Difference between revisions of "Aptitude"

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[[Aptitude]] is a measure of how fast you can advance in a skill. You have a separate aptitude rating for each skill, and the higher your aptitude, the less [[experience]] you will need to advance the skill in question. Aptitudes are rated from -5 to 5, with 0 being average; the higher over that you are for your main skills, the better.  
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'''Aptitudes''' are a measure of how fast you can advance in a [[skill]] - the higher the aptitude, the faster you'll learn the skill. Aptitudes are determined by your [[species]], where each species has a separate aptitude rating for each skill. Therefore, some species will prefer certain skills over others. For example, [[Deep Elves]] have an easier time learning magic, and [[Hill Orc]]s have an easier time learning melee combat. Taking advantage of your species' aptitudes is key to winning the game.
  
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Your aptitudes are determined solely by your [[species]].  
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You can view your species' aptitudes at any time by opening the skill menu ('''m'''). You can also press '''? %''' in-game to see the big table of races and aptitudes, or you can check each each [[species]]' individual pages on the wiki.
  
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As a result, certain species are biased or specialized towards certain [[background]]s. For example, [[Deep Elf|Deep Elves]] perform much better at magical backgrounds than purely melee-oriented ones, while the reverse is true for [[Minotaur]]s. One of the keys to winning the game is paying attention to your species' aptitudes, and choosing a playstyle that takes the most advantage of them. Luckily, the character select screen helps you with that, as backgrounds that your species has good aptitudes for are highlighted as "recommended".
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==Useful Info==
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Aptitudes are rated from -5 to +11, with 0 being the baseline.
  
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Press <font size="3"><code>?%</code></font> in-game to see the big table of races and aptitudes.  
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Aptitudes are determined almost entirely by your [[species]]; there are very few ways to modify them during a game. A [[manual]] will increase your aptitudes by +4 until it runs out. Also, you can willingly lower your aptitudes as part of a [[Ru]] sacrifice.
  
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Some skills are naturally harder or easier to level for all species. Spellcasting takes 130% the normal amount of exp needed to level up, while invocations, evocations and stealth require only 80% of the normal amount of exp to level up.
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Higher aptitudes are faster because they require less XP. The relative amount of XP required for a given aptitude is tabulated below:
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See the [[Talk:Aptitude]] page for some detailed numbers.
 
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== Aptitude / XP formula ==
 
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If you're interested in the actual math, an aptitude of <font size="4"><code>n</code></font> means that you need <font size="4"><code>2^(-n/4)</code></font> times as much exp to advance as a human.
 
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''Example'': A [[Spriggan]] has a +4 aptitude in [[Stabbing]]. If it would take a [[Human]] 100 experience points to advance a level in Stabbing, it will take the Spriggan <font size="4"><code>2^(-4/4) -> 2^(-1) -> 0.5</code></font> times as much experience, or 50 experience points to advance a level.
 
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== Comparison Table ==
 
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The table below shows the ''relative'' experience needed to go up a skill level, assuming that with the aptitude of 0, 100 experience is needed. For example an aptitude of -4 means 200 experience is required to go up a skill level, or twice as much as aptitude 0.
 
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Note that for versions of Crawl older than version [[0.7.0]], aptitudes were expressed in numbers smaller or larger than 100 (average), as in the ''Skill Points'' table below.
 
  
 
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
 
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
 
!Aptitude
 
!Aptitude
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!Skill Points
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!Skill Cost
 
!Description
 
!Description
 
|-
 
|-
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| -4
 
| -4
 
|(200)
 
|(200)
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|very poor aptitude (learning half as fast as Humans)
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|very poor aptitude
 
|-
 
|-
 
| -3
 
| -3
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| 0
 
| 0
 
|(100)
 
|(100)
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|standard aptitude (Humans)
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|standard aptitude
 
|-
 
|-
 
| +1
 
| +1
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| +4
 
| +4
 
|(50)
 
|(50)
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|outstanding aptitude (learning twice as fast as Humans)
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|outstanding aptitude
 
