Your skill advancement is based on yuor level. You can find the modifiers on several websites including www.castersrealm.com As for the negative exp modifiers, don't let them get you down. Iksar make the best Monks, they have better vision, higher natural AC and natural regeneration. Iksar also make the best Necromancers, due in no small part to natural regeneration. And frankly, Kunark is undead Heaven, plenty of places to level your Necro. My leveling lines always have characters in Kurns Tower from 10-20. The negative modifiers are overplayed. Would you rather level a Halfling Ranger to level 65 in 10 days less played, or invest the extra time and have yourself a Troll Shaman, which is the best race/ class combo in the game? As for your Monk versus your Pally in duels, A Pally can be a monster dueling, with LoH you basically have to kill him twice. Monks, Rogues and other melee damage classes, generally don't duel as well, you never see them on PvP servers.