WHICH ROLE?When gathering at the table to start a new cam-
paign, one of the first questions that each person
must answer for himself is, "which role will my
character fill?" Diversity encourages creativity and
excitement, and it could be a fairly limited cam-
paign if everyone at the table chooses to be Ex-
plorers or Smugglers.
Certainly it's possible to make stories work around
such a premise, but the diversity of careers reflects
the essence of a "ragtag bunch" gathered under diffi-
cult circumstances and doing the best they can to not
only survive, but to thrive. Through a complex set of
both complementary and divergent skills and talents,
a group of PCs operating in the fringes can expect a
much greater chance of success, as well as a much
wider array of stories and plots to experience.
With this in mind, a player's two foundational
choices are species and career. In selecting a ca-
reer, there are some questions and answers that
may help in the evaluation process:
- Should this character be a strong combatant?
While it is absolutely true that any character in a
Star Wars game should be able to handle himself in
a fight, some are truly meant to excel in violent con-
flict resolution. A Hired Gun is the obvious primary
choice for a career, although a Bounty Hunter is
clearly a strong choice for this role as well. - Should this character be able to handle a
starship? Piloting ships through the galaxy isn't
quite the same as driving a car, but it's common
enough to see interstellar travelers with at least a
modicum of pilot skill. True aces, however, are go-
ing to be found among the Smugglers. Explorers
are also strong in this area, and Bounty Hunters
can manage the basics. - Should this character be a "face" for the group?
There are times when talking may be far preferable
to shooting or punching. Getting into some places,
getting out of others, or getting in touch with im-
portant people—these are all situations in which a
skilled negotiator or persuasive conversationalist is
very valuable. The Colonist is the best career choice
here, though Explorers and Smugglers also have
some competency in this field. - Should this character be the "I know that"
guy? Knowledge is power, and power is impor-
tant when facing off with the Empire and prob-
ably a handful of criminal overlords. Sometimes
it's about knowing things, and more often, it's
about knowing how to find out. Either way, Colo-
nists and Explorers are the best career choices to
fulfill a role like this. - Should this character be the sneaky rogue
type? Getting in, getting the stuff (or data), and
getting out without being seen—very important
abilities for fringe life. Let the bruisers and the
hired guns duke it out toe-to-toe; that's just a great
distraction. The rogue PC will take the opportunity
to get the real work done. Smugglers tend to be
good in this area, as are Bounty Hunters. - Should this character be the consummate
support person? For every character who stands
up front fighting or dives in to make things hap-
pen, there are often many others who give their
all to make sure he has what he needs to do his
job and he comes back alive from doing it. The
support character doesn't get all the glory, yet
he is often the critical element that determines
success or failure in any effort. The Colonist and
the Technician are two powerful career choices
for this kind of role.
These are also good questions to consider in choos-
ing a specialization, but the career choice determines
which specializations a character has best access to.
Thus, having answers worked out at this point makes
the entire process much easier and more effective.
CHARACTER CREATION
EDCE OF THE EMPIRE