OK, there is just too much confusion over what skill colors mean. I just cannot stand to hear another Agent/NT/MP whine about how Dark Blue their Body Development is and cannot have enough health to do whatever. The truth is, the colors are almost MEANINGLESS!!!
Yes, the darker the shade of blue was meant to broadly convey increasing IP cost and dictate how much you could raise per level, i.e. 5, 4 or 3 per level. However, what the colors may not tell you is the maximum you can raise per Title Level cap and this is very important.
First off, IP cost per point determines those maximums. Press U and bring up your skills. For a level 1 character with no IP spent, all skills besides your base abilities begin at 5. So Assault Rifle to First Aid all defaults to 5. Shift left click on any skill to bring up an information window. A soldier’s Assault Rifle will show 5.0, a NT’s Assault Rifle will show 22.5, etc. Take that number and divide by 5 and you get your IP cost per point which is 1.0 and 4.5 for the Soldier and NT, respectively, for Assault Rifle skill.
That IP cost tells you how much you will need to spend to raise your skill 1 pt by taking IP cost times current base skill. So to raise it 1 pt for each of the above examples will cost 5.0 and 22.5 respectively, another pt will cost 6.0 and 27.0, another 7.0 and 31.5, etc. Abilities such as Strength, Agility, Stamina, etc. will increase your skills in these areas but will not affect your IP cost or the maximum skill you can raise through IP alone.
Now why is IP cost per point important? The cost dictates the maximum skill you get per Title Level cap, see the following schedule:
IP Cost Raise TL1 TL2 TL3 TL4 TL5 TL6
1.0-1.4 5----- 60 200 360 490 550 600
1.5-2.4 4----- 50 180 330 450 500 540
2.5-3.2 4----- 40 160 300 410 450 480
3.3-4.0 3----- 30 140 270 370 400 420
4.1-5.0 3----- 20 120 240 330 350 360
These caps are very important to know. Even if an NT decides to spend all his IP on Assault Rifle he will never ever catch the Soldier in base IP skill thanks to the above caps. The pt per level raise is also deceiving. Take the NT again deciding on using Assault Rifle (4.5 IP) vs. Rifle (4.0), both can be initially raised 3 pts per level. But because of the Title Level caps, the Rifle skill will always be higher than Assault Rifle and adds up to 60 pts by TL6.
Now is the whining about Body Development justified? Absolutely not! Every class except Adventurer, Enforcer and Soldier is in the 1.5-2.4 range. Yes, IP costs will vary but if you spend your IP wisely and always maximize Body Development every profession (besides the aforementioned 3) will have the EXACT same health, breed differences aside. Thus, an Agent/NT/MP can have as much health as a MA, Fixer, or Trader. And the difference between those with 1.0-1.4 skills is minor, a Solitus Soldier has 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 extra health per Title Level vs. any profession with 1.5-2.4 skills. How about evades, another key skill in PvP? Yep, almost the exact same story with a few exceptions (i.e. the poor Engineer.)
So please, think and use this information to your advantage and don’t be deceived by unjustified whines about this or that. The caps become especially relevant at high levels when the differences are greater and you might need a very high attack rating to even hit a boss or unique mob or deciding on equipping weapons with high skill reqs like Full Auto.
Attached below is a table with all the IP cost, good and enjoy the game.
