Welcome to the specialization portion of Old Age Online!
Because you chose Caster as your primary class, choices have been locked to [Magic Focused] categories. These specializations will help you improve faster in a given field by providing a small boost to the learning and development of skills that are classed into the specialization as well as providing a beginner skill or spell depending on which is chosen. Furthermore, there are also sub-specializations within that allow you to narrow down your skill list even further! Please, choose wisely for there are only a handful of times that these will be able to be changed in-game.
(Do note that this does not restrict you from learning skills associated with the other specializations, just that it will require more time to increase their skill levels!)
Attack- For those who wish to bring destruction to their foes, or absolute dominion over someone else.
Elemental- Those who wish to command the Four Primary Elements. Fire to burn, Earth to crush, Water to drown, and Air to extinguish.
Mental- Others see this as a taboo to use amongst the more intelligent of races, though the effects could be quite astounding.
Summoning- For those who wish to delve into the art of creating the perfect weapon, whether it being alive or composed of the elements.
Support- For those who still want to be in battle, but not so much contributing to the carnage directly.
Dark- The darkness is known to be an effective tool when in the right hands. While not evil, it is known that those who use the dark are able to mimic the effects of death, slow, inevitable, irreversible.
Light- Some say the light heals. Others say it is a way for those to defend others. But everyone knows that light is able to purify anything that it touches.
Nature- In its purest form, those who walk this path tread closely with the Fauna and Flora of the world. They are able to connect to it like no other.
Utility- For those who wish to seek out the unknown.
Research- For those who simply cannot stand not knowing how or why something was created or cast, this sub-specialization helps those who wish to further their understanding of the very nature of magic.
Scrying- For those who wish to see what normally could not be seen.
'Let's think about this rationally. This game just started so right now there will be a mad rush to gain anything of value. Going by that logic it would be easy to see that anyone who picks a magical focus which I assume will be quite a lot of people, then they will most likely pick the attack sub-specs in order to get that extra edge when battling. Which will thus leading to greater advantage when trying to establish the social hierarchy of players.'
'However, this also means that they will most likely make the starting gear that could potentially boost one of the aspects of the attacking sub-specs, allowing them to gain power faster. Which means that those resources will be much scarcer. Plus it says that we will not necessarily be stopped from learning those skills eventually, it just will be initially harder. In that case, then I should not choose any of the Attack sub-specs.'
'Hmm...I guess the same could be said for the Support sub-specs, most likely all of those will give me a spell that utilizes that kind of mana or they will give me a passive skill that lets me control that kind of mana. Probably something like that. Either way, I could always learn that later on even if it is more difficult.'
'The Utility sub-specs, however, hold a promising amount of potential return. Especially the Scrying sub-spec. Usually, in other games, scrying could be inferred to looking into the future or finding a person's location from far away. A good Scryer can make a lot of money tracking people down in the other games so I am assuming they are also in high demand here. The researcher though holds the most late-game potential out of any of them. It appears that it might give me a skill or spell that would help me perceive how something was cast which could help in a lot of scenarios. Should I go for the potential power boost now and choose something I know there will be a demand for or do I take a gamble?'
While I was inner monologuing, I can see out of the corner of my eye that Father Jonathan seems to be patiently waiting for my answer. As if a light bulb goes off inside my head I immediately ask Father Jonathan about my assumptions.
"Pardon for the wait Father Jonathan but you said that you also are connected to the great system?" I ask, making sure that I wouldn't be breaking a taboo rule to talk to the NPC's about the game mechanics.
"But of course, the great system is merely the product of the nine holy gods allowing us to empower ourselves since the beginning of time. For you see we sentient races were vastly inferior compared to our monster counter-parts created by the nine gods of darkness that the nine holy gods were trying to seek balance. So, the great system was created. Said to be created similar to something the gods themselves witnessed from visiting other realms." He spoke very passionately, probably because it was about his entire religion. I quickly cut him off before he could go off again.
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"So, in that case, you know about the sub-specializations pertaining to the magical focused?" I ask, hoping he could give me some insight as to what I could potentially be bound to for the rest of my game.
"Of course I am, I wouldn't have been successfully indoctrinated as a priest of the nine holy gods if I didn't!"
"In that case, what does the 'Research' sub-spec give you?" I ask, hoping to glean some sort of insight as to what taking this would entail. I was not ready for him to suddenly grab me by the arms and look at me straight in the eyes.
"Are you sure that is an option for you?" The look he was giving me shook me beyond belief that I quickly nodded yes. Probably seeing the truth in my face he sighs somewhat loudly and lets me go, walking toward the door stopping only when he was about to open it.
"Do not choose anything until I return." With that, he opened the door and closed it followed very closely by a loud clink which would probably mean he just locked me in here.
