Ascension Skill System: Difference between revisions

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{{TOCright}}<section begin=information />The '''Ascension Skill System''' allows you to divert [[experience]] into an Ascension Training Point (ATP) pool, which can then be spent on Ascension Skills to further define your character.
The Ascension Skill System is a Post-Cap development, but it will not be restricted to level 100 characters.


'''Note: The initial release was limited to the Common tier. The Elite/Legendary tier will be released at a later date.'''
Ascension is a new system that allows you to divert experience into an Ascension Training Point (ATP) pool, which can then be spent on Ascension Skills to further define your character. Ascension is focused on Post-Cap Development, but is not restricted to level 100 characters. Starting at level 20, you can divert up to your level as a percentage of your experience gain towards Ascension Experience (AEXP). Every 50,000 AEXP will net you 1 ATP, which may then be spent on Common, Elite, or Legendary skills.


==Ascension Tiers==
This initial phase is limited to the Common tier, and more details on Elite/Legendary will be released at a later date.
Once earned, Ascension Training Points (ATPs) are spent to unlock a number of passive and active abilities. On the back end, spending ATPs is managed through the [[:Category:Player System Manager|Player System Manager]] which means that it works very similarly to [[:Category:Combat Maneuvers|Combat Maneuvers]], [[:Category:Armor Specializations|Armor Specializations]], and [[:Category:Shield Specializations|Shield Specializations]].


There are 3 tiers of abilities: Common, Elite, and Legendary.
Ascension Training Points (ATPs) are then spent to unlock a number of passive and active abilities. They function very similar to the Combat Maneuver List (CML) system.
* ''[[Ascension Skill System/Tier lists#Common|Common]]'' abilities are intended to be very generic and apply to things that most characters might be interested in. It includes things like boosts to stats, skills, and resistances. Just those 3 different areas represent 71 different abilities, since each stat/skill/damage type is a separate ability.
* ''Elite'' abilities are designed to enhance build or character archetypes (such as [[square]]s, [[semi]]s, [[pure]]s, archers, [[locksmith]]s). It may include things like rapid health/mana/stamina/spirit regeneration, elemental arrows for archers, or locksmiths detecting traps when being handed a box.
* ''Legendary'' abilities are designed for specific abilities/spells and usually tailored to a specific profession. It may include things like rangers being able to tame one of each animal companion type (and separate ability to temporarily summon them all in combat), warriors being able to manually stop a [[Berserk]], bards being able to create higher enchant sonic armaments, double attacks/spells, etc.


Characters will be required to invest a certain amount of points into the Common tier before they can access the Elite tier. They will then also be required to invest a certain amount of points into the Elite tier before they can access the Legendary tier. The abilities in each tier will get more expensive to unlock as the perceived power that those abilities represent grows. In addition, the development team intends to have a lot of chained abilities to promote certain builds. Some abilities may be exclusive of each other (so if you learn X, you can't learn Y).
There are 3 tiers of abilities: Common, Elite, and Legendary. The Common abilities are intended to be very generic and apply to things that most characters might be interested in. It includes things like boosts to stats, skills, resistances, etc. Just those 3 different areas represent 71 different abilities, since each stat/skill/damage type is a separate ability. Elite abilities are designed for certain builds and character types (such as Squares, Semis, Pures, archers, locksmiths, etc). It includes things like rapid health/mana/stamina/spirit regeneration, elemental arrows for archers, locksmiths detecting traps when being handed a box, etc. Finally, Legendary abilities are designed for specific abilities/spells and usually tailored to a specific profession. It includes things like Rangers being able to tame one of each animal companion type (and separate ability to temporarily summon them all in combat), Warriors being able to manually stop a Berserk, Bards being able to create higher enchant sonic armaments, double attacks/spells, etc.


==Earning ATPs==
Characters will be required to invest a certain amount of points into the Common tier before they can access the Elite tier. They will then also be required to invest a certain amount of points into the Elite tier before they can access the Legendary tier. The abilities in each tier will get more expensive to unlock as the power those abilities represent grows. In addition, we intend to have a lot of chained abilities to promote certain builds. Some abilities may be exclusive of each other (so if you learn X, you can't learn Y).
To earn ATP, characters designate a specific experience percentage split to absorb from their field experience pool into their standard experience pool and their ascension experience pool. Any experience going into the ascension experience pool is experience that is not going into the standard experience pool and cannot be used for training in [[skill]]s. A character who would normally absorb 30 experience per pulse who has set 50% field experience going into their ascension experience pool would gain 15 standard experience and 15 ascension experience per pulse.


