A world where heroes, magic, and monsters not only exist, but thrive. Perhaps you'll be able to be a hero with a troubled past or a mage from a far away land? No. You, my players, are monsters. More specifically you're the weakest of the weak monsters when you begin your journey to become the strongest.
Rank Up System
Levels - A rough gauge for the strength of an individual of that race or job. Level is increased by learning new skills, defeating stronger enemies, or even simple tasks like creating or disassembling tools. The fastest and most sure method to leveling up is defeating enemies who are more powerful than you or at your appropriate level. Every monster knows his or her own level, but cannot gauge an enemy's level immediately without a proper skill. This is important for those who wish to keep their level hidden. The max level is 100 for an individual species which, upon being reached, allows for them to "Rank Up" into another strong species.
Rank Up/Evolving - Monsters like Goblins, Imps, Orcs, etc, etc. all have the option of advancing into a new species. The species being evolved into depends on the criteria that an individual meets and certain evolutions are only available if certain requirements are met. Upon Ranking Up it is common for monsters to gain access to powerful abilities they previously hadn't been able to use. This is especially true for Variants or specialist evolutions.
Common Examples
Level 100 Goblin ---> Level 1 Hobgoblin
Level 100 Imp ---> Level 1 Demon
Uncommon Examples
Level 100 Goblin ---> Level 1 Hobgoblin Variant
Level 100 Imp ---> Level 1 Demon Variant
In the case of these uncommon examples, the Goblin had the talents for Magecraft and Strength along with the skills "Swift Swimming" and "Extreme Lung Capacity". This caused the Goblin to evolve into a Hobgoblin Variant with blue skin and the "Water Magic" talent. This may or may not lead to this Hobgoblin to evolve into the race "Half-Spell Lord Variant" with a more specialized aptitude in Water Magic.
While Variants tend to be rarer and more powerful, becoming a regular Hobgoblin would not hinder one's growth. Some could say that not choosing a specialization may even make one more powerful in the long run because they would have more choices for their Rank Up as they level up. It is also important to note that some species do not have the ability to continue evolving. These species tend to make the monster more closely related to humans and instead gain the ability to make use of the "Job System". This is a system that only humans use and is considered inferior when it comes to overall potential, but many believe it to be stronger when in the hands of an evolved monster. The Job System will be explained when the information is come across in the RP or if someone decides to take this route and has reached their maximum evolution.
Rank Up/Evolving - Monsters like Goblins, Imps, Orcs, etc, etc. all have the option of advancing into a new species. The species being evolved into depends on the criteria that an individual meets and certain evolutions are only available if certain requirements are met. Upon Ranking Up it is common for monsters to gain access to powerful abilities they previously hadn't been able to use. This is especially true for Variants or specialist evolutions.
Common Examples
Level 100 Goblin ---> Level 1 Hobgoblin
Level 100 Imp ---> Level 1 Demon
Uncommon Examples
Level 100 Goblin ---> Level 1 Hobgoblin Variant
Level 100 Imp ---> Level 1 Demon Variant
In the case of these uncommon examples, the Goblin had the talents for Magecraft and Strength along with the skills "Swift Swimming" and "Extreme Lung Capacity". This caused the Goblin to evolve into a Hobgoblin Variant with blue skin and the "Water Magic" talent. This may or may not lead to this Hobgoblin to evolve into the race "Half-Spell Lord Variant" with a more specialized aptitude in Water Magic.
While Variants tend to be rarer and more powerful, becoming a regular Hobgoblin would not hinder one's growth. Some could say that not choosing a specialization may even make one more powerful in the long run because they would have more choices for their Rank Up as they level up. It is also important to note that some species do not have the ability to continue evolving. These species tend to make the monster more closely related to humans and instead gain the ability to make use of the "Job System". This is a system that only humans use and is considered inferior when it comes to overall potential, but many believe it to be stronger when in the hands of an evolved monster. The Job System will be explained when the information is come across in the RP or if someone decides to take this route and has reached their maximum evolution.
Skills System
Skills - These are abilities or passive abilities that you as an individual have access to. These can be both learned and taken through the monster skill Absorption. There are an almost infinite amount of skills that can be learned, and many can only be gained through the use of other methods such as evolving. Skills come in four types. Utility, Offensive, Defensive, and Unique.
