Well, I kind of don't like that. I mean, we already have to spend TONS of XP in order to effectively cast masteries. I mean, it's not like the mystical skills are at a “low” rating or anything. They're at a medium rating. I mean, players who were not innate magi especially are experiencing hardship as it is because of having to buy up all those skills. The +1 perk was just a cool one that made sense. It made things worth it for wanting to get all 12 levels of a certain skill. I see the +1 perk as apples and the combat bonuses as oranges. There's got to be SOME kind of extra benefit that makes it worth it to buy the skills or even become magi beyond the expensive masteries. I mean, it's not like you could have added the +1 bonus to defending a theology roll, it was just there when casting stuff.
Doubt you'll agree with me, but it's just my take. I'll leave it at that.
Steven