Originally posted by Molasses:

am i the only one who has trouble keeping their skills above 30? once you hit that point, leveling up starts to take much longer and every death results in 2 or 3 points being taken away. i REALLY don't want to have to use AHK to grind because at that point i may as well just cheat. specifically i feel like sneak is the absolute worst because it barely levels up in practical use, since you are normally only sneaking for about 10 seconds tops and a level of sneak around 30 usually requires a good 5 minutes of sneaking. I also feel like leveling up sneak should increase your speed as well as stamina drain.

I've played through all the content several times (solo vanilla) and honestly I don't ever even look at the skills... I just play the game and do my best to NOT die.

I tend to follow the progression, meaning I stay within the biome I am currently playing in until I have unlocked all the new recipes and blueprints for that biome. I upgrade all the gear I feel i need to upgrade ( I dont always upgrade every single item to maximum lvl), and I thoroughly prepare before fighting the Boss of that biome, then slowly proceed into the next biome and repeat the process.

I pay attention around me at all times... I keep my rested bonus active at all times.... I keep myself fully upgraded and fed with the best foods available to me (at all times) even when just doing things around the base.... I EXPECT trouble at every turn, and I escape when I know i am outmatched... I WALK everywhere and run/jump only when i need to escape.

I do not die very often, but when I do, it's usually because I let my guard down, which just reminds me to stay more aware.

The actual numbers (skill levels) don't really matter nearly as much as staying prepared and managing your stamina properly.