Skills ( Morrowind ) Skills in are a classification of abilities and how well a specific task is performed . Each skill is placed in one of three specializations : Combat , Magic , or Stealth . And each skill is paired with a primary attribute that affects the chance of successfully using the skill . Increasing skill in increases the effectiveness in using the skill itself ( i . e . points in Armorer lead to improved ability to repair armor ) , or in using spells associated with that skill ( i . e . points in Conjuration improves effectiveness of Conjuration spells ) . There are a total of twenty - seven skills available in Morrowind . Each character class has five ' major ' skills , five ' minor ' skills , and the remainder seventeen count as ' miscellaneous ' skills . Raising a skill will allow for an increase in the paired attribute as each level is obtained . Skills are divided into three specializations : Combat , Magic , and Stealth . Specialization . During the character creation process , it is possible to choose one of the three categories of specialization : combat , magic , or stealth . Characters receive + 5 to all skills of their specialization , which is applied to the starting skill level . All skills which fall under the specialization will also be easier to increase . Major vs . minor vs . misc . In Morrowind , if a skill is listed as major , minor , or miscellaneous , they will play a role in how fast a character level is gained and how much an attribute can increase . Only by raising skills in the major and minor section can a level be gained . Each time 10 skill points are gained , in any of the major and minor skills , a message to rest will appear . Once the player rests , a level up menu will appear with the ability to select which attributes to raise . Only three attributes per level may be raised . If a skill is designated " misc " then its advancement will not count towards level progression . During character creation , which section a skill is placed in will also partly determine the starting skill level . Increasing skills . Skills can be raised to a maximum level of 100 . It is possible to temporarily exceed this cap through the use of enchanted items and potions . The higher the level , the greater the effect the skill has . In Morrowind , skill progression involves the active use of a particular skill . Each time a skill is used successfully , the skill ' s progression will raise a percentage . Once that reaches 100 % , the skill will increase 1 point . The percentage increased is dependent on two factors ; the skills specialization , and if it is a major or minor skill . Permanent increase . There are three ways to increase skills permanently * : < nowiki > * < / nowiki > Going to jail may lower skills ( even if they are at 100 ) , and they may be raised again afterwards through the above - listed means . Temporary increase . Skills may be temporarily raised above 100 with the use of : Skill bonuses . Each race may grant bonuses to the starting value of certain skills ( 5 – 7 total bonuses for the vanilla races ) . In addition , each class will increase the starting value of certain skills ( classes also affect the rate at which skills are increased ) . Racial / Class bonuses will not increase a skill above 100 ; They only serve as starting values .