Enchanter Tom
First Post
I find skill systems to be at odds with the archetype class system. The thief class is a perfect example of this. Archetypes need to be broad enough to accommodate multiple character types. Introducing skills, even class based ones, has the effect of not only defining what a particular class is good at, but also at the same time, defining what other classes cannot do. The more of these specialized classes you create, the narrow the range of characters will be. I much prefer a game with only a handful of classes than one with dozens of one trick pony options.
Bingo. It really depends on the purpose that classes serve within the system. If classes are professions, it makes sense for them to have special skills. If classes are archetypes, then you don't need that specialization.