How is this possible?
 

This has to be a bug right?

its not possible to have research below 16, because you train it at 16

https://imgur.com/JRI5SeV

yet my research sits at 5, and red

At the build master it says its 16

I get an error while doing research,

Error: string not found (8053)

Bug report or petition it on the forums. I do not know much about research but that does not look right.

Skull cap for level is lower than the number of the level?

Did you de-level? Also, as of the most recent patch, when you have a tradeskill combine success you get a string not found error message.

When you train a new skill, you get the same points as your level. Like a rogue who just hit 13 and trained Dual Wield will have 13 skill in DW but have a max skill of 65 or so.

Now, Research/alchemy/tinkering is capped by level. For Research at level 16 you have a max of 5 skill, but because you trained it at 16 you will get 16 skill. You are capped for 2 more levels. It should be white instead of red when you hit level 19.

Jauna, I leveled to 18 and the skill is now red and has a value of 15 when looking at my skills. So it least it went up. hopefully I will hit 19 soon and see what happens

Thanks everyone for answering

What Jauna said is accurate in my experience.

I was able to get to 21 and I was able to raise my skill. So no more crisis :)

Its just weird.. the skill being red throws you off completely

FIX for this Error Message:

1. Open the file eqstr_us.txt with a text editor
2. Insert the line for 8053 at the proper position.
   
   Code:

   ---

   8034 Usable
8053 You are wasting your platinum and time. Just buy the damn spell from some other fool in EC.
8500 Request Adventure

   ---

3. Save the file
4. Restart your EQ client

FIXED the fix.