Perks

Perks are special bonuses that Characters gain only once every three levels. Each Perk offers unique benefits, many of which cannot be gained any other way. Unlike Skill unlocks which occur every Character Level, Perks can only be upgraded by selecting the same Perk multiple times at three-level intervals. This makes Perks the single most restricted type of bonus in Horizon: out of the ashes; so make them count!

Perks are categorized by which Skill Tree they fall under. In order to select a given Perk, the Skill Tree it belongs to must first be unlocked. This requires the Root Skill from that Skill Tree to be acquired, either by selecting it as one of the two Root Skills granted at Character creation or by spending a Perk. To see a list of Skills themselves, see the Skill List page.

• Understanding
  • Permanently unlock any new Root Skill. Refunds may be achieved only by the mercy and benevolence of the Director.

• Expertise
  • Reduce requirements for one specific piece of Equipment, such as a specific Weapon, specific Armor suit or specific Aug. All of its requirments are reduced by 2 ranks. This Perk can be reallocated to a different piece of equipment any time another Expertise Perk is assigned to the new item.
    • For example, the Character may reduce Heavy Pistol requirements by 2 ranks through spending an Expertise Perk on Heavy Pistols. If the Character then assigns another Expertise Perk to Intelli-Gel armor, the old Expertise Perk may also be reassigned from Heavy Pistols to Intelli-Gel armor at that time. At no other time may Expertise Perks be reassigned.

• Grapevine Specialist
  • The Grapevine Specialist Perk offers +5AP when making any test on Common Lore or any General Test (a test made without any particular Skill). Suffer -5AP on any other Lore which lacks the Specialist Perk.

Communication - Skill Tree

• Presence
  • The Presence Perk imbues a Character with a distictly biased aura, enhancing one Social Skill at the cost of others. Options are:
    • Ominous Presence - Gain +5AP to Coerce, suffer -5AP to all Social Skills without the Presence Perk.
    • Charming Presence - Gain +5AP to Convince, suffer -5AP to all Social Skills without the Presence Perk.
    • Rational Presence - Gain +5AP to Reason, suffer -5AP to all Social Skills without the Presence Perk.
    • Deceptive presence - Gain +5AP to Disguise, suffer -5AP to all Social Skills without the Presence Perk.
    • Calulating Presence - Gain +5AP to Scrutinize, suffer -5AP to all Social Skills without the Presence Perk.

Bio Lore - Skill Tree

• Body Language
  • Gain +5AP to Social Skills when discussing Biology.
• Bio Specialist
  • Gain +5AP when using any Bio Lore Skill, suffer -5AP when using any Lore Skill which lacks the Specialist Perk. This includes Common Lore.

Chem Lore - Skill Tree

• Bonding
  • Gain +5AP to Social Skills when discussing Chemistry.
• Chem Specialist
  • Gain +5AP when using any Chem Lore Skill, suffer -5AP when using any Lore Skill which lacks the Specialist Perk. This includes Common Lore.

Mech Lore - Skill Tree

• Forging Relations
  • Gain +5AP to Social Skills when discussing Mechanics.
• Chem Specialist
  • Gain +5AP when using any Mech Lore Skill, suffer -5AP when using any Lore Skill which lacks the Specialist Perk. This includes Common Lore.

Tech Lore - Skill Tree

• Proper Syntax
  • Gain +5AP to Social Skills when discussing Technology.
• Chem Specialist
  • Gain +5AP when using any Tech Lore Skill, suffer -5AP when using any Lore Skill which lacks the Specialist Perk. This includes Common Lore.

Stealth - Skill Tree

• Sixth Sense
  • Gain the ability to test one additional time each scene. Each test after the first suffers a cumulative -10AP penalty. Cannot be combined with Sustained Action tests.

• Sensitivity