I've had a few people ask me about paths, and it occurred to me; This bit of the System is my own creation. Some of my readers may be unaware that I've been part of the development team for Apotheosis Roleplaying Games, and the System used in Monroe is an unholy abomination derived from the sacred beauty of what we've created. As is standard, in order to protect the intellectual property, I'm under a non-disclosure agreement, which prevents me from doing too deep a dive into the background mechanics of the system. I'm lucky that I've haven't been executed for revealing as much as I have.

That said, here are the basic rules I use to create paths.

Path Bonuses:

Skill Requirements:

School + one skill in school required = 1% bonus/penalty reduction per level to a skill

School + two skills in school required = Additional bonus skill (predetermined) per threshold

School + three skills in school required = Threshold bonus to a single skill (increased level of skill = tier), Additional bonus skill from school.

School + four skills in school required = Capstone bonus at the final threshold (tier² bonus / penalty reduction to all skills in the school, Conjunction skill, unique effect.)

Restriction Bonuses:

Cannot take other spells in already purchased school = 1% bonus/penalty reduction per level to skill.

Cannot take other schools in sphere (Arcane/Divine/Psionic/Melee/Ranged/Armor/Sheild/Professional/Social) = 1% bonus/penalty reduction per level to school.

Cannot take other spheres (Arcane/Divine/Psionic/Melee/Ranged/Armor/Sheild/Professional/Social) = Additional bonus skill in school per threshold.

Additional Requirement Bonuses:

Must take a non-school related skill = 1% bonus/penalty reduction per level to spell or school.

Must take two non-school related skills = Threshold bonus (additional skill in school)

Must take three non-school related skills = One of the three skills receives a unique modification.

Must take four non-school related skills = 1% cost reduction per level for all four skills.

Must take five non-school related skills = each skill receives a synergy bonus when all five are used together.

Affinity Crystal Bonus:

Affiinty Crystal Required = Additional School Threshold bonus as well as maximum school level increase (tier), or skill level increase (tier²), or unique skill.

I'm bringing a bunch of people into the system, and I thought to myself, 'Jahx, why not tap into the power gamers who read Monroe?'. So, work up a path, head over to the discord, and toss it in the Path-skill-discusion channel!

(Also, you're regularly scheduled dose of Monroe will arrive in less than 24 hours!)