If a non-Radiant character practices with a Soulcaster long enough, the GM might allow them to invest skill ranks into Transformation when they gain a level, but they still need the Soulcaster to use the surge.
— Stormlight Handbook, Chapter 7 (page 264)
I can’t see a way in the Cosmere RPG Nexus to give a character ranks in Transformation without first having them take one of the Radiant paths that grants the Transformation surge. Perhaps if “Ignore Talent Prerequisites” is turned on, then such skills could also show up as an option?
The only current way you can add a Surge without being the Radiant is via the item creation rules unlocked with the Artifabrian Talent “Prized Acquisition”. With that talent, you can access “Invent Unique Fabrial” & the lvl 4 Fabrial “Surge Fabrial”. Go through the creation process to the “Upgrades” & add “Surge Fabrial - Unique Upgrade”. That will add the Surge to your character’s lvl up options.
Obviously, it’s not ideal, but just in case, that’s what I came up with.
It looks like you can actually craft a unique Surge Fabrial even without the “Prized Acquisition” talent. So yeah, this is a somewhat viable workaround. Thanks!
Now all we gotta do is convince the GM to give us a unique lvl 4 Fabrial with enough game time left to actually have some fun with it… XD
Edit: It’s hilarious, but there’s a fabrial crafting upgrade called “Faster” which increases the movement speed from the fabrial by 50%. So a Transportation Surge Fabrial user could buy the Gravitation talent “Flying Ace” & their flying speed would be 60’. Half again as fast as a “natural” Gravitation user