Every 50,000 AEXP earned yields 1 ATP, which may then be spent on Common, Elite, or Legendary skills.
Currently, Ascension is now available in Platinum and will be headed to the other instances in the following days. Please see the various topics available on the official forums located [http://forums.play.net/forums/GemStone%20IV/Combat,%20Magic,%20and%20Character%20Mechanics/Ascension/view here].

Ascension was designed to enhance character post-cap development and ensure character longevity, but is not restricted to level 100 characters. Starting at level 20, characters can select up to their level as a percentage of their experience gain towards Ascension Experience (AEXP). This means at level 20, a character can select up to 20% of their field experience going into their ascension experience pool with the remainder going into their standard experience pool. The development goal is that the average character will easily earn 10 ATPs by level 100, with an additional 5 or so ATPs being possible for more dedicated characters. This is enhanced by characters' ability to earn milestone ATP (see below).

===Milestones===
Characters earn milestone Ascension Training Points (ATPs) for completing certain activities.


==Ascension Milestones==
{| {{prettytable}}
{| {{prettytable}}
!Number !!Name !! Details
!Number !!Name !! Details
|-
|-
|scope="row"|1 ||A Noble Effort ||Reach level 20
| scope="row"|1 ||A Noble Effort ||Reach level 20
|-
|-
|scope="row"|2 ||Great Expectations ||Reach level 40
| scope="row"|2 ||Great Expectations ||Reach level 40
|-
|-
|scope="row"|3 ||Master of My Fate ||Reach level 60
| scope="row"|3 ||Master of My Fate ||Reach level 60
|-
|-
| scope="row"|4 ||High and Mighty ||Reach level 80
| scope="row"|4 ||High and Mighty ||Reach level 80
Line 38: Line 47:
|}
|}


===Class-specific===
====Class-specific====
*Cleric, Empath, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warrior, Wizard: Daily Grind -- Master a Guild Skill
*Cleric, Empath, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warrior, Wizard: Daily Grind -- Master a Guild Skill
*Bard: Virtuoso -- Master an Instrument
*Bard: Virtuoso -- Master an Instrument
Line 45: Line 54:
*Ranger: Kindred Spirit -- Fully Bond with Companion
*Ranger: Kindred Spirit -- Fully Bond with Companion


Note for F2P: While you cannot turn on conversion from Experience to Ascension Experience at level 20 as Free to Play, you do obtain Ascension Training Points(ATPs) from the [[Ascension_Skill_System#Milestones|Milestones]]. Some milestones, like mastering a guild skill, will remain impossible since you cannot join a guild as F2P.
==HELP==


==Spending ATPs==
<pre{{log2}}>USAGE: ASCENSION [option] [args]
The development goal is that no character should ever maximize every ability, or even more than a handful of them. With this goal in mind, some abilities can be unlocked multiple times with an increasing skill cost for each unlock and abilities may have different set costs depending upon their perceived power. The Elite and Legendary will potentially be significantly more expensive than the Common tier, but also more impactful and character defining.<section end=information />


===Common Tier===
Options:
Common abilities include +statistic, +skill, and +resistance. Statistic and skill abilities act as [[enhancives]] and stack with enhancive items, but are not subject to the enhancive limit and require no recharging. Each rank of +[[statistic]] ability is +1 stat, not bonus. Each +[[skill]] rank is +1 skill bonus. Each +[[resistance]] is +1% resist, but resist items and abilities do not stack and only use the largest bonus from all categories.
EXP - View your Ascension experience and ATP
SET {#} - Set the percent of experience to absorb as Ascension experience
LEARN {skill} - Trade in Ascension Training Points to unlock an skill
UNLEARN {skill} - Trade in an Ascension skill for Ascension Training Points
LIST {tier} - Lists Ascension skills by tier available for you to unlock
INFO - Displays your current Ascension skills
MILESTONES - View your Ascension Milestone progress
HELP {skill} - Lists information about the selected skill


The first 5 ranks of each +stat/skill/resist Common ability cost 1 ATP each. Every 5 ranks after that, the cost increases by +1 ATP. As such, it will require 9 million Ascension experience just to reach rank 40 in any one individual Common ability, and there are over 70 of them.
Note: All {skill} references above require use of the skill mnemonic.</pre>


==Ascension Hunting Grounds==
[[Category:Verbs]]
Post-capped hunting grounds that are significantly more difficult, but offer greater rewards for the effort compared to existing capped hunting areas. This includes better quality loot, LTE bonus experience per kill while mind is not full, and additional bonuses as Ascension is further developed.

