Alright, so I'm about to start up my second campaign. We're going to kick it off with Beyond the Rim and then get tangled up in pirating. However, that's not the nature of this post, clearly. I have an ambitiously creative player that wants to form a combat specialist whom owns a pet. Like a hunter of sorts. I'm not sure how to make it fair for him to start with a pet without being OP. Just increase obligation? And how would I stat out such a creature? Which stat would be used for controlling it? Any ideas are welcome.

Since Players can purchase droids I would handle a pet similarly. Make the pet cost approximately the same as a droid. If the player does not have enough money than they can take increased obligation to have enough money to purchase the pet.

I would give it stats similar to a droid which can be purchased for the same purpose the pet will play. I would also put some limitations on what the pet is allowed to do (such as most droid can not kill sentient beings). As far as controlling the pet I would make the check be dependent on the situation. Coercion, negotiation, Knowledge (xenology) just make the check appropriate for what he wants to do. If he wants to upgrade the pet I would allow him to use his xp to upgrade pet skills or to train the pet in tricks (I would make a talent tree for the pet). Since he is using his xp it will keep the player and pet balanced with the rest of the group.

That is how I think I would handle it but I am sure you will get a lot of good suggestions. I would review them all and pic and chose what you like from each.

I believe controlling domesticated animals involve survival checks.

I'm thinking survival as well as charm possibly. Making a talent tree for the pet sounds like a great balancing tool, thanks for that idea! I'm probably going to modify some of the skills in the talent tree of the PC to reflect their mastery over the pet in order to make it have a sort of synergy. Meeting with the player for character creation today so we'll see what pet he has in mind.