no joke I just had a better one come to me in a dream.
what about having five "Skills" and a choice to unlock "techniques" to expand upon how we learn how to heal ourselves in combat? (I took liberties on the old names of the skills however the second part, the "techniques", is where the biggest change is.)
(Skill #1) Hunter's flexibility: putting points into this skill gives you a better chance to hit even the slipperiest of foes and increases the amount of moves you can make before getting hit. (Hit/crit chance and stam increase)
(Skill #2) Combat Training: putting points into this skill raises the amount of damage your body can withstand and strengthens the base damage of your attacks. (Hp and attack)
(Skill #3) Charisma: putting points into this skill raises your eloquence, giving you better deals in the market and helping you talk your way through many situations. (speak better to characters and better market prices.)
(Skill #4) Survivalist: putting points into this skill allows you bonus loot and helps you block blows better. (basically Hunter's instinct just sounds different.)
(Skill #5)
now the fun part. I'm thinking we can have up to 3-5 "techniques" that we unlock through quest rewards (again, like the healing) and further upgrade through though the character we got it from. (though maybe if you unlock one you can't pick another like picking swords over archery and vice versa.) here are a few example ideas I had, have fun!
Combat Medic (couldn't think of a better name): as the technique gets upgraded I'm thinking that maybe the bandage card we can use in battle in previous versions (I've only played the free to this point as I don't have the money spare). it starts as a simple patch me up, revitalizing us some of our health and stopping bleed and over three to five levels it heals a little more.
Bow Specialist: the technique focuses on the bow, increasing it's single target damage and sometimes interrupting attacks..
Sword Specialist: the technique focuses on the sword, dealing heavier blows and wider swings for more damage to multiple enemies and often leaving them with bleed.
Monster fighter: the technique focuses on adding extra damage in non-human combat encounters (just something I added for fun, I really don't expect this to make it at least).
Con artist: (this one's mostly to add a fun minigame to add another way to make money.) after winning against the drunk so many times in a cup game he eventually bargains the cups themselves! now you may set up the game in the market to rack in the coins. (a speed betting game, the faster you press the arrow keys that appear the faster you shuffle the cups and less likely they guess which one the prize is in. However if you shuffle it too fast then less people will try their luck.)