Are Specialities optional?

[Uthred]

On the first page of the Skills and Tasks chapter it says that when a Traveller reaches Rank 1 in a skill with specialities they have to choose a speciality. However on page 62, just before the skill descriptions, it says that when a Traveller reaches Rank 1 they can take a speciality implying it may be optional. Obviously not taking a speciality gives skills a lot more bang for your chargen buck so presumably they arent optional?

 

[AnotherDilbert]

?

A Traveller picks a speciality when he gains level 1 in a skill that has two or more specialities.

Not optional.

When a Traveller reaches level 1 in a skill, he must take a speciality in that skill.

Not optional.

It should probably say some thing like "Any time a Traveller gains a level in a skill with specialities, the Traveller must choose a speciality for that level." since you can have several specialities. If you can only choose speciality at level 1, you can only choose a single speciality.

Or did I misunderstand the question?

 

[Uthred]

No, you understood it fine, after double checking I realised the version of the rules on my tablet was an older version. Cheers