[quote=Everyone]
Mall ninja shit
[/quote]

[url=http://r.ddmcdn.com/s_f/o_1/cx_122/cy_0/cw_1619/ch_1079/w_720/DSC/uploads/2015/02/bgs-103-04.jpg]Unleash your inner armchair warrior[/url].

You guys talked a lot about fighting techniques, so I'll jump directly to gameplay. Switching skill levels is doable if they are right beside each other, and in extreme cases, with one level in between. Jumping from novice to expert is huge, it's basically like someone who reads popular science for the lolz suddenly becoming Hawking 2.0. This only applies to character that are already introduced (with 1 IC post written about them). Those that are yet to be deployed can switch as much as they want until they actually enters.

The reason is that I want you to adapt your tactics to your skills, not the other way around. I know [@MacabreFox] is coming primarily from a storytelling point of view, but a character gets equally as much possibilities out of their comfort zone as they are in them. Take Keegan for example; I basically made his skill set to be the least suitable against the Forsworn and Kamal. What I am planning for him is gradually developing an unconventional fighting style as he gains more confidence and coming to terms with what he has to do to get out on the other side. He doesn't improve his skills, but simply knows his strengths better. 

Trying write combat authentically is hard. What I do, however, is making a fight interesting first and then fact check it with physics and such. We're a fantasy, more reasonable then the games but still very much fantasy. Taking some liberties are fine, so feel free to do things creatively as long as they are balanced and fulfil a purpose.

I'll be with limited Internet for the next seven days. Dervs and Schaft are your bosses when I'm not there. In case they disagree, hold a hotdog eating contest and obey the last one standing.