There are a number of ways of getting skills in the game. The main ones are from Schools and Universities. You can also develop skills yourself and learn from other people.
Universities provide skills free of charge since other citzens have contributed the research fees. In order to most effectively use resources, Karnak has become a centre of learning, so you should certainly take a trip around the universities there to get as many skills as you can. Some skills are also available only in RSO. Other than that, it is probably worth taking a look at which skills are released where before taking a long trip. An up to date list of skills available in different regions is available at http://info.atitd.net/ .
Schools charge for skills. Some skills are more useful than others. Initially at least, it may not be the most efficient use of resources to buy the skills to build items already available to you at the Retreat. Virtually all of the machinery at the Retreat is available to initiates. Some skills will be useful to you right from the start of your time in Egypt, others may be worth buying later. We have tried to identify the Recommended? Skills in order of usefulness.
The key skills that you can develop yourself depend on your passing Body tests. This means that you have to pass the Body Init test before you can start them.
| Name | Short Name | Permanent increases from | Use |
| Strength | Str | Safari | Increases weight you can carry |
| Dexterity | Dex | Acro | Off road speed and bulk you can carry |
| Endurance | End | Nothing as yet | Many things in game have an End timer. These include mining, looms, digging, cement quarrying etc |
| Speed | Spd | Cicadas | On road speed and size of fish caught |
| Constitution | Cons | Darkest Night | Timers used in toxic kitchen, Hookah, making Gunpowder |
| Focus | Foc | Thought tests | Timer when tappling rods or inspecting blades in carpentry shop |
| Perception | Perc | Indulging in wine, beer, smoking and eating masterpieces | Random increased in wood harvested, allows prospecting for marble (different marbles require different levels), prevents rods breaking when tapping rods |
You can also improve your skills by getting better at doing something. You will probably have found that your skill at making stone blades increased on the Island. Here you can gradually improve your sheet glass making ablilities, thereby reducing the likelihood of a sheet breaking.
Other people can teach you skills. Some of these are available at universities and whilst saving you having to get the skill from the university, may take so many lessons to learn (there is an interval between learning experiences) that it is much more efficient to visit the appropriate university. Other skills can only be learnt from another person, these include games.