The tooltip description of the skills are confusing me.

It would seem natural to me that all points allocated to a skill would improve it's effect, if only slightly.

But the text seems to indicate the change only happens when you go up to the next "Mastery Level", IE Novice -> Student. (I could be reading it wrong)

But this seems odd to me. Basically leveling the skills up would pointless, as you would just want to tier it up to the next mastery level as soon possible. IE: Focus on one skill until it goes to the next mastery level, then the next skill. What would be the point of distributing individual points then? Why not just be able to tier one novice skill up for each 2nd level or something similar.

If it indeed is on a per point basis, what is the point of mastery levels in say, perception which does unlock any new abilities or item usage for each mastery level or other similar skills.
Would they just give a bigger boost than regular points perhaps?
Are those boosts described anywhere?

Basically the system and the text seems to contradict eachother for me.

I'm not sure of your confusion. Have you read the manual?
Each skill has its own mechanics, but basicly it adds per point improvement.
For example, Paladin has one skill that for the first levels adds Hp via a formula, then after reaching a mastery level adds hp by that same formula + stamina by another formula
Then at the 3rd mastery level, it keeps those two formulas but adds +40 resist to poison

While the Perception or Lockpicking is more straight forward .. you need a certain level to "notice" certain secrets or unlock stuff

Ah thanks, that was what I was thinking.

My confusion was due to the tooltip saying that improvements happen when you go up in mastery level, then at the bottom it seems to claim that mastery level is the grade titles or whatever you would like to call them, when you go from Novice to Student and so on.

yeah it depends from skill to skill.
Being a priest, for magic it's a bit special.
grades (novice, student etc) unlock spell availability, nothing more.
While spell effect is due to skill level.
For example (and with the help of the console frankly) a level 20 (in the skill) novice using a novice spell, gets the same effect as the same skill 20 master. ranks just let you use better spells. (try casting lightning once.... You'll never go back to a bow)

Hmmm? Now you've caught my attention. Do you know some console commands other than the cheats? Or did you just mean that you used it in the course of experimenting? I'd very much like to get a better handle on some of the game mechanics. It's my min max mentality. :P

by definition, console commands are cheats.
and the ones available on this forum are quite enough for testing stuff

lol. Well sometimes console commands give you access to debug info that can be helpful in taking a peak at the mechanics. Though I agree that any console command that effects your character or said mechanics would be a cheat. I was just wondering if you knew of any informational commands, but considering your answer it seems you don't. I might have to experiment myself.

God yes. That and Exile.


Fears and Undead Monks wih Exile? Meh.