A man with pale sickly skin was donning battle gear. His exposed skin had a layer of translucent bluish tinge to it. He was of medium height and despite not being bulky, his muscles were well defined. He had a short, but unkempt full beard with his shoulder long hair tied in a loose bun covering the back of his neck. He was wearing a set of boots and sturdy combat leggings with gray-brown camouflage patterns all over it.
Over his seemingly casual t shirt, he wore a tactical vest and stuffed all the pockets of his vest and leggings with a variety of supplies including bandages, field surgery kit, combat stimulant pack, ammo magazines, torch, a lock-pick set, a couple of electronic devices with spare batteries, compass, field rations, water bottle and a few grenades among other things. His left forearm had an impressive futuristic looking wrist computer tied to it. The computer looked like an over-sized watch with a few buttons and a rectangular screen of 3” x 2”.
He checked and double checked all his gear then shifted most of his cash to secret pockets and other locations. While his waist bag still had a quarter of his cash along with his key-cards, in the event of an unavoidable shakedown he wouldn't loose all of his liquid wealth unless he was stripped and thoroughly searched. He then wore a set of tinted googles; a breather mask and a balaclava to cover it exposing only his tinted googles and snugly wore a sleek backpack before donning a camouflage patterned overcoat.
He checked and double-checked the safety toggle of his 5mm handgun, and holstered it in his underarm firearm holster. He then equipped serrated combat knifes near his thigh and boots securing them firmly in their sheaths. Additionally he secured several specialized crossbow bolts near his thighs; which was surprising since his load-out didn't really include a crossbow.
He drew his pistol and practiced disabling the safety toggle and equipping a silencer a few times and then re-equipped it. He observed the small dingy room with a bed, a footlocker, a shelf, a cupboard and a desk with a full-fledged computer on it. He steeled himself and exhaled deeply. The combination of a filtered breathing mask and a balaclava significantly dampened the sound of his breath.
'Can't delay my task any longer. From being a trust fun kid who was leisurely finishing Character Creation in his favorite VRMMORPG to transmigration in an unknown world is a significant downgrade if I say so myself. At least I brought along a starter gift.'
He mused as he intensely focused for a couple of moments and an illusory Interface popped up in front of him.
STATUS SCREEN:
Spoiler: Spoiler
STATUS SCREEN Name: Greg Race: Human Male Character Level: 1 Free Karma: 200 Class: Adventurer (Lev 1) (Karma0/30) Power Sources: Psionics; Martial Titles: --- Condition: Healthy; Soul Suit Character Resources HP: 121/121 HP Regen: 0.0290 / minute Stamina: 97/97 Stamina Regen: 2.050 / minute Psi: 65/65 Psi Regen: 0.2722 / minute Free Development Resources Free Attribute Points: 0 Free Talent Points: 0 Free Speciality Points: 0 Attributes Physique 20.00 Strength 20 Constitution 20 Endurance 20 Finesse 20.00 Control 20 Speed 20 Senses 20 Spirit 20.33 Affinity 13 Willpower 28 Insight 20 Characteristics, Specialties and Traits Special Prodigy Psionic Savant Graceful Finesse Brutish Physique Talents and Techniques Psionics: Psychometabolism Lev. (2/10) Animalistic Aspect (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Feline Grace (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Psionics: Psychokinesis Lev. (1/10) Psychokinetic Blast (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Psionics: Psychoportation Lev. (2/10) Slide (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Psionic Pounce (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Psionics: Telepathy Lev. (1/10) Mind Thrust (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Psionics: MetaPsionics Lev. (1/10) Psionic Focus (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Psionics: Aspect of the Ooze Lev. (2/10) Steady Growth (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Sudden Growth (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Psionics: Soul Suit Lev. (3/10) Reinforced Suit (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Enhanced Suit (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Energized Suit (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Martial: Unarmed Training Lev. (1/10) Unarmed Mastery (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/22) Martial: Unarmed Techniques Lev. (1/10) Heavy Strike (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/22) Martial: Combat Training Lev. (1/10) Throwing (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/22) Martial: Superior Conditioning Lev. (1/10) Vitality (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/22) Martial: Acrobatic Mobility Lev. (1/10) Rush (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/22) Martial: Tireless Combatant Lev. (1/10) Quick Recovery (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/22) General: Survival Lev. (1/10) Lockpicking (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/11) General: Leadership Lev. (1/10) Persuation (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/11)
'This wouldn't be my ideal build for a real life transmigration but it will have to do. A pity I already invested the Free Attribute and Talent Points received at Level 1 or I could tweak it a bit more after knowing the transmigration circumstances. Fortunately I didn't go full glass-canon / overtly equipment dependent / external Power Source or a Fixed Class. While glass-canons are fun to play and adrenaline pumping; death in real life (IRL) is not the same as the in-game penalties.'
