Skill Runes
In Undecember, Skill Runes are the absolute core of the combat and progression system. Unlike traditional action RPGs (like Diablo or Path of Exile) where your skills are determined by your chosen character class, Undecember has no fixed classes.
Instead, your class and playstyle are entirely defined by the Skill Runes you socket into your Rune Cast (the grid-like skill board).
Here is a breakdown of exactly what Skill Runes are and how they work, which will be essential for structuring your wiki:
1. Hexagonal Shape and “Slots”
Skill Runes are hexagonal items. Each Skill Rune can have up to 6 colored borders (or “slots”) on its edges.
- These slots come in three colors: Red (Strength/Melee), Green (Dexterity/Ranged), and Blue (Intelligence/Magic).
- These slots are where players attach Link Runes to modify, support, and boost the Skill Rune’s behavior.
2. Types of Skill Runes
Skill Runes generally fall into a few primary categories based on player archetypes:
- Attack / Strike: Melee or physical weapon skills (e.g., Whirlwind, Shield Strike).
- Spell: Magic-based abilities cast from staves or wands (e.g., Fireball, Chain Lightning).
- Bow / Ranged: Skills that require a bow or crossbow (e.g., Spread Shot, Piercing Arrow).
- Minion / Summon: Skills that summon allies to fight for you (e.g., Summon Abyssling).
- Buffs / Toggles: Abilities that enhance your character’s stats temporarily or permanently while active.
3. Growth and Progression (Rune Leveling & Rarity)
Players don’t just find a rune and leave it alone; they constantly invest resources into upgrading them:
- Rune Leveling: Players use Element materials (farmed from monsters) to level up Skill Runes, increasing their base damage, mana cost, and stat requirements.
- Rarity Grades: Skill Runes start at Normal (Grey), but can be upgraded using specialized essences to Magic (Blue), Rare (Yellow), and Legendary (Red). Upgrading rarity adds massive bonus modifiers to the skill.
- Awakening: At endgame, fully maxed-out runes can be “Awakened” into one of three specialized branches (Source, Origin, or Verve), completely changing or supercharging how the skill functions.