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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nemesis Destiny" data-source="post: 5577086" data-attributes="member: 98255">So far the best implementation of a skill system that fits both the "small(ish) list of broad skills" and also the "huge list of insanely nuanced skills" that I have seen is found in Shadowrun (up to SR3 - haven't played SR4, so can't comment on that).The game lets you pick from an array of very broad skills, such as Athletics, Firearms, Stealth, etc, but then you can have up to two levels of specialization on top of that in the form of "concentrations" which break the skill down. You still have (and have to take) a broad base skill, but it suffers as your specialization increases. Your Firearms skill loses a rank, but your ability with Pistols improves. Beyond that, you have "specializations" that worked the same way, reducing your concentration, but making you a master of a specific, narrow area of that skill, such as Ares Predator Heavy Pistol.It worked well, and felt pretty realistic in the scope of the game's other mechanics. And the best part is that it left the choice up to the player. You could specialize and very cheaply (in terms of build points/karma) gain a high rating in your skill, but if you were stuck improvising out of your preferred element, you'd be hosed. Likewise, if you spent a lot of points taking ranks in the generalized skills, you would seldom be caught in an area where they wouldn't apply, but it was costly to do so (or you'd have fewer skill ranks).Further, if you didn't have the appropriate skill, you could do just like in D&D and default to your attribute (albeit at an increasingly large penalty as you default up from your specialty).The game also encouraged players to fill in any blanks with creativity, much like the Craft (thingy) and Profession (odd job) do in 3.x, and my suggested houserule does in 4th.Probably my favourite skill system that I've played or GMed (right up there with Chaosium's BRP). Just too bad about all the other issues that game has....</blockquote>

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