ToME: the Tales of Maj'Eyal

When I put a point into magic, raising it to 51, it goes from green to grey in color. What's the significance of that?

EDIT: 51, not 50

Means it can't go any higher for your character level. There's a hard limit of 60 for level up stat investment (though items and talents obviously can take you higher), and another limit based on your level times... something. Somewhere between two and three, I think -- you can max a stat around level twenty seven or so, iirc.

Anyway, unless you've got a serious penalty to your magic stat, you'll be able to raise it again next level, until your base magic (sans item, talent bonuses... I think sans racial modifiers too, but I'm not sure.) hits sixty. After that, the only way to get your base stat to go higher is a oneshot item that involves spoilery info about the late game

Great, thanks.

LOL, I guess I would have figured that out if I had tried to put more than one point in that level.

Isn't there also a one-shot item that involves somewhat less spoilery info about the early/middle-game? ...or does that one not do quite the same thing?

Nah, doesn't do the same thing, iirc. Only way to actually get the base stat over 60 is, so far as I know, that late game particularity. I forget whether the early/mid game stuff just gives you a bonus (akin to a passive talent, ferex.) or adds to your base (probably the former, though.).