Help! Tradeskill skill-ups suddenly non-existent :(

[kojuro]

Just have a question about how the tradeskill skill-up equation works.  Today I leveled my beserker's EXP level from 3 to level 10. Since that guy is a weaponsmith, I decided to take the level 10 race enhancement that adds +5 to metal working. Since doing that, I have gotten almost no skill ups when I make weaponsmith items.  In fact, I have fallen about 20 behind the cap for my tradeskill level; this is begging to hamper my ability to make items quickly, as I am beginning to fail quit a bit. Normally, I have never had any problem getting enough skill ups to keep at or near the skill cap during each level.  I also have a level 51 tailor, and he has never had this kind of skill up problem. So my question is:  why is this happening?  Please explain to me what considerations go into the skill up decision.  For example, does the fact that my character's EXP level is less than half of its tradeskill level effect somehow slow skill ups?

[Karlen]

You only get skillups when you use your highest level tradeskill abilities.   Look in your knowledge tab and find the abilities you got at level 10 and use those when tradeskilling.  You get new ones every 10 levels so remember to look.   There should be some for level 2 as well. Each new tier gives you either progress skills or durability skills.   You get skillups when you use the highest level ones, but you are going to want to use the lower level ones as well in order to get pristines.

[Calthine]

Karlen@Befallen wrote: <blockquote>You only get skillups when you use your highest level tradeskill abilities. </blockquote> You're right except for this bit.  You can get skillups even without using your abilities, but they're so few and far between that you'll fall behind your cap before you hit 20.  Gotta get those white-con Arts workin' to get them regularly! Also remember that you only get 5 point per level.  So if you dinged 10 and got all 5 skillups right away, that's it until level 11.  <a href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/guides.html?guide=909" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Understanding the Arts</a> is recommended <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[kojuro]

<p>Well dang, I think you guys hit the nail on the head - I just dinged 20 and I think I forgot to put my new tradeskill abilities on my hotbar<img src="/smilies/499fd50bc713bfcdf2ab5a23c00c2d62.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>No wonder I have had such a hard time getting to 24, lol.  Guess it will take me a while to catch up now - never new that rule about only the highest tradeskill abilities resulting in skill-ups - thanks very much for that info!</p>