|-
 
|-
 
| +5
 
| +5
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|}
 
|}
  
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E.g. a species with -5 aptitude would require <code>238/100</code> = 2.38x as much XP as a species with 0 aptitude.
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If an aptitude is listed as "NA", it means the species is completely unable to learn that skill. For example, [[Felid]]s can't wear [[armour]], so they can't gain any levels of the [[Armour skill]].
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===Formula===
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If you have an aptitude of <font size="3"><code>n</code></font>, you'll need <font size="3"><code>2^(-n/4)</code></font> as much XP to gain a level of that skill, compared to a species with aptitude 0. Example: a [[Vampire]] has a +4 aptitude in [[Hexes]], while a [[Human]] has an aptitude of 0. If a Human would require 100 XP to advance a level, it would take the Vampire <code>100 * 2^(-4/4)</code>, or 50 XP, to advance that same level.
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This means that, for every interval of +4 aptitude, you'll require twice/half as much XP per level. So a +8 aptitude requires half as much XP as a +4 aptitude, a +1 aptitude requires half as much XP as a -3 aptitude, and so on.
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Note that half the XP cost ≠ twice the amount of levels, since XP cost rises for each level you have of a skill. So if a Human had 10 levels of Hexes, a Vampire wouldn't have 20 levels of Hexes (in practice, the Vampire would have ~14 Hexes).
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==Strategy==
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Aptitudes are important - you should take advantage of your species' good aptitudes when it is reasonable.
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That being said, you shouldn't dismiss a skill just because you have a poor aptitude. When deciding to train a skill, you should also consider your [[stat]]s and available gear/spells as well. For example, if you find an amazing [[randart]] [[demon blade]] early on, you should probably use it, even if you have a -2 aptitude for [[Long Blades]].
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Also, note that a difference of ±1 aptitude isn't a big deal. Training a skill at -1 aptitude is not much slower than training at 0 aptitude, and +1 aptitude isn't that much faster than 0 aptitude either. See the below table for how aptitude affects skill levels:
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{| class="wikitable"
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!0 Aptitude
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!-1 Aptitude
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!-2 Aptitude
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|-
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|Level 5
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|Level 4.5
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|Level 4.12
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|-
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|Level 10
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|Level 9.16
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|Level 8.36
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|-
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|Level 15
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|Level 13.8
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|Level 12.75
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|-
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|Level 20
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|Level 18.49
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|Level 17.08
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|-
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|Level 27
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|Level 25.04
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|Level 23.23
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|}
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For most types of skills, the difference between, say, level 15 and level 13.8 is small. Going from 13.8 to 15 levels of [[Dodging]] only results in a gain of 1-2 EV (for regular [[size]] species); going from 13.8 to 15 levels of a weapon skill is rarely relevant.
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==Trivia==
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The table below shows the average aptitudes of all currently playable species. Due to their skill training restrictions, [[Gnoll]]s' aptitudes and [[Djinni|Djinn]]'s magic aptitudes are not included. Of the [[Draconian]] variants, only base Draconian is included.
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{{species aptitudes|Average|noheading=true}}
  
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==History==
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*Prior to [[0.7.0]], aptitudes were expressed in numbers smaller or larger than 100 (average), as in the ''Skill Cost'' table above.
  
 
[[Category:Skills]] [[Category:Characters]]
 
[[Category:Skills]] [[Category:Characters]]

Latest revision as of 16:47, 11 March 2024

Version 0.31: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

Aptitudes are a measure of how fast you can advance in a skill - the higher the aptitude, the faster you'll learn the skill. Aptitudes are determined by your species, where each species has a separate aptitude rating for each skill. Therefore, some species will prefer certain skills over others. For example, Deep Elves have an easier time learning magic, and Hill Orcs have an easier time learning melee combat. Taking advantage of your species' aptitudes is key to winning the game.

You can view your species' aptitudes at any time by opening the skill menu (m). You can also press ? % in-game to see the big table of races and aptitudes, or you can check each each species' individual pages on the wiki.

Useful Info

Aptitudes are rated from -5 to +11, with 0 being the baseline.

