Tactics is tricky to just rely on passive experience, especially with back-training, because it really only moves with 3+ engaged opponents.

It sounds like you're close to the soft cap for these critters. Have you tried actively training it, i.e. completing the analyze combo? I know you said you used the verb but just analyzing only awards a trickle of experience, it's much better to complete the combo. That usually awards several mindstates worth of exp.

I should have mentioned that I have done this combo, yes, for hours on end, and nothing of late, though a few days ago it locked. I also have tried the full combo of Ana <critter> and nothing now. Maybe you are right and I have moved past them exp wise, but it just didn't seem that way since it locked fairly decently a few days back, as well as the skill being lower than my Defenses. I mean, I know it is a lore skill, but I would still think that it would train wherever my defenses trained at, thus my being curious... though maybe it follows along with weapon training instead? I know that critters don't always teach weapons and defenses to the same amount and The weapons I am back training are all a good 50-80 points behind that, so can't compare them as yet... so maybe it is that? If that is the case, then I understand, but if not, then I maybe broke something, again, somehow lol. Anyways, thank you once again for your time and assistance.

Hmmm, That is a good possibility indeed, and aye, I kind of guessed it was going to sit where it was until I moved up the ladder, but that may be a little while since I am changing primary weapons and armors (thus the back training lol). I thank you for your time and all assistance that has been given.

>I also believe that critters have some level of random number generation involved with their stats and skills, within a narrow range. The broad ranges of the critter appraisal categories have made this difficult to prove but I have had instances in the past where several critters in a row have left me at <skill xxxx> 0/34 and then the next critter of the same type moves it up to 3/34.

This is very true, and the range is more random spawn within a broad range and critter appraisal ranges are expansive -- but the random variance is large enough of a swing to notice in the appraisal in edge-cases. You could roll the lowest possible critter variety for hours than pop a series of highest possible outcome variety.

Tactics will by nature train slower than defenses since you can't execute tactics commands anywhere near as often as your defenses are being checked.

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"Warrior Mages don't bother covering up their disasters.
They're proud of them." -Raesh, on history

Thank you both for your time and information, and I apologize for not having responded before this, but I have been away from my computer for weeks now and thus haven't checked forums, much less played, in quite awhile. I will take to heart the information about the randomness of the spawn difficulty and also the thought that was presented on how Tactics possibly soft caps out before other defenses, and I will certainly practice with the charged maneuvers as well (I was just avoiding them so I didn't end up killing the targets too often lol).

Once again, thank you both.