A large, silver, cubic object appeared in front of Elias, and, like a Rubik's Cube, it was twisting and turning.
"Greetings, player #131987", a mechanical voice sounded in his ears, and although it was not loud, the tone of the voice managed to send a pleasant rumble through his bones.
"I am AI butler Alpha 3x99er. I am your tactical concierge, and I am here to help you create your character."
Elias studied the floating avatar, although it looked nothing like him, except for its height; it seemed as if he was staring at a real-life person.
'The graphics quality is amazing.'
As Elias looked into the customisation options, his eyes widened at the number of choices available to him.
'I can easily spend days on customising my character.'
Elias was about to try his hand at customising when suddenly the AI butler spoke up, "Player #131987, please note that NPCs inside the game will react to how you look. Until and unless you look truly terrifying, they will treat you as neutral."
"If I look truly horrifying, will they attack me?"
"Some may, while others may pity you."
"I see."
Elias's eyes then fell on the racial selection, and he was shocked at the variety of races in the game. Even races had sub-races, such as Elves, which were further divided into High Elves, Night Elves, Forest Elves, Snow Elves, and many more.
"Hey, Butler, if how you look has an effect on NPC interactions, will race also matter as well?"
"Yes, and race has an even more profound impact on the game. Based on your race, NPCs will either be hostile, neutral, or friendly. On top of that, races will have an impact on your initial stats, attributes and perks."
"Example being, if you choose a race that excels in melee, your stats initially regarding close combat will be better; similarly, if you select a race that excels in magic, it will boost initial stats governing magic."
"I see, I also noticed that if I select a particular race, my customisation options will change as well."
"Yes."
"Can you tell me more about the stats?"
"In rusted ichor, all characters are governed by three layers of development: Attributes, Skills, and Perks. These systems work together to define both your natural potential and the abilities you cultivate over time."
A column of six glowing symbols appeared.
"The foundation of your character lies in the six primary attributes. Attributes represent the core capabilities of your body and mind. Increasing an attribute does not directly grant abilities; rather, it raises the learning limit and growth rate of the skills associated with it. A character with higher attributes can learn and master related disciplines more efficiently."
One of the symbols lit up.
"The first attribute is Prowess. Prowess governs your effectiveness in close-quarters combat. It affects weapon control, striking speed, and physical force when fighting at melee range. The skills under Prowess are Blades, Heavy Weapons, and Polearms. Characters with high Prowess can deliver faster, more controlled attacks and maintain better balance during combat."
Another symbol illuminated.
"The second attribute is Precision. Precision determines a character's ability to handle ranged weaponry and projectile attacks. It governs the skills Marksmanship, Ballistics, and Throwing. A character with high Precision exhibits superior aim, recoil control, and projectile accuracy."
A third symbol glowed.
"The third attribute is Endurance. Endurance represents the durability and stamina. It influences how long you can sustain physical activity and how quickly your body recovers from strain. Its associated skills are Athletics, Riding, and Fortitude. Characters with high Endurance can travel longer distances, endure harsher conditions, and resist physical fatigue more effectively."
Another panel shifted forward."
The fourth attribute is Cunning. Cunning reflects a character's situational awareness and strategic insight. It governs the skills Reconnaissance, Tactics, and Subterfuge. Those who develop Cunning excel at reading terrain, predicting enemy movements, and executing unconventional strategies."
A fifth symbol appeared.
"The fifth attribute is Authority. Authority measures your ability to influence and lead others. The skills associated with Authority are Charm, Command, and Commerce. Characters with strong Authority manage armies more effectively, inspire loyalty among followers, and conduct negotiations with greater success."
The final symbol shone softly.
"The sixth attribute is Cognition. Cognition represents intellectual capacity, technical understanding, and magical aptitude. The skills governed by Cognition are Arcana, Engineering, and Logistics. Characters with high Cognition can grasp complex magical principles, design sophisticated machinery, and coordinate large-scale operations."
The panels shifted again, displaying branching trees.
"Each attribute contains three skills, and skills improve through use. The more frequently you perform an action related to a skill, the faster it grows. However, the maximum level a skill can reach is determined by the attribute that governs it. Without sufficient attributes, skill growth will eventually slow or stop."
Another window opened, showing small glowing icons.
