Actually, you *can* specialize now in one or two weapons or spells. The problem is, you don't have many skill points left over to do pretty much anything save the the "necessity" skills. The ability to experiment is missing; and some of the skills are badly in need of tweaking. Pickpocketing is outrageously powerful. Lockpicking doesn't work.
But the game is extremely good. At this point, it's a matter largely of balance, and I suspect Larian will get the mix right. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Well here's my level 28 warrior's skills (purely experimental because i'm bored dying to a rather hard boss in Act 4 <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/puppyeyes.gif" alt="" /> *sniffle*):
Warrior => Two handed weapon => Slashing => Accuracy 6, Damage 6, Critcal Hit 5, Deathblow 5. (I would add accuracy to 10 (and damage) but I have no money left, unlearnt too many skills <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/badsmile2.gif" alt="" />)
Wizard => Defensive Magic (I believe) => Party => Healing 2.
Wizard => Shaman Magic (Forgot exact name) => Lightning Storm 5 (i'm experimenting atm with skills).
Warrior => Defensive Skills (Again I don't know exact names) => Armour Usage 5
Warrior => Defensive Skills => Evading 5.
Now, that's all up to level 28 i've enough points to add to. To me, that really isn't "Specialising". If I removed the wizard magic, I could perhaps max out 2 damage forms with two handed weapons (slashing and crushing perhaps), but that's it.
Now, don't take this as whining, i'm simply stating a fact that Beyond Divinity succeeds at being different from all other RPG's, but for the wrong reasons. All other RPG's i've played allow you to at least specialise in a weapon type (i.e. longsword) and a melee style (one or two handed fighting). A warrior is a master of melee... yet all I succeed in being is an evasive two handed sword holder who can cast sparks and heal the ever-in-need-of-health Death Knight.
I've grown to like the skill system (a lot), but I agree that more skill points are needed.
I can manage fine without (Except this one enemy, who is extremely hard), so it doesn't ruin Beyond Divinity (as you said), I just feel it'd be more fun to have more to play with. I feel too withstrained and that in itself is linear in a sense.
