Examining Expert Skills

To gain an expert skill the character must reach 100 in the associated attribute.

Eagle Eye (Senses)

The ability to successfully hit and to penetrate a creature with a ranged weapon.

Ok that's the textbook version but is Eagle Eye really useful? On a scale from 1 to 10 Eagle Eye ranks about 15.

It is an extremely useful skill for certain characters. The Ranger and Gadgeteer both benefit greatly from this expert skill.

I can honestly say it is a great feeling to watch your Ranger of Gadgeteer fire at something at a great distance and have their attack hit home regularly while everyone else in the party is making like an amateur basketball game, air ball!

Senses also increase attack rating so the characters will move swiftly in battle even with mid range speed.

Iron Skin (Vitality)

A strengthened mental and physical will that allows the character to absorb damage, reducing actual physical damage done to him/her. This skill has no effect on magical damage however.

A tough call here. Its usefulness, once the skill is midrange to high, is great. The real drawback to this skill is that in order for it to raise on its own the character must actually get hit. It raises slowly and usually it is necessary to assign skill points at each level up in order to take it up to a reasonably effective skill level. The earlier the skill is acquired the better.

Fighters usually benefit most from the skill since they seem to be getting clobbered all the time. Lizardman, Dracon, and Dwarf fighters have the best chance of acquiring the skill early, if developed accordingly, and can usually expect it to raise a fair amount on its own early in the game since armor choices are still mediocre.

Characters with the stealth skill should likely avoid this skill since they don't normally get hit too often and its cost in skill points to achieve a reasonable level would be pretty high.

Iron Will (Piety)

A strengthened mental and physical will that increases the character's resistance to such things as magical spells and side effects of physical attacks such as paralysis and fear.

Probably the least appreciated expert skill. Many players do not favor assigning Piety points. In reality the races (Lizardman and Dracon) who could most benefit from this skill are VERY costly to raise the attribute for. Not many people want to assign 19 levels worth of 3 attribute points plus the maximum allowance in creation to finally obtain a single expert skill.

After some experimentation I love the skill, but I am definitely in the minority. After each party member has max Iron Will, which is extremely easy and quick to power train, I find running with just a Magic Screen spell sufficient. No need for a combat round to be devoted to Elemental and/or Soul Shield spells.

I also noticed that the side effects of physical attacks did not affect the party members as often or for very long when they did experience them. My little Elf Mage, who always seemed to get knocked unconscious, withstood a few hits from hogars without ever again becoming unconscious after her Iron Will was maxed. My Dracon Valkyrie resisted the Soul Eater, and my Dwarf Priests resisted draining from Vampire Bats on numerous occassions. You could hear the effect sound but no effect took hold of them.

The other plus side to maximizing Piety is the stamina and spell points which benefit the appropriate profession. It also helps to increase carry capacity to a degree.

The drawback is of course that these attribute points could certainly be of great use on other attributes more suited to the various professions. Its pretty hard to click that Piety + button when you know your fighter would get a better attack rating when you click the Dexterity or Speed + button instead.

Power Cast (Intelligence)

The ability to cast a spell with such force that it increases the original effectiveness and duration of the spell and makes it more difficult to resist.

Without a doubt this skill is a magic user's best friend. They should devote themselves to acquiring this skill like they would devote themselves to the love of their life. Forsaking all others until it is theirs. Okay that's a bit over dramatized but it sends the message of how important this skill is.

Not only damage but protective and enhancing spells benefit as well. Sometimes a few extra rounds of protection can make all the difference in the battle.

Late in the game monsters become quite resistive to magical attacks and this skill can be very useful in penetrating those defenses. I particularly like an Alchemist with maximum powercast and Nebdar's Amulet equipped wreaking havoc upon all enemies with a Toxic or Death Cloud spell.

Power Strike (Strength)

Using any close combat weapon, the ability to strike a blow so hard that it has a greatly increased chance to hit and to penetrate. (FYI: A close combat weapon includes hands and feet.)

This skill is favored among melee character types. Hitting and penetrating boils down to "more damage" so you can't go wrong with this skill. Its like a well known product, it needs no advertising because it is that good.

Reflextion (Dexterity)

Increases the character's armor class by allowing the character to move so fast that a double image is created.

Increased Armor Class is always a good thing. This is an easy attribute to maximize since it is so beneficial to every profession. All weapon skills, many physical skills, and one or two academic skills (including magical), benefit from it. Of all the expert skills I'd say this is the most "feel good" expert skill due to the attribute's multiple benefits.

Snake Speed (Speed)

Allows characters to move with lightning reflexes increasing their personal initiative.

A good skill to have for certain professions. Spell casters who are responsible for magical protections during combat are one of the best examples. Speed increases attack rating so assigning points to it for melee characters isn't too difficult to swallow.

Speed can be costly for some race/profession combination so at times a choice must be made. If the character in question is a bit slow but has good Senses it might be more prudent to increase that attribute for an increase in attack rating and supplement Speed with items or spells.