Skills (Dungeon Siege II)

In the original game, you chose one - or multiple - of the four classes in the game (melee, ranged, nature magic, and combat magic) and went with that. This created a bit of a lack of diversity among peoples' characters, especially when taking into account that a multi-classed character had a very hard time standing up to a 'pure' one. While this unbalance is one thing Gas Powered Games has said they are working on fixing to the sequel, we have also been promised increased diversity in the form of skills.
Each of the four classes in Dungeon Siege II can gain access to 12 skills, and the Broken World expansion pack adds 22 more skills for the Fist of Stone and Blood Assassin multi-classes.
For each character class there are various skills available to chose from, with up to 10 points possible of being placed on each.
What skills you choose will greatly affect the way you play. One example of this is that to equip a shield, a character must learn the "Barricade" ability, which it a bit into the melee fighter's skill tree. Another example is that ranged characters, if they have knowledge in the right skills, can harvest plants along the path and make health and mana potions.
=In-Game=
Skills enhance your effectiveness in combat. You purchase skills with skill points that you earn as you gradually advance your character level through combat. So, the more you fight, the more your character level goes up and the more skill points you earn. Then you spend those skill points on new skills, which help you fight even better. Take note that possessing skill points in itself does not increase your effectiveness in combat. You must spend the points on new skills before you actually acquire those new abilities.
TO BUY NEW SKILLS
#Double-click your Character Portrait to open the Character Window.
#Left-click the Specialties tab to display your skill tree.
#Left-click a combat type tab (Melee, Ranged, Combat Magic, or Nature Magic).
#View information about a particular skill by placing the pointer over it.
#Left-click a skill to assign a point to it, and then left-click the Confirm button.
#Repeat these steps if you have additional skill points to spend.
(The number of available skill points is displayed between the Confirm and Reset buttons.)
=List=
==Vanilla==
===Melee===
====Tier 1====
* Fortitude
* Critical Strike
====Tier 2====
* Barricade
* Overbear
* Dual Wield
====Tier 3====
* Toughness
* Alacrity
====Tier 4====
* Reinforced Armor
* Smite
* Fierce Renewal
====Tier 5====
* Rebuke
* Deadly Strike
===Ranged===
====Tier 1====
* Critical Shot
* Dodge
====Tier 2====
* Biting Arrow
* Quick Draw
* Survival
====Tier 3====
* Far Shot
* Bleed
====Tier 4====
* Shockwave
* Penetrate
* Cunning Renewal
====Tier 5====
* Mortal Wound
* Ricochet
===Combat Magic===
====Tier 1====
* Brilliance
* Devastation
====Tier 2====
* Debilitation
* Searing Flames
* Amplified Lightning
====Tier 3====
* Summon Alacrity
* Grim Necromancy
====Tier 4====
* Quickened Casting
* Vampirism
* Ignite
====Tier 5====
* Arcane Fury
* Arcing
==Nature Magic==
====Tier 1====
* Natural Bond
* Aquatic Affinity
====Tier 2====
* Summon Fortitude
* Enveloping Embrace
* Arctic Mastery
====Tier 3====
* Summon Might
* Feral Wrath
* Nurturing Gift
====Tier 4====
* Arcane Renewal
* Freezing
====Tier 5====
* Summon Bond
* Absorption
==Broken World==
===Fist of Stone===
====Tier 1====
* Tremor
* Improved Fault Line
* Chant of Stone
====Tier 2====
* Fast Recovery
* Healing Hands
====Tier 3====
* Soul of Strength
* Soul of Protection
* Strength of the Mountain
====Tier 4====
* Quake
* Improved Tremor
* Groundshaker
===Blood Assassin===
====Tier 1====
* Shred Blood
* Mark Mastery
====Tier 2====
* Improved Weapon Enhancements
* Ignite Blood
* Rune Mastery
* Improved Execute
====Tier 3====
* Bloodsoaked Shots
* Improved Runes
====Tier 4====
* Living Death
* Grace of the Night
* Hemorrhage