Being one of those reprehensible powergamers, I usually go with hobo, although chain smoker isn’t without its charm either. I’m partial to trapper, as it nets you two skill points for the cost of one point, and the bear trap is useful, but it’s kinda overshadowed by the hobo. Frankly, I find that a lot of professions just aren’t worth the point investment for what amounts to an extremely minor bonus that will likely become irrelevant on the first house you manage to loot. I’m a fan of roleplaying with benefits, and right now the benefit of choosing a positive cost profession, especially a costly one (e.g. Otaku), is a waste of points unless you’re doing it for challenge/full-RP. Those extra points into your core attributes make a big difference, mechanically, for the length of that character’s lifetime. A strength 14+ hobo with krav maga or taekwondo will be likely better at surviving, even with a nasty cold, than someone without those +4 points, and will be downright lethal after they’ve slept off their 4-6 days worth of addiction. I don’t know about you, but something seems a little ass-backwards about the profession system.
