How do I handle occupational skill points for fighting and firearms skills with unspecified specializations?

Question

I'm noting an idiosyncrasy in some of the skills afforded by occupations, specifically the Firearms and Fighting skills.

For example - Sometimes, it will say "Fighting (Brawl)". Other times it will just simply say "Fighting".

These 2 skills (Fighting and Firearms) appear to be overarching categorical terms for a wide variety of specializations, as evidenced by page 96 of the Investigator's Handbook:

Some broad skills are broken into specializations. A player may spend skill points to purchase any skill specialization. The generic skill cannot be purchased. Thus a player may spend points in Fighting (Brawl) or Fighting (Spear) but not simply Fighting.

Does this mean that the player can choose whatever specialization they want?

If so, while it wouldn't really be all that lore-friendly, is there anything mechanically stopping, say, a Bounty Hunter (which only says Fighting and Firearms) from choosing Fighting (Flail) and Firearms (Artillery)?

Obviously, such a thing might be vetoed by the Keeper, which is fine, but I'm just trying to make sure that I understand the rule here.

Answer 1

You choose the specialization when it is not listed.

Several other career choices have unlisted Fighting specializations:

• Assassin
• Stage Actor
• Bank Robber
• Bootlegger
• Thug
• Street Punk
• Gangster Boss
• Gangster Underling
• Laborer, Unskilled
• Private Investigator
• Sailor, Naval
• Soldier/Marine
• Stuntman
• possibly more.

You can guess how most of these careers would come bundled with a particular type of fighting more specific than just brawling: the assassin is exemplary in this respect.

Also, note this excerpt from the Fighting skill description:

A myriad of fighting styles exist, each with its own pros and cons. Martial arts are simply a way of developing a person’s Fighting skill. Decide how the character learned to fight, whether it be formal military training, martial arts classes, or learned the hard way as a result of street-fighting. The term "brawl" might feel too crude for a skilled martial artist and could be replaced (with Karate for example) if a player so wished.

Emphasis mine. These examples are all included on the list of careers with access to unspecialized Fighting. (Martial arts is absolutely Stuntman territory: think Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee.)

Clearly, the intent with unlisted Fighting specializations for these careers is to the player the opportunity to add a bit of flair to their character by choosing a specialization.