@StitchesAha, yeah, the IC has been going a bit slower than I had first anticipated or hoped - entirely the fault of the GMs, but we're learning from our mistakes. We've been active for 5 months or so, but the introductory mission hasn't been concluded yet.
I was planning on having a "Level-Up" as soon as the fellows within the Oblivion Gate had vacated it - but just the ones involved in the closing of the gate, in that instance. Anyone on the outside will level up at a different time, as their character's will have seen far less action. The GMs will decide on what skills a character has to level up in, and perhaps even offering an additional skill slot for them to place something new that their character has discovered. For example, after this gate has closed, a character who killed most of their enemies with a bow, will be offered a level up in the Marksman skill - because they've used it a lot in an alien environment, with alien foes, making it one large learning curve in that particular area. Or alternatively, we may create a skill along the lines of "How to Survive the Deadlands 101", for someone to gain a Novice skill in. Not to be worded as that, but you get the idea. Hopefully, haha.
As for how often we'll allow a skill to level up - it won't be *very* often. Probably after every pivotal quest/battle. Otherwise everyone would be a Master in everything pretty quickly.