On April 2002, designer Gus Smedstad provided a detailed explanation of the skill system on the Round Table forums. "The primary thing that determines a hero's skill choices is his present class. For example, if he's a priest, he'll be offered Life Magic and its secondary skills. If he's a ranger, he'll be offered Combat and Scouting skills. The first two skill choices, when possible, are improvements to existing skill families, rather than a new primary skill. If possible, they will for different families, and only for families that match the hero's class.