Stat Device

Barry's stat device is the device that allows Barry to alter his abilities (stats), by investing points to make himself more powerful. The device is a core mechanic of gameplay, as, throughout Barry's adventure, he is called upon to make stat checks at key moments.

Basic Stats
There are nine different stats, excluding the Aura and Magical stats. They are Strength, Toughness, Hearing, Speed, Reflexes, Observation, Premonition, Combat Technique and Ancient languages. They all have different effects, and are all extremely useful.

Strength
The use of the Strength stat is fairly straightforward. When you invest points into strength, you are increasing the raw might of Barry. This skill is primarily a combat skill, and Strength checks are generally made when you are fighting, or if you are trying to lift or move a particularly heavy object.

Toughness
Like Strength, the Toughness stat is fairly straightforward. When you invest points in Toughness, you are increasing the survivability of Barry. This skill is primarily a combat skill, and Toughness checks are generally made when you are fighting, and have taken damage.

Hearing
The use of the Hearing stat is more complex than that of the combat stats. When you are investing points in Hearing, you are effectively making your hearing more accurate and precise. Hearing is primarily a sense skill, and Hearing checks are generally made when you have the opportunity to hear something (or more likely, someone) that your unaltered self couldn't hear

Speed
The Speed stat is fairly straightforward. When you invest points in Speed, you are increasing the quickness of Barry (but not the lightness of Barry's feet, for that is Reflexes). This skill is primarily a combat skill, and Speed checks are generally made when in combat, although to a lesser degree than its sibling combat skills.

Reflexes
The Reflexes stat is fairly straightforward. When you invest points in Reflexes, you are increasing the lightness of Barry's feet, meaning that Barry can move out of the way of something faster. This skill is primarily a combat skill, and Reflexes checks are generally made in combat, when your opponent moves faster than you.

Observation
The use of the Observation stat is more complex than the combat stats. When you invest points in Observation, you are not only increasing Barry's eyesight, but are also increasing your peripheral awareness. This skill is primarily a sense skill, and Observation checks are generally made when you have the chance to see something that your unaltered self couldn't see.

Premonition
The use of the premonition stat is one of the most complex, of the nine skills. You never know when you might need it. When you invest points in Premonition, you are giving Barry the possibility of having visions of the future. This skill is primarily a sense skill, and Premonition checks are generally made right before combat, or at any other time.

Combat Technique
The Combat Technique (CT from here on) stat is fairly straightforward. When you invest points in CT, you are investing points in effectively Barry's training with physical weapons and martial arts. This skill is entirely a combat skill, with all checks being made in combat.

Ancient Languages
The Ancient Languages (AL from here on) stat is the most complex in the game. When you invest points in AL, you are effectively teaching yourself the languages of the monsters and animals on Varathia. This skill is part combat, part sense, as some checks will be at the beginning of combat to prevent the combat, and others will be to find secrets.

Aura Stats
The Aura stats are Bluff (Aura Concealment), Magical Sense and Aura Hardening. These stats must be manually activated, since were originally hidden due to being in an experimental phase. Activating them will reset the device's stat investments back to zero, effectively giving the user a chance to redistribute their points.

Bluff (Aura Concealment)
This stat was designed to improve the user's aura control, and is dependent on the person's previous, unaltered aura control abilities. It has two primary uses: avoiding lie detection by maintaining a stable aura and hiding an aura so that it appears undetectable to magical sense.

Magical Sense
This stat is designed to improve the user's aura analysis skills, and is based on the person's unaltered sensing abilities. Increasing the number of stats invested will increase the distance that the user can detect auras from, as well as the ease of discerning the subtle patterns of aura flows.

Aura Hardening
This stat's main purpose is to enhance the user's defensive capabilities against elemental magic, both traditional and nontraditional. This cannot act as a substitute for the Toughness or Reflexes stats, as it offers minimal protection against physical damage. It is possible to use this stat offensively by concentrating aura around a fist to punch back magical projectiles, but this technique is unreliable.

Magical Stats
The Magical stats are Magical Power and Magical Knowledge. These stats are locked by a code known only by the top brass lessathi. They cannot be used by the lessathi themselves, since their auras lack all traces of magic.

Use of the Stat Device
Most people, as stated by Eiden in one of the early chapters in Book 1, are unable to effectively use the stat device. We later learn that the reason for this is that only Lessathi can use the stat device effectively. Only Barry can use the stat device to its full potential, due to his heritage as a Half Lessathi.

Berserker Mode
As seen in B1C6. In case of possesing magical energy and still being in constant danger, all of the energy will be consumed in order to activate Berserker Mode which maxes and doubles all of the basic stats (8 points in each one), it is currently unknown if it also affects the aura stats once they had been unlocked. As stated by Eiden by calling it a waste, this mode is only temporal and deplates the recollected magical energy. (To activate Berserker mode, see the Achievement Guide for the achievement of the same name)

Modifications
As seen in the book, with enough knowledge it can be modified, for example Reidzek modified a stat device for Leila so that her thoughts would appear as floating, blue written text. Or as Kate stated, there might be a way to modify one in order to collect energy and convert it in points without many mages around.

Average Joe
There are multiple achievements related to not investing any points into stats. See the Achievement Guide for details on how to get them. They are phenomenally hard to get, so be warned.

Book 1
Total Points that are acquired: 19

In the beginning of the story, the Stat Device starts off with Strength, Toughness, Hearing, Speed, Reflexes, Observation, Ancient Languages, Combat Technique, and Premonition with a max level of 3 points you can invest in any of them. The max level changes to 4 at the start of Chapter 6.

Chapter 2

A total of 3 points will be acquired before your first fight.

Chapter 3

A total of 6 points will be acquired before the ambush.

Chapter 6

A total of 4 points will be acquired before the epic showdown.

Chapter 8

A total of 4 points will be acquired when Barry wakes up.

Chapter 11

A total of 2 points will be acquired towards the start of the Chapter.

Book 2
Total Points that are acquired: 6

Chapter 4

A total of 3 points will be acquired before Barry's first arena fight.

Chapter 10

A total of 3 points will be acquired before fighting the monsters.