newbie question - skill points

[thomasd3]

I understand that, at the beginning of the game, my character has some skill points to spend.

But during the game, how do you acquire points? I see that some skills require both points and experience.

[Pete Mack]

You get skill points for seeing each new monster and for killing it. After the first see/kill of each type, there are rapidly diminishing returns for each additional one. You also get points every time you go down to a new dungeon level. In both cases, the number of points is level-dependent.

[thomasd3]

ok, so if I see a new monster and then kill it, I get 2 points?

[T-Mick]

At character generation, you have 5000 experience to spend. To buy a point of skill, it costs 100 experience for the first point, and 100 extra for each point after.

So 1 point of melee is 100 exp, the second point is 200, the third point is 300. Go buy three points of melee in character generation, and it will say it cost you 600. See how that works?

Monsters give experience when you first see them, and when you kill them. Each time you see another of the same monster, the amount of experience you get is less. Same for when you kill one. A grey mold (tanglethorn now?) gives ten experience for the first one you kill. Harder monsters give more. You can read the amount in the monster memory screen.

In addition, buying a skill costs 500 for the first skill in that tree, and another 500 for each skill after. So the second skill is 1000, the third is 1500. Certain racial traits can make the cost slightly less, by getting the first skill free. If your character has "xyz affinity," the first skill in "xyz" costs 0, but the second will be 500. This is in addition to having the right level of points in that skill.

[thomasd3]

So, the monsters give me experience, not directly skills; but when I'm mid game and I press tab, I see the skills tree and the costs skill points.

How do I buy these points from the experience I have?

[ripforareason]

Both skill points and new skills cost XP. Skill points cost 100*n where n is the next level of skill, and skills (like dodging flanking etc). cost 500*n for your n-th skill (ignoring affinities, which make your first skill free)

[Pete Mack]

There's a common newbie trap here, too. If you are planning to fight, put a lot of points into evasion and melee skills. Buy 5 (or more) each, right away. You want to aim for about 20 or so total points (from skill and from bonuses) by the end of the game. Take a look at the ladder to see what people spend EXP on.

[Gwarl]

It's worth making the distinction between skills (numbers that go up) and abilities (which you either have or don't). People in this thread are using 'skills' for both.

[thomasd3]

I'm trying trying to understand

When you create your character:

----------------------------
you attribute points to str/dex/con/gra.
these points are skill points where you need to attribute 100% or can you use them later?

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below you start with 5000 experience points that you use to buy skill points for melee/archery/etc
if you don't spend all the experience here, can you use it on the next screen

----------------------------
when you press tab, you can skills (melee/archery,evasion, etc) in game; the currency is called 'skill points', so how do you use experience here?

[wobbly]

I'm trying trying to understand

When you create your character:

you attribute points to str/dex/con/gra.
these points are skill points where you need to attribute 100% or can you use them later?

The stats points have to be spent at the start

below you start with 5000 experience points that you use to buy skill points for melee/archery/etc
if you don't spend all the experience here, can you use it on the next screen

You can spend these at any time. Hit @ to go to the character screen to spend them. Press 'i' to increase skills

when you press tab, you can skills (melee/archery,evasion, etc) in game; the currency is called 'skill points', so how do you use experience here?

See how under melee: power is 1 skill pt, finesse 2 pts? Go to the @ screen. Put 1 in melee. You could now buy power (for 500xp). Go back to the @ screen put a 2nd pt in melee. You'll see you can buy finesse (for 500xp or 1000xp if you already bought power, it goes up everytime you take an ability from that tree) & so on & so forth.

[Gwarl]

Stats:

You have four stats, STR, DEX, CON, GRA. When you create your character at the beginning of the game you assign points to each. These numbers remain with you for the rest of the game - your stats can be temporarily reduced by certain monster attacks and restored to their originals via consumables. Certain consumables will also raise them for a limited period, and equipment can modify your stats while it is being worn. But the base values to which all these modifiers apply are assigned at character creation and never change.

Skills:

There are 8 skills on which you can spend experience points during the game. You start with 5000 experience points which you may use at once or keep for later (though that's not advised). The more you spend the higher the numbers go. Your DEX and GRA apply flat bonuses to relevant skills, and modifiers apply here too. As you earn more experience you can keep improving your skills

Abilities:

Each skill has an ability tree. You can spend your experience here, and some abilities unlock other abilities, giving you the opportunity to spend even more experience on those.

Sil has an excellent manual which is included in the download and explains thoroughly how all the numbers work.

[thomasd3]

ok, thanks guys for all the info, it is starting to make more sense.

Also, I watched a couple videos from the youtube channel which helped me understand a few things