Skills and Knowledge

Overview

Skills are a core gameplay mechanic in Paralives' Live Mode that determine how proficient a Parafolk is at performing various activities. A Para builds skills by doing: practicing guitar improves the Guitar Skill, jogging develops the Exercising Skill, and writing code advances the Programming Skill. Skills factor into job applications, career performance, creative output quality, and everyday interactions. The maximum level for each skill is 20, and there is no limit to how many skills a single Parafolk can learn.

Underpinning the individual skills is a broader Knowledge system. Knowledge categories represent general domains of understanding, and every skill belongs to one of these categories. As a Para levels up a specific skill, they also accumulate Knowledge in the parent category. This accumulated Knowledge then makes it easier to pick up related skills in the same domain. The interplay between Skills and Knowledge creates a natural learning curve where expertise in one area helps with adjacent ones.

Knowledge Categories

Knowledge categories are broad domains that group related skills together. Based on development previews and gameplay demonstrations, the following Knowledge categories have been identified. The developers have shown between 7 and 8 Knowledge categories in previews, with the full final list to be confirmed at the Early Access launch.

How Knowledge Accelerates Learning

The relationship between Skills and Knowledge is one of the most distinctive aspects of Paralives' progression system. When a Parafolk practices a specific skill, they simultaneously build Knowledge in the parent category. For example, playing the guitar develops both the Guitar Skill and Music Knowledge. Once a Para has accumulated Music Knowledge, picking up the Piano becomes easier because the foundational understanding of music is already there.

This design rewards players who let their Paras explore multiple skills within a domain. A Parafolk who has deep Music Knowledge will find that every new musical instrument they try feels less daunting, with faster initial progress and smoother leveling. Conversely, jumping into a completely unfamiliar Knowledge category always starts from zero regardless of how skilled the Para is in other areas.

Cross-Training Examples

The Knowledge system creates natural cross-training opportunities. Playing the guitar develops the Guitar Skill while simultaneously building Music Knowledge. Once enough Music Knowledge has accumulated, picking up the Piano becomes noticeably easier because the foundational understanding of music carries over. Similarly, a Para who jogs regularly builds the Exercising Skill and gains Fitness Knowledge, which would then help when learning other physical activities within the Fitness category.

This design means that players who focus their Parafolk on a single Knowledge domain will see compounding returns. A Para dedicated to Technology, for example, would find that progress in Programming makes subsequent tech-related skills faster to level. Conversely, switching to an entirely unrelated domain like Music starts from zero Knowledge, making the initial learning curve steeper.

Individual Skills

The developers have indicated that between 8 and 13 individual skills will be available at the Early Access launch, with more expected to be added during the Early Access period and through community mods. The following skills have been confirmed or demonstrated in development previews:

Additional skills have been hinted at but not yet fully demonstrated. The developers have confirmed the skill list will expand over time, both through official updates and through community modding.

Skill Progression

Leveling Mechanics

Skills advance through practice. Each time a Parafolk performs an action related to a skill, a progress bar fills. When the bar is full, the Para levels up in that skill. The maximum level for any skill is 20. Not every level unlocks new content or abilities; some levels simply represent increased proficiency that makes the Para faster, more efficient, or more likely to succeed at tasks in that domain.

Factors That Affect Progression Speed

Several factors influence how quickly a Para builds skill experience:

• Knowledge: Higher Knowledge in the parent category speeds up skill leveling for all related skills.

• Talents: Talents are attributes selected during character creation in the Paramaker that modify skill progression rates. For example, a Para with an Art Talent will paint faster and gain painting experience more efficiently. The "Good at Nothing" talent has complex interactions with the skill system.

• Emotions: Emotions directly affect learning speed. Being in an Inspired state may accelerate skill gains, while being Stressed, Sad, or experiencing other negative emotions can slow progress.

• Needs: Unfulfilled needs (Hunger, Energy, Bathroom, Hygiene) slow down skill advancement. Making sure a Para is well-rested and fed before a practice session is advisable for optimal progress.

Lifestage Restrictions

Skills are not uniform across all lifestages. The ability to start learning a new skill and the maximum achievable level evolve as a Parafolk ages. Toddlers have different capabilities than Adults, particularly where physical abilities are involved (such as the Exercising Skill). Underage Parafolk can only practice certain dangerous activities, like cooking with stoves, under adult supervision or in a group setting. This lifestage system ensures that character development feels natural and age-appropriate.

Skills and Careers

Skills play a central role in the career system. When a Parafolk applies for a job, their relevant skill levels contribute to their Application Points total. Higher skill levels make it easier to qualify for advanced positions. During the workday, skill proficiency affects job performance, which in turn determines whether the Para earns upgrade points at the end of their shift. Some career upgrade paths involve further skill development, creating a positive feedback loop between working and learning.

Application Points

The career system uses Application Points to determine job qualifications. When a Parafolk applies for a position, their relevant Skill levels, Stats, and domain experience each contribute points toward a total score. Each job posting has a minimum Application Points threshold that candidates must meet or exceed. Some positions require a minimum number of points in a specific Skill that is fundamental to the role.

Prior work experience in the same career domain can partially compensate for skill gaps, and relevant personality Stats can provide additional points. This flexible system means that Parafolk with different strengths can qualify for the same job through different combinations of Skills, experience, and personality. For example, an Office Administrator position requiring 28 Application Points could be approached through a mix of Charisma, relationship levels, and personality traits like being an effective communicator.

Modding Support

Skills are moddable via the Steam Workshop. Community creators can design new skills and share them with other players. However, modded skills must fall within an existing Knowledge category; the modding system does not currently allow creation of entirely new Knowledge categories. This constraint ensures that custom skills integrate smoothly into the existing progression framework while still giving modders creative freedom.