As of Alpha 21 Experimental, the newly introduced Game Mechanic called Learn by Reading is the replacement System for the current method to gain Experience. Players will no longer be able to gain Experience by simply fighting, replacing the previous Learn by Skills and Learn by Schematics functions. Player will now be able to gain Experience by Looting containers and finding Crafting Skill Magazines and reading them to gain skill points in relation to that magazines topic.
Learn by Reading System
23 new skills to govern crafting
23 new magazines added to loot
Perks no longer unlock recipes or govern crafting at all
The only schematics and recipes that still need to be read in order to craft them are mod attachments, Can of Sham, and Super Corn Seed
Some items still require perk books such as the Firefighter's Helmet, Blackstrap Coffee, Exploding Arrows, etc.
Crafting skill is increased by finding and reading magazines
Skill increases unlock recipes at certain points as well as increase quality of crafting for items with quality
Each tech level has a separate range in the skill spectrum so that you have to work up through primitive tech and then iron tech and then steel tech and being able to craft a blue stone axe no longer means you automatically can also craft a blue iron axe.
Some skills have 100 levels but others have less depending on how many unlocks there are for recipes and quality tiers.
A new skill page showing your progress has been added to the player interface (photo in gallery below)
Skill magazines can be found, bought, and/or received as quest rewards. The topic of the magazine matches the location you would expect to find it in the world.
Perks slightly affect the probability of finding like-themed magazines and parts for those recipes. Perk into shotguns and you will notice more shotgun magazines and shotgun parts appearing in the world. It isn't a significant bonus but it does prevent the player from being screwed over.
When you max out a skill, that slight probability bonus granted by perks for finding the corresponding magazine for that skill drops off. The magazine will still show up randomly in loot but no longer have a boost. The probability boost for finding matching parts will remain.
