====== Skills ======

===== Syntax =====

>skills
>skills add NUMBER to SKILL
>skills remove NUMBER from SKILL

This command will list the skills available on the mud.  The number in
brackets is your base, unmodified skill, which you allocate yourself with
points. 

For **core skills**, you will receive 4 points per 2 levels to spend as
you choose; thieves and bards will receive 6 points per 2 levels. 

For **craft skills**, you will receive 1 point per 2 levels regardless of class.

To add points to a skill use ''<skills add NUMBER to SKILL>''. You can only
spend limited amount of free points based on your level and class.

To remove poins from a skill use ''<skills remove NUMBER from SKILL>''. This
will incur a character improvement tax based on your level.

Your rank in a skill, outside the brackets, is your total modified skill,
which you use in your checks. It includes bonuses from:
  * stats:  1 point per 2 past 10, in the appropriate stat
  * levels: 1 point per 2 levels for class skills, 1 point per 5 for non-class
  * Other, such as items, spells and effects.

>help SKILL

Displays individual skill help files.

===== Core Skills =====

==== Academics ====

A player's academics skill indicates the book learning and general
knowledge of the character. It would cover areas of writing, arithmetic,
knowledge of history and other academic pursuits including, but not limited
to, the following: arcane lore, calculus, engineering, geography, geology,
geometry, probability, local knowledge, logic, military tactics, monster
lore, nature lore, nobility lore, planar lore, religious lore,
trigonometry, and weather patterns.

| Stat basis | intelligence |
| Current areas of influence | writing, reading, forgery, item lore |
| Related helpfiles | skills, write, sign, study |

==== Athletics ====

A player's athletics skill indicates their aptitude at various physical
activities requiring speed, precision and/or reflexes. It would cover areas
of jumping, climbing, rolling, and horseback abilities.

| Stat basis | dexterity |
| Current areas of influence | climbing, riding, scramble, reflection |
| Related helpfiles | skills, horses, scramble, reflection *feats |


==== Dungeoneering ====

A player's dungeoneering skill indicates their understanding of mechanical
items, and other intricate constructions. This will usually involve dealing
with a variety of locks and rigged traps, both in recognizing and
dismantling them.

| Stat basis | dexterity |
| Current areas of influence | finding and removing traps, picking locks |
| Related helpfiles | skills, trap |

==== Endurance ====

A player's endurance skill indicates their ability to withstand long and
gruelling activities. This can range from extended travel, lengthy combat
sequences, or holding one's breath underwater.

| Stat basis | constitution |
| Current areas of influence | stamina use |
| Related helpfiles | skills |

==== Healing ====

A character's healing skill indicates their ability to mend injuries and
illnesses. It involves the full range of abilities, from simple first aid
to complex surgery (bearing in mind the medieval setting). Healing attempts
can also be made upon various mounts, but these are more difficult. A
character knowledge of potion brewing can extend their knowledge of healing
into the field of alchemy, creating mixtures to aid or hinder.

| Stat basis | wisdom |
| Current areas of influence | healing, healing mount, brewing |
| Related helpfiles | skills, heal, brew potion |

==== Influence ====

A player's influence skill indicates their ability to convince others of a
belief or path of action. It involves both persuasion and intimidation,
depending which may be called upon at a time.

| Stat basis | charisma |
| Current areas of influence | vendor pricing, followers and/or henchmen |
| Related helpfiles | skills |

==== Perception ====

A player's perception skill indicates their alertness to their
surroundings. It involves noticing things that would normally go unheeded,
including hidden items and creatures.

| Stat basis | wisdom |
| Current areas of influence | opposed checks to theft and stab, eavesdropping |
| Related helpfiles | skills, bind, struggle, eavesdrop, watch |

==== Rope Use ====

A player's rope use skill indicates their aptitude with ropes and knots. It
involves both binding others in rope, and escaping from such bindings.

| Stat basis | dexterity |
| Current areas of influence | binding, struggling |
| Related helpfiles | skills, bind, struggle |

==== Stealth ====

A player's stealth skill indicates their aptitude at moving while unseen
and unheard. It affects abilities that involve hiding within one's
surroundings, and a thief's ability to move into a position unnoticed in
order to stab an opponent.

| Stat basis | dexterity |
| Current areas of influence | sneaking, hide in shadows, stab |
| Related helpfiles | skills, sneak, hide in shadows, stab |

