For non-casters, how do you prioritize your advancements?

For my current, I concentrated on talents and paths and am really feeling that lack of skill advancement. With only 9 advancements at T1, I’m skimping on the Martial Techniques as well, which again is starting to be a problem.

Mostly due to a concept change to full caster by T2.2

Tier X.1 – Background or Path
Tier X.2 – 2 Talents
Tier X.3 – +1 to 2 Attributes
Tier X.4 – 2 Skill Talents
Tier X.5 – +1 all Trained Skills
Tier X.6 – +2 all Defenses
Tier X.7 – +1 to 3 +Lo Skills
Tier X.8 – 1 Talent
Tier X.9 – +1 to 2 Attributes
Tier X.10 – +1 to 3 + Lo Skills

Generally that order unless I need a requirement for a Path.

John

I like hitting things so I front load the skills as much as possible. I don’t mind being hit and IME everything except the BIs/Delves is fairly survivable so the +2 to all defenses tends to be nearish the back.

For Tukufu (Expert)I went:
1.1 Creation
1.2 Learn 2 Skills at 2 ranks each
1.3 Advance 6 skills (1 rank each)
1.3 Advance 6 skills (1 rank each)
1.4 Path (Sword Sage Initiate)
1.6 Advance ALL Skills 1 ranks
1.7 +1 to any 2 attributes
1.8 Any 2 Talents (needed 1.7 to qualify for Quick, otherwise would have done this earlier)
1.9 +2 to ALL defenses
1.10 +1 to 2 attributes

2.1 Path (Sword Sage Master)
2.2 Advance 6 skills

Generally I will prioritize the attribute boosts when they are taking me to a 5, 7, or 8. Since those are sometimes going to give me a point of defense also. If I’m about to get into a BI, I’ll take the defense bonus, but if I need to meet a requirement I’ll do the attribute first.

John

The 2 extra skills before ranking up makes sense. I also get where you’re coming from in terms of hitting vs. Defense. Over the weekend if I was missed more than 5 times total I’ll be shocked. Only in a tiny number of cases would that +2 have made a difference.

I noticed that you didn’t take the “Any 2 Skill Talents” in Tier 1. Is that because you pretty much already had the ones you wanted and that’s the extra rank you add in for the higher tiers?

Also, you mentioned advancing 6 skills at 2.2 rather than all skills. Am I correct in believing that these are the core skills and that you’re planning on adding 2 new skills in Tier 2 as well? Hence advancing the smaller set of skills twice and then making sure to add the additional skills before adding +1 to all?

Correct I did not take Any 2 skill talents… one of the talents I did take was Quick which was a skill talent … but Skill talents IMO usually just aren’t as fundamental to the mechanics of a character as Combat talents are to a warrior or Adaptation talents are to a caster. All in all it has been my experience that you more or less get all the skills you want at the ranks you want as an Expert … but you really feel pinched for talents (if you wanted to make a Leadership of Loyal Companion build then the Any 2 Skill Talents would be much more useful to you then what I am doing with Tukufu). I may take Any 2 skill talents in Tier II … I do want Acrobatics, Daredevil and Wary eventually.

Correct. I plan to gain another round of gaining 2 skills at 4 ranks each. =) Even Experts can’t be great at everything but walking out of Tier 2 with 5 ranks in Deceit and Linguistics will round out and complete Tukufu’s face and knowledge skills.

I have a weird system. I base it on mod experiences. Am I getting hit more? Take+2 to Defenses Am I having trouble hitting opponents? Gain skill ranks Do I need more nifty tricks? Take talents. Yeah, I know generally what I am taking in the Tier, but I prefer to let story guide the order. I, personally, think organic growth likes that helps me stay in touch with the character as a living character with a changing history/story.

I have a weird system. I base it on mod experiences. Am I getting hit more? Take+2 to Defenses Am I having trouble hitting opponents? Gain skill ranks Do I need more nifty tricks? Take talents. Yeah, I know generally what I am taking in the Tier, but I prefer to let story guide the order. I, personally, think organic growth likes that helps me stay in touch with the character as a living character with a changing history/story.
This is the general approach I take as well. It’s based on what I have and what I feel I need at the time. Plus other unusual circumstances like a particular adventure experience or if I, for example, know that I’m going to learn a new skill, I’ll want to try to do that before taking +1 to all known skills. But for me, it’s pretty organic.

Scott