7. SKILL TREE SYSTEM - zwaper/terminal-clicker GitHub Wiki

7. SKILL TREE SYSTEM

7.1 Skill Tree Overview

The skill tree system is organized into four major branches that allow players to specialize their infrastructure: ┌──────────────┐ │ Root Access │ └───────┬──────┘ ┌────────────┬──────┴───────┬────────────┐ ┌───────▼───────┐┌───▼───┐┌────────▼─────┐┌──────▼──────┐ │INFRASTRUCTURE ││NETWORK││ SECURITY ││ RESEARCH │ └───────┬───────┘└───┬───┘└──────┬───────┘└──────┬──────┘ ┌──────┴──────┐ ┌───┴───┐ ┌─────┴────┐ ┌───────┴──────┐ │ Processing │ │Routing│ │Firewalls │ │Data Analysis │ └──────┬──────┘ └───┬───┘ └─────┬────┘ └───────┬──────┘ ┌─────┴─────┐ ┌───┴───┐ ┌─────┴────┐ ┌───────┴──────┐ │ Storage │ │Cloud │ │Encryption│ │Machine Learn │ └─────┬─────┘ └───┬───┘ └─────┬────┘ └───────┬──────┘ ┌────┴────┐ ┌───┴───┐ ┌─────┴────┐ ┌──────┴─────┐ │Redundancy│ │Global │ │Zero-Trust│ │Quantum Comp│ └─────────┘ └───────┘ └──────────┘ └────────────┘

7.2 Skill Node Types

1. Core Nodes - Fundamental improvements to base stats

   • Example: Parallel Processing I-V (+10% computation per level)

2. Gateway Nodes - Unlock new features or capabilities

   • Example: Distributed Computing (Unlocks cluster commands)

3. Synergy Nodes - Provide bonuses when combined with other nodes

   • Example: Network Optimization (Multiplier effect when paired with storage nodes)

4. Specialization Nodes - Provide major bonuses to specific playstyles

   • Example: Security Specialist (Security systems 50% more effective but 25% more expensive)

5. Meta Nodes - Persist through migrations

   • Example: Architectural Memory (Retain knowledge of one system through migration)

7.3 Example Skill Tree Path: Infrastructure Branch

INFRASTRUCTURE BRANCH: ┌─────────────────┬─────────────────┬────────────────────┐ │ Processing Power│ Server Clusters │ Cloud Integration │ │ (Core) │ (Gateway) │ (Gateway) │ └────────┬────────┴────────┬────────┴─────────┬─────────┘ │ │ │ ▼ ▼ ▼ ┌─────────────────┬─────────────────┬────────────────────┐ │ Overclocking │ Load Balancing │ Elastic Resources │ │ (Specialized) │ (Synergy) │ (Specialized) │ └────────┬────────┴────────┬────────┴─────────┬─────────┘ │ │ │ ▼ ▼ ▼ ┌─────────────────┬─────────────────┬────────────────────┐ │ Liquid Cooling │ Fault Tolerance │ Serverless Process │ │ (Specialized) │ (Core) │ (Meta) │ └─────────────────┴─────────────────┴────────────────────┘

7.4 Skill Points & Acquisition

• Base Skill Points: Earned through leveling up (1 per level)
• Advanced Points: Earned through completing challenges
• Specialist Points: Rare points that unlock powerful specialized nodes
• Permanent Points: Earned through migrations, persist through resets

7.5 Skill Tree Respecialization

Players can respec their skill tree through a special terminal command: respec --confirm --cost=50000 SYSTEM: Beginning skill tree reinitialization... SYSTEM: All skill points have been refunded. SYSTEM: 50,000 cycles deducted from your account. SYSTEM: Please reallocate your 37 skill points.

7.6 Example Specialized Builds

1. Security Specialist

   • Focus: Firewall, Encryption, Intrusion Detection
   • Migration Benefit: +5% migration rewards per security challenge completed
   • Special Node: "Zero Day Defense" - Auto-resolves 80% of security threats

2. Network Architect

   • Focus: Global Networks, High-Bandwidth, Distributed Systems
   • Migration Benefit: Start with basic network infrastructure after reset
   • Special Node: "Mesh Network" - Resources transfer between systems automatically

3. Data Scientist

   • Focus: Storage, Analysis, Machine Learning
   • Migration Benefit: Preserve 10% of data through migrations
   • Special Node: "Predictive Algorithms" - See exact results of potential upgrades

4. Quantum Engineer (Late Game)

   • Focus: Quantum Computing, Entanglement Networks
   • Migration Benefit: Chance to duplicate migration rewards
   • Special Node: "Quantum Tunneling" - Bypass certain progression requirements

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