v0.55.0 - The Specialist

NPC Class Specialization System

This update adds a dual specialization system for NPC teammates, letting players assign combat roles like Healer, Tank, DPS, Utility, or Debuff to their team members. Each of the 12 base classes gets 2 specializations (24 total), changing how the NPC behaves in combat and what stats they gain on future level-ups.

Specializations:

How it works:

• NPC teammates only -- does not affect the player character or companions (Aldric, Vex, Lyris, Mira, Melodia)
• Free to swap anytime from Team Corner via [X] Specialize
• Additive stat growth -- specs add bonus stats on future level-ups (not retroactive). A Holy Paladin gains +2 WIS, +1 CON, +4 Mana, +3 HP per level on top of base Paladin growth
• No new abilities -- specs filter and prioritize existing class abilities. A Minstrel Bard uses the same Bard abilities but prioritizes heals/buffs (75% chance) over attacks
• Combat AI changes:
  • Healer specs (Holy, Restoration, Mystic, Minstrel, Apothecary, Spiritwalker) heal allies aggressively at 75-80% HP instead of the default 50-70%
  • DPS Cleric (Smite) becomes emergency-only healer at 30% HP
  • Tank specs (Protection, Juggernaut) prioritize taunts and defensive abilities
  • Ability use chance varies by spec (55-70% instead of flat 50%)
  • Restricted ability types: e.g., Restoration Cleric deprioritizes attack abilities, Minstrel Bard deprioritizes attacks
• None is valid -- unspecialized NPCs work exactly as before. All combat code falls through to existing behavior when spec is None
• Spec badges -- team member listings show [Arms], [Holy], etc. next to class name
• Examine member -- detail screen shows current specialization and role
• Data-driven -- all 24 specs defined in a single SpecializationData.cs file with no per-spec switch statements in combat code
• Save compatible -- missing field defaults to None (0), so existing saves load without issues
• Persists in online mode -- spec survives save/load and world state synchronization

New healers available: Holy Paladin, Mystic Sage, Minstrel Bard, Apothecary Alchemist, Spiritwalker Shaman -- all heal allies at 75-80% HP, dramatically improving party healing options beyond Cleric.

New tanks available: Protection Warrior and Juggernaut Barbarian both prioritize taunt abilities and gain massive HP/DEF bonuses per level.

Files Changed

• Scripts/Core/GameConfig.cs -- Version 0.55.0 "The Specialist"
• Scripts/Core/Character.cs -- ClassSpecialization enum (24 values + None = 0)
• Scripts/Core/NPC.cs -- Specialization property (ClassSpecialization.None default)
• Scripts/Data/SpecializationData.cs -- NEW -- SpecDefinition class and SpecializationData static data with all 24 spec definitions; SpecRole enum (DPS/Tank/Healer/Utility/Debuff); helper methods GetSpec(), GetSpecsForClass(), IsValidSpecForClass(), IsHealerSpec(), IsTankSpec()
• Scripts/Systems/SaveDataStructures.cs -- NPCData.Specialization field
• Scripts/Systems/SaveSystem.cs -- Specialization serialization in SerializeNPCs()
• Scripts/Core/GameEngine.cs -- Specialization restore in RestoreNPCs()
• Scripts/Systems/WorldSimService.cs -- Specialization restore in RestoreNPCsFromData()
• Scripts/Systems/OnlineStateManager.cs -- Specialization in shared NPC state serialization
• Scripts/Locations/LevelMasterLocation.cs -- Spec stat growth bonuses applied in ApplyClassStatIncreases() after base class switch (additive, NPC teammates only)
• Scripts/Systems/CombatEngine.cs -- Spec-aware healing in TryTeammateHealAction() (override isHealerClass and healThreshold from spec); spec-based ability filtering in TryTeammateClassAbility() (restricted types, disabled IDs, 75% preferred type weighting); spec-based tank detection (Protection/Juggernaut) for taunt priority; spec-based ability use chance override; IsHealerClass() updated to check spec role
• Scripts/Locations/TeamCornerLocation.cs -- [X] Specialize menu option (visual + SR menus); SpecializeMember() method with numbered NPC selection and current spec display; ShowSpecOptions() with stat growth comparison, role description, heal threshold info; spec badges in ShowTeamMembers() detailed and simple views; spec display in ExamineMember() detail screen; SaveAllSharedState() after spec changes in online mode
• Localization/en.json -- ~45 new keys (spec UI prompts, 24 spec descriptions)
• Localization/es.json -- Spanish translations for all spec keys
• Localization/fr.json -- French translations for all spec keys
• Localization/hu.json -- Hungarian translations for all spec keys
• Localization/it.json -- Italian translations for all spec keys