Actually, what I would probably do is swing magic into the stat column, and then adjust skills to indicate more generic areas of effect: movement, melee, ranged, mechanical, natural ... These are placeholder examples.
But magic's importance to the system would justify making it a stat over a skill, I think.
See, my problem with this is the fact that you have no explanation for why any of these changes are good ideas. "I feel like it would be better" is what Piecewise does, and is what resulted in Transcend and Dig's broken 0-90 skill system.
Why would magic as a stat be better? Because, like all other stats, it applies to every single character and represents an inherent characteristic? Why would replacing all the skills with vauge generalities be better than just closing the only major exploit? Because people thought the suggested change was too simple and easy a fix, so more than doubling the work required in a rebalance will make them like it more?
Frankly, this is mildly insulting. I've provided a long and reasoned explanation, describing both sides of the problem--why it might be a good idea, and why it might be a poor one--and you entirely ignore everything I say by suggesting a
more extreme change which is palatable to nobody. Twice! More importantly, you did that without actually explaining yourself at all, which makes it seem like you don't want anyone to actually
participate in discussion with you, despite having forced yourself into the conversation.
* sy sighsIf you
don't want to rebalance the game, just say so. I'd support that decision, as I think it's wiser. If you
do want to rebalance the game, do you mind letting others participate in the decision making process? It'd probably work out better for you.