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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Janx" data-source="post: 6227982" data-attributes="member: 8835">key assumption there is "everyone is good at everything" with emphasis added by me.The problem with skill-based systems is that they are abhorently finite and short in comparison to what actually exists as skills.  And the PC is further unrealistically constrained.In Sci-Fi fiction, we often see people who are ill-suited to a task, rising to the challenge of solving a problem outside their expertise.  in order for that to be possible, they can't be saddled with such penalties to discourage even trying.Obviously, nobody PC or real person is good at everything.  But most people are good at a variety of things, and are adaptable enough to be functional in a pinch in others.  The areas in which they truly suck aren't usually show-stoppers (except in truly advanced technical areas outside that person's experience).RPG design in skill-based systems tended to encourage tight specialization (except in those cases somebody previously mentioned).  Which meant maximizing point allocations in the stuff that matters, forcing your PC to suck in areas that a normal person could be functional at.So, I would advocate the idea that a PC is likely good in an area of things (ex. Medicine), and probably functional in a number of other areas either by osmosis, interest, or figuring it out.There is also quite likely a variety of areas that a person might actually suck at.  That's actually harder to model (in my view).  I'm usually surprised to find what people can't do.Bear in mind, I'm of above average intelligence, and I tend to work/play with above average intelligence people.  I'm used to quickly figuring out how to do things, in order to solve problems.  So what I don't know is seldom a significant barrier.  I'm used to people with extensive lists of varied skills/experience.  I've never met anybody who was "just a doctor" and couldn't handle any other kind of problems.So in Star Trek, everybody can fly a shuttle, work a tricorder, and run some diagnostics to change out a blown crystal.  Because that's the Sci-Fi minimal standard experience as compared to our modern equivalent to driving the car, setting up the X-Box, and using our smart phone to check the weather.Now sure, there's stupid people who can't fix a flat tire, or figure out to reboot their PC when Windows locks up.  But I like to think that sometime in the future, there was a purge of stupid people before we headed to the stars.</blockquote>

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