Returning to the game after a very long break (since the mid 90's) and I had a question on this command.

I was RP'ing with some random group mates as a paladin at rank 2 or 3, and saw a prompt when I leveled that I had not set a focus for skill learning. I've read the help file, and I successfully set my focus, and as I ranked from 4,5,6 I saw the benefits immediately. I'm just trying to work out if I'd see this benefit on any character, if I saw this prompt as a result of rp'ing well enough that an imm noticed, or if this would only benefit an empowerment class?

I'm glad CF has a forum now for these questions, I'd hero'd two characters way back when, and I think I've learned more reading here and the wiki than I did in hundreds of hours on those characters.

Once they have practiced a certain number of skills (I don't know the number). Elves pretty much get it from level 1, but I don't think anyone has to wait beyond level 3 or 4.

AFAIK you have to have some number of skills (possibly ten) at >= 1% in order for "skill gains at level-up" to start kicking in.

I bet ten is a pretty close bet.