This is a suggestion for a change to the stat system in a way that allows better freedom when you pick your stats, with the outlook of this being to add to the current stat system to improve upon it.
Image
A simplified graphic of the skill map, which would show unlocks in skills as well as their options and tier upgrades. Hovering over a node in the skill tree will show the requirements and possibly a further explanation of a skill.
Image 2
A graphic of how the awakening tab might look, where you can pick a node dependant on your stat distribution, locked until first awakening. After selecting a node, the rest would lock until 2nd awakening, leaving all the options permanently open should you have the investment. Hovering over the node would show the requirements and possibly a further explanation to the skill.
Depending on your skill points, you gain certain abilities without being locked out of others. The skill tree is simply a visual guide, which would now include when you get tier unlocks in the tree, making it easier for newer players to see what is in the road ahead (Canva is a bit tricky, so it’s not perfectly neat). Imbuements are unlocked at 120 points in two of the respective stats, while the second magic, second fighting style, or weapon aura are unlocked at 240 points, all of which are gated behind the first awakening. Upon picking an awakening, you will be locked out of other awakenings until second awaking, in which all awakenings are availble givin the stat distribution
Mathematically, this system works well with the (predicted) introduction of the level 250 second awakening, where third-tier abilities require 500 skill points and appear in the same location as the original second magic/fighting style. When someone investing soley into magic gets their third magic, a hybrid would get access to their imbues and access to what would be their current second awakening, or for savants the ability to have their imbues a little earlier and slowly get more. As for defining what a player is, it would be based on their awakenings. If they only have a pure magic node their a mage, while if it they have both magic and weapon nodes they are a conjurer (or what weapon mage if it’s the new names?). Any more and they are “classified” savant as a purely cosmetic title.
This also makes spell tiers and unlocks the same among all types of players. Some issues that may arise are hybrid weapons, but it may be better to explain those when general argos appears in the story. Overall, I beleive this would make Arcane Odyssey more free when it comes to what a player wants to do.
This system allows players to choose more freely how they want to build their characters. This suggestion is prone to improvements when given insights so please provide yours
thanks to @opticalcord for most the body of this and everyone who helped me in any way form this.
