{"schemaVersion":1,"record":{"key":"mechanic/role-playing-systems--t051","type":"mechanic","id":"role-playing-systems--t051","lang":"en","title":"Builds and ability synergies","summary":"The player chooses abilities and upgrades that work together. A limited budget turns a list of strong individual effects into a connected build.","updatedAt":"2026-10-21","status":"active","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/role-playing-systems--t051/","jsonUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/role-playing-systems--t051.json","markdownUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/role-playing-systems--t051.md","aliases":["Builds and ability combinations"],"tags":["Role-playing systems","Mechanics and variants"],"sourceIds":["source-3817d420df0baa92","source-9f2a915a1ac28603"],"sources":[{"id":"source-3817d420df0baa92","title":"Robert Nystrom: State","url":"https://github.com/munificent/game-programming-patterns/blob/master/book/state.markdown","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-9f2a915a1ac28603","title":"Last Epoch","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/899770/","verifiedAt":null}],"sections":[{"id":"principle","title":"How it works","body":"A build connects abilities, resources and triggers into a repeatable sequence of mutually reinforcing actions."},{"id":"variants","title":"Variants","body":"### Mechanic variants\n\n<a id=\"t051-variants\"></a>\n\n- A trigger turns defense into an attack source. <a id=\"t051-v1\"></a>\n- A stat threshold unlocks an additional effect. <a id=\"t051-v2\"></a>\n- Conversion changes the type of an input resource. <a id=\"t051-v3\"></a>\n- An anti-synergy prevents combined amplification. <a id=\"t051-v4\"></a>"},{"id":"example","title":"Design example","body":"A parry grants frost charge that the next strike spends to create a slowing zone.\n\nPrototype check: Test closed resource loops so combinations do not accidentally provide infinitely repeated free actions."},{"id":"context","title":"Context and limits","body":"Role-playing systems connect character identity, party composition, equipment and consequential choices. Each overview separates player actions, state changes and alternative rules. Examples are hypothetical design scenarios, not claims about a named game. A prototype check states an observable question for the next iteration. Existing detailed references remain separately linked from the direction map."}],"relations":[{"type":"uses","direction":"outgoing","label":"Sources in the selection","key":"resource/state-pattern","title":"State: Game Programming Patterns","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/resources/#resource-state-pattern","jsonUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/resource/state-pattern.json","markdownUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/resource/state-pattern.md"}],"placements":[{"catalogId":"role-playing-systems","id":"t051","title":"Role-playing systems","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/role-playing-systems/#t051","categoryIds":["mechanics"]}],"supersededBy":[],"attributes":{"preview":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-21","title":"Builds and ability combinations","description":"The player chooses abilities and upgrades that work together. A limited budget turns a list of strong individual effects into a connected build.","image":{"src":"images/mechanics/last-epoch-skill-tree.webp","width":1440,"height":810,"game":"Last Epoch","sourceUrl":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/899770/","originalUrl":"https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/899770/ss_e51b2a99932a05cc5e97da15080b358835c66343.1920x1080.jpg?t=1792426633","credit":"Eleventh Hour Games","rights":"© Eleventh Hour Games. All rights reserved.","caption":"Connected upgrades to one ability","alt":"Last Epoch: the Ballista tree has linked allocated nodes, several branches and different point investments.","markers":[{"x":50,"y":50,"label":"The base ability connects the selected upgrades"},{"x":40,"y":73,"label":"Point investments define the build’s emphasis"}]},"tips":["Describe the conditions for effects to interact as well as their strength.","Evaluate a build against challenges that require different responses."],"examples":[{"title":"Last Epoch","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/899770/"}]}},"endsAt":null,"provenance":"Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on 2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests. Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not every proposed variant.","license":"CC-BY-4.0","codeLicense":"MIT","attribution":"gamemechanics.pro contributors","catalogKey":"catalog/role-playing-systems"}}