"Beyond skills, characters may obtain Perks. Perks are specialised improvements gained when certain skill milestones are reached. Each perk provides a unique advantage, such as increased weapon efficiency, improved troop morale, advanced crafting techniques, or enhanced spell control. Over time, perks allow players to shape highly specialised builds."
Alpha turned as the panels slowly faded.
"In summary, Player #131987: Attributes define potential, skills represent experience, and perks determine specialisation. The path your character follows will depend entirely on how you choose to develop these three elements."
Elias frowned in thought as he spoke, "Interesting, can you tell me more about skill progression?"
"Very well, Player #131987. I shall explain skill progression."
Several nodes in the lattice brightened.
"In this system, skills grow primarily through practical application. In simple terms, the more frequently you perform an action related to a skill, the faster that skill develops. Combat improves combat skills, crafting improves technical skills, and leadership activities improve command-related skills."
A small example window appeared.
"For instance, if you frequently engage enemies with a blade, your Blades skill will gradually increase. If you design machinery or repair devices, your Engineering will improve. Likewise, coordinating troops during battle will develop your Command skill."
The lattice shifted slightly, and several bars appeared next to the nodes.
"Each skill accumulates experience points through use. Once a sufficient amount of experience is accumulated, the skill level increases. However, skill progression is not limitless."
One of the bars suddenly slowed as it rose.
"This limitation is determined by two factors: your governing attribute and your focus allocation."
Another panel appeared showing small markers.
"Each skill can receive focus points. Focus points represent deliberate dedication to mastering a particular discipline. The more focus points you assign to a skill, the higher its potential growth cap becomes and the faster it develops."
The bars extended further when focus points were added.
"However, even with maximum focus, a skill cannot exceed the learning limit imposed by its governing attribute. For example, if your Prowess attribute is low, your melee-related skills will eventually reach a plateau regardless of how often you practice them."
The lattice zoomed outward to show the entire attribute network again.
"Increasing attributes expands the ceiling for all three skills associated with that attribute. This allows advanced characters to continue improving where others stagnate."
The display then shifted to show branching icons once more.
"At certain skill milestones, typically at intervals of development, you will unlock perk selections. These perks allow you to refine your specialisation. For example, a marksman may choose between improved long-range accuracy or faster reload speed. An engineer may choose between enhanced construction efficiency or stronger mechanical designs."
The icons flickered briefly before stabilising.
"Skill progression, therefore, follows a layered principle: practice builds skill, focus accelerates mastery, and attributes determine ultimate potential."
Alpha's mechanical voice remained calm and precise.
"Be advised that some skills require appropriate tools, environments, or circumstances to develop efficiently. Attempting to train a skill without the necessary conditions may result in significantly slower progress."
The glowing lattice slowly dissolved into motes of light.
"Would you like a demonstration of how focus points and attribute allocation influence your character's long-term development, Player #131987?"
"Yes, please."
Alpha 3x99er tilted, as if acknowledging a polite request. The air before Elias shimmered again, and a new projection formed, and this time a set of three parallel development charts, each representing a hypothetical character.
"Very well, Player #131987. I will demonstrate how attributes and focus allocation affect long-term growth."
The first chart lit up.
Example One: Low Attribute, Low Focus
A modest bar slowly climbed upward before stopping abruptly.
"In this example, the character has low Prowess and has placed no focus points into the Blades skill."
A thin red line appeared above the bar.
"This line represents the learning limit. Once a skill approaches this threshold, experience gain becomes increasingly inefficient until progression effectively halts."
The bar slowed dramatically as it neared the line.
"This character may practice swordsmanship for years, yet their skill will stagnate at a mediocre level."
The projection faded into the next chart.
Example Two: Moderate Attribute, High Focus
The second chart showed a rising bar.
"In this case, the character possesses average Prowess but has invested multiple focus points into Blades."
Several glowing markers appeared along the progression path."Focus points increase learning speed and extend the learning limit slightly. The character will develop the skill significantly faster than in the previous example."The bar rose smoothly but eventually slowed."However, despite high dedication, the skill will still plateau once the limit imposed by the governing attribute is reached."
Example Three: High Attribute, High Focus
The final chart appeared much larger.
"In this example, the character has high Prowess and has also committed maximum focus points to Blades."
The bar surged upward rapidly, surpassing the previous ceilings.
"This combination creates the highest potential growth. The skill develops quickly and continues to scale far beyond the limits seen in earlier examples."Small glowing icons appeared along the bar.
