The skilled chandler who makes candles to grace a king's tables. A blacksmith who mends horseshoes and forges swords into plowshares. A minstrel traveling the world, singing songs and learning legends. All are examples of the Artisan Vocation, men who regard the creation of things, be they songs or plows, as the ultimate of their own goals.
Learning a craft or skill is not enough to make a person into an Artisan. Many people learn how to sing, for example, without gaining the kind of mastery that true dedication and talent produces.
The hallmark of a real Artisan is a dedication to perfection. Artisans strive to be perfect in their chosen craft, whether it be creating barrels or making swords. The effect of this effort extends beyond the Artisan's prime craft, translating into exceptional skill in related fields.
Artisans live everywhere, in every culture of Sedena. They are most common in environments that promote specialization - richer countries and cities, like Yomolo of Timro and among the Elder Races. Many are farmers, herders, or 'simple' craftsmen; people who live out their lives never travelling far from home.
The greatest Artisans live among the Dwarves, masters of legendary skill and ability who can perform feats beyond the skills of lesser craftsmen. This is not a function of any special Dwarven skill, but rather an expression of Dwarven culture. Most Dwarves spend literally hundreds of years as apprentices and journeymen, studying under strict masters. Rigorous training of such duration cannot help but produce highly skilled craftsmen.
Artisans are dedicated craftsmen, focused on the creative and practical arts. They are usually broadly skilled in a single category of skills (like Agriculture, Artisan, or Performance). Most have a few interests outside of their primary areas as well, usually in related fields.
Artisans typically have high skill levels in a few skills, rather than a broad base of lower level talents. When building higher level Artisans, spend the majority of the Artisan's points on his Vocational skills, rather than on his outside interests.
The Artisan's life path translates into the Sedena System as follows:
An Artisan receives +4% per Vocational Level to all of his success oriented Vocational Skills. He does not receive any bonus to his level based skills, vocational or otherwise.
An Artisan has access to the Legendary level based skill. The Legendary skill is always considered a Vocational skill for purposes of advancement, even if the character already has six Vocational skills.
Artisans can only gain the Legendary skill for success oriented skills that they possess at over 80%, counting their Vocational skill bonuses.
Artisans receive 500 bonus ticks when they go up in Vocational Level. These ticks may be spent on any skill that the Artisan already possesses.
Over the course of their career, an Artisan may select up to six Vocational skills, in which he has unlimited advancement potential. All other skills are limited to a maximum of 50% or level 5.