i have had this problem too (although i'm just playing on a server, so i'm not a GM). I noticed that when playing on semi-legit servers and setting the skill to 252, tracking works fine
. but when starting from scratch on a legit server, i get the same problem. there are no NPC/PC's that appear in the window that pops up, and there is no way for me to raise that skill's level (ie ranger GM).
EDIT: I have also noticed the same thing with taunt. in legit servers, i am unable to level the skill, but in semi-legit servers when i set the skill level to 252 it seemsl to work fine.