{| {{prettytable}}
|-bgcolor=lightblue
!Area Name||Level<br>Start||Level<br>End
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| [[:Category:Hinterwilds creatures | Hinterwilds]] || 96 || 114
|-
| [[:Category:Moonsedge creatures | Moonsedge]] || 101 || 110
|-
| [[:Category:The_Hive_creatures | The Hive]] || 102 || 112
|}

==[[Verb:ASCENSI|ASCENSION (verb)]]==
{{#section:Verb:ASCENSI|menu}}


==Resources==
==Resources==
*[[Ascension Skill System/Tier lists|Skill tier lists]]
*[[/saved posts|Saved posts]]
*[[/saved posts|Saved posts]]
*[http://forums.play.net/forums/GemStone%20IV/Combat,%20Magic,%20and%20Character%20Mechanics/Ascension/view Ascension Skill System Official Forums] - Official forums to discuss and brainstorm.
*[http://forums.play.net/forums/GemStone%20IV/Combat,%20Magic,%20and%20Character%20Mechanics/Ascension/view Ascension Skill System Official Forums] - Official forums to discuss and brainstorm.
*[[Leafiara_(prime)/Mechanical_Musings/Ascension_Considerations|Leafiara's Ascension Considerations]]
*[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BRCs5qFvGsCe3Ig9fSRiUi7BP0PVitRcQwIA-BJkFVw/edit?usp=sharing GS4 Ascension Ideas] - Player document to add ideas for ascension into a sortable list.

[[Category:Experience]]
[[Category:Ascension]]

Latest revision as of 15:33, 7 March 2024

The Ascension Skill System allows you to divert experience into an Ascension Training Point (ATP) pool, which can then be spent on Ascension Skills to further define your character.

Note: The initial release was limited to the Common tier. The Elite/Legendary tier will be released at a later date.

Ascension Tiers

Once earned, Ascension Training Points (ATPs) are spent to unlock a number of passive and active abilities. On the back end, spending ATPs is managed through the Player System Manager which means that it works very similarly to Combat Maneuvers, Armor Specializations, and Shield Specializations.

There are 3 tiers of abilities: Common, Elite, and Legendary.

  • Common abilities are intended to be very generic and apply to things that most characters might be interested in. It includes things like boosts to stats, skills, and resistances. Just those 3 different areas represent 71 different abilities, since each stat/skill/damage type is a separate ability.
  • Elite abilities are designed to enhance build or character archetypes (such as squares, semis, pures, archers, locksmiths). It may include things like rapid health/mana/stamina/spirit regeneration, elemental arrows for archers, or locksmiths detecting traps when being handed a box.
  • Legendary abilities are designed for specific abilities/spells and usually tailored to a specific profession. It may include things like rangers being able to tame one of each animal companion type (and separate ability to temporarily summon them all in combat), warriors being able to manually stop a Berserk, bards being able to create higher enchant sonic armaments, double attacks/spells, etc.

Characters will be required to invest a certain amount of points into the Common tier before they can access the Elite tier. They will then also be required to invest a certain amount of points into the Elite tier before they can access the Legendary tier. The abilities in each tier will get more expensive to unlock as the perceived power that those abilities represent grows. In addition, the development team intends to have a lot of chained abilities to promote certain builds. Some abilities may be exclusive of each other (so if you learn X, you can't learn Y).

Earning ATPs

To earn ATP, characters designate a specific experience percentage split to absorb from their field experience pool into their standard experience pool and their ascension experience pool. Any experience going into the ascension experience pool is experience that is not going into the standard experience pool and cannot be used for training in skills. A character who would normally absorb 30 experience per pulse who has set 50% field experience going into their ascension experience pool would gain 15 standard experience and 15 ascension experience per pulse.

