I can optimize if I have a guidebook...i tend to be a simulationist, so I like having stuff for every contingency, too. I also get annoyed with how EXP works. You learn from failure, not success(or at least more than success). And how a level 10 cleric who's never gardened a day in his life will be a better farmer(without using magic, mind you) than someone who actually does that for a living. >.>
How do you know that the farmer isn't a level 20 Agriculturist?
I'm saying that the way the game mechanics work, the commoner who lives where he can try various things to improve his crops and find better ways to grow food and improve his own life because he has security, is actually going to be a worse farmer than the farmer who's class is actually soldier because he spends half his time beating the shit out of goblins coming to steal his corn. I think that's stupid.
It doesn't matter if he took profession (farmer) or not; his wisdom score is almost certainly high enough that he intuitively knows how to farm better than the average joe who's life is farming. And then he could have taken profession (farmer)
Anyway. I'm thinking of being a Scout, a Crusader, trying out one of the other ToB classes to see how the changes are, maybe a Ninja(I think they get Water Walk. :3), or I can be our resident mage-killer. Simply because I think it'd be fun to do. If i do, I would like to discuss the possibility of a custom prestige class with Remuthra(it says so! It suggests custom prestige classes in the book!). Maybe not one I could get yet, but still. And maybe some new enchantments. Anti-magic based ones. On the one hand, no buffs for me. On the other hand, no Phantom Killer. Or Fireball.