No it wouldn't because some skills go together

I agree that skill choice seems to be somewhat unimpactful at this point. There are few skills, and many points.

I'd like to see more skills. I feel this is the right choice as there are few demigods to play. Each demigod should be able to be played in a multitude of ways.

Considering you could end up with all the skills in DOTA, I dont understand what your getting at by comparing them?

Which also puts you at risk, because if you dont do it fast enough, and everyone levels significantly higher then you, they will steamroll you .

Not agreed in that form, I think that's a fairly weak solution given the current leveling rates, you'd plateu about half way through every game. I hold the continual increase in power of a demigod to be important, otherwise matches will end up stale. If level 15 was as strong as you can get base defences would be slow to destroy and it'd take quite a few sucessful pushes to get over.

The ideal solution would be to keep the same level cap and extend the skill trees further so you still only reach the level cap at the end of the occasional game but can continue to focus skill points into a few skills for longer and you won't have all the skills at the level cap.

Of course, extending the skill trees could be more effort than it's worth (more balance tweaking to be done)

So alternatively you could try slower leveling rates (longer games, with more chances to grind down defences before getting near the level cap, IMO would make the game dull) ... Or make base defences quicker to overwhelm (You get shorter games decided before demigods have leveled too high)

Personally I don't find it too bad, most games I've played end at around level 17 so I've only just about finished leveling skills if I left out stats. The only solution I'd see as an improvement over the current system would be actually extending the skill trees.

I see what you're saying, but you're trying to solve a problem that isnt there.

If a player diffuses his points across all skills, all of those skills will be negligible anyway. So really, people already focus their points into a few branches. For instance, as Torchbearer I roll all my points into Circle of Flame first, Fireball second, and attribute upgrades third. Once those are maxed out, I can have a little more fun exploring, maybe find something that works better.

Infact, I believe your suggestion would cripple the game. As it is, a player can explore the entire tree of his Demigod in a single game, assuming he gets to 25. This allows him to see what he likes, and see whats effective, and what can be used in tandem. Your level cap would result in people sticking to the same choices in match after match, and would result in anyone who tried something new being berated by their team mates for 'not using what works.'

As an added bonus, a level 25 game is majestic, all skills are being used to their full potention. The Rook raises towers, then absorbes them, rolls boulders and hammer-slams while his trebuchet, archers, and tower of light all fire into the masses of creeps. The Torch bearer is raining ice, throwing fireballs, freezing, burning, and exploding everything around him.

This is important because a level 25 game has already gone on long enough, and it needs to be interesting and engaging.

"What works" should not be cut-and-dry. Players SHOULD be able (and encouraged) to experiment. Giving players so few skills and so many points only leads to cookie cutters.

Again, the ideal solution is more skills, not less skill points, so I agree with you there.

I also agree with deadmg but if stardock could make more skills that would be best, yet that might take a decent amount of work which is unessary.

I agree with that concept. That way skills stay useful as well, even when everyone has a huge amount of health from armor and attribute bonuses.

Instead of limiting the levels why not increase the final tally of abilities but make the players specify specific trees they will follow rather then having the option for everything. With some careful thought you could break up the abilities into linia trees that had to be preselected before achieing them. You would be prevented from achieving certain skills but it would force people to play as a team and cover different aspects of play.

I agree, so you would increase the number and range of abilities but limit the number of trees you choose. So in some cases it would be wise to hold back before commiting to certain lines of abilities. This could bring in a nice rock, paper, scissor style of play where timing, choice, and tactics play a larger role. This was utiliesd to a degree in Company of Heros with command points but i always felt they didnt captialise on it fully as a case in point you only got one choice that could dam you if you went wrong. 

One extra advantage of this is the longevity it could add to the game. Since i first started playing demigod i have been a little concerned with what staying power it might posses or lack there of. By offereing different styles of play to each character you are in effect challenging players to play the scenario they are currently in rather then just rehashing the same old game routine. No doubt after the game has been out for a month or so, the more hardcore players will have selected an order of which skills to play that works best in most situations and will likely stick to it. Others will then copy and that will be the norm till GPG introduces balance changes.

Food for thought anyways i think... thoughts?

I agree. The current cap is too low for a white knuckle five vs game. I often hit max level before a solid push is achieved. Granted I set everything to hard and creeps to weak but still...

I think this title should have an epic feel to it and not be perceived as merely a DotA knockoff.

/agree

More skills would be best. But if that isnt possible, this would be the best remedy.