Thursday, April 7, 2016

Fighters

Fighter

“Bring 'em on, I'd prefer a straight fight to all this sneaking around.”
“You're pretty good in a fight. We could use you.”
        — Han Solo

“I was raised to do one thing... but I've got nothing to fight for.”
        — Finn

“You'll be dead!”
        — Dr. Cornelius Evazan

In a galaxy of conflict, there are always those prepared to take up arms whether motivated by greed, justice, vengeance or simple belligerence. Some fighters are disciplined soldiers selflessly putting their lives at risk to protect the ideals, people or systems they hold dear. Others are deadly bounty hunters or bodyguards for hire living a mercenary lifestyle by taking advantage of their inherent gifts as a way to earn credits. Some fighters enjoy the trifling glories of being a spaceport ruffian quick on the draw.

Fighters in the Galaxy
Despite the decisive outcome of the Battle of Jakku and the subsequent signing of the Galactic Concordance, all manner of petty conflicts linger on. The demilitarization of the New Republic gave rise to an unauthorized military movement formed by those who saw the withdrawal of Imperial warships to Unknown Regions as a calculated act with the potential for renewed antagonism. When a bellicose political wing of the New Republic known as the First Order seceded from the government and followed the Imperial remnant to the edge of the galaxy, General Leia Organa and her allies raised a warning voice to the Senate. That call has gone largely unheeded except by those choosing to join the General’s Resistance movement. The wealth of the New Republic allows them to maintain a small but highly advanced military force, while the Resistance slowly adds highly motivated albeit sorely underequipped fighters to its cause.


Beyond these more high-minded concerns, fighters of all stripes find countless opportunities to practice their avocation. The threat of piracy, particularly along spacelanes nominally patrolled by the Imperial remnant, is incessant. The Hutt Cartel, bereft of firm leadership, fights a shadow war on the streets of numerous worlds from Coruscant to the Smuggler’s Moon and all throughout Hutt Space and the Outer Rim. Meanwhile, the Black Sun organization seeks to take advantage of this infighting and expand its Outer Rim activities causing blood to flow, be it of faultless settlers, provincial law enforcement or vicious mobsters. The crime lords always need foot soldiers while those attempting to maintain the peace are desperate for honest recruits. Often, citizens must resign themselves to accepting the dubious care of a thuggish and abusive constabulary, itself only slightly more tolerable than the brigands they guard against.

The closing of the various Imperial Academies mandated by the Galactic Concordance resulted in the loss one mighty channel which once directed those of pugnacious temperament towards constructive achievements. Into that void enters a generation raised to perpetuate the series of conflicts beginning with the Clone Wars. Young men and women of all species trained to take part in the fight for a celebrated cause now find themselves forsaken by a galaxy desperate to put an end to the horrific struggles of the past. Directionless and embittered, this rejected breed tends to cling together in isolated gangs believing they are destined for something greater. In particular, the once proud warrior tradition of Mandalore, which had persisted in defiance of an intervening pacifist movement, faces a cultural impasse with the loss of its Imperial Academy.

Role
Engage and Endure. As part of a team, fighters endeavor to defend other characters by directly engaging with hostile targets or drawing enemy fire. Every fighter knows that the next blaster bolt could have his name on it so they take every possible precaution before hostilities begin. Fighters prefer to work with other fighters, sometimes to the exclusion of other classes, but greatly benefit from the presence of a leader or medic. They also tend to appreciate the support of scouts and snipers.

Abilities
Fighters favor abilities which enable them to outlast their enemies. Stamina may be the single most important ability for a typical fighter. Agility allows fighters to evade enemy fire more easily and improves their reaction time. Most of the galaxy’s fighters prefer ranged weapons making Dexterity a virtual prerequisite, however melee fighters would be wise to improve Fighting above all as it improved close attacks and their ability to parry close attacks.

Skills
Fighters focusing on a small number of weapons will want Close Combat, Ranged Combat or both. Many battlefield hazards can be circumvented using Acrobatics or Athletics. Intimidation allows fighters to reduce or eliminate potential threats without resorting to combat which can be of great benefit when encounters occur with high frequency. Although the biased or ignorant may assume that most (if not all) fighters are simple brutes, fighters often display a high degree of education and possess Expertise in disciplines like Astrogation, Demolitions, or Tactics. Fighters often need a decent Perception skill to react both quickly and effectively, while those relying on gear are likely to improve their Technology skill.

Advantages
Fighters often make use of Combat Advantages and Equipment, or use Interpose to place themselves in harm’s way to make sure the team objective is met. A high Intimidation skill makes Startle a viable option. Many fighters focus their development in areas other than skills but with the Teamwork advantage, they will rarely drag the team down when a group effort is called for. Other useful options include Extraordinary Effort, Favored Foe, Fearless or Great Endurance.

Powers
Most fighters rely on equipment or devices to provide most of their powers, however fighters can select class abilities that add or enhance Damage effects, Enhanced Trait effects that improve their defenses or durability, or effects that provide Healing for themselves (but typically not others).
Complications
Soldiers may be bound by Honor or Responsibility, and inspired by Patriotism or a sense of Justice, while former soldiers may struggle with Addiction or a Disability or seek Acceptance in civilian life. Bounty hunters and mercenaries are motivated by Greed or the Thrills associated with their profession. Fighters of all sorts may be the subject of Prejudice, suffer from a poor Reputation or bad Temper. Many fighters form a Rivalry (or several) while seeking Recognition of their prowess.

Fighter

Abilities
Stamina +1

Skills
6 ranks divided among the following: Athletics, Close Combat (choose one), Expertise (Astrogation, Demolitions, or Tactics), Perception, Ranged Combat (choose one), Treatment or Vehicles

Advantages
Equipment 3 (choose armor and weapons)
Choose two Combat Advantages

Powers
Choose one of the Following:
Cautious
Guts

Character Points Abilities 2 + Skills 3 + Advantages 5 + Powers 2 = Total 11

No comments:

Post a Comment