If you find an item that gives +x to y skill, and a character that does not [yet] have access to that skill, do they still get the bonus from that skill? For example, I found a piece of armor that gave something like +12 to Iron Skin (I believe) that my bard is wearing. I have not unlocked this expert skill with that character yet. So on my skill sheet, it's got 12 for Iron Skin, but it's in grey. Does she still get the benefit of those 12 skill points now, or not until she has unlocked access to that skill?

And would it be different if it were a bonus to a skill that the character won't get? Like something with a bonus to critical strike on my fighter..

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Naugrim:
Does she still get the benefit of those 12 skill points now, or not until she has unlocked access to that skill?<hr></blockquote>

She gets the benefits of the 12 skill points now. The reason it is greyed out is because she can't improve that skill until she gets to 100 in the related stat (Vitality, I believe). The same goes for any item that gives you a plus in a skill your character does not have access to either because of his/her class or level.