When you roll Fast or Heavy attack, you're instructed that you can create a new version of that skill with that modifier on it. Does this variant skill start at Level 1 (Basic) and need to be leveled separately?
Yes. It’s inherently an upgraded version of another attack (like Heavy Poison attack or Fast Current we, etc.). It gains those extra benefits, getting a chance for bonus defense/damage as well as any other status effects, so it needs to be leveled from the ground up as a kind of balancing factor.
Can an attack have both Heavy and Area applied at once? Would I need a new Area skill for each variant of the attack? For example, would Area Poison Attack apply to all of my Poison Attack variants, would I need to unlock a new Area skill for each one, or can Area not stack with other effects?
P.117 Area is a separate skill linked to a specific attack. It could link to any attack skill, but it is specific. This Area Heavy Poison attack would not apply to regular Poison attack.
