Hi,

I have been playing for a few days now, and I don't see any big differences in the proficiency specializations. Beyond the fact that three of them are magical based powers and the other three are physical based powers, they all seem to deal about the same amount of damage and all have the same amount of defensive capabilities. So then, besides the boost to stats, what's the point of specializing? Is this an aspect that will be revamped when Sylestia comes out of beta?

Increases stats, and you can earn more attacks. When you are doing proficiency points, you should put them in one category. If you have enough points, you unlock a new attack or power. These are very useful for building a team. Later when the game is completely revamped, you can go more in depth with these because of the raised cap level on the creatures.

Currently you can use up to 12 proficiency points (1 for each 5 levels you go up, capping out at 60).

The second level of proficiencies also do different things.

I don't know all of them but, if I recall correctly:
Slash (Air) as its upgraded does damage across more than 1 round
Fireball (Fire) as its upgraded does damage to more than 1 opponent
Force (Shadow) as its upgraded can actual drain the life of an opponent and give it to you

Proficiencies determine what kind of attack type a pet will have.
At this point in the game, with the current level cap, most people use their proficiency points solely distributed in the Increased Health/Strength/Intelligence/Agility/Dexterity, with the stat increase generally outweighing the ability increase for usefulness.

The difference made using these is notable:
A pet at level 60, base 71 (11) Strength as example:
If you put only all your Level Up points (240):
Strength: 311 (11)
Only all your Proficiency points (12):
Strength: 436 (11)
Both all Level Up and Proficiency points:
Strength: 676 (11)

Of course, Level up points are usually more distributed across at least two stats, but usually you'll be putting at least 10 of your Prof. points into a single stat in a single tree
(5, 15, 30, 50, 75, 110, 155, 210, 275, 350 is the ten point sequence of increase for Str/Int/Dex/Agi
Thus if you raised two seperate trees by five points in 'Increased Strength', you'd end up with a 150 Str increase rather than the 350 increase gained by raising in a single tree. You'd get access to two first-tier attacks, but...)


Now, as for the actual Trees.
Physical Trees are Air, Earth and Water
Intelligence Trees are Fire, Light and Shadow

Air tree currently allows access to abilities Slash (110% Phys damage. 1/4 chance to induce Bleed, which does 40% phys damage per turn it's in place) and Frenzy (110% Phys damage, raises your crit rate by 20% while effect lasts)

Earth has Taunt and Mocking Blow (make the opponent afflicted aim at the inflictor.)

Water has Bolt (damages opponent, 25% chance to imbue user with Frost, which grants 20% Phys defence) and Permafrost (inflicts Frostbite, which is 10% Avoidance decrease and 50% quickness decrease to target)

Fire's got Fireball (which can hit two opponents at once) and Flamethrow (grants Engulfed, giving you 10% magical damage boost)

Light has Beam (chance to restore party's HP for 10% of the damage dealt to the target), Fairy Light (the same as Beam, but hits all opponents)

Shadow tree grants Force (has 25% chance to inflict Siphoned, which is 40 mag. damage per turn while it lasts, and heals the user 25% of that damage) and Vampiric Strike (restores user's HP for 15% of damage dealt)

Depending on what you're statting a pet for, you'll want them in different trees.
Tanks, for instance, are often Water (able to increase Defence with Bolt), or Light/Shadow (able to heal HP), or Earth (able to draw attacks away from teammates)

Overall, what you give your pets depends on your own preference and what you want a pet to be able to do.
(For instance, one of our favourite adventuring pets is raised to third-teir Fireball, which allows it 10% extra damage (fifth-stage second-tier Fireball) and hits all opponents. Lets us clear 3-enemy encounters faster in some ways)

Thank you all for answering. Your answers were great and its nice to see that these proficiency points mean more than just boosted stats.

Thanks again.