Learning from books

[Orion Deckrect]

Hal, i do actually don't mind about your calculations, because i think its depends a lot about each campaing seting, but it looks a good starting place for those who have yet no clue about how to calculate book's costs. Nice job.

I do agree with you about the levels... There are basic books and complex books, and someone cannot go from skill level 10 to 18 just reading "electronics for dumbs".

In general, on my campaing, books have two facets and uses: one is that a book have a skill level. If you are under this skill level, you may use this book to study a skill (or several) to increase your level. At my campaing, it means you may spend character points at that skill, but my campaing also have a different relation about CPs and learning, that i think is not the topic now.

At other hand, books may become support. If you are trying to study about something you already know and have some basic books you already did read, it still helping you. I realized it when doing my College class works. Sometimes a book you already did read gives you a different insight from the first time or offer you cross knowledge when combined with something else. So, lets say, a Skill Level 13 may study and rise to level 14 if a given person is using 5 level 12 or 13 books.

The other interesting aspect about your post, Hal, is you vision about Academy and Master/aprenctice systems. In fact, at my campaing, many religious temples realizes this difference and chooses to use one or other system.

But the point is, if you are using an Academic system, full of books, libraries, and many different teachers, you don get levels. Never. Yopu get points. Its because your avaluations or your study program is much more guided by yourself than by teachers. Of course, you may create a cut line, like "No one may graduate without level 12 or more", but what this system offers is juat the points. If this model is more free, like you pay to get knowledge and have no tests and the like, is more likely you dont need a minimal skill level.

On Master/Aprenctice system, its right the opposite. The master will set a minimal level and will keep teaching you until you reach this level. Then the master moves on. Sometimes, with a minimal of learning, a student may pass the minimal level, so the master gets glad and moves on. (You spend half point and gets 2 skill levels over the minimal, lets say)