Careers and specializations?
What about species, would you reskin existing ones or make new ones; if so, how?

Obligations and motivations?

Gear, armor, weapons?

Rocket Racoon would be a Chadra-Fan Hired Gun: Heavy. Everything is straight out of Dangerous Covenants, except for the species His Obligation is Adrenaline Rush, and his Motivation is his Squadmates. His gear is a collection of really big guns.

Drax is a Mirialan. I'd consider either Hired Gun/Marauder or Warrior/Agressor (if you want to take a Force angle).

Rocket could potentially have some buy-in on the Outlaw Tech side of things, too. When he's not shooting guns that are too big for him, he's building gadgets, hotwiring control booths, and so on. Ranks of Utinni and Inventor seem like really appropriate talents.

Groot is a brawling-focused droid Marauder, or maybe Bodyguard, or ... I don't know. He's such a weird thing. Maybe better if he's some force-using type, only flavor it as using his weird plant powers instead of the force.

Drax, um... I guess he's a Marauder. I don't see much Force power on him -- but Mirialan sounds good to me on that side.

Gamora is a twilek assassin, focused on melee weapons, with cyber enhancements.

And of course, Peter is a scoundrel.

I peg Peter Quill as a human Smuggler/Scoundrel. He's a good pilot, smooth talker, and handy with a pistol, but not exceptional at any of these things.

For Rocket I'd go with Chadra-Fan Bounty Hunter/Gadgeteer for the mix of tech and shooty.

Dump all XP into Crazy.

What? That's not a thing?

Drax as a Force-user would concentrate on Enhance rather than external powers.

Remember they can have more than one spec.

Explaining species choices would be great too:)

I would say rocket is Heavy, demolitionist, outlaw tech. "I was gonna put it in a box..."

Drax as a Force-user would concentrate on Enhance rather than external powers.

I'd see Gamora as a force user before Drax. Drax is just a big freakin' dude, is all, and he's got the Feral Strength thing goin'.

Oh, this sounds fun. Are we doing this based straight off the film version of the characters?

I think everyone's got a good start for these guys. Chadra-Fan is right on point for Rocket, possibly Drall if you're trying to stick to the species with actual representation in the books. He'd need the most cross-speccing to fully realize the character. Heavy as his base with a second specialization in Outlaw Tech, branching into Demolition as he developed.

I'd make Gamora a Chiss (what with the whole warrior caste refugee background) assassin.

Pete as a Correlian scoundrel. Maybe dip him into the gambler tree early on and then dabble in pilot.

Droid seems the only way to sensibly stat Groot using character gen rules. Dump all those points into physical characteristics and make his primary spec bodyguard.

I don't know what species I'd make Drax, but he'd unquestionably be a Marauder with a second specialization in Enforcer, dodging around the underworld social aspects of the tree. Weequay, perhaps?

They'd all have criminal obligations. Peter gets bounty due to his former pirate partners. Drax, Gamora, and Rocket all get betrayal denoting revenge for getting screwed over in various ways, while Rocket also gets obsession for things that explode. Groot's an unknown. I'd guess giving him an obligation that ties him implicitly to Rocket's well being and generally that of the crew, but that seems like a cheap way out.

Why is everyone putting Rocket as a Chandra-fan?
They look more like wingless bats than raccoons.

I'd make him a Drall. (or possibly an Ewok... just for the WTF? factor... you know... like a talking raccoon would be for us)

Drall would be better than ewok

Why is everyone putting Rocket as a Chandra-fan?

They look more like wingless bats than raccoons.

I'd make him a Drall. (or possibly an Ewok... just for the WTF? factor... you know... like a talking raccoon would be for us)

Probably because physical resemblance is only a secondary concern. Rocket is clearly pretty agile and I'd even say smart, but he does not seem to be a super-genius, so the clumsy but brilliant Drall is not a good fit.

Chadra-fan (statted out in Stay On Target) are small and agile and more or less fuzzy, they get a penalty to Brawn and Will, but a bonus to Agility and Intellect, and they get some free Mechanics. It's pretty much perfect for Rocket.

Why is everyone putting Rocket as a Chandra-fan?

They look more like wingless bats than raccoons.

I'd make him a Drall. (or possibly an Ewok... just for the WTF? factor... you know... like a talking raccoon would be for us)

Probably because physical resemblance is only a secondary concern. Rocket is clearly pretty agile and I'd even say smart, but he does not seem to be a super-genius, so the clumsy but brilliant Drall is not a good fit.

