Skills and X Points
Fun!
So, let me use my own character sheet as reference to confirm how all of this works. It looks like we have skills, hobbies, and languages grouped together. I assume we can use XP to add to any of those three categories. Alternatively, we can add to any of our attributes, 1 XP per point added. Does that cover all the different ways to use XP?
My first skill listed is Musketry/Rifles, Level 1. It looks like I can use three XP to go to Level 2. Or I could use the same amount to learn a different military skill at Level 1. Like Musketry/Pistols, or Demolition, or whatever. Or I could use one XP to choose a miscellaneous skill from the PSA chart (e.g., camouflage or tactics or whatever). Yes? Also, if I choose to level up in Musketry/Rifles, does that mean I'm promoted to Corporal? (The same way a Fighter in AD&D would become a Warrior.) Or is Rank a completely separate thing and something you will explain/handle later on?
My second skill is Natural Sciences, Level 1. Looks like it would take all five of my XP to go to Level 2 here. Is that a reasonable choice this early? Even though it would mean I'd have to put off learning Rus for now? Similar to above, do I also have the option to become Level 1 in one of the other categories (Classical Education or Medicine) instead? At the same cost (five XP)?
Do I have the option to add Engineering as a third skill? If so, does it cost four XP (as shown in the chart for Level 1)?
My vocation is listed as climbing. Should that be moved to the hobby section, with Railroad Hand being inserted here (which is what we decided during character generation)? Are we capable of learning additional vocations? For instance, you said IC that we are about to build a fort. Might it make sense to take the opportunity to train under someone else in the company to learn how to be a carpenter? If you do something like that and play a more significant role in building the fort as a result, does that earn additional XP, like using a NWP might in AD&D?
My one hobby listed is politics. But (continuing the thought above) I suppose climbing needs to be added here. Setting that detail aside, does it ever make sense to use XP to develop additional hobbies, or are skills and attributes almost always a better choice?
My one language is English. You've already said we could (should) use one XP to begin learning Rus, which makes sense. At this point, there's no good reason to learn any of the other languages, right? (Except, maybe, Latin Literacy, if you just wanted to develop your character.)
I think I know the answers to all of those questions, but since this is our first opportunity to spend XP I figured it was better to confirm everything. (Plus, I thought the Q&A might benefit everyone else as well, not just me.)
I imagine the simplest thing to do at this point is use 3 XP to level up in Musketry/Rifles, 1 XP to learn basic Rus, and add the other XP to an attribute? (In which case I'd choose STA to bump my score from 59 to 60.)
Alternatively I could use four XP to add Engineering to my skill set (if that's an option), and use the other XP on Rus.