"Furthermore, higher skill levels unlock more advanced perk selections, allowing deeper specialisation."
The charts dissolved, and the larger attribute tree returned.
Alpha continued in its calm, precise tone.
"In summary, Player #131987, Attributes determine your potential, Focus points determine your dedication, Usage determines your actual progress."
Several branches of the tree pulsed softly.
"A character with high attributes but no focus may grow broadly but slowly. A character with intense focus but low attributes will develop quickly but hit an early ceiling."
"Optimal character development requires balancing attributes with focus allocation based on your intended playstyle."
The projection shifted again, this time showing Elias's still-empty character sheet.
"Before you finalise your build, it is advisable to determine whether you wish to specialise early or maintain flexibility for later stages of the game."
The cube slowly rotated in front of him.
"Would you like me to explain perks and specialisation paths next, Player #131987?"
Elias gave a nod, and Alpha 3x99er rotated slowly in the air, the metallic cube rearranging its faces as if thinking. A new projection appeared in front of Elias, this time resembling a branching tree made of light, each branch dotted with small glowing symbols.
"Very well, Player #131987. I will now explain perks and specialisation paths."
The tree expanded, revealing dozens of branching routes.
"Perks are milestone rewards unlocked as your skills increase. While attributes determine your potential and focus points accelerate growth, perks determine how that skill manifests in practical terms."
One of the branches highlighted itself.
"For example, if a player improves their Blades skill, they will periodically reach thresholds at which they must choose between two or more perks."
Two glowing icons appeared.
"One perk may enhance raw combat performance, increasing damage or speed when using a blade."
The second icon glowed.
"Another may enhance tactical advantages, such as improved stamina efficiency, faster recovery after striking, or bonuses when fighting multiple enemies."
The branch then split further.
"As skills increase, these choices accumulate. Over time, they create a specialisation path unique to your character."
The projection shifted again, showing several different silhouettes wielding weapons.
"A player with identical attributes and skills may still fight very differently depending on the perks chosen along the path."
One silhouette moved swiftly, striking rapidly.
"Some builds emphasise speed and aggression."
Another moved slowly but struck with crushing force.
"Others prioritise power and endurance."
A third silhouette stood behind a group of soldiers, issuing commands."Certain perk paths even expand beyond personal ability and begin to influence companions, troops, or equipment efficiency."
The glowing tree rearranged itself again, this time displaying interconnected branches of different skills.
"Additionally, some advanced perks create synergies between skills."
Two nodes pulsed simultaneously."For instance, proficiency in Arcane may unlock perks that enhance devices crafted through Engineering, allowing certain constructs to channel magical energy."
Another connection appeared.
"Likewise, mastery in Command may amplify battlefield tactics learned through Strategy, enabling a player to coordinate units with greater efficiency."
The tree slowly folded back into a compact structure.
"Because of these interactions, two characters who begin with identical builds may diverge into entirely different roles depending on the choices made throughout their development."
The AI cube rotated once more before returning to Elias's character sheet.
"In summary, Skills increase through usage, Perks unlock at skill milestones, Perks shape specialisation and playstyle."
The AI's voice softened slightly.
"Careful selection of perks allows a player to evolve from a generalist into a distinct archetype, a master duelist, an arcane scholar, a battlefield commander, a master engineer, or countless other combinations."
The projection dimmed."Please remember, Player #131987: while skills may be trained and attributes increased over time, perk selections are permanent."
Elias's brow twitched at the latest information dump. He spoke, "Okay, let me finish my character creation. Also, what is this random race option?"
"It will randomly assign you a race, and it will take into consideration your basic character design to incorporate any racial features. Also, there is a very small chance of getting a hidden race, which will get unlocked in the future as the game progresses."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Certain races are not available at the moment, and will be available as players complete certain quests, but be warned, some races might have severe stat reduction as a debuff."
'Interesting,' Elias thought at the new information he just received, 'Random race is gambling, but... why not?'
After selecting his racial option at Random, Elias began designing his avatar. Although the avatar shared a passing resemblance with him, he changed his hair colour to cinder-blonde, his eyes to steel grey, and his skin to a weathered fair tone.
As he ventured into the section related to scars, he stopped for a moment, staring blankly at this avatar.
Hidden under his clothes, Elias's real body was littered with scars, scars he had received when he was involved in a devastating car accident that not only nearly claimed his life, but also his memories before his eleventh year.
'I have enough scars, but this time no.'