Skill ------ Adv - Age - Bur - Doc - Enf - Eng - Fix - MA - MP - NT - Sol - Tra
Body Dev - 1.2 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 2.0 - 1.0 - 2.4 - 1.8 - 1.5 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 1.1 - 2.0
Nano Pool - 1.6 - 1.2 - 1.4 - 1.0 - 2.0 - 1.8 - 1.6 - 1.6 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 2.0 - 1.2
MA - 2.8 - 1.6 - 2.8 - 2.0 - 1.6 - 2.8 - 2.8 - 1.0 - 2.8 - 2.8 - 2.0 - 2.0
Brawl - 2.4 - 2.8 - 3.2 - 2.8 - 1.0 - 2.4 - 1.8 - 1.2 - 2.8 - 2.8 - 2.0 - 2.0
Dimach - 4.0 - 1.6 - 3.0 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 1.2 - 2.5 - 2.5 - 4.0 - 4.0
Riposte - 3.2 - 3.0 - 3.2 - 3.2 - 1.2 - 3.2 - 2.4 - 1.0 - 3.2 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 3.2
Advent - 1.6 - 3.0 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 1.5 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 1.6 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 1.5 - 1.4
Swim - 1.0 - 1.6 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 1.4 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 1.5 - 1.5
1HB - 1.5 - 1.6 - 3.2 - 2.4 - 1.0 - 2.4 - 2.5 - 2.5 - 2.6 - 4.0 - 2.5 - 1.8
1HE - 1.0 - 2.0 - 4.0 - 2.4 - 1.0 - 3.2 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 2.0 - 3.2
Piercing - 1.5 - 2.5 - 4.0 - 2.4 - 1.0 - 3.2 - 2.5 - 2.0 - 3.2 - 4.0 - 2.5 - 2.5
2HB - 1.5 - 2.5 - 4.0 - 3.2 - 1.4 - 3.2 - 3.2 - 2.0 - 4.0 - 3.2 - 2.5 - 2.5
2HE - 1.5 - 2.5 - 4.0 - 3.2 - 1.0 - 3.2 - 2.5 - 2.0 - 2.5 - 2.5 - 2.5 - 2.5
Melee E - 1.5 - 3.2 - 4.0 - 3.2 - 1.8 - 4.0 - 3.2 - 3.0 - 4.0 - 3.2 - 2.2 - 2.5
Parry - 1.5 - 1.6 - 3.2 - 2.4 - 1.4 - 4.0 - 2.4 - 1.5 - 4.0 - 3.2 - 2.5 - 2.5
Sneak - 1.5 - 1.0 - 2.4 - 3.2 - 2.0 - 4.0 - 3.9 - 3.0 - 4.0 - 3.2 - 3.0 - 4.0
Multi M - 1.4 - 2.5 - 4.0 - 3.2 - 1.0 - 4.0 - 2.5 - 2.5 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 2.0 - 3.2
Fast Att - 2.0 - 2.5 - 4.0 - 2.4 - 1.5 - 4.0 - 2.5 - 2.0 - 4.0 - 3.2 - 2.4 - 3.0
Sharp Ob - 1.6 - 1.2 - 3.2 - 3.2 - 1.6 - 3.2 - 2.5 - 1.0 - 3.2 - 2.4 - 1.6 - 2.4
Grenade - 1.6 - 1.6 - 4.0 - 3.2 - 2.5 - 2.0 - 2.2 - 2.4 - 4.0 - 2.4 - 1.6 - 2.4
Hvy Wep - 3.0 - 3.0 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 2.5 - 2.0 - 2.5 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 1.0 - 4.0
Bow - 1.8 - 2.0 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 2.4 - 1.0 - 2.5 - 4.0 - 2.4 - 4.0
Pistol - 1.0 - 1.8 - 1.6 - 1.6 - 3.0 - 1.5 - 1.6 - 3.5 - 2.4 - 1.6 - 1.0 - 2.0
AR - 1.6 - 3.0 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 3.5 - 3.0 - 2.8 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 4.5 - 1.0 - 4.0
SMG - 2.5 - 2.5 - 3.2 - 3.2 - 2.5 - 3.2 - 1.0 - 3.0 - 3.2 - 3.2 - 1.5 - 2.4
Shotgun - 2.4 - 3.2 - 3.2 - 2.4 - 2.5 - 3.2 - 1.8 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 3.0 - 1.5 - 1.5
Rifle - 1.7 - 1.3 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 2.0 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 2.0 - 2.8
RE - 2.4 - 2.5 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 3.0 - 2.5 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 1.0 - 3.0
Fling - 1.0 - 3.2 - 4.0 - 2.4 - 3.5 - 3.2 - 1.6 - 3.2 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 1.0 - 2.5
Aimed - 2.2 - 1.1 - 4.0 - 3.2 - 3.5 - 4.0 - 2.5 - 3.0 - 4.0 - 3.2 - 1.8 - 2.5
Burst - 1.8 - 3.2 - 4.0 - 3.0 - 3.0 - 3.0 - 1.5 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 1.5 - 3.5
Full Auto - 2.4 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 3.0 - 3.0 - 2.2 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 5.0 - 1.5 - 3.5
Bow Spec - 1.6 - 2.0 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 2.0 - 3.5 - 2.0 - 1.0 - 2.5 - 4.0 - 2.0 - 4.0
Multi R - 2.4 - 1.8 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 2.0 - 4.0 - 2.5 - 4.0 - 2.0 - 2.5
Mele Init - 1.8 - 1.6 - 4.0 - 3.2 - 1.0 - 3.2 - 2.5 - 2.0 - 3.0 - 3.5 - 2.4 - 3.2
Rang Init - 2.0 - 1.6 - 3.2 - 3.2 - 3.0 - 3.2 - 1.6 - 2.4 - 4.0 - 3.0 - 1.0 - 2.5
