All skills can be important. But with limited points to buy skills starting out, are there some skills that you think might be over or underrated?

I was really worried about travel and healing. But, they don't seems quite as necessary to place a lot of points into.

Your thoughts on this or other skills.

Thanks,

HN

Travel is critical.

I get a lot of mileage out of Song, Awe, and Hunting.

I've never uesed Heal.

I think it is going to depend on the type of campaign being run to some extent. But from what I am seeing, in order of priority:

Weapon Skill 3 (for at least 2 members)
Travel
Courtesy
Hunting
Song
Awe
Inspire
Healing

Travel is awkward as everyone in the Company needs to raise this skill. Otherwise any character with a lower rank is likely to keep instigating Hazards anyway.

I agree that Travel is really important, however, raising it doesn't counterract the possibility of instigating a hazard. Everybody has a 1 in 12 chance of that happening. So really, it's up to the player whether they raise it drastically. Personally, I think it is more important for somebody with a high base fatigue rating to have better travel, whereas somebody carrying next to nothing really need not worry too much about an extra one or two points added. That's what I've found so far with my group anyway. Also, if somebody has a decent Lore, they can negate the effects of somebody elses poor Travel rating anyway.

I believe that a Hazard occurs when a failed roll produces a Sauron symbol, which makes the skill important.

One of my players got rather grumpy when, at the end of the Marsh-bell adventure, the party realized not one of them had a single point in Athletics to climb up the rope used to ring the bell while Mewlips attacked. Instead they had to hole up in the wine cellar and fashion a crude ladder, then sneak out to the bell tower and climb up. So, I wouldn't undervalue Athletics.

doctheweasel
I see now that you are correct. Thanks for the correction

Not only does my group tend to use Athletics a lot anyways, but seeing as it's the way that you flee from combat I'd rate it as a pretty high priority.

My work here is done.

(flies away)

doctheweasel,
Oh! Who was that... masked... erm... ferret-like... hmm, you know, never mind! I really don't wanna know.

I thought people might rate Battle as a pretty good skill to have. Saved one of my players in our game. Having 2 extra bonus dice to use during combat (especially when used to boost a protection roll).

This.