Imho black skills tree should be changed and expanded... right now we can fast get rights of englishman (that is good),
waste is one of quite cheap skills too and that is ok.
Then we have murder with 60 c&d, imho for 60c&d there should be different skill like "Cripple".
It should permanently decrease humors and proficiencies of KO'd target by some number (maybe -10, -20?) and can be used only once per KO of victim.
That should do the job and slow your enemies development, but won't kill their characters.
After cripple there should be murder for 80-90+ c&d.
Imho it is sad that farmers need to get 75 s&c for hori and reasonable plenty bonus, but murderers are making alt-factories with lockets:/