Nah, you can never mess yourself up THAT badly in this game.
The basis of the whole label this is based on the way people build up skills. True, we can get any skill we want in this game. However, AP comes in a very slow trickle. Thus, the general route we take is to get all of the skills we want, but in Rank F (unlike most games, a low ranked skill is as effective as a high ranked one.. just less pwndamaging) then focus on one skill at a time for raising it up.
Thus everyone will have smash, defense, windmill, ice bolt, production mastery, so on, so forth. However, those folks that rank up ice bolt first tend to be called 'mages' while those that work on a melee skill first tend to be called 'melee'. In fact, sometimes we're called by that one skill: I'm a 'windmiller', since my windmill is my highest skill.
Although there are some skills that can take priority than others (i.e. windmill) generally, what you choose is up to you. If you want to rank up ice bolt first, then smash next, then go right ahead. Myself, I plan on windmill, then critical hit to come first, with me slowly raising herbalism in the meanwhile. I believe I'll aim at ranged after that, given I'm working hard to get revolver.
Thus you can build however you like, though it's best to focus on one skill at a time (and to read up on if a few skills can compliment that one power skill).
Ever felt like this some days?
