Progression System
The developers designed RELL Seas's progression around a core philosophy: your character progresses through everything, not just combat. Want to be a world-class chef? Fish, cook, and discover recipes. Want to be a master merchant? Collect rare materials and sell them to players. Want to be a legendary pirate? Fight bosses and explore dangerous areas. Every path is valid, and every path makes your character stronger in different ways.
“Everything in RELL Seas is a progression. If you want to go chop down trees to progress - go chop down trees. If you want to go cook - go cook. If you want to go fish - go fish. And that will all affect your character in different ways.”
🌳Talent Trees
RELL Seas has 8 talent trees, each levelling up independently through its associated activity. You never grind a single activity - instead, your character grows across all activities you enjoy.
Fishing
Fishing RodLevel up by catching fish. Higher fishing talent unlocks access to Tier 1-3 fishing rods that catch rarer fish species. Rarer fish enable better meals.
- ✓Access to better fishing rods (Tier 0-3)
- ✓Catches rarer fish
- ✓Enables advanced cooking recipes
Woodcutting
Wood Cutting Axe (Utility Tool)Chop trees to gather wood and level up the Woodcutting talent. Higher levels yield more wood per tree and unlock better crafting options.
- ✓More wood per tree
- ✓Unlocks wood-based crafting recipes
Cooking
Cooking Pot / Ship StoveCook meals to level up. Cooking large, complex meals with blueprints yields massive progression. The Cooking talent unlocks more complex recipes and cooking equipment.
- ✓Access to complex recipes
- ✓Larger meal size capacity
- ✓Ship stove access
- ✓Massive XP from multi-ingredient meals
Mining
Mining Axe (Utility Tool)Mine ore deposits in caves to level up. The Mining talent yields more materials per node and unlocks access to rarer ore types.
- ✓More materials per mine
- ✓Access to rarer ore deposits
- ✓Required for iron, gold, sea stone, coal
Ship Navigation
Sail your ship and navigate the seas to level up. Higher navigation talent improves ship handling, speed, and unlocks advanced sailing techniques.
- ✓Better ship handling
- ✓Improved sailing speed
Crafting
Craft items to level up the Crafting talent. Higher levels unlock more complex crafting options and improve material efficiency.
- ✓Larger crafting recipe pool
- ✓Better material efficiency
Navigation
Exploration and open-sea navigation contribute to this talent. Higher navigation unlocks advanced map features and exploration bonuses.
- ✓Enhanced map awareness
- ✓Exploration bonuses
Thiefing
Lock PickUse Lock Picks to open locked chests and progress the Thiefing talent. Higher tiers unlock the ability to attempt harder chest difficulties (Easy to Medium to Hard).
- ✓Access to Medium and Hard chests
- ✓Better loot from chests
- ✓Faster lockpicking
📖Dex System
The Dex system tracks your progression across different activities. Four dex types exist:
Adventure Dex
Tracks exploration progress across the map. Shows event availability, area quality of life, and the temperature of different zones. Temperature affects gameplay in climate-specific ways.
Fishing Dex
Catalog of every fish you have ever caught, with stats and fishing tier requirements. Max progression: 500 points earned from catches, sea wildlife hunting, and completing Dex entries.
Recipe Dex
All cooking recipes you have discovered. Each entry shows the meal, ingredients, XP granted, and stat buffs.
Craftsman Dex
All crafting materials and recipes you have collected. Tracks your crafting history.
💰Player Trading
Trading and selling to other players is a valid progression path. Collect rare materials, craft valuable goods, or discover rare blueprints - then set up a Trader's Bag and sell to other players. Revenue earned through trading contributes to character progression.
Mechanic
Use the Trader's Bag item to set up a player-to-player shop. Drop items into the bag and set prices. Other players can purchase from your bag.
🍳Cooking Progression
Cooking large, multi-ingredient meals using discovered blueprint recipes yields some of the highest XP in the game. Setting up a restaurant on your ship is a viable (and impressive) gameplay style.
- ▸Small Cooking Pot holds up to 2 ingredients
- ▸Ship stoves can handle larger, more complex recipes
- ▸Blueprint recipes required for advanced meals - find them through exploration
- ▸A dedicated chef character is entirely viable as a playstyle
📊Character Stats
Progression stats include: Heal, Endurance, and others. Fishing, cooking, and non-combat activities affect these stats but NOT attack power - combat stats are upgraded through the Combat Potential and Class systems.
Non-Combat Stats
Combat Stats
Managed through the Class System and Combat Potential System - see separate pages.
Notes
- ▸Non-linear progression is the core design philosophy of RELL Seas - explicitly stated in the Movie 1 developer showcase.
- ▸Weapon Bond at character creation is permanent - choose your weapon class carefully as it gives a lifelong XP bonus.
- ▸Fishing, cooking, mining, woodcutting all grant XP visible above the player's head.
- ▸The game has over 100 materials and 90+ craftable armor pieces.
- ▸Selling to players is a valid progression loop - confirmed in Movie 1.
- ▸Adventure Dex quality-of-life ratings determine event spawns in specific areas.
- ▸Fishing max progression is 500 points - earned from catches, sea wildlife, and completing Dex entries.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does leveling work in RELL Seas?
RELL Seas uses non-linear progression: almost every activity raises your character, not just combat. Fishing, cooking, mining, woodcutting, crafting, sailing and boss fights all grant XP. You level up by doing what you enjoy, and each path strengthens your character in a different way.
Which weapon class should you bond at character creation?
At creation you permanently bond one weapon class - Light, Medium, Heavy or Ranged - which grants a lifelong bonus to that class's weapon EXP. Medium is the most versatile, Heavy hits hardest, Light is fastest, and Ranged controls space. Choose carefully, because the bond cannot be changed.
What is the fastest way to level up in RELL Seas?
Cooking large, multi-ingredient meals from blueprint recipes gives some of the highest XP in the game. Pair cooking with completing Dex entries (Fishing, Recipe, Craftsman, Adventure) and gathering activities for steady progression without repeating the same quest over and over.
What are the talent trees in RELL Seas?
Talents level up by doing the matching activity: Fishing, Woodcutting, Cooking, Mining, Crafting, Thieving, Navigation and Ship Navigation. Higher talent unlocks better tools like upgraded rods and axes, rarer materials, harder lockpick chests, and more complex recipes.
Do fishing and cooking increase your attack power?
No. Non-combat activities raise stats such as Heal and Endurance but not damage. Combat power is upgraded separately through the Class System and the Combat Potential (poster) system, so a dedicated chef or merchant build is completely viable.
Can you earn money by trading with other players in RELL Seas?
Yes. Selling to players is a valid progression loop. Use a Trader's Bag to set up a player shop, drop in rare materials, crafted goods or blueprints, and set your own prices. Revenue from trading contributes to your character's growth.