Utility skills are abilities that help an individual through a variety of different uses and are normally the most flexible with their uses, especially when it comes to out of combat. Things like venom, spider webs, and a high lung capacity are examples of utility skills. More often than not utility skills are species specific skills that require the Absorption ability to learn. Most passive abilities are utility skills.
Offensive skills are ones that are almost entirely destructive or used for combat. Abilities such as fire magic, weaponry skills, and a large amount of stealth abilities fall under this category. These skills are mostly learned by the monsters that prefer combat over all else as a form of leveling up.
Defensive skills make it easier to survive most situations. Toughened skin, shield tactics, and an infinite amount of survival skills end up here. There are a few exceptions to this rule though. Abilities like "Escape" and "Grow Armored Scales" fall under utility.
Finally, Unique skills are specific skills to individuals. These are mostly abilities gained through Ranking Up or by meeting specific criteria. It is almost impossible to predict when or how someone will receive a unique skill, or if they'll ever even get one. Mystery shrouds this topic and even now many do not know how to acquire these.
Skill Ranks - When a certain skill becomes powerful enough or mastered enough, it has the possibility of becoming the next letter rank. This scale goes from the lowest, E-Rank, up to the highest, S-Rank. Most monsters never reach S-Rank in any skill as they normally don't evolve far enough for their body to use it. Thus, S-Rank in anything is almost unheard of. It would be considered in a territory that could easily wipe out an entire city. Rumors exist that higher ranks are possible, but that would be Godhood territory. The only ability to not have a rank is Absorption.
Absorption - Taking skills from other creatures through devouring them is common practice in this world for monster. It may sound simple, but it is a very selective process. Since only 6 skills can be taken per Rank Up it's important to watch what you take. The average Goblin will simply take whatever skills they can get as soon as possible, but the more successful ones tend to wait on it. While the ones who wait on which skills to take are normally the successful ones, there is an equal amount who are unsuccessful and simply die because they didn't have any skills to use for the situation at hand. While the ones who just take whatever skills they can get their hands on don't get very powerful, at least they can survive some situations.
When a creature is devoured a series of options is available. They will have the choice of which abilities to steal for themselves, but they won't know what they are. This is why the ability to foresee and predict abilities is important. All abilities that are stolen begin as E-Rank.
Utility skills are abilities that help an individual through a variety of different uses and are normally the most flexible with their uses, especially when it comes to out of combat. Things like venom, spider webs, and a high lung capacity are examples of utility skills. More often than not utility skills are species specific skills that require the Absorption ability to learn. Most passive abilities are utility skills.
Offensive skills are ones that are almost entirely destructive or used for combat. Abilities such as fire magic, weaponry skills, and a large amount of stealth abilities fall under this category. These skills are mostly learned by the monsters that prefer combat over all else as a form of leveling up.
Defensive skills make it easier to survive most situations. Toughened skin, shield tactics, and an infinite amount of survival skills end up here. There are a few exceptions to this rule though. Abilities like "Escape" and "Grow Armored Scales" fall under utility.
Finally, Unique skills are specific skills to individuals. These are mostly abilities gained through Ranking Up or by meeting specific criteria. It is almost impossible to predict when or how someone will receive a unique skill, or if they'll ever even get one. Mystery shrouds this topic and even now many do not know how to acquire these.
Skill Ranks - When a certain skill becomes powerful enough or mastered enough, it has the possibility of becoming the next letter rank. This scale goes from the lowest, E-Rank, up to the highest, S-Rank. Most monsters never reach S-Rank in any skill as they normally don't evolve far enough for their body to use it. Thus, S-Rank in anything is almost unheard of. It would be considered in a territory that could easily wipe out an entire city. Rumors exist that higher ranks are possible, but that would be Godhood territory. The only ability to not have a rank is Absorption.
Absorption - Taking skills from other creatures through devouring them is common practice in this world for monster. It may sound simple, but it is a very selective process. Since only 6 skills can be taken per Rank Up it's important to watch what you take. The average Goblin will simply take whatever skills they can get as soon as possible, but the more successful ones tend to wait on it. While the ones who wait on which skills to take are normally the successful ones, there is an equal amount who are unsuccessful and simply die because they didn't have any skills to use for the situation at hand. While the ones who just take whatever skills they can get their hands on don't get very powerful, at least they can survive some situations.
When a creature is devoured a series of options is available. They will have the choice of which abilities to steal for themselves, but they won't know what they are. This is why the ability to foresee and predict abilities is important. All abilities that are stolen begin as E-Rank.
- - - Work In Progress - - -
