[larsdangly]

I think it is perfectly valid to play a sort of 'gladiatorial campaign' of melee as long as you wish, using melee experience rules, and then exit to an ITL campaign with ITL experience rules. You can even rationalize it reasonably well - an intense year in the fighting pits is survived only by the few people who win deadly fight after deadly fight, and rapidly hones your survival abilities, but obviously provides you no opportunity for picking up skills at the local community college. I'd say it's even fair, more or less, as your chance of surviving a dozen truly competitive melee fights is poor no matter who you are.