Chadra-fan (statted out in Stay On Target) are small and agile and more or less fuzzy, they get a penalty to Brawn and Will, but a bonus to Agility and Intellect, and they get some free Mechanics. It's pretty much perfect for Rocket.

He's a talking raccoon... it's all about the looks.

I never let myself get bogged down by racial stereotypes (something which is an actual thing in SW, since there's, you know... actual races ) when it comes to creating a character.

There's nothing to say that a Drall can't be agile and almost-but-not-quite-a-genious smart.

Besides, Rocket is also very strong (judging by the outrageously large weaponry he wields with little to no effort).

Personally, I'd go with an Ewok just for the shock-and-awe of it... you know, kinda like how a foul-mouthed talking raccoon with near-genious mechanics skill and a penchant for killing things is shocking for us.

Because that's not really what raccoons are known for

A chandra-fan "rocket" would just be another chandra-fan in the long line of other chandra-fans that were good mechanics and had a good aim.

Not very special in my book.

Probably because physical resemblance is only a secondary concern. Rocket is clearly pretty agile and I'd even say smart, but he does not seem to be a super-genius, so the clumsy but brilliant Drall is not a good fit.

I'll disagree on this point to some extent. He certainly "don't know talkin' good like me and you", but he's smart enough to look at a situation such as being incarcerated, and come up with a plan within a day. And he's done that several times. That could fall under the characteristic of cunning. But all the computer and mechanical work it took to pull that off showed a huge amount of intelligence. I could easily peg him at an int 4 and be satisfied.

Also keep in mind that Rocket does possess some enhancements, cybernetic or otherwise. So it could easily be done with adrall too . Beyond just increasing his agility at character creation.

Obligations and motivations?

What about the fact that Rocket and Groot are bountyhunters in world. Starting career or doesn`t matter?

What are highest and lowest characteristics and skills you think? Any talents that practically screams any of their names?

Looks come second(or is irellevant) if you reskin the species. But it`s fun to compare the Guardians with species they look like too:)

How would you make and balance new species for the game?

I'll disagree on this point to some extent. He certainly "don't know talkin' good like me and you", but he's smart enough to look at a situation such as being incarcerated, and come up with a plan within a day. And he's done that several times. That could fall under the characteristic of cunning. But all the computer and mechanical work it took to pull that off showed a huge amount of intelligence. I could easily peg him at an int 4 and be satisfied.

And the Chadra-Fan has an intellect of 3, so yes, that's above-average intellect, before he spends any points on it. I'm not saying Drall can't work here, the Chadra-fan is just a better fit.

There's nothing to say that a Drall can't be agile and almost-but-not-quite-a-genious smart.

Besides, Rocket is also very strong (judging by the outrageously large weaponry he wields with little to no effort).

Well, no, there's nothing that says the can't, just the Chadra-Fan abilities mesh well with the character while the Drall abilities mesh less well.

He doesn't have to be very strong (though I would probably give him the +1 to bring him up to 2); that's what the Heavy spec and Burly are for. Anyway, both Drall and Chadra-fan are Brawn 1 races, so that's not a point of discrimination between them.

A chandra-fan "rocket" would just be another chandra-fan in the long line of other chandra-fans that were good mechanics and had a good aim.

Not very special in my book.

Aaaaand so what? Isn't the whole concept here that we're picking races that kinda-sorta fit the characters? Is a droid Groot 'special' enough as compared to a Neti or something? Is a mirialan Drax 'special'? I don't think one of the design limitations was "be unique in the universe just like Rocket".

Edit:

One more thing (Jackie!) -- I have to quote from the Chadra-fan description:

Their small size, desire to tinker, and upbeat demeanor cause most Rebels to find the Chadra-Fan as either endearing little siblings they never had, or annoying little thieves they wish they'd never met.

Firstly, Chadra-Fans are represented in the books; they are in Stay on Target.

Secondly, Chadra-Fan are Silhouette 0 and Drall are not. That is the primary reason why I suggested the former. The other reasons were Brawn and Agility, in which the Drall are sorely lacking.

Thirdly, I can get onboard with a Chadra-Fan's Mechanics aptitude and Perception-type stuff. Good representation of Rocket's more human and more animal qualities combined. I can't get on board with the Drall's sky-high Intellect, Education (in which Rocket had zilch), and Skilled Assistance Boost (Rocket is really just not a team player).

Neither Drall nor Chadra-Fan look anything like raccoons, so neither are any better than the other in that regard, and that is really beside the point, because...

We're talking about species re-skins (at least I am...I don't think Chadra-Fan exist in the Marvel