Phys Init - 1.6 - 1.6 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 1.6 - 3.0 - 2.4 - 1.0 - 3.2 - 3.2 - 2.4 - 3.2
Nano Init - 2.0 - 1.6 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 2.4 - 1.6 - 2.4 - 2.5 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 4.0 - 1.5
Dodge - 1.6 - 2.1 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 2.0 - 2.5 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 1.6 - 2.4 - 1.5 - 1.9
Evade - 1.8 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 3.2 - 1.5 - 4.0 - 1.6 - 1.0 - 1.6 - 3.2 - 2.0 - 1.9
Duck - 1.6 - 1.6 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 2.0 - 2.2 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 1.8 - 1.9
NR - 2.4 - 1.6 - 1.6 - 1.2 - 2.2 - 1.5 - 1.6 - 1.6 - 1.6 - 1.0 - 2.2 - 1.6
Run - 1.0 - 1.6 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 2.0 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 2.0 - 1.9
ME - 1.2 - 1.5 - 1.8 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 1.0 - 1.5 - 2.4 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 1.2
EE - 1.6 - 2.0 - 2.4 - 1.6 - 1.8 - 1.0 - 1.5 - 3.2 - 2.0 - 1.6 - 2.4 - 1.0
QFT - 1.6 - 2.0 - 2.4 - 1.6 - 3.2 - 1.0 - 1.5 - 3.2 - 2.4 - 1.6 - 2.4 - 1.2
WS - 1.6 - 4.0 - 2.5 - 1.5 - 1.5 - 1.0 - 1.3 - 2.4 - 2.5 - 3.2 - 1.5 - 1.0
PT - 2.4 - 1.6 - 2.4 - 1.0 - 1.6 - 1.5 - 1.5 - 2.4 - 2.0 - 2.4 - 2.0 - 1.0
NP - 4.0 - 2.4 - 1.6 - 1.6 - 2.4 - 1.2 - 2.0 - 2.4 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 2.0 - 1.3
CL - 1.6 - 1.6 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 1.6 - 1.3 - 1.0 - 2.0 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 2.0 - 1.5
Psy - 1.6 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 2.3 - 1.0 - 2.4 - 1.5 - 1.6 - 1.6 - 2.4 - 1.5 - 1.0
Chem - 1.6 - 1.5 - 2.4 - 2.0 - 1.0 - 1.2 - 2.0 - 2.4 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 2.4 - 1.3
Tutor - 1.0 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 1.0
MM - 1.8 - 1.2 - 1.6 - 1.0 - 2.5 - 1.0 - 2.4 - 2.0 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 2.0 - 1.6
BM - 1.5 - 1.6 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 2.5 - 2.4 - 3.2 - 1.6 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 2.4 - 1.8
PM - 1.8 - 1.6 - 1.0 - 1.6 - 2.5 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 2.0 - 1.6 - 1.0 - 2.0 - 1.5
MC - 1.8 - 1.3 - 1.6 - 1.6 - 2.5 - 1.0 - 2.5 - 2.4 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 2.5 - 1.5
TS - 1.8 - 2.4 - 1.6 - 1.6 - 2.5 - 1.0 - 3.2 - 1.6 - 1.0 - 1.0 - 3.2 - 1.5
SI - 1.6 - 1.6 - 1.0 - 1.6 - 2.5 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 1.6 - 1.6 - 1.0 - 2.4 - 1.8
FA - 1.2 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 1.0 - 1.6 - 2.0 - 1.2 - 1.6 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 1.6
Treat - 1.0 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 1.0 - 2.0 - 1.6 - 1.2 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 1.6
Conceal - 1.7 - 1.0 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 2.0 - 3.2 - 1.6 - 1.5 - 2.5 - 2.5 - 2.0 - 1.8
B&E - 2.0 - 1.5 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 1.6 - 1.0 - 2.0 - 2.4 - 2.5 - 2.0 - 1.8
Disarm - 1.6 - 2.0 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 1.6 - 1.0 - 2.5 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 2.4
Percept - 1.6 - 1.0 - 1.6 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 1.0 - 1.6 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 1.3
Veh Air - 1.0 - 2.4 - 2.0 - 2.4 - 1.6 - 1.6 - 1.0 - 3.0 - 2.5 - 2.4 - 1.6 - 1.3
Veh Grd - 1.0 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 1.6 - 1.0 - 1.6 - 1.0 - 2.5 - 2.5 - 2.4 - 1.0 - 1.3
Veh Wat - 1.0 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 2.4 - 1.6 - 1.6 - 1.0 - 2.5 - 2.5 - 2.4 - 1.6 - 1.3
Map Nav - 1.0 - 1.6 - 2.0 - 1.6 - 1.6 - 1.6 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 1.6 - 1.6 - 1.3