I didn't quite understand your post even though I've read it a few times already. Let me try to address the points I think you are talking about. ---- Increasing aptitudes for any reason will increase the linked skills by the same amount. Decreasing aptitudes for any reason will also decrease the linked skills by the same amount. For instance. A character has a COG score of 20 and programing at 80. If it were to resleeve into a Remade (+10 COG), then its COG aptitude will be increased by 10, so its programing skill will also be increased by 10. The net result is a character with a COG of 30, and programing of 90. If the same character were to resleeve into a Case with an aptitude mod of -5, then its COG will be reduced by 5 and its programing skill will be reduced by 5. The net result will be a character with COG 15 and programing 75. ---- Aptitude maximum is the maximum amount that an aptitude may be, regardless of innate ability and aptitude bonuses. I'm a bit fuzzy on drugs that boost aptitudes though (I'll make a point to check later). For example. A character has a COG of 30. If it were to resleeve into a Menton (aptitude max of 30, +10 COG), then the aptitude bonus to COG (would normally push the character's COG to 40) would be restricted to 30 because that is the aptitude maximum. Had the character resleeved into a Case, the same thing will happen because the Case has an aptitude max of 20. If the character resleeved into a Remade (aptitude max of 40, +10 COG), then the character would have no problem since the character's aptitude isn't pushing against the aptitude maximum of the Remade morph, even with the boost to COG. Also, the normal maximum for aptitudes is 30 for character egos. You need the "Exceptional Aptitude" trait to go all the way to 40. The limit of 40 is the absolute limit set by the game. ---- In regards to restricting skill ranks depending on aptitudes, you are not the first person to bring the issue up. I remember suggesting somewhere else that perhaps the maximum ranks you can have in a skill is equal to your linked aptitude * 3 or 4. If you wish to go all the way to skill rank of 158, then a multiplier of 4 would work best. The reason why you might want to go all the way to skill rank 158 is because of several reasons. -First, the maximum penalty you may have for any test is -60. Once you hit that limit, no further penalties will apply. That will give you a target number of 98. -Second, why 98 and not 100 you ask? Well, 2 points wouldn't get used. Target number of 100 is out of range (the max test result is 99, 100 is replaced by 00). Also any test result of 99 is always a critical failure, so that is another number you don't want to use. So any skill rank beyond 158 isn't likely to get used. Actually give me a moment to rethink. Having an aptitude of 40 is nice and all, but resleeving into something like Case, but one with a -10 apt mod would drop you by 30 points... ---- Anyways, the game currently portrays morphs as tools. You should seek to find morphs that work best for you. If you are already at the upper limit of cognitive ability, you might want to consider selecting a morph that boosts aptitudes that you are not so good at.