This seems like a really cumbersome and unwieldy system. Why not just have trainers that sell skill points, regardless of level. It's simple, allows for "bleeding" money out the game and doesn't require prior knowledge of the mechanics to make the best use of it. I know the manual mentions this, but it's not really spelled out how it should be used. I'm sure lots of people spread points out in some skills, heck the skill descriptions themselves even tell you when it's best to do that. This trainer system (if you want to make the most of it) seems to be counter to reasonable character creation. If that's what's called "powergaming" in Avernum, then I guess it doesn't matter. A person can complete the game even without utilizing the trainers I guess. At this point, the "unlockable" skills are probably the only thing I can spend money on, unless I want my fighter to suddenly use magic or my priest to suddenly take up pole weapons. The only skills I don't have points in are the ones I assumed I'd never need on that character.
Bows seem to be incredibly powerful in this game since they don't require ammunition. My mage is so costly to improve that I've debated, at times, just replacing her with another archer. I gave everyone bow skill at creation time and I tend to only use magic in tough fights. But, I'm only playing on Easy so far, and I've only done the demo section so far. Hopefully magic becomes more potent later on.
Still, it's kind of silly to think that people can only train you to Level 2 in Avernum. I guess the 3-20 skill (or whatever the reasonable max is) people are too stingy with their abilities to want to pass them on.
Also, I didn't realize until browsing some of the older posts that xp (and hence skill points) and gold had a "cap". If monsters don't regenerate, then I guess you can't just keep levelling to get more points for things. That's kind of discouraging, but trainers fit that system I guess.