New Skill system

[madfish]

If the game changes towards: all chars start with the same skills, we will loose one of cantr's biggest charms - the "genetical skill" heritage system.

The genetical skill system as it currently exists is nothing more than a glorified dice roll.

But it does have potential to be something better than the 'start with zero stats' idea, I agree.

[Doug R.]

The genetic inheritance system was nearly universally despised when it was introduced, and there are still characters alive today that were screwed by the poor way it was implemented. It was probably just one of Jos's many experiments (like the sneezing sickness) that intrigued those that implemented it but added nothing to the game.

If characters all start with the same basic skill levels, players can develop them into anything they want them to be (a main claim of the game that rings a bit hollow when you spawn a blacksmith that sucks at refining and making tools). If we implement a new system where skills matter (they really don't at the present time except for fighting and strength), the tendency to want a warrior will be offset by a society that actually, finally, needs people of all skill types to operate efficiently.