Every 50,000 AEXP earned yields 1 ATP, which may then be spent on Common, Elite, or Legendary skills.

Ascension was designed to enhance character post-cap development and ensure character longevity, but is not restricted to level 100 characters. Starting at level 20, characters can select up to their level as a percentage of their experience gain towards Ascension Experience (AEXP). This means at level 20, a character can select up to 20% of their field experience going into their ascension experience pool with the remainder going into their standard experience pool. The development goal is that the average character will easily earn 10 ATPs by level 100, with an additional 5 or so ATPs being possible for more dedicated characters. This is enhanced by characters' ability to earn milestone ATP (see below).

Milestones

Characters earn milestone Ascension Training Points (ATPs) for completing certain activities.

Number Name Details
1 A Noble Effort Reach level 20
2 Great Expectations Reach level 40
3 Master of My Fate Reach level 60
4 High and Mighty Reach level 80
5 A Grand Triumph Reach level 100
6 Up to the Task 1,000,000 Bounty Points
7 Class-specific Differs by Class
8 Master of your Craft Master an Artisan Skill
9 All the World's a Stage... Acquire 10 Full RPAs (multipliers, orbs do not count)
10 Big Game Hunter Kill a Challenging Creature (Currently not available)

Class-specific

  • Cleric, Empath, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warrior, Wizard: Daily Grind -- Master a Guild Skill
  • Bard: Virtuoso -- Master an Instrument
  • Monk: The Art of War -- Tattoo 500,000 Motes
  • Paladin: A Sacred Bond -- Fully Bond with Holy Weapon
  • Ranger: Kindred Spirit -- Fully Bond with Companion

Note for F2P: While you cannot turn on conversion from Experience to Ascension Experience at level 20 as Free to Play, you do obtain Ascension Training Points(ATPs) from the Milestones. Some milestones, like mastering a guild skill, will remain impossible since you cannot join a guild as F2P.

Spending ATPs

The development goal is that no character should ever maximize every ability, or even more than a handful of them. With this goal in mind, some abilities can be unlocked multiple times with an increasing skill cost for each unlock and abilities may have different set costs depending upon their perceived power. The Elite and Legendary will potentially be significantly more expensive than the Common tier, but also more impactful and character defining.

Common Tier

Common abilities include +statistic, +skill, and +resistance. Statistic and skill abilities act as enhancives and stack with enhancive items, but are not subject to the enhancive limit and require no recharging. Each rank of +statistic ability is +1 stat, not bonus. Each +skill rank is +1 skill bonus. Each +resistance is +1% resist, but resist items and abilities do not stack and only use the largest bonus from all categories.

The first 5 ranks of each +stat/skill/resist Common ability cost 1 ATP each. Every 5 ranks after that, the cost increases by +1 ATP. As such, it will require 9 million Ascension experience just to reach rank 40 in any one individual Common ability, and there are over 70 of them.

Ascension Hunting Grounds

Post-capped hunting grounds that are significantly more difficult, but offer greater rewards for the effort compared to existing capped hunting areas. This includes better quality loot, LTE bonus experience per kill while mind is not full, and additional bonuses as Ascension is further developed.

Area Name Level
Start
Level
End
Hinterwilds 96 114
Moonsedge 101 110
The Hive 102 112

ASCENSION (verb)

USAGE: ASCENSION [option] {args} or
USAGE: ASCENSION {ability} {target} or
       ASCENSION [option] {args}

Options:
  EXP                       - View your Ascension experience and ATP
  SET #                     - Set the percent of experience to absorb as Ascension experience
  MILESTONES                - View your Ascension Milestone progress
  LEARN {ability}           - Spend Ascension Ability Training Points for abilities
  UNLEARN {ability}         - Unlearn abilities known to you for Ascension Ability Training Points
  LIST {type} [extra]       - List abilities by type
                            - {type} can be ALL, 
                            - Any profession (or PROFESSION itself) may be included at the end
  INFO                      - Displays your current ability training info
  HELP {ability}            - List information about the selected ability
  WIKI {ability}            - Show Wiki output for the selected ability
  WIKILIST                  - Show Wiki list output for abilities

Note: {ability} references above require use of the ability mnemonic.

Resources