==== Spellcraft ====

A player's spellcraft skill indicates their knowledge of magic and its
effects. It involves knowledge of spells, scrolls and magical items, and
the use of these abilities and items.

| Stat basis | intelligence |
| Current areas of influence | scroll use, spell recognition, identification of items, spell reflection |
| Related helpfiles | skills, study, spell reflection |

==== Survival ====

A player's survival skill indicates their understanding of life in the
wilderness. It affects abilities such as tracking, and the ability to
gather natural materials from one's surroundings, such as food and hides.

| Stat basis | wisdom |
| Current areas of influence | tracking, skinning, foraging |
| Related helpfiles | skills, track, skin, forage |

==== Thievery ====


A player's thievery skill indicates their quickness of hand. It affects
abilities used to steal or place items upon another person unseen, or to
hide items upon oneself or within the surrounding area.

| Stat basis | dexterity |
| Current areas of influence | stealing, pick pockets, item concealment |
| Related helpfiles | skills, steal, pp, hide |

===== Craft Skills =====

A player's craft skills indicate their abilities to repair and/or create
items of that kind. 

| Related helpfiles | skills, craft, repair, alterobj, enchant, disenchant, brew |

==== Craft, armorsmith ====

Armorsmithing allows for the crafting of metal-based
armors, including plate and chain varieties.

| Stat basis | Intelligence |
| Current areas of influence | crafting, repairing |
| Related helpfiles | skills, craft, repair |
| Craftable items | banded mail, barding, boots, breastplate, brigandine, chain mail, coif, field plate, full plate, gauntlets, greaves, helm, plate mail, ring mail, scale mail, shield, splint mail, tower shield |

==== Craft, leatherworker ====

Leatherworking allows for the crafting of a variety of
leather and hide-based armors, as well as whips.

| Stat basis | Intelligence |
| Current areas of influence | crafting, repairing |
| Related helpfiles | skills, craft, repair |
| Craftable items | barding, boots, breastplate, buckler, cape, coif, gauntlets, giant holster, giant sheathe, greaves, hide, largehostler, large sheath, large sleeve, leather, medium holster, medium sheath, medium sleeve, padded, shield strap, sling, small sheath, studded, whip |

==== Craft, weaponsmith ====

Weaponsmithing allows for the crafting of a variety of
metal-based weapons.

| Stat basis | Intelligence |
| Current areas of influence | crafting, repairing |
| Related helpfiles | skills, craft, repair |
| Craftable items | arquebus, bastard sword, cannon, cannonball, cartridge, claw, culverin, dagger, darts, dwarven waraxe, elven curved blade, estoc, falcata, fan, flail, giant axe, giant hammer, giant mace, giant sword, grapeshot, hackbut, kukri, large axe, large hammer, longsword, mace, medium hammer, musket, pistol, polearm, rapier, scimitar, scythe, shortsword, shurikens, small axe, small hammer, two-handed sword, wand, waveblade |

==== Craft, jeweller ====

Jewelling allows for the crafting of a variety of
ornate jewelry and accessories, including rings, bracers and amulets.

| Stat basis | Intelligence |
| Current areas of influence | crafting, repairing |
| Related helpfiles | skills, craft, repair |
| Craftable items | anklet, bracelet, bracers, circlet, necklace, ring |

==== Craft, tailor ====

Tailoring allows for the crafting of various types of
clothing.

| Stat basis | Intelligence |
| Current areas of influence | crafting, repairing |
| Related helpfiles | skills, craft, repair |
| Craftable items | belt, breeches, caparison, cloak, gloves, hat, large sack, pocket robe, robe, shirt, shoes, small sack |

==== Craft, woodworker ====

A player's craft skills indicate their abilities to repair and/or create
items of that kind. Woodworking allows for the crafting of various carved
items, including bows and arrows, staves, instruments and statues.

| Stat basis | Intelligence |
| Current areas of influence | crafting, repairing |
| Related helpfiles | skills, craft, repair |
| Craftable items | bolts, cane, carving, crossbow, darts, drums, flight arrows, flute, giant club, guitar, lance, lap-harp, large club, large spear, long bow, lute, lyre, mandolin, medium club, medium spear, medium staff, nunchucks, pan pipes, pipe, quarter staff, rod, scroll case, sheath arrows, shield, short bow, small club, small spear, tower shield, wand |