Skill 0 different than Skill X?

[Occasional_Sage]

@MGRPG p. 227

An ability or skill advances when you pass a number of tests equal to its current rating and fail a number of tests equal to one less than its rating. Rating 0 and 1 abilities and skills only require one passed test to advance.

@MGRPG p. 229

Once you use Beginner’s Luck, note the skill you attempted to use on your skill list. Don’t put a rating next to it, put an X instead… One you have attempted to use that skill a number of times equal to your current maximum Nature rating, you open the skill at a rating of 2. Erase the X rating and… [w]rite 2 as the rating.

So, a new skill requires (Nature) tests, then jumps immediately to rating 2; it’s never rating 0.

Is the Advancement section suggesting that when a skill is reduced (due to sickness/injury/whatever) to zero it stays on the character sheet? Then, rather than relearning the skill from scratch, you advance it as an existing but useless skill?

If that reading is correct:

To my novice eyes it seems in a lot of ways easier to dump the skill and learn fresh. The existing skill means you’ll need to tap Nature to have a reasonable chance of success until rating 2 or more probably 3. Starting over means using ((Health or Will)/2)+1 or so dice, but doing so for free.

So assuming you tap Nature to get to rating 2, I guess it’s easier but more expensive: two successful tests, costing two Persona Points (more, if you’re not successful on the first two tests you make), rather than your Nature in tests of any outcome, for free.

Please compare this to how it would actually work in a game. I’m running my first session in a couple of weeks so this is all still coming together in my head.

[luke (Luke Wheel)]

I suspect this won’t be an issue in your first game.

You can only “dump” a skill when you have filled all 24 skill slots and want to learn a new skill. Thus, if a skill or ability is reduced to zero, you advance it as normal unless you have somehow accumulated 23 other skills are on track to learn a 25th.

[Occasional_Sage]

Yeah, that might be a bit harsh in the first session. Now, the SECOND…

Thanks for confirming my read, Luke.