jejorda2 wrote:I don't think the "main cost" of developing new skills before was XP or hunger. I think the main cost was having to use methods that didn't work. When you find a demon trident, but only have short blades trained, you do more damage with a sabre than the trident. So the yaks would kill you if you let them gore you while you slowly missed them with the trident. Or if you were trying to develop conjurations, they'd charge while you miscast.
With the new system, you can leave the demon trident in your stash until you reach the minimum delay.
Why wouldn't you use a lower-level conjuration to kill those yaks, or practice with one of the three thousand orcish spears in Orc 1-3 if the demon trident isn't good enough by itself? You'd have basic competence in a few minutes of playing either way, so as long as you don't beeline directly for a dangerous unique you should be fine.
jejorda2 wrote:Instead of asking, "Should I leave the buckler on, even though it takes venom bolt from Great to Good, so I can get the shield skill up?" you just leave the buckler at home until the skill is up to 7.
As opposed to the old system, where you put the buckler on in front of a bat and waited for shields to train?
jejorda2 wrote:You don't mulch all your ammo training on weaklings or empty space.
Because non-casters needed that critical nerf? Choosing a deity other than Okawaru or Trog for an archer or slinger should never be an option?
jejorda2 wrote:Your Ice Elementalist doesn't get put into the abyss trying to get summoning up for ice beasts.
How is it tactically interesting to have a meaningful risk of character death practicing skills while locked in a closet?
jejorda2 wrote:All the work that went into making balanced shield penalties, weapon skills, armour penalties, and spell miscasts has been compromised.
The penalties are balanced around the assumption that you've spent the xp for basic competence, not around the assumption that you're currently trying to fundamentally change the entire thrust of your character. Changing strategy is a very temporary thing, so eliminating the tedious parts of it is a good thing.