Kinfolk mechanics

*The following is subject to change over the development and eventual release of Kindred Fates.*

**Mechanically** speaking, forming a bond is the process by which a Kinfolk is added to a player's roster, whether it's formed by cleansing the soul of a Restless Kinfolk or some other means. Finding Kinfolk throughout the world isn't the only way to do this, either. A player will be capable of assigning one or two Kinfolk to recruiting and training a Kinfolk of a previously bonded species, which allows Base Stats and moves to be passed from the player's Kinfolk to the recruit, who can then be bonded with. Base Stats are stat influencing values, alongside Bond Values(filler term) and levels. Once a Kinfolk's level is raised high enough, or some other unrevealed conditions are met, a Kinfolk can undergo evolution, a process that shifts stats rather than increasing them. Finally, Kinfolk may be capable of advanced environmental interactions and equipping a number of items.

This page details various **Kinfolk mechanics**.

## Bonds

*Main article:* Bonds
The process by which a Kinfolk is added to a player's roster. The three known methods of forming bonds are saving Restless Kinfolk, recruiting Kinfolk, and helping various Kinfolk throughout the world of Kindred Fates. Once a bond is formed, it can be strengthened to gain a number of benefits, but it can also be broken. When a bond is broken, a Kinfolk won't remain with the player for very long.

## Death

When a Kinfolk falls in combat, it will collapse into an ethereal blue flame that will eventually fade if the player does not retrieve it in time. Fortunately, the duration that the Kinfolk's soul will remain increases as the bond between them and the player grows. If the player fails to retrieve the flame-like soul of their Kinfolk, only ashes will remain, which can be taken to the memorial. If the player succeeds in retrieving their Kinfolk's soul, they will presumably be stored in the same unnamed Key Item that will house captured souls until the player manages to revitalize them through unknown means.

## Evolution

Evolution is a process that many Kinfolk undergo to change their form and capabilities. This does not make a Kinfolk inherently more powerful, but can give the Kinfolk access to new moves and abilities, as well as shifting their stats. A Kinfolk reaches evolution by reaching a particular level or fulfilling other unrevealed requirements. All evolutions will provide a choice in the form of an **Evolutionary Tree**. These trees are made up of evolutionary turning points that always offer two or more choices. While Kinfolk don't seem to evolve more than twice, a Kinfolk might be able to choose from up to eight unique evolutions.

## Stats

The various numbers that determine a Kinfolk's function in combat outside of moves and abilities. Every Kinfolk will have the same underlying stat value total, meaning that — ignoring stat modifying factors, such as level and Base Stats(see below) — *any* two Kinfolk's stats will add up to the same number. This includes Kinfolk of all evolutionary tiers.

The stat array in Kindred Fates is as follows.

* *Health*
* *Magic Attack*
* *Magic Defense*
* *Physical Attack*
* *Physical Defense*
* *Cool Down Reduction*

A **Level** is a value that can be increased by gaining experience through activities like combat. A Kinfolk can have up to one hundred levels. Levels affect all stats.

**Base Stats** are a set of randomized numbers that affect each stat respectively. These values are determined when a Kinfolk is obtained, though certain factors during the recruitment process can alter them. It may or may not be possible to increase Base Stats in Kindred Fates.

**Bond Values**(unofficial, temporary name) are stat influencing values that can be purposefully increased through various, unknown means.

## Recruitment

A method of obtaining Kinfolk that becomes available to the player when they join or create a guild. **Recruitment** allows the player to send out one or two of their party members to search for, recruit, and train a chosen species of Kinfolk in "the basics of combat back at the headquarters". The species of Kinfolk must be one that the player has formed a bond with prior. It will take time for an interested Kinfolk to be found, but when two party members are selected rather than one, it can be found twice as quickly. The teacher(s) will determine the known moves and base stats of this recruit, passing down two of their base stats. There is a chance that three base stats instead of two will be passed down from any teacher in the same evolutionary tree as the recruit. For a level one hundred Kinfolk of the same evolutionary tree, this would be guaranteed.

There is a small chance that the recruit will be a Phantom Kinfolk.

## Environmental Interactions

Actions that Kinfolk can take in and out of combat that affect the environment. Confirmed interactions:

* *Tree Toppling*
* *Boulder Lifting*
* *Fire Setting*
* *River Freezing*

## Items

*Main article:* Items
It has been revealed that Kinfolk will be able to make use of items and equipment, though the specifics, of course, remain mostly unknown. Both cosmetic and utility items have been confirmed by way of Mechid's Royal Crown and the Soul Bangle.