The Formless Vessel
Formless Vessel – Custom Race (Slime-like)
A system-driven character built entirely from what it consumes.
(See changelog below for detailed updates)
Disclaimer
The start of a new journey may seam difficult at first, but it does get easier and starts to escalate. Try to persist before giving up.
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Overview
The Formless Vessel starts as the weakest entity in the game, by design. It has no natural growth, no instincts, and no biological function. Everything it becomes must be taken from something else.
This is not a challenge modifier—it’s a different progression system.
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Starting State
– 20 Speed (extremely slow; most races are ~100)
– 5 HP / 5 MP / 1 SP
– 1 in all attributes
– 0 in all skills
– No weapon or armor equipment slots
Innate Features
– Predatory Evolution (DNA sampling via Devour)
– 10,000 Gene Capacity (one per unique gene name)
– Does not eat food
– Does not sleep
– protected from self inflicted death
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Core Mechanics
Gene Absorption (Devour)
Devouring is not feeding—it is sampling.
– Does not deal damage, but is treated as hostile
– Slow and interruptible; most targets will resist
– Produces a gene based on the target
Gene Rules
– Deterministic (no RNG as of 0.1.4)
– Pulls from the target and previous duplicates
– Preserves old attributes and merges new ones
– Adds the strongest attribute from the new target
– Up to 3 skills inherited (only if not already known)
– 1 feat or ability per gene
Genes with the same name overwrite previous versions.
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Growth Model
The Vessel does not grow naturally:
– No attribute XP gain
– No character levels
– No passive stat scaling
Instead, progression comes from:
– Genes (external stat sources)
– Skills (learned knowledge)
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Skill Potential System
Attribute growth is converted instead of gained:
– Attribute potential → Skill potential (x10)
– Original attribute gain is discarded
– Represents learning how to use strength, not gaining it
You still need normal methods (training, use, etc.) to raise skill levels.
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Equipment System
– Slots scale with max stamina (Max Stamina / 25)
– Slots dynamically change shape to fit equipped items
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Party Limitation
The Vessel cannot function normally in groups:
– Applies Fear status while in a party
– Stamina drains slowly to -5
– Passive stamina regen does not apply with Fear
This represents cognitive overload, not physical weakness.
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Feat System
No leveling means no feat points. Instead:
– Compress 4 genes via Self Harm → +1 feat point
– Reabsorbing genes can remove those points
– Spent feats may be revoked if requirements aren’t met
– Each compressed gene adds +1 to max stamina
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Survival Rules
– Cannot die from stamina, burden, or starvation
– At 0 HP: becomes unconscious and moved to world map
– Loses most recently acquired gene on defeat
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End State
The Vessel never stabilizes.
It remains a partial construct made of borrowed systems.
Progress is reversible, and optimization is temporary.
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Theme
– Does not grow—only assembles
– Does not understand—only copies
– Has no “final form”
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Add Money Troubles for an even greater challenge, similar to how i originally designed.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3721798562
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See collection for all related mods.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3721806765
