A simple list of what exactly the Skill Mastery book does for each skill in Wartales. Updated as I learn more.
Introduction
WARNING: Due to a bug, respecialising currently seems to take your gold TWICE. Once when you approve the use of 500g, and again when you select a character to respec, costing a total of 1000g.
Buff/Debuff Reference Sheet
[Inspiration]: Movement doubled.
[Vulnerability]: Next hit received is a guaranteed critical hit.
[Weakening]: Damage done reduced by 50%.
[Deflection]: Next hit received has damage reduced by 70%.
[Protection]: Damage received reduced by 30%.
[Brutality]: Damage dealt increased by 30%.
[Fury]: Damage dealt from the next attack this unit performs is increased by 50%.
[Fragility]: Damage received increased by 30%.
[Destabilisation]: Guard is reduced to 0.
[Riposte]: Direct hit received from engaged target triggers an attack of opportunity.
[Fever]: Damage received increased by 10%. Stackable.
[Bleeding]: Lose 20% of hp per turn.
[Burning]: Lose 20% of hp per turn and spread debuff to nearby units. Cancelled upon moving.
[Poison]: Lose 5% of hp per turn. Stackable.
Archer Skills
Hunter (Recoil Shot):
Original Skill: Targets an enemy within 8 meters. Deals medium damage, knocks them back 2 meters, and applies [Slowdown] for 1 round.
What Skill Mastery does: Skill damage boosted slightly, knockback goes from 2 meters to 3 meters, [Slowdown] now lasts 2 rounds instead of 1.
Beastmaster (ATTACK!):
Original Skill: Targets an enemy within 12 meters. All allied animals next to the target attack them with an attack of opportunity.
What Skill Mastery does: Animals affected by this skill gain [Fury] before they attack.
Infantryman (Barrage):
Original Skill: Targets a cone that extends out 8 meters from the unit. The first 3 enemies that enter this cone receive an attack of opportunity.
What Skill Mastery does: Now hits 4 targets instead of 3.
||Passives||
Reinforced Arrows:
Original Skill: Each time this unit lands a critical hit, apply [Bleeding].
What Skill Mastery does: Critical damage boosted by 25%
Precision:
Original Skill: Every 2 attacks, apply [Vulnerability].
What Skill Mastery does: When this unit applies [Vulnerability] with this skill, it also gains [Fury].
Beast Mastery:
Original Skill: Animals can be controlled in battle.
What Skill Mastery does: At the end of this unit’s turn, all allied animals are healed for 5% of their maximum health.
Brute Skills
Vanguard (Relentless Charge):
Original Skill: Disengages and charges in a straight line up to 6 meters. Deals minor damage to all units in this path and afflicts them with [Slowdown] for 1 round.
What Skill Mastery does: If at the end of the turn this unit is next to an enemy, they gain [Fury].
Smasher (Poisoned Impact):
Original Skill: Deals high damage to all units in a 2 meter area and applies 2 stacks of [Poison] to units that are currently suffering from [Bleeding].
What Skill Mastery does: If this skill kills a target, it leaves a pool of poison on the ground that applies 2 stacks of [Poison] to units moving through it.
Destroyer (Weakening Blow):
Original Skill: Deals high damage to an adjacent enemy target and applies [Weakening] to them for 3 rounds.
What Skill Mastery does: If the target is already weakened, also applies [Vulnerability].
||Passives||
Armour Breaker:
Original Skill: Damage inflicted to armor is increased by 25% for this unit.
What Skill Mastery does: If an attack from this unit destroys an enemy’s armor, this unit gains [Brutality] and [Inspiration].
Opportunism:
Original Skill: As long as there are at least 2 enemies within a 6 meter radius of this unit, this unit has [Protection].
What Skill Mastery does: If there are at least 4 enemies within the radius, this unit also gains [Brutality].
Cruelty:
Original Skill: Damage and critical chance are boosted by 20% against units that have at least one debuff.
What Skill Mastery does: Units that trigger this bonus also deal 20% less damage to this unit.
Ranger Skills
Cutthroat (Ambush):
Original Skill: Targets an adjacent enemy and deals moderate damage. Hits 3 times if attacking an enemy in the back.
What Skill Mastery does: If this ability kills its target, it may be used again this turn.
Strategist (Smoke Screen):
Original Skill: Throws a smoke screen onto a 10 meter diameter circle. Engaged enemies within the circle are forced to disengage, triggering an attack of opportunity from their engaged targets.
What Skill Mastery does: Non-engaged enemies in the radius are knocked back 2 meters.
Poisoner (Poison Vial):
Original Skill: Applies 3 stacks of [Poison] to enemies in a 9 meter area.
What Skill Mastery does: Any targets who are already poisoned have [Vulnerability] applied to them.
Assassin (Right between the Eyes):
Original Skill: Targets an enemy within 6 meters. Inflicts high damage and applies [Bleeding]. If the target is already bleeding, the damage is doubled.
