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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Crazy Jerome" data-source="post: 5712144" data-attributes="member: 54877">This. Thus my earlier semi-tangents on long skill lists not even being good simulation. The vast majority of people just aren't like that--that they make huge sacrifices in their core competencies to have any breadth. Sure, there are a few--so few that they stand out and people comment on them. I've noticed two types that make serious trades in this respect: 1. People that aren't quite as talented (or some other drawback) as their peers, but nonetheless intend to excel in their chosen field, no matter the cost. If being a good doctor (for them) means having no appreciable hobbies, then that's that. And right down the hall will be 3 other good doctors who are well rounded. 2. Some people at the very pinnacle of their highly competitive profession. Any edge is crucial, and they'll sacrifice whatever it takes to get it. A lot of these retire early or burn out, though. So in a decent two-tier system, I can see some room for marginal trades across tiers. These trades should be at least as inefficient as the old Basic D&D trade two points out of good but unnecessary stat for one point in a prime stat. You can be 90% adventurer and be well rounded, or you can be a 92% adventurer and sacrifice half of the well-roundedness. If you are one of those nigh-monomanical adventurers whose entire town was torched by orcs and you have trained for noting but vengance since age 2--then you can maybe go 95% and sacrifice almost all well-roundedness. You'll have problems in a lot of social settings, but hey. On the flip side, if someone wants to be a jack of all trades, let them drop down as low as 85% to 80% to be so well-rounded that they make perfect spheres feel inadequate. It should be a poor enough swap, that most people won't do it. That would be a fairly accurate reflection of the way humans act when it comes to these trades--as well as a fairly accurate reflection of what they get when they make these trades.</blockquote>

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