StingingVelvet wrote on Nov 12, 2011, 14:01:

Jerykk wrote on Nov 12, 2011, 05:35:
If there is a level cap, then I guess you're right. Kinda. You can still max out all your skills, you just can't max out all your perks. Granted, the perks are pretty handy but they aren't essential. My Destruction skill is only level 20 and I'm already destroying enemies with my flamethrower. Bows seem a bit overpowered too, as I'm killing most enemies in one hit with the sneak shots and my archery is only level 30. This is on Expert difficulty, too.

The perks are pretty damn essential. For one-armed for example the first perk is a 5-long tree of "adds 20% damage." If I reach the cap without putting anything into that, how effective would I be with one-armed weapons without it? I would be doing half damage, essentially.

Similarly the lockpicking pretty much requires you to get the perks, at least so far. And since the perks require a skill level you can't just perk your way to awesome, you have to devote time to certain skills so when your level-up comes you can get the perks you want.

I think it's a brilliant system honestly, and encourages you to pick a role MUCH more than Morrowind or Oblivion did.