Now *there's* a topic we could debate for ever! (and indeed sometimes it seems like we do on the L5R list, since AEG never stick to the rules...)
In short some people will expect all NPC's to stick to the rules - If you publish an NPC with too many affinities, say, or an integrated spirit that is too powerful for him to have defeated in Spirit Combat, they will cry foul, and demand to know how their PC's can emulate this character if they are revelaing a new Gloranthan Truth. They are likely to complain if you say someone is, for example a Hunter, and you fail to give him all the abilities in the Hunting Keyword. For others, the sort of shorthand Nick mentioned [Hunting 17 (sneak +3, ranged combat(bow)+4)] will be fine.
...But, as Roderick says, when the character is being provided as an example of Character Creation, or as a "Sample PC" then yes, most people agree they should follow the rules, since otherwise their value as an example is nullified!
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