[Gulnyr]

Are there any limits on what kind of skills or how many skills can be learned? Or maybe the question is, "How are things balanced?"

Consider the D&D/NWN setup with different skills and abilities for each class. It's clearly not a good system in the case of several sorts of Layonara priests. For example, a single-classed Folian Cleric is heavily lacking in all the rangery skills Folian's closest followers should know, a single-classed Lucindite Cleric doesn't know much about arcane magic despite being extremely devoted to the Lady of Spells, the roguery skills of a single-classed Branderbackian Cleric are pitifully sad, and even multiclassing with an appropriate class (Ranger, Wizard, or Rogue in these cases) still leaves these weaker in their deities' specialties than a pure-classed character of those classes, which seems wrong.

At the same time, there needs to be balance between characters. Even though the D&D classes aren't perfectly balanced, the concept of getting certain skills and abilities by taking Class X at the expense of the skills and abilities possible from Class Y is sound. And so, in the D&D/NWN system, some characters can't (or, at least, usually don't) learn certain things simply because of their class. As nonsensical as that can be, it helps maintain a kind of balance between characters.

In the new MMO system, characters can learn any skills they want, and there have yet to be any limits described. Maybe there are no limits. This makes me wonder what is to prevent every character from becoming a priest, for example. If a Dwarf worships Vorax and fights in His name alongside another Dwarf who also worships Vorax and fights with equal ability (since everyone can learn any skill and get better through training it) and also calls on the blessings of Vorax to aid in battle, what has the "single-classed" warrior gained by not branching out into other skill sets? Is there any sort of limiting factor anywhere? Maximum number of skills a character can know and learn? Mundane duties that priests must perform to maintain their abilities? Where is the balance?

"Roleplaying purposes" is a fine answer. I strongly considered having Jennara switch to Cleric starting at level 21, which would have been in character, but decided, for RP reasons, to have her stay Monk all the way, despite Monk being a rather boring class in the epic levels with no new goodies to enjoy. So, that's an answer I understand. I think it's a little naive to believe "roleplaying reasons" is a sufficient answer even among the current players, though. Wanting power and new abilities and such is part of the fun, and even the most dedicated roleplayer can be tempted to take a road she didn't intend that doesn't make a lot of IC sense when building up and playing her character. As unpleasant as they can be at times, mechanical limitations are sometimes important.