It's not as much as you would think though, due to the raw exp gain being used to raise level. You could be lower level and have more skills in the 150-200 rage, being more powerful over all then a guy with 2 250+ skills and bunch of barely used stagnant skills.
This is correct. I’m level 29 not because I have maximum utilization in my skills but because of overs-saturation from XP gain in Blacksmithing.
Even at 300 blacksmithing I gain a significant amount of XP every item I craft a wicked 2-hander.
But if you look at my skills I have 5 focus points in athletics and I’ve barely cracked 130 skill points. is after MANY fights where I routinely kill 30 men. My last castle siege I killled 122. No cheese just pure Rambo and AI walking through their broken walls. I earned 1 pint in Athletics and 1 point in Polearm.
I have 5 focus points in riding and I just barely got my level 75 Skill point perk. I can’t kill 30 per battle from my horse but I can usually pick up 15 total or so when I kill fleeing enemies. Sometimes much higher.
Even if Level does usually represent your overall skill progression and blacksmiths are the outlier, I’m not sure level has any meaning in this game (other than attribute points earned).
For example, you could make a character with 5 focus points highly functioning skills and then 5 focus pints in skills that are not progressing properly (i.e. Engineering) or that you don’t progress (I.e. Scouting but you delegate to a companion) and your character would remain low level but still be highly functional.
Try maxing Stewardship, Charm, and Leadership. Those skills actually level, the perks (I think) are actually implemented, and your character will be quite capable but low level even if you didn’t/couldn’t level any other skills.
That has been my somewhat limited experience anyway.
Edit:
Sorry I missed the second part of the question.
What do I think of the current leveling speed?
Regarding character leveling speed, I don’t think it matters. Character level, apart from earning a small number of attribute points is largely meaningless. Someone can correct me if I’m wrong. Also, with so many skills not functional you don’t really need the extra attribute points.
Regarding skill leveling speed it needs a lot of balancing and rework.
Some skills level passively and way to quickly with no effort (Stewardship).
Some skills like (Blacksmithing specifically) require minimal effort and with proper knowledge you can power level the sill to beyond max and your Character level into the mid 20’s in no time. Blacksmithing by the way is the only semi-viable way to level companions and get them some focus points and attribute points in the skills they need (assuming those skills are working). This is also useful for your level 1 family members although they can be leveled
“naturally” with more success than a companion.
Some skills don’t level at all for NPCs that lead parties (Scouting and perhaps Leadership?)
Some skills level at a snails pace even with a ton of effort and focus points (Engineering, Medicine, Trade, and numerous others. All melee combat, I’m not sure).
Many skills haven’t had their perks implemented so I know I haven’t tested them out.
None of the skills I have tested, except maybe Charm and Leadership, “feel” right when it comes to their leveling speed. And Leadership only applies to the MC as I haven’t seen NPCs level this effectively, and I also lead a ton of armies otherwise I don’t think Leadership will level. So if you want to play through as a Mercenary (which isn’t really supported) or passively as a Trader (which isn’t fully supported) your Leadership won’t level.
Skill leveling is all over the place.