Specialization

[neofit]

Hello,

New player here. I've read a few topics about specialization, but I have a more general question about the issue: when and how? Did I miss anything in-game that told me to go to a trainer or GM at level X and choose a specialization?

I am a lvl 25 Drakkin Necro, did the tutorial and am now hunting in Blightfire Moors. One thin I noticed is that right after I dinged 20 I started gaining points in 5 new skills that I didn't have before:



Are these the same specializations people are talking about in the "alteration vs conjuration" spec discussions?

Why do I have all 5?

Why is alteration x/130 when all the others are x/50?

Was there a recent patch that allowed people to "specialize" in all the skills?

[Viko]

You specialize in all

Specialization cap is 50 early on and 75 at lvl 75 for all of them but 1.

That "1" is the one you specialize into, and in the game, its whichever one breaks 50 first. In this case alteration hit 51 before any other, and it is now your Primary Specialization.

[Lilnecro]

feel great that almost all of the spells are alteration at lower levels, because Alteration is the one you want to spec in right away, and then with AA"s you will want to spec in conjuration.

What Specialization does is has another check for fizzling and effectiveness of the spell.

At least that is how i understand them to work, so if i am wrong correct me pals.

[scrat]

You don't have to hit a GM trainer for the vast majority of skills. If your hand-to-hand is 0, fight weaponless and you'll eventually learn that skill. It's been so long since I created a new character I cannot remember the specific skills needing to be trained prior to being available, but they are most (if not all) melee skills that we don't get as a necro anyways.

The mere fact that you continued casting spells resulted in your learning the specializations on your own. This has been this way for ever.

Alteration is x/130 because since that specialization reached 50 first, it became your primary specialization (alteration v. conjuration like you have read). Your primary spec has a much higher upper limit than others (200 until level 71?). The generic formula for skill caps is your level x 5 plus 5. Being 25, that makes (25x5+5) 130 cap. At 71, the other 4 specs will have their caps increased by 5 per level, with 75 being max at level 75. Additionally, far down the road Alternate Advancement will allow you to raise the upper cap on one more specialization skill of your choice by 50 points.

In addition to specialization skill being considered for fizzle reductions, it also lowers the mana cost of spells. The higher your skill, the more the impact both on fizzles and mana savings. The spec mana savings stacks with everything.

[Lilnecro]

all of the skills now you automatically get (1) in when you hit the level you learn it at.

[Xelgadis]

all of the skills now you automatically get (1) in when you hit the level you learn it at.

The only thing about that which kind of sucks is that getting initial skillups on activated skills is a little more tedious now (like Bash was, on my cleric). Used to be when you'd train a skill at a GM, you'd get a skill level equal to your experience level.

[Lilnecro]

yeah, it really blows like hell, but you don't need to leave your group anymore to go get the skillz

[Xislaben]

all of the skills now you automatically get (1) in when you hit the level you learn it at.

I thought they got set = to your level?

Like when I hit 16 and got some new ability I thought it started out at 16?

I know the things you get from level 1 start out at 1. I could be wrong here, it's been a while...

[Xelgadis]

I thought they got set = to your level?

Like when I hit 16 and got some new ability I thought it started out at 16?

I know the things you get from level 1 start out at 1. I could be wrong here, it's been a while...

It was that way back when you had to train them at a GM, newly (automatically) acquired skills start with a skill level of 1 now, regardless of your character's level.

[Lilnecro]

yeah it's pretty lame now the way they do it.