Summary
Anyone who completed a playthrough of the firstCitizen Sleeperwill probably remember that, while theybegan the game with a specific character build in mind,by the time the last few missions were appearing on the map of Erlin’s Eye, they had somehow become a jack-of-all-trades. It wasn’t so much that any particular build wasn’t effective or fun; it was just that, eventually, all those skill points had to be spent somewhere.
This is no longer an issue inCitizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector.Skill points are still a thing, but they are now divided up between the Sleeper’s statsand upgrading their Push ability.These upgrades are also significantly more expensive than what was present in the first game, meaning that having an actual build in mind when spending skill points is a good idea.For players just starting out and trying to plan their Sleeper’s build, these are the stats they should prioritize first, ranked from most to least important.
5Endure
It’s Gonna Come Up A Lot
The stat check that is going to appear most often in the first part of the game isEndure.This stat determines the Sleeper’s ability to handle work in dangerous environments, take on challenges that require prolonged use of strength, or attempt perilous physical feats. The Extractor class starts with this stat already upgraded, making itthe easiest starting class to use early on inCitizen Sleeper 2.
There are crew members that players can recruit who can tackle Endure tasks instead. Serafin will have the stat right at the start of the game, but he gets injured in an early mission and becomes unavailable shortly afterward. Once players reach Far Spindle, they meet Yu-Jin, and he can be recruited once they complete his Contract, but until then, there will be several tasks that players will need to avoid entirely if they don’t have access to the Endure stat early on.
4Engineer
It’ll Be A While Before Anyone Else Can Pick Up The Slack
TheEngineerstat is a funny one. It will decide the Sleeper’s ability to fix, repair, or disrupt machinery, and will also play into some dialogue checks further down the line. The Machinist class starts with an upgraded Engineer stat, but it’s actually not that critical in the early stages of the game, as there are often alternate tasks players can tackle that require a different stat check, meaning players should always have a way of getting the job done without Engineer.
So why is it so crucial to upgrade early on? Well, the answer is two-fold. For one, it takes a while before players can recruit any crew members who can perform an Engineer check.They will eventually meet Blissat Far Spindle, but they won’t immediately join the crew until after the player progresses a bit further in the game. Secondly, while it isn’t a crucial stat, there is still plenty of opportunity to use the Engineer stat, meaning that it will still make for a very valuable primary stat, even if it isn’t a make-or-break necessity.
3Interface
The Backup Plan
For players who don’t want to take the route of a bruiser character by investing their skill points into Endure, their best choice for an alternate option is theInterfacestat. Interface will dictate how well the Sleeper can work with computers and tech, disable surveillance, or parse through data. The Operator class starts with Interface already upgraded, but because this class is also locked out of the Engage stat, any dice rolls they try to use for an Endure check will be decreased by 2.That makes the Operator the most difficult class to start with inCitizen Sleeper 2.
The main reason for players to invest in Interface is that in about 75% of the instances where an Engage task is presented, there will be an alternate route that offers an Interface task instead. These tasks are often less risky, meaning they won’t cause as much Stress buildup, but this also means that tasks won’t be completed as quickly. Interface is a tricky stat to build around, and while it will make the early game more challenging, it becomes very useful in the later stages. If players elect to go a different route with their build, recruiting Juni will give them a crew member with an upgraded Interface stat.
2Engage
Less Talk More Rock… But Also More Talk
No class starts the game with theEngagestat already upgraded, but the Machinist is completely locked out of it and their dice will be decreased by 2 if they try to tackle an Engage task. Engage operates on two fronts. It is the closest thing to a “fighting” stat in the game, as Engage checks will often allow the Sleeper to leap into action and take out a few enemies. Additionally, it grants them an affinity for smooth talking and a silver tongue that can help with dialogue checks.
The thing about Engage is that it only really comes up in critical situations every once in a while, and is often only the best option when trying to complete a timed task quickly, rather than safely. It’s not that it isn’t useful; there are a few situations where it makes for a great way to escape before things go south. It just doesn’t pull quite as much weight as the previous three stats do. Several crew members are also equipped with this stat,such as Serafin, Femi, and Yu-Jin, which means players will have lots of options for how they can approach an Engage check, even if they haven’t upgraded the stat themselves.
1Intuit
Just Figure It Out
Similar to Engage, no class starts the game with an upgradedIntuitstat. However, the Extractor is locked out of Intuit altogether, meaning their die will take a 2-point penalty if they attempt an Intuit check. Intuit is more or less the equivalent of Intelligence; it allows the Sleeper to deduce things quickly, pick up on nuances, or have a good sense of their gut feelings. While these are all useful tools to have, the opportunity to use them comes pretty infrequently.
There just aren’t that many checks that require the Intuit stat, and even fewer critical moments that will test the Sleeper’s Intuit ability. It can help make some Cryo while working at a Hub, and it will occasionally be valuable to complete some side objectives during a Contract mission, but rarely is it an essential stat to have in any scenario. Plus, Nia can be recruited early on in Hexport, and she brings with her an upgraded Intuit stat that players can make use of in place of their own. Even if they miss Nia, players can recruit Bliss once they reach Far Spindle, and she can perform Intuit checks as well.
