Distinct Offensive Categories

[the Langolier]

Here's a full breakdown of offensive skill categories and effects:

Discipline - general category of type of attack that applies the effect

Melee weapons
Ranged weapons
Spells
Enchantments
Contraptions
Summons

Type - the way in which targets are generally determined

Single target: effect is applied to a single target
Multiple target: effect is applied to multiple targets
Chain: effect is applied to multiple targets in sequence
Path: effect is applied to all targets along a path
Area: effect is applied to all targets within an area

Trigger - mechanism that causes effect to be applied to the target

Projectile: missile that collides with anything along its path
Seeking: missile that collides only with a specified target or location
Direct: effect is applied to specified target or location immediately
Proc: effect is applied in response to a particular event

Behavior - nature of the effect, which is primarily damage for offensive skills

Immediate: specified amount of damage applied at once
Persistent (DoT): specified rate of damage applied for a certain duration
Stacking: persistent effect in which multiple instances can affect a target concurrently

Duration - the nature of the area or path that applies the effect (as opposed to how long the effect itself lasts)

None: area or path triggers the effect once
Persistent: area or path lasts for a certain duration, triggering the effect at a specific rate
Channeled: area or path persists as long as skill is continuously activated

Motion - how a persistent area or path of effect changes over time

Static: the area or path does not move
Dynamic: the area or path moves or changes in a specified manner
Tracking: the area or path follows a target or location