensive. You can go cheap and have a flimsy helper that will inevitably die from collateral damage, or invest heavily and lose that investment when it inevitably dies or you don't have enough mana to pay the extreme upkeep. But for the cost of one Skill you can get a very good support helper. I don't recommend to use this as a melee frontliner though. Too fragile.
Professor Tinkwezilsky's Commentary:
> Also, remember that this summon cannot use equipment. Especially armor and weapons. If you go this way, plan accordingly.
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From Student Ajax_flameborn
> [Mind's Library]
>
> +3% All mental Attributes
>
>
> "I Remember everything, the love and loss, the Triumph and anger, and it has broken me."
>
> Effect: Spend 1 point of mana. Record a scene that lasts no more than (Reason + Willpower) seconds into permanent memory. All details your senses could detect are held with perfect precision. It takes one hundredth of the memory's duration to relive it but you can spend any length of time inspecting the sensorial information. You can only have square.root(Reason + Willpower + Perception) such scenes at any time. If you try to record a new one without enough room, you forget the oldest one. You can pay 1 mana and relive the memory to cycle it to the front of the line.
Professor Bezzias' Commentary:
> This is an overlooked one. The percentile bonus may seem small compared to other orange Skills, but remember it is a bonus that grows along with its user. For a caster at the third tier, it will already be better than any first-tier Skill has the right to be.
Professor Glom's Commentary:
> Works really well for an exam too. Activate the Skill, flip through the textbook. It will be as good as having the book in your hands.
Professor Tinkwezilsky's Commentary:
> Glom, we need to talk. This needs countermeasures.
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From Student Altruizer
> [Discerning Eyes]
>
> +20 Perception
>
> "Although the dragon you are not, you have the right to discern prey from a predator."
>
> Effect: Spend 1 point of stamina and Choose 1 Attribute and a target you can see no further than Perception yards from you. You can sense the estimate ratio between your Attribute to your target's (half, double, triple, a tenth). This does not alerts the target.
Guild Master Amaryllis's Commentary:
> People think that measuring up others' is an assassin's job. That's a lie. You should know what you face or you'll become monster food. Especially when you are focusing on one single Attribute and you find someone better than you. That's what you get for being a one-trick-pony. So if you are one and you find your better, RUN!
Dean Xalazuinox's Commentary:
> There are better evaluation Skills on higher tiers. However, one must survive to reach those. Gauging a target's Attributes is a poor measure of one's power, but can save your life, as the Guild Master worded better than I could.