Biotic Specializations

The term biotics refer to the ability for some lifeforms to create mass effect fields using Element Zero nodles embedded in their own body tissue. These powers are accessed and augmented using bio-amps. Biotic individuals use an array of powers that grant them an edge in combat. They can knock enemies over from a distance, lift them in the air, generate gravitational forces, create barriers, and more.

Classes which gain Biotic Specializations can learn and improve biotic powers. These biotic specializations earned by the classes can be considered "Investment Points" to which a character can either improve an existing power or learn new ones. All characters are considered to have 0 ranks in biotic powers until an Investment Point is spent to learn it. Once you learn multiple ranks of a biotic power, a character can choose to use a lesser rank in combat; you are not limited to using the maximum rank every time you want to use a power.

Biotic powers have requirements that must be met in order to learn them. These requirements are detailed below. Each additional rank in a combat power have additional requirements, usually in the forms of Skills. Skill requirements are not the total bonus but rather how many ranks you have in that skill.

Each Biotic class has a points pool that will be highlighted in their own section. Points are spent to use biotic powers in encounters. If the biotic has no points left, they are unable to use biotic powers. Points are regained at the start and end of an encounter and through class specific abilities.

Some biotics powers have the ability to "detonate" when combined with other biotic powers. When that happens, the powers that were detonated stop taking effect.

Biotic powers possess a Biotic Cooldown. This cooldown represents the amount of time during which no Biotic Powers can be used. Biotic cooldowns only kick in once the power is used, unless otherwise stated. Some biotic powers also have "maintenance costs". Maintenance removes the biotic points from a character's pool for as long as the power with maintenance is active. If the character spends time recovering their biotic points pool with the power actively maintained, they do not recover the points spent maintaining the power.

Some powers provide temporary buffs to a character. The duration will be listed with that power. Some powers provide permanent buffs. These buffs remain as long as the character does not lose the skill requirements needed to learn the power in the first place.

Important skills to learn to use biotics are: Biotics, Knowledge (Physics), Knowledge (Bioology), and Medicine