What Skill Mastery does: Critical damage of this skill is boosted by 30%.
||Passives||
Poisoned Weapon:
Original Skill: Every attack this unit performs from behind applies a stack of [Poison] to its target.
What Skill Mastery does: [Poison] application from this skill spreads to enemies next to the target.
Knife Throw:
Original Skill: After using a skill, deal moderate damage to the closest enemy within 8 meters.
What Skill Mastery does: When this skill triggers, it also resets this unit’s movement.
Deadly Contract:
Original Skill: At the start of each round, applies [Fragility] to the closest enemy for 1 round.
What Skill Mastery does: [Fragility] is now applied to the two closest enemies.
Ordeal:
Original Skill: Every time this unit attacks an enemy with [Bleeding] or [Burning], the attack also applies 1 stack of [Fever].
What Skill Mastery does: Now applies two stacks of [Fever] instead of 1.
Swordsman Skills
Protector (Encouragement):
Original Skill: This unit and all allies in a 4 meter area circle gain [Protection] for 2 rounds.
What Skill Mastery does: [Protection] from this skill now lasts 3 rounds instead of 2.
Fighter (Destabilising Kick):
Original Skill: Targets an adjacent enemy target. Deals high damage and applies [Destabilisation] for 2 rounds.
What Skill Mastery does: This attack is a guaranteed critical hit on enemies with no Guard.
Swordmaster (Laceration):
Original Skill: Deals high damage to all enemies in a 2 meter cone 2 times. Usable after 2 other attacks have been performed.
What Skill Mastery does: This skill can now be used after 1 attack instead of 2.
||Passives||
Bulwark:
Original Skill: Each time this unit engages, they gain [Deflection].
What Skill Mastery does: Each time this unit disengages, they gain [Fury].
Counter-attack:
Original Skill: Each time this unit engages, they gain [Riposte].
What Skill Mastery does: Each time this unit disengages, they gain [Inspiration] for 1 round.
Daring:
Original Skill: As long as a Bonus is active on this unit, their attacks apply [Weakening] for 1 round.
What Skill Mastery does: [Weakening] applied by this passive no longer appears to have a duration.
Spearman Skills
Harpooner (Spear Throw):
Original Skill: Deals moderate damage to all units in a 10 meter line and apply [Bleeding] to the first unit hit.
What Skill Mastery does: Applies bleeding to all units hit, instead of only the first target hit.
Herald (Battle Cry):
Original Skill: Applies [Fury] to all allies in a 4 meter radius.
What Skill Mastery does: [Fury] is applied to all allies in a 6 meter radius instead of a 4 meter radius.
Pikeman (Spear Wall):
Original Skill: Targets a 3 meter cone. The first enemy who enters the area receives an attack of opportunity and has their movement immediately reduced to 0, stopping them instantly.
What Skill Mastery does: Skill now triggers on first two targets to enter area instead of only first target.
||Passives||
Team Spirit:
Original Skill: When adjacent to an ally, this unit gains [Brutality].
What Skill Mastery does: The allied unit triggering [Brutality] also gains [Brutality].
Fervent Support:
Original Skill: Each time an adjacent ally is attacked by an enemy in close combat, this unit deals moderate damage to the enemy unit.
What Skill Mastery does: Attack does 50% more damage.
Sweet Spot:
Original Skill: Attacks against ranged units apply [Destabilisation] for 1 round.
What Skill Mastery does: Attacks on ranged targets that trigger [Destabilisation] also have a 40% chance to critically hit.
Warrior Skills
Berserker (Rampage):
Original Skill: Targets an adjacent enemy and deals moderate damage to them 3 times. Critical hits from this skill apply [Fury] to this unit.
What Skill Mastery does: This ability’s damage now ignores Guard.
Executioner (Cutting Maelstrom):
Original Skill: Deals moderate damage to all enemies in a 2 meter radius of this unit. Attacks 1 time for each enemy hit.
What Skill Mastery does: If the skill kills a target, attack one more time.
Sentinel (Ovation):
Original Skill: All allies engaged in combat gain [Riposte].
What Skill Mastery does: All allies not engaged in combat gain [Inspiration].
||Passives||
Madness:
Original Skill: This unit does 50% increased damage to enemies at or below 30% health.
What Skill Mastery does: The 50% damage boost now triggers on targets at or below 50% hp.
Recklessness:
Original Skill: The first skill this unit uses each fight deals 150% extra damage.
What Skill Mastery does: 150% damage boost changes to 200% damage boost.
Fanaticism:
Original Skill: At the end of their turn, this unit loses 5% max health and gains [Fury].
What Skill Mastery does: Unit no longer loses health at the end of their turn.
Thanks to Grubfist for his great guide, all credit to his effort. you can also read the original guide from Steam Community. enjoy the game.