I think Wodenkrait was _very_ generous ascribing points to the sapper by virtue of maybe having some knowledge or tools that could be useful - I know he's trying to reverse his bias towards sapperscepticism, but it was a little extreme... By Wodenkrait's reasoning, all professions could be useful. I'd rather have compared specific named skills/abilities of the sapper in each challenge (and named them...), just as specific spells were mentioned for the magickers.

I do also take issue with the usefulness score of the magickers, though, because they can only be useful in a couple of challenges before their spells are exhausted so, whilst magickers have broad versatility, they have to be very conservative about where it is applied (i.e., typically when all other non-magical options have been exhausted). Magickers should probably have a cap on the number of points they can score with spells and then have to rely on their native knowledges and abilities to score further points.

early ranking sappers are of course limited in ability. But think of the great force multiplier factor when they attain higher ranks. Time becomes another Axis on the graph demonstrating their usefulness over time. Masada was not conquered in a day!!!

Indeed, military engineering was in many ways institutionally endemic in Roman military culture, as demonstrated by the fact that each Roman legionary had as part of his equipment a shovel, alongside his gladius (sword) and pila (spears).

Secondly, I think your comment highlights that the "sapper" is not a standalone profession but a package of training/skills that could be bolted onto a generic military/warrior profession.