Quick one that's probably really obvious, but still manages to baffle me. If a 10 point talent has no link in the tree from a 5 point talent, does that mean you can take that 10 point talent as your entry point into the tree?

For example, Soldier (Sharpshooter) has a 10 point Deadly Accuracy, which is not connected to the 5 point Brace above it. Can I buy Deadly Accuracy immediately, or do i have to trace a line to it from a 5 pointer e.g. Sniper Shot (5) > True Aim (10) > Lethal Blows (15) > Sniper Shot (15) > Deadly Accuracy (10)?

You have to follow the lines from a talent you already own. If there's no line between two talents, you have to "circle around" from another one. The only exception is the top line on any specialization tree, these can all be just bought outright.

ACQUIRING TALENTS, page 103, third paragraph:

Note that the choices on each tree are connected by a series of lines that link some talent choices with others. Player Characters may only purchase talents for which they are eligible. PCs are eligible to select any talents in the first, topmost row, plus any talents that are connected via one of the aforementioned links to a talent the PC has already acquired.

-EF

ACQUIRING TALENTS, page 103, third paragraph:

Note that the choices on each tree are connected by a series of lines that link some talent choices with others. Player Characters may only purchase talents for which they are eligible. PCs are eligible to select any talents in the first, topmost row, plus any talents that are connected via one of the aforementioned links to a talent the PC has already acquired.

-EF

.....funny, that makes it sound like if I own an unranked talent, and get a second tree with it deep in, I can start purchasing from that unranked talent instead of starting from the top again....

That can't be right can it?

Nope, because technically you haven't acquired "that" talent, you've acquired a different one that's exactly like it, but in a different location.

Quicksilver, your assumption sounds logical and reasonable but can you back it up with rules int he books? I know at my table what you are suggesting is the way we play it.

Quicksilver, your assumption sounds logical and reasonable but can you back it up with rules int he books? I know at my table what you are suggesting is the way we play it.

pg. 140:

Talents that are not ranked can only be purchased a single time. If a character is advancing through a specialization tree and reaches a talent without ranks that he has already acquired from another specialization tree, then he counts as having purchased that talent on his new talent tree for the purpose of purchasing additional talents in that tree. (This does not require him to spend any experience points.)

Essentially, when you hit a talent that's unranked that you've bought already, you don't count as having it in another tree until you actually reach it.

So if in Commander/Commodore, if you've got Known Schematic from another tree, you can't jump to Solid Repairs (15xp) - you have to grab Solid Repairs (5xp), THEN it counts as you having Known Schematic (10xp), and then you're free to jump to Solid Repairs (15xp).