After about what I could only guess to be around twenty minutes, he comes back inside with another man in tow. This man is wearing a white tunic with a purple collar as opposed to Father Jonathan's who's tunic is completely white. If there was any sort of opposite to Father Jonathan then this would be it, standing around five and a half feet tall while still being mostly lanky, he sure does not catch the eye as much as Father Jonathan does.
"This is Father Dismuth, the most powerful ranking mentalist we have in this branch of the church. As a mentalist one of their skills is to ascertain the truth of any statement as long as the person who is being probed allows it to happen. You must know, that this is simply because what you have is almost unheard of." He explains while gesturing Father Dismuth over.
Father Dismuth puts his right hand onto my left temple and closes his eyes. Suddenly a tingling feeling is originating from what feels like the center of my brain, while a blue box appears in my vision directly in front of the still open sub-spec.
Father Dismuth is attempting to use [Truthsayers Tongue] on you. In order for this skill to work successfully, it requires the consent of the other party. Do you give your consent?
[YES]/[NO]
Mentally clicking yes only further intensifies the tickling sensation in my skull and I couldn't help but giggle a little out loud. Father Dismuth, hearing this, opens his eyes and looks straight into mine while maintaining contact with my temple.
"Yes, well it appears to be working. I apologize for having to resort to these methods but we must know the full truth before we make the incorrect assumptions. Now, could you please tell me ALL of the sub-spec options you have to choose?" He asks with a light nasally voice that also carries a slight tinge of a melody to it.
Before I can even begin to formulate my thoughts my mouth finds sentience of its own.
"In total, I have eight options, three for Attack, three for Support, and two for Utility." The feeling of not having conscious control over your body is uncomfortable, to say the least.' Hopefully this interrogation comes to a close soon. I do not know how long I can take this method'
"Amazing and if you do not mind me asking, what are your current Traits?" He asks.
"Magic Focused and Omnilinguinism" I reply. His brows furrowed in deep thought.
"What is the description of the trait 'Omnilinguinism'?" He pronounces the word as if spoken in a foreign tongue to him.
"The ability to understand all forms of written and spoken languages." I promptly answer. The look Father Dismuth gave to Father Jonathan was of surprise and concern.
"One last thing, what are the two options for Utility?"
"Research and Scrying." Seeming satisfied he draws his arm back from my temple. Once the connection is broken I feel that my mouth is now once again underneath my own power.
"Well, that answers quite a few questions then." Father Jonathan says. "Let me give you some information Trix. Sub-specializations are a peculiar thing. Now, I am not a scholar of magic but being a magic user I do know a bit about the basics. One of which is sub-specializations. There are some basic sub-specs that every magic user has available starting off. Those are usually the Elemental magics from the Attack category or the Light and Dark magics from the Support category. the others you have are either obtained in three different ways. One, they are unlocked as another sub-spec later on when your power level hits a certain milestone after meeting requirements leading up to it. Two, they are bestowed by certain things such as items that temporarily give you the sup-sec when you have it equipped or tomes that give you the sub-spec permanently. Lastly there are those who are gifted in certain areas of magic from the very first time you can choose your sub-specs and these options are given to them." Finishing his lecture it takes me a little bit to process what he is saying.
"So, I met the requirements for all of these sub-specs before I was transported here?"
"Precisely. Now this is pretty common for some sub-specs that appear however both of your utilities are almost unheard of."
"So do you think my unique trait is what allowed me the two utilities then?"
"No, I do not know how you got scryer as it is very specialized and your combination of beginning traits would not allow for that. I am assuming that you just met the requirements to choose it. I can say however that I do believe that unique trait is how you got the researcher sub-spec so early. The only other research specs that I know of are the older members of the scholars of magic so I believe it is a good choice. Who knows what you can spec into at the higher power levels with that."
"In that case, if it is that unique then I will pick it."
You have picked the Research Sub-specialization! With it, you are granted one skill and one spell!
Name [Retention] Type[Passive skill] Level (1)
Description- What would be the purpose of learning if you always forgot it later? This skill allows the user to have almost perfect recall of any type of data that has been introduced to the user. You will also be able to comprehend things a bit faster as well.
Name [Study] Type[Spell] Level(1/10)
Description- What would any Researcher be, without the ability to do any 'searching'? This spell allows the user to cast at anything magical related in order to perhaps gain some insight pertaining to the matter. Cost and chance of gaining knowledge increased with every level. Current chance [5%]
Cost- Moderate
'This is pretty overpowered if I am interpreting it right.' Seeing my awestruck face while reading my new passive skill and spell, Father Jonathan gives a hearty laugh.
"Yes, my friend who unlocked it described the passive and spell it gave, truly powerful. Now, do you need any more information?"