Questions about Skills etc

[NocturneNight]

Something I don't understand, is how exacly do attributes affect skills? All skills are "governed" by an attribute and you raise that attribute by raising the appropriate skills - right, I get that. But does the "governed by" actually mean anything? My char is a Wood Elf and has fairly low STR. I have noticed that raising my Blade skill takes a lot of time, while raising Sneak and Light Armor is a lot faster - does your ability score matter when raising a skill? Also, with an agility score of 89, I haven't noticed any significant change in neither bow damage nor how hard I am to detect while sneaking. I remember that a high agility would make you sneak better even if the skill was low in Morrowind, but in Oblivion it seems like it doesn't..

[Mortrix927]

Actually, you have more opportunity to raise the attribute (when you level up) by using the skill; and the skill is limited by (governed by) it's controlling attribute. For example, if you use a sword a lot you may be able to add 2 or 3 points to strength (as opposed to 1 )when you level up. At the same time if your strength is 20, your blade skill can not be more than 20. Get it?

[NocturneNight]

Actually, you have more opportunity to raise the attribute (when you level up) by using the skill; and the skill is limited by (governed by) it's controlling attribute. For example, if you use a sword a lot you may be able to add 2 or 3 points to strength (as opposed to 1 )when you level up. At the same time if your strength is 20, your blade skill can not be more than 20. Get it?

 

That can't be true considering my Destruction skill is at 46, and my Restoration skill is at 51 but I only have 45 Willpower. It's possible that the skill becomes harder to level the closer you are to it's governing attritube (for example my Conjuration is easier to level than my Destruction; my int is 78 and the Conjuration is at 59) which is what I am suspecting, but would like it confirmed. :)

[schijnn]

UESP confirms that attributes do not actually 'govern' skills in any way in Oblivion. I also looked at the Attributes entry under Morrowind, and there was no mention of skills being 'governed' by attributes there, either. In fact, the last game where skills were definitely 'governed' by attributes, in that attributes affected how quickly your skills increase, was Daggerfall.

[Mortrix927]

Actually, you have more opportunity to raise the attribute (when you level up) by using the skill; and the skill is limited by (governed by) it's controlling attribute. For example, if you use a sword a lot you may be able to add 2 or 3 points to strength (as opposed to 1 )when you level up. At the same time if your strength is 20, your blade skill can not be more than 20. Get it?

 

That can't be true considering my Destruction skill is at 46, and my Restoration skill is at 51 but I only have 45 Willpower. It's possible that the skill becomes harder to level the closer you are to it's governing attritube (for example my Conjuration is easier to level than my Destruction; my int is 78 and the Conjuration is at 59) which is what I am suspecting, but would like it confirmed. :)

 

Actually, apparently not.

Although all attributes except luck govern three skills, the governing attribute does not have a direct effect on the skill levels. Both the skill level and the attribute level are used to calculate the damage, one with a melee weapon, which is determined both by the appropriate skill (blade or blunt) and by the strength attribute...On the other hand, skills can affect attribute level gains. Using a skill allows larger bonuses to be applied to the related attribute when leveling up.

(italics mine)

[NocturneNight]

Although all attributes except luck govern three skills, the governing attribute does not have a direct effect on the skill levels. Both the skill level and the attribute level are used to calculate the damage, one with a melee weapon, which is determined both by the appropriate skill (blade or blunt) and by the strength attribute...On the other hand, skills can affect attribute level gains. Using a skill allows larger bonuses to be applied to the related attribute when leveling up.

(italics mine)

 

I've been scanning through the attribute pages of UESP vigourosly, yet for some reason it seems I've actually missed that line. :wallbash: Oh well, it would seem then that while Skills affect your attributes (what bonus modifier you get), attributes does not actually do anything for the skills (except determining damage). Thanks for clearing that up for me guys. :) I noticed that the reason my Conjuration is levelling up so fast is because it's simply set be faster to level than, say, Restoration (Hardest magic skill to level) etc.