Proficiency Tree

All Characters have a Proficiency Tree. The Tree has multiple Branches. The Branches are Technology, Melee Combat, Ranged Combat, Armor, Power Armor and Item Crafting. At each level, a Character can choose to train in one branch, which in turn allows that Character to use better and better equipment associated with that Branch.

To train in a particular Proficiency, a Character gets a Training Point every level starting at Level 2. There are also 2 Feats that provide a Training Point, Training Expert and Power Armor Expert. A Character's starting Technology level is determined by their Species; however, if not specified, the default is 2. The Melee and Ranged Combat levels start out with 1 in each. Then the Character has two points that can be distributed between Melee and Ranged, or allocated entirely to one or the other. All Characters gain 2 levels in Armor, 0 in Power Armor, and 0 in Item Crafting at the first level.

There are 4 levels to Technology, 9 levels to Melee and Ranged Combat, 10 levels to Armor, 5 levels to Power Armor, and 2 levels to Item Crafting.

Technology Branch

It provides a Skill-like ability in the form of Knowledge (Technology). This is determined by the Character's Species. However, when in doubt, for example, the Player wants to make a custom Species, the default starting level is 2. To improve a Character's Tech level requires 2 Training Points.

This is a Character's Tech Level. It is important for determining which items they can use and craft, as well as their technological and scientific understanding of the universe. Characters that wish to Craft, Repair, and Modify items in the game may wish to improve their Tech Level. To learn about how Tech Level affects a Character and how to utilize it, go here.

• This is applied as a miscellaneous bonus when identifying technology and its purpose.

• This is used to determine what Items a character can Repair or Craft. A Character can repair Items that have a Tech level up to 1 level higher than their current level. They can craft Items of the same Tech Level or below.

• You cannot 'Up Tech' an Item above your own Tech Level.

Melee & Ranged Combat Branches

Both the Melee and Ranged Combat Branches have 9 levels. The default starting levels for a Character are based on the Player's choice between a focus on Melee or on Ranged. They either start with Proficiency Level 2 for both Melee and Ranged or Proficiency Level 1 for Melee and 3 levels for Ranged or Proficiency Level 1 for Ranged and 3 levels for Melee.

• Melee and Ranged Branches both have the same rules for level progression. Each level unlocks the use of that Level of Weapon. Weapons have 'Weapon Levels' as exampled in the Weapon Levels section. The max level for a weapon is 8; however, there are 9 levels to the Proficiency Tree. This is because if a Weapon has one or more of the following attributes, 'Exotic', 'Clunky', 'Masterworked' it requires a level higher to wield. So a Laser Rifle (Level 5 Weapon) requires 5 levels in the Ranged Combat Proficiency Tree. A Laser Sniper Rifle (Level 5 Weapon), on the other hand, requires 6 levels because it has the Clunky attribute.

• A Character can wield a weapon of a higher level than they have points in their Proficiency Tree, but they take penalties. The Character can take no advantages for a weapon they are not proficient in and takes one disadvantage for every level higher the weapon is. A Character cannot fire a weapon if they have more than 3 disadvantages, regardless of where those disadvantages come from.

• Level 6 and above is considered 'Heavy Weapons.' Each Proficiency Level, starting at 6, costs 2 Training Points instead of 1 unless you have the Heavy Melee Weapon Training or Heavy Ranged Weapon Training feats.

Armor Branch

The Armor Branch has 10 levels, and the default starting level for a Character is 2.

• The Armor Branch Proficiency Level determines the Armor's max AC bonus/Level of the Armor (If the Armor only has +2 AC because it sacrificed an AC bonus for DR, then the Armor still counts as level 3 or +3 Armor). Also, if Armor has an attribute such as 'Archaic' or 'Clumsy', then it requires an additional Proficiency Level to wield. This does not stack, so if the Armor has all 3 attributes, it still only takes 1 additional Proficiency level to wear.

• Characters can wear the armor of one level higher, but they get their movement reduced by half and have to take disadvantage on all checks. A Character cannot wear Armor more than 1 Proficiency higher.

• Level 7 and above is considered 'Heavy Armor.' Each Proficiency Level, starting at level 7, costs 2 Training Points instead of 1 unless you have the Heavy Armor Training.

Item Crafting Branch

Item Use only has 2 levels. The starting Level is 0. This is solely for crafting Items, Weapons, and Armor in the game.

Level 0

The Character can only craft Items of their Tech Level and lower. They cannot craft Masterworked Items even if their Craft Skill is high enough. They cannot Uptech (Increase the Tech Level of an Item) even if they have the Tech Level and Craft Ranks. The repair DC for items of a higher tech level is +5 per tech level and also +5 for each Masterworked Level.

Level 1

Characters can craft masetworked items up to level 3. Characters can now Uptech items to the Character's current Tech Level. Characters are no longer penalized for repairing Masterworked items. However, characters still get +2 DC per Tech Level above the Character's on Repair checks.

Level 2

The Character can now craft on all mansterworked levels and perform repairs with no penalties.

NOTE

- Legendary Items are considered Technology Level 5 from Crafting, Procure Difficulty, and Lore. However, from the perspective of the Item Proficiency Tree, they are considered Tech Level 4 and Masterworked +5.

Power Armor Branch

The Power Armor Branch has 5 levels. The default starting Proficiency level is 0.

This requires the Power Armor Expert feat in order to start training in. This Feat unlocks the Tree and provides a single point in Power Armor.

• Each Level in Power Armor allows the Character to use the higher Grade Power armor. Starting at Level 1, a Character can use Grade/Class E Power Armor. At Level 5 Power Armor Proficiency, the Character can use Grade A Power Armor.

Retraining and Class Requirements

This is in reference to the ability to move Proficiency Levels from one Tree to another Tree. And when and why this needs to happen.

Retraining and GM House Rules

Firstly, Characters should be given the ability to realign levels unless you are playing a strict role-playing, 'hardcore', or Low Fantasy style game. The GameMaster (GM) should clearly explain to Players, before they create their Characters, what style of game they will be playing and whether they will be able to retrain their Proficiency Tree.

For games where this is possible (which should be the default), here are a few rules.

1. Whenever retraining the Character simply takes the Training Points that the level is worth and then uses the points on another Branch.
2. A Character can only retrain when leveling up.
3. You can only move one point per level. Although this does mean that if you are retraining a level that requires 2 Training Points, then you may be able to buy two levels if the Branches you are putting the points into only cost 1 Level per point.