Aptitudes are determined almost entirely by your species; there are very few ways to modify them during a game. A manual will increase your aptitudes by +4 until it runs out. Also, you can willingly lower your aptitudes as part of a Ru sacrifice.

Higher aptitudes are faster because they require less XP. The relative amount of XP required for a given aptitude is tabulated below:

Aptitude Skill Cost Description
-5 (238) abysmal aptitude
-4 (200) very poor aptitude
-3 (168) poor aptitude
-2 (141) bad aptitude
-1 (119) slightly disfavoured aptitude
0 (100) standard aptitude
+1 (84) slightly favoured aptitude
+2 (71) strong aptitude
+3 (59) very strong aptitude
+4 (50) outstanding aptitude
+5 (42) exceptional aptitude

E.g. a species with -5 aptitude would require 238/100 = 2.38x as much XP as a species with 0 aptitude.

If an aptitude is listed as "NA", it means the species is completely unable to learn that skill. For example, Felids can't wear armour, so they can't gain any levels of the Armour skill.

Formula

If you have an aptitude of n, you'll need 2^(-n/4) as much XP to gain a level of that skill, compared to a species with aptitude 0. Example: a Vampire has a +4 aptitude in Hexes, while a Human has an aptitude of 0. If a Human would require 100 XP to advance a level, it would take the Vampire 100 * 2^(-4/4), or 50 XP, to advance that same level.

This means that, for every interval of +4 aptitude, you'll require twice/half as much XP per level. So a +8 aptitude requires half as much XP as a +4 aptitude, a +1 aptitude requires half as much XP as a -3 aptitude, and so on.

Note that half the XP cost ≠ twice the amount of levels, since XP cost rises for each level you have of a skill. So if a Human had 10 levels of Hexes, a Vampire wouldn't have 20 levels of Hexes (in practice, the Vampire would have ~14 Hexes).

Strategy

Aptitudes are important - you should take advantage of your species' good aptitudes when it is reasonable.

That being said, you shouldn't dismiss a skill just because you have a poor aptitude. When deciding to train a skill, you should also consider your stats and available gear/spells as well. For example, if you find an amazing randart demon blade early on, you should probably use it, even if you have a -2 aptitude for Long Blades.

Also, note that a difference of ±1 aptitude isn't a big deal. Training a skill at -1 aptitude is not much slower than training at 0 aptitude, and +1 aptitude isn't that much faster than 0 aptitude either. See the below table for how aptitude affects skill levels:

0 Aptitude -1 Aptitude -2 Aptitude
Level 5 Level 4.5 Level 4.12
Level 10 Level 9.16 Level 8.36
Level 15 Level 13.8 Level 12.75
Level 20 Level 18.49 Level 17.08
Level 27 Level 25.04 Level 23.23

For most types of skills, the difference between, say, level 15 and level 13.8 is small. Going from 13.8 to 15 levels of Dodging only results in a gain of 1-2 EV (for regular size species); going from 13.8 to 15 levels of a weapon skill is rarely relevant.

Trivia

The table below shows the average aptitudes of all currently playable species. Due to their skill training restrictions, Gnolls' aptitudes and Djinn's magic aptitudes are not included. Of the Draconian variants, only base Draconian is included.

Skill Aptitude Skill Aptitude Skill Aptitude
Attack Miscellaneous Magic
Fighting 0.154 Armour -0.652 Spellcasting -0.840
Dodging -0.192
Maces & Flails -0.640 Shields -0.440 Conjurations -0.760
Axes -0.640 Stealth 1.269 Hexes -0.160
Polearms -0.680 Summonings -0.440
Staves -0.560 Invocations 0.480 Necromancy -0.360
Unarmed Combat -0.192 Evocations 0.038 Translocations -0.360
Throwing -0.680 Shapeshifting -1.083 Alchemy -0.160
Fire Magic -0.720
Short Blades -0.200 Ice Magic -0.520
Long Blades -0.440 Air Magic -0.880
Ranged Weapons -0.760 Experience -0.385 Earth Magic -0.400

History

  • Prior to 0.7.0, aptitudes were expressed in numbers smaller or larger than 100 (average), as in the Skill Cost table above.
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