[imported_Nemo]

Okay guys, since we're talking about the rate of the gains I will post an actual report. My friend and I spent all night macroing (From 1:30 AM to 12:30 PM which is now), and here are the results.

My char who was using a skinning knife and a wooden shield(s):
Swords +9.9% (95.6) [.8%/hr]
Anat +9.0% (94.9) [.75%/hr]
Tactics +6.1% (74.1) [.5%/hr]
Healing +2.8 (70.3) [.2%/hr]
Parrying +2.4 (67.7) [.2%/hr]

Note: The Parrying figure might be a little bit off, as we started with 8 wooden shields for each of us, and fought until and beyond all of them lost durability and broke. Speaking of which the devs might want to take a look at the durability loss for shields. I seem to be destroying 7-8 shields by the time it takes me to break one weapon.

Friends char using a dagger:
Fencing: +12.8 (91.7)
Anat +10.9 (96.8)
Tactics +7.4 (74.2)
Healing +4.6 (71.0)
Parrying +3.5 (67.2)

This is pure uninterrupted macroing. The gain on swords/fencing/anat/tactics look good. They are an acceptable rate. The claim for the combat skill gains is that it will take about 1 day to GM, but in reality this is far from the case. Starting at 50 it would take (.8 skill/hr / 50 skill) about 62.5 hours to GM. Experimentally this seems like an accurate figure, as I have easily macroed combats for 40+ hours to get to where I am now. Even with this example, I feel like the rate of swords/fencing/wrestling is still fine. However, the other skills should be brought up to this rate as well. I mean seriously, healing at .2% per hour? Thats ~250 hours of STRAIGHT macroing. No one should have to macro that long for COMBAT skills!?!?!!!!!!!!!!

I still haven't macroed magery or archery for long periods of time but I feel like the gain would be just as if not more excruciating as the others.

/agreed