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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Kichwas" data-source="post: 9392104" data-attributes="member: 891">MMOs got me over this concern. Actually 3,0 started it, then MMOs finished it.I used to be a big fan of the classless, level-less systems like Hero and GURPS. But the problem I now see with them is that it's a roleplaying game. Two words, not one. And the game side is at issue here. Specialization lets each player know what their role on the 'game board' is. What they get to do for the group to 'win the game'. And specialization works to ensure each person's thing is their thing and not overshadowed by another player.A more freeform point buy system is truer to life in a civilian context. But specialized roles are how you build teams designed to achieve mission success. Some overlap and training on dealing with covering the gap when a team member goes down (this particular thing is something that makes the US military stand out above many others), but you want people focused on their goal and every member of the team should be highly valued or not brought.Translating that to a game - every player should have their space to shine, even as you build a team comp where working together is how they succeed. Specialization ensures this - even if it means some PCs don't have abilities their 'concept' would make sense for them to have. On some points, the game has to win over the story, and this is one of them.</blockquote>