I'm not sure if discussion type things are allowed here, but I'll take that risk. The question is, what are your opinions on mods that allow for more perk points (overall)? For example, http://skyrimnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=1992 has a recommended levelling curve wherein at level 100, you can have every single perk in the game. There's also http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1311296-relz-auto-perksstatslevel-plugins/, http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1287595-relwip-skyrim-elys-uncapper/page__view__findpost__p__19862713__hl__uncapper__fromsearch__1 and http://www.skyrimnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=1969 as well.

Personally, I thought XSO's/Pacing Revamp's Less Linear curve to 100 was brilliant (as it was the mod that I ended up choosing). But then I also started to consider that it would mean that I can't really have multiple characters. It'd be nigh on pointless as there is no more real need for one character to be a certain style and another to be it's own style, since the one level 100 character could do everything, and do it all well. So, I've been considering a way to configure XSO in a way that specialization would still be allowed. Now, Xodarap suggests alternative configurations, but I still wanted to ask the community--

What do you consider specialized? At what number of perk points should a single character (who does not wish to have all of the perks available to him, but finds the need to pick and choose) stop at to have a feeling of being specialized in a particular range of playstyles, but not as a master of all?

I chose a combination. I took Pacing Revamp for the level and skill slow down, and enhanced perk points because I got it before Xodarap's perk point overhaul was complete. I use 3points/2 levels (1 every level, bonus every 2 levels) and it seems to work well for me. I'm able to be specialized but not overly so; I can use useful skills like smithing and enchanting (Since there's no NPC in the game to perform those tasks. SHAME Bethesda.) and have enough to be a sword and shield warrior or dual wield king, etc. so 3/2 on points per level.

So that'd place you at roughly 120 ish perk points if you stopped at level 81 (vanilla), and 150 at level 100 (pacing revamp). How many perks are in the game in total anywho? Is it all actually a grand total of 256? Oddly enough I feel like "There's no way there could be 256 perks right now".

Elys Uncapper also allows you to determine how you want to gain skill points.

Ah I did not know that! I've updated the original post with that information. Thanks

As for the # of perks available, I counted http://uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Skills. What actually surprised me, but then again I apparently totally forgot that perks can have ranks as well.
But then, -- assuming that I didn't miscount the perks, there are 5 left (251/256).

I use the uncapper and that's it currently in the department of leveling changes.

One thing I'd actually like to see is an expansion of the perk trees, adding more "levels" to the multi-level perks so that you can keep taking them after skill level 100.

Should be doable, people are already adding/removing/changing perks with what limited editing tools we have.

My only problem with Elys uncapper is I can't add points at bonus levels like I can with EPP. So 3/2 isn't possible unless it's been changed since 2 days ago.


Don't forget the quest granted perks too.

I use enhanced perk points (5 perks every 4 levels) and one that allows you to convert dragon souls to perks (I have it set at a 3 to 1 ratio but so far have actually bought only one perk point).

I've already played through the guild and main quests vanilla, so now I feel free to play with the game a little and not just play it. When modding my games I tend to amp up everything. Increased spawns, more deadly combat, increased summoning cap (Supreme Magicka for Oblivion rocked), whatever.

I'm of the philosophy that nothing should be out of reach for my character so open up my own character development options and then mod the world to be a challenge to me.

I used to use Enhanced Perk Points, but now I use Auto Level/Skills/Perks, because it's so highly configurable, you can set which skill level you need to have for each and every perk in the game,
and even the skill gaining curve etc....it's like using Kobu's or nGCD.

I haven't used it myself but in the documentation there is this user alterable setting:

[PerksPerLevelAndAbove]
;Set the number of perks gained at each level up. If a specific level is not specified then the closest lower level setting is used

With that you should be able to achieve your goal of 3 / 2, it'll just take a lot of typing out for you as you'd need to specify exactly how the perks would be granted every other level. Tedious but doable if you really want to use it.

From the Elys Uncapper Readme.txt for version 1.4 Pre-Release December 4th 2011
"You may also tweaks the settings of this plugin to set your own caps, to modify the experience earning rate of each skill, or to change the number of perks gained at a specific level."

I still prefer Auto Skills/Perks/Levels because you can shut off each individual part of the mod, and, if you set everything right, it can also double as a "Pacer, slower leveling" mod.
Which is what I'm kind of doing right now.
My character is level 24 now, but has finished three guild line stories and is the leader of three guilds.
I would assume in Vanilla that my level would be higher, taking into account my last game (before using the mod) I was level 45 and had finished the same three guilds