Harliquinn wrote:
<snip>However, where I think we have a fundamental difference of opinion is that I believe Martial Characters have the unique ability to broadly apply their 'martial prowess' across weapons and weapon groups, using both skills and Talents. Martials should really be keeping 2-3 weapon skills maxed as a rule in order to truly capitalize on what Experts/Casters can't do.
I listed what I felt were core Martial skills earlier - melee (choice), ranged (choice), mettle, athletics. There are 2 open skill slots to max out or count as 4 skills of choice.
Those options include Battle, other martial skills and everything else the martial character is going to do. There is some flexibility, but there are also themes for characters. Your knights are likely to use broadswords, lances and shields. Your legionnaires are likely to use gladii, pilums and potentially tower shields. To use the shield as a weapon for the knight means adding a 3rd weapon skill. At that point the knight has no ranged weapon still. He might be able to max out 6 skills / level. He's looking at knight commander, so the knight is looking at melee (balanced), melee (polearms), melee (unbalanced) [for the shield], battle, ride... 1 skill left - ranged? Mettle? Athletics? Any skill to be used outside of combat?
They can do what you describe, but you can't argue for them to do that and then say they have plenty of room to do non-combat stuff too.
With a sweep of his hat,
Paul