The closest thing I can relate to this is my Tour of Duty in SWG:
In the beginning, you could hybridize. You could literally become whatever you wanted your character to be. My fave (and what my character identified with) was as a Teras Kasi Master and Pikeman. (aka unarmed martial artist/knuckles & polearm)
Now, did that mean that in my 3+ years in SWG I didn't have her master just about every other profession? Nope. I did. And yes, I did it IC.
BUT...
I min/maxed the impact it had on her and her character development.
For example:
She can cook, but not spectacularly.
She can use stimpacks and had some Combat medic-like awareness of healing- but was no physician.
She can dance, but just enough to blend in formal occasions to get close to her mark. Her mastery in instruments became a strong appreciation for certain types of music.
She can image design- well because that is the single BEST way to blend in as an agent.
She had connections to Spynet as a contracted Bounty Hunter- but she wasn't Bothan and didn't have good connections there.
She could do a bit of splicing- to get computer info- but wasn't really a Slicer per se.
She had an understanding of gene splicing- but all her Bioengineered pets were purchased/given to her.
And so on.
So each thing she did in her overall development created an 'aspect' of her- but she was only a true master and skilled at Unarmed and the polearm (specifically the Zabrak traditional zhaboka- or 'crescent staff'). IC wise, she got crap from others because she was completely anti-blaster and hand-held weapons. In a world where THE thing was a blaster or a 'saber, she preferred the 'intimate kill'. Saying that, she COULD use them (IG mastery), but was really really not a fan and not such a great shot. But, had its uses to slow targets down so she could get her hands on 'em!
So... that's how I think of the ability to 'multi-master' things. Max and Min the impact and IC skill... but still keep it as a part of the character.
And avoid the Mary Sue.
Character growth (and interaction) is stymied when you're uber at everything!!
In the beginning, you could hybridize. You could literally become whatever you wanted your character to be. My fave (and what my character identified with) was as a Teras Kasi Master and Pikeman. (aka unarmed martial artist/knuckles & polearm)
Now, did that mean that in my 3+ years in SWG I didn't have her master just about every other profession? Nope. I did. And yes, I did it IC.
BUT...
I min/maxed the impact it had on her and her character development.
For example:
She can cook, but not spectacularly.
She can use stimpacks and had some Combat medic-like awareness of healing- but was no physician.
She can dance, but just enough to blend in formal occasions to get close to her mark. Her mastery in instruments became a strong appreciation for certain types of music.
She can image design- well because that is the single BEST way to blend in as an agent.
She had connections to Spynet as a contracted Bounty Hunter- but she wasn't Bothan and didn't have good connections there.
She could do a bit of splicing- to get computer info- but wasn't really a Slicer per se.
She had an understanding of gene splicing- but all her Bioengineered pets were purchased/given to her.
And so on.
So each thing she did in her overall development created an 'aspect' of her- but she was only a true master and skilled at Unarmed and the polearm (specifically the Zabrak traditional zhaboka- or 'crescent staff'). IC wise, she got crap from others because she was completely anti-blaster and hand-held weapons. In a world where THE thing was a blaster or a 'saber, she preferred the 'intimate kill'. Saying that, she COULD use them (IG mastery), but was really really not a fan and not such a great shot. But, had its uses to slow targets down so she could get her hands on 'em!
So... that's how I think of the ability to 'multi-master' things. Max and Min the impact and IC skill... but still keep it as a part of the character.
And avoid the Mary Sue.
Character growth (and interaction) is stymied when you're uber at everything!!
