hello,
i am french, i hope my english will not hurt your ears or eyes too
much :)

the "community" of gamebook french fan's are divided
by a question, and since there a lot of wise people here,
"we" were thinking that it could be a good idea if i
ask the question here :)

"we" have a problem about this rule :

"your skill score can never exceed its INITIAL value"

so, some think that it mean if you have 10 skill initial
value, and you find a magical sword (like in Scorpion Swamp
after killing Grimslade)adding + 2 skill,
your score stay at 10.

other think, that your skill stay at 10, but you have 2 more
points hidden, just in case you lose 1 or 2 point later, to
help you stay at 10 ^^

i personally think that there a difference between initial
value and actual value.
initial value never change (unless it is written , but it's
very rare)
actual value may exceed initial value,(with weapon or armor).
if not, why could we find the magical sword of Grimslade at
the beginning of the book (with no way to lose skill point
before) ,and why the skill of Titanium Cyborg are
18? (because of his equipments).

so how are you playing this rule ?

is there an official rule somewhere about it ?

whatever the answer is, having a bonus for skill with
weapon or armor are not logical (if i need to test my skill,
i will not jump higher if i own a magical sword that give
+ 2 skill^^)
each bonus for weapon or armor should be "attack strenght" bonus and
not skill.