[thawdgharp]

Okay! I have read pages 1-7 of this thread. Now I offer my lousy input.

I completely agree with the idea that leveling should be rewarded in combat more than it currently is, because gaining XP is an art. You must find a perfect target to attack. This takes some amount of effort, whereas clicking "train, energy refresh, happiness refresh, train, rinse, repeat" takes no brainpower at all.

And for the comparisons with real life combat, I have the following to offer.

Imagine you're a boxer. You have mad skills and 10 years of good solid experience. You are going to box another fellow, who has been training and boxing for about a year. This fellow you're about to box is mad rich.. he can buy the best training facilities $ can buy, pay the best trainers, etc. But STILL, there are limits as to how much better a boxer can become in a year. No amount of money can change that fact. Experience in the ring is a MUST, and will no doubt come into play in the match.