In a world like Veldanyr, which had a level of technology more or less equivalent to the Renaissance Era, having access to a higher level of technology meant having access to a great source of power. Since Greater Beyond was a game that allowed players to traverse through multiple universes in its later versions, it went without saying that highly advanced technology was a requirement if one needed to get around the universe, aside from relying on one's own strength.
With that in mind, Valyr was going to rely on the disparity between the technology currently available in Veldanyr, and the level of technology he'll reach in the future to establish a mark on this world, utilizing the properties of the Blacksmith class as much as possible.
Pondering over it, he knew that something like this had been done before by a couple players in his previous life, utilizing a production class and the Technology Tree to establish a period of dominance in their respective worlds. Though, since no one had used the strategy before in this one, it could be said that Valyr was going to be the pioneer to make the strategy something to be feared.
It went without saying that he was going to use it to leave a long-lasting image in the minds of players and NPCs alike, achieving the reputation necessary for his future organization to recruit people in droves.
'Aside from unlocking the Technology Tree and getting those skills, there are some other skills I need to get.' At some point, Valyr sat on an open bench along the street, admiring the somewhat idyllic sight before him. 'I wonder if the contribution point shop has some of them?'
With that thought in mind, he went ahead and opened a screen in front of him, perusing through the contribution point shop's skill section in search for the skills he needed. While doing so, he pondered over which class he was going to take as his Rank 1 class.
Although he had narrowed his choice down to a couple variant Blacksmith classes yesterday while at the training field, it was only sometime ago did he decide to settle on a single one, deciding to take a class that was far better than what a Blacksmith could normally do, yet was not restricted compared to the other variants he had in mind.
Of course, there were variant classes far stronger than the classes he had set his mind on getting. However, all of them had requirements far more stringent than the ones he chose, with a couple of them even needing the being to undergo multiple high difficulty quests in a row to just obtain the qualifications to ascend to that class.
In fact, there was even a class that needed one's stats to all be at 100, a number only achievable once one had a Rank 2 class if one didn't use other means to do so.
As mentioned before, he narrowed his choices down to a couple classes, taking into consideration of the beta version that was about to begin in about two months. As to how many classes exactly did he narrow it down to, it was actually three.
The first class was a Blacksmith class that pursued the pinnacle of control when forging, which meant that one of the requirements was a high DEX stat. As for the other class, it pursued the pinnacle of knowledge, relying on a blacksmith's ability to memorize and recall dozens, if not hundreds of blueprints. Naturally, such a class called for a high INT stat.
Contemplating over these two choices, Valyr eventually discarded the two of them, considering that the third class was the best choice if he did not want to limit himself. Unlike the first two classes, which aimed for an extreme towards a certain stat, it instead aimed for a balance between the two previously mentioned stats, something Valyr preferred more.
After all, the DEX stat not only increased one's control while forging, it also increased one's control over one's weapon while fighting. As for the INT stat, other than allowing him to retain more information and the like, it also increased the size of one's mana pool, something he knew he would rely on in the long run.
Nevertheless, one would think that the third class would be overshadowed by the first two classes, giving off the feeling that it was a jack of all trades, but a master of none. With that, the other requirements to obtain the class came in, allowing it to be classified as a variant class one tier higher than the two.
"Oh! They actually have two of the skills I need," Valyr exclaimed in slight surprise, his attention focused on the skills currently on the screen. Though, this slight surprise was quickly replaced with a frown once he noticed the prerequisites that he had to fulfill before being able to buy them. "Haah… at the very least, I have this as a backup plan if all else fails."
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[Deft Hands]
Rarity: Common
Increases the user's DEX for a limited amount of time in exchange for MP. Increasing the skill's level improves the efficacy and potency of the skill.
Prerequisites: [Guard] rank
Cost: 500 contribution points
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[Robust Arms]
Rarity: Common
Increases the user's STR for a limited amount of time in exchange for MP. Increasing the skill's level improves the efficacy and potency of the skill.
Prerequisites: [Guard] rank
Cost: 500 contribution points
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"Considering that the guards I've seen so far all use weapons of some sort, it's no surprise that such skills are available the lowest rank," he muttered, clicking his tongue soon after. "But to patrol for at least a month straight to get one of the two? I'd rather go with the first idea I have in mind."
"Though, I'll have to save that for when I get a bit stronger," he continued, scratching his head as he let out a light sigh.
To surmount the gap brought about by focusing on a balance between the two stats, one of the requirements to obtain the variant class Valyr wanted to get was to obtain skills capable of temporarily enhancing a certain stat.
In his case, he needed to obtain [Deft Hands] and [Robust Arms], which enhanced DEX and STR, and [Astute Eyes] and [Astute Mind], which enhanced PER and INT.
Although he was glad to find out that he could buy two of the skills he needed through the contribution point shop, with how much time it was going to take to accumulate the points to buy them, he would rather go with the first plan he had in mind, which was to head to a certain city and retrieve a quest there.
'That only leaves the final requirement for the class, which is to achieve a stat of 20 for both DEX and INT,' Valyr thought, slightly frowning as he rummaged through his memories, trying to recall methods that allowed him to achieve what he needed in the early game.
With the Civilian class giving one point to all stats and a free point for the person to allocate wherever they wanted, by the time he had reached Level 10, he would only be able to achieve 15 points for both DEX and INT if he allocated all 10 free points he would obtain evenly between the two stats. That meant that he had to find a way to obtain 5 more points for both stats.
Fortunately, after a bit of thinking, his eyes slightly widened as a certain memory surfaced in his mind, eliciting a smile to appear on his face. Slapping his thighs as he let out a light chuckle, he muttered, "It's been so long since I used them that I almost forgot about 'em."
"Those damn Reinforcement Elixirs!"
Hope you enjoyed the chapter!