'In the shit-hole I transmigrated to; really good equipment seems like a rarity and I would be crippled in the long run. While an external power source like Technology or magic can be much more powerful and versatile; it also has its drawbacks. In technology I would be dependent on external implants and gadgets; and while magic would heavily restrain myself depending on patron entity selected.'
'A fixed class would give me more stats, talents and lower karma requirements for techniques and stabler power progression and talent gain; it would also heavily restrain my build and versatility. While the Adventurer class can't be as good as a Warrior in pure Martial Might or as good as a Psionicist in pure Mental Prowess; I can at least begin a build by handpicking talent trees and optimize them for my intended style. If I had foreknowledge of my transmigration; I would change things; but meh, this will have to do. Lets invest the free karma and get going then.'
“Greg” invested 30 Karma in the Adventurer Class. His level increased to 2 and he received 10 Free Attribute Points and 5 Free Talent Points and his attributes increased. He invested another 35 Karma in the Adventurer Class and leveled up to Level 3 and had a total of 20 Free Attribute Points and 10 Free Talent Points. Each Level-up increased his Willpower by 5; Strength, Constitution, Endurance, Speed, Control, Senses and Insight by 4; and Affinity by 3 due to his class, race and starting specialties.
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Humans gained +1 to all attributes on a level-up and Adventurer class gained +2 to all attributes on a level-up. During Character Creation for a human, he had a choice of two specialties and one characteristic. These initial choices heavily defined future progression. For his characteristic choice, he had selected “Special Prodigy” which granted an extra Specialty Point. Therefore he had three Specialties to select from during Character Creation.
His first choice had been “Psionic Savant” which gave starting and level-up bonuses to willpower and insight along with all-round improved Psionics. For his second choice, he had chosen “Graceful Finesse” which gave starting and level-up bonuses to control, speed and sense along with all-round improved celerity. For his third and last choice, he had chosen “Brutish Physique” which gave starting and level-up bonuses to strength, constitution and endurance along with all-round improved fortitude.
While there were far more powerful and specialized specialties and characteristics; he had chosen growth type stat-focused specialties for all-round ease and lower equipment dependence. In fact his chosen build was very similar to a possible build of the preset class “Psionic Warrior” which was a hybrid of Psionics and Martial Combat; he had simply sacrificed quite a bit of predetermined, but rigid power progression and went for the adventurer class for including Talents which reduced his equipment dependency even further.
This didn't mean that Preset Classes lacked flexibility. In fact the same preset class would have a very different playstyle depending on which attributes, talents, techniques and specialties were chosen. A warrior could be anything from a stealthy ranged sniper to a in-your-face berserker brute. Still it didn't mean that at low level he could go without equipment with his custom Adventurer build. That would just ensure a quick death. Until he could get the basics of his build rolling; Greg had to rely on firearms, grenades, armors and other combat equipment/utilities.
For the 20 Free attribute points he had gained from his two level-up; he had invested 2 points each in all stats except willpower and affinity. The remaining 6 attribute points was invested in willpower and no points were invested in affinity.
'Willpower is the primary attribute and Insight is the secondary attribute governing most Psionics so they should be my top priority. But I cannot ignore the attributes under Physique or Finesse either. For an optimum martial melee combatant all the attributes under Physique and Finesse should ideally be in a 1:1 ratio. I will increase my innate stats in that ratio and it will keep a nice margin for buffs and other bonuses. Affinity is absolutely useless for me as I have no magic. A pity the human race and Adventurer class level-bonuses are automatically increasing it by 3 every level-up.'
'Worst comes to worse, the lowest attribute should not be less than 70% of the highest attribute among the attributes under Physique and Finesse; or I would have very glaring weaknesses. I would be too swift; but my body could not sustain it if my Finesse is much higher than his Physique. On the other hand with a Physique much higher than my Finesse; I would be strong and sturdy but like a turtle unable to react quickly to combat situations.' thought Greg as he distributed his attributes.
As for his talents; since he didn't have many of his core techniques he had to use equipment as his crutch for the time being. Therefore he invested another 4 Talent points in Martial:Combat Training to get the skills for Ranged Weapons, Melee Weapons, Powered Weapons and Light Armor so that he could use equipment at the initial stages more effectively. He then invested 4 Talent Points in General:Survival to get the Techniques Hacking, Stealth, Trapping and Perception; because without these techniques exploring the unknown caves for his tasks would be near suicide. The 2 remaining Talent Points was invested in Psionics:Souls Suit, which was his core Talent Tree of his build.
He had invested 65 karma in his class and had 135 karma remaining. He could invest them in his class for another level-up but that would leave his techniques very weak. Level-ups gave attribute and talent points; but the techniques under each attribute required karma to increase its level. He could improve his Attributes, Talents and Techniques through training; but it would take far too long to do so and eh had to go complete his tasks and contribute to his home faction “Sentinel Station Shelter” or he would be kicked out to fend for himself with very little cash. Therefore Greg invested the remaining Karma in Techniques which he thought would be immediately use before closing his status screen.
STATUS SCREEN:
Spoiler: Spoiler
STATUS SCREEN Name: Greg Race: Human Male Character Level: 3 Free Karma: 3 Class: Adventurer (Lev 3) (Karma 65/125) Power Sources: Psionics; Martial Titles: --- Condition: Healthy; Soul Suit Character Resources HP: 199/199 HP Regen: 0.0453 / minute Stamina: 159/159 Stamina Regen: 3.1646 / minute Psi: 121/121 Psi Regen: 0.4298 / minute Free Development Resources Free Attribute Points: 0 Free Talent Points: 0 Free Speciality Points: 0 Attributes Physique 30.00 Strength 30 Constitution 30 Endurance 30 Finesse 30.00 Control 30 Speed 30 Senses 30 Spirit 31.00 Affinity 19 Willpower 44 Insight 30 Characteristics, Specialties and Traits Special Prodigy Psionic Savant Graceful Finesse Brutish Physique Talents and Techniques Psionics: Psychometabolism Lev. (2/10) Animalistic Aspect (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Feline Grace (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Psionics: Psychokinesis Lev. (1/10) Psychokinetic Blast (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Psionics: Psychoportation Lev. (2/10) Slide (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Psionic Pounce (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Psionics: Telepathy Lev. (1/10) Mind Thrust (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Psionics: MetaPsionics Lev. (1/10) Psionic Focus (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Psionics: Aspect of the Ooze Lev. (2/10) Steady Growth (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Sudden Growth (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Psionics: Soul Suit Lev. (5/10) Reinforced Suit (Lev 2/10) (Karma 33/99) Enhanced Suit (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Energized Suit (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Vigourous Suit (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Regenerating Suit (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/33) Martial: Unarmed Training Lev. (1/10) Unarmed Mastery (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/22) Martial: Unarmed Techniques Lev. (1/10) Heavy Strike (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/22) Martial: Combat Training Lev. (5/10) Throwing (Lev 2/10) (Karma 22/66) Ranged Weapons (Lev 2/10) (Karma 22/66) Powered Weapons (Lev 2/10) (Karma 22/66) Melee Weapons (Lev 2/10) (Karma 22/66) Light Armor (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/22) Martial: Superior Conditioning Lev. (1/10) Vitality (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/22) Martial: Acrobatic Mobility Lev. (1/10) Rush (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/22) Martial: Tireless Combatant Lev. (1/10) Quick Recovery (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/22) General: Survival Lev. (5/10) Lockpicking (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/11) Hacking (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/11) Stealth (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/11) Trapping (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/11) Perception (Lev 2/10) (Karma 11/33) General: Leadership Lev. (1/10) Persuation (Lev 1/10) (Karma 0/11)