Alright so right now there are two threads with different takes on the concept of skillsets and professions and I thought I would take a crack at it.

So my idea is that everyone picks a profession, a path, a travel power, and around 5 non combat powers

A profession is like classification for skillsets in that that they choose what the focus of your skill set. Keep in mind that these shouldn't represent an origin of any kind or being a certain species unless it's a species made specifically for the CoT universe like the Rikti or the Kheldians of CoH. Second they shouldn't be absolutely necessary, they should allow you to do things like allowing you the option to hack a mad scientist's computer that add benefit like turning off security cameras in a certain area so you don't have to sneak past them or fight your way past that room or giving you one of his robot as an ally to help you fight, thing like that. These professions also come with non combative powers that act only to give you more dialogue trees, like Famous which let's you convince some one to let you in as a VIP, which could come with professions such as celebrity or billionaire, or lowly which allows you to convince people that your not dangerous that could come with professions like drifter or low paying employee. Also for those who don't care about skills that much there should be a profession called "Full time hero" that has less skills than the other professions but allow you to choose your own skills and 3 non combat powers where other professions get 2 predetermined ones for free. Paths are like what the devs described in one of their kickstarter updates (forget which one sorry). The choose what your missions are going to be like. My idea is that they also give you some additional skills and non combative powers, like if you took the detective path you would get the intimidate and investigate skills. Then you pick a travel power, and then you pick around 5 more non combat powers which include things like x ray vision or turning invisible.