Gear/Proficiency Paths

## Summary

**The Proficiency Paths** (sing. *Proficiency Path* or simply *Path*) are a set of different capabilities mastered by characters in Crestseal. The names of these paths are universal, used by all divisions, species, and factions to determine the combat capability of their own troops. These abilities are learned through training and thus can be used without any specific power system aside from the user's own capabilities of performing them. However, for those who are users of any power system, these abilities can also be fueled by the said power system, making them both capability and ability derived from the power system.

There are various Proficiency Paths relating to different aspects, and they have distinct ranks among themselves. These Proficiency Paths are often used in tandem with one another to achieve far greater accomplishments.

## List of Proficiency Paths

### Combat

This Proficiency Path is related to combat, it includes unarmed CQC/H2H combat and armed combat with melee and ranged various weapons/marksmanship, which can also extend to marksmanship with other abilities the character may possess.

#### Baseduelist

Baseduelists are those who have decently mastered at least one martial art (generally arts such as wrestling, kickboxing, sambo, or jiu-jitsu. Can vary depending on the character and must be specified) or somehow have decent combat knowledge allowing them to counter such attacks without using moveset from any specific martial art in a clear way (such as brawlers who can still keep up despite battling in a "beastly" or "disorganized" manner) and have a decent mastery over at least one weapon (melee or ranged. Can vary depending on the character and needs to be specified) enough to clash with another Baseduelist on even terms

#### Adeptduelist

Adeptduelists are those who have extensive knowledge in at least two martial arts (Can vary depending on the character and must be specified) to a great degree (should be comparable to real-life human martial artists who have spent extensive training in mastering their respective arts or possibly founding it and achieved highest accomplishments in it (such as wrestlers who have won the Olympic gold medal/world championship))

#### Grandduelist

Grandduelists are those who have such extensive mastery over at least one martial art that they can perform feats that can be described as "unnatural" and "impossible" with the said martial arts (For comparison, his level of mastery should far exceed real-life limitations of humans, as none of the Swarm back when they were regular human could reach this level of capability), having knowledge in all possible usages their respective martial art has as well as every act that can possible act that can be accomplished with it down to the greatest detail)

#### **Verseduelist**

Verseduelists exhibit exceptional expertise in various combat arts to the point of knowing and fully mastering every single application of these combat arts and knowing everything these arts can ever be used to achieve. They also are very proficient across various combat disciplines involving close-range weapons, as well as extensive knowledge in marksmanship with various weapons/abilities (This level of proficiency should far exceed Grandduelist)

### Awareness

This Proficiency Path is related to senses, determining what the character can see or interact with

#### **Senseoner**

Senseoners have decently heightened senses. Exceeding most wild animals, they can accurately perceive animals like ants from dozens of meters away, and tell them apart from one another, and have precise abilities allowing them to specifically target any of them while avoiding others. They can also see and harm various unphysical phenomena like shadows, smoke, and beings of Contour to a degree

#### Sensethruster

Sensethrusters have exceptionally heightened senses. They can perceive their surroundings down to an atomic scale, and usually in a radius around them. They can perceive sounds and sights from kilometers away. They can see, interact with, and harm unphysical phenomena such as smoke, shadows, and beings of Contour as if they are solid or physical

### Control

This Proficiency Path is about control, determining the character's control over their own physique

#### Boneforger

Boneforgers have a degree of control over their own flesh and skeletal structure. They can move their bones and flesh somewhat without the need for their nervous system, or whatever else the character needs to move. This allows them to bend and squish their bodies to a degree without harming themselves

#### Morphforger

Morphforgers have extensive control over their own physique down to an atomic level. These characters can alter their shape considerably, conjure weapons out of their body, and even partially counteract blunt force damage by readjusting their structure.

### Movement

This Proficiency Path is related to movement. It is primarily related to the character's capability for agile and precise movements.

#### Runweaver

Runweavers have the ability to move with exceptional agility and precision, allowing them to sprint, jump, and flip constantly without the risk of falling or damaging themselves

#### Mentalweaver

Mentalweavers can effectively control their bodies like puppets guided by their mind rather than conventional movement For these individuals, the thought of moving is the same as moving itself, and there is no delay between the mind and the body. This allows them to perform sudden movements like jumps, double-jumps in the air, and gliding and can move in a way that their body is not affected by air friction or make any sound, can also innately react to any incoming attack by dodging and launching a counterattack, even when no longer alive or conscious

### Distraction

This Proficiency Path is about distraction.

#### Miragestrider

Miragestriders can manifest numerous afterimages with their movement that perfectly replicate their own form, creating a perplexing and disorienting effect on opponents.

### Surveying

This Proficiency Path is about understanding any target, such as its nature and abilities, and gathering information, including methods which it is gathered by at the heat of battle

#### Basreader

Basreaders can survey their target and gather information about it as they observe its movements and can learn a wide array of knowledge on their target's abilities and methods by their movements and demeanor

#### **Fullreader**

Fullreaders can accurately glean information about individuals or objects, decipher their capabilities, combat methods, and their present intent with seemingly as little effort as a mere gaze, and prepare to counter what they were able to glean to the best of their abilities.

### Anticipation

Anticipation is about anticipating and gathering insight into the movements and actions their targets may take

#### Cautigazer

Cautigazers can gain basic insight into the physical movements their targets will make on the fly as they observe and combat their target. The accuracy of prediction can vary depending on the distance and complexity of possible movements that are being predicted, though it is considered much greater than half the time, significantly more accurate if not in combat situations, and has more time to observe.

#### Expgazer

Expgazers can gain advanced insight into the physical movements as well as incoming attacks that do not require physical movement on the fly as they combat their target. The accuracy of prediction can vary depending on the distance and complexity of possible movements or motionless abilities that are being predicted but considered extremely high, and failure of an Expgazer in prediction is seen as considerably rare, significantly more accurate if not in combat situations, and has more time to observe.

#### Precogazer

Precogazers have exceptional clarity and understanding of their surroundings, they can not only gain clear insight into the physical movements as well as incoming attacks that do not require physical movement on the fly but can also predict the possible intent of their targets before they even have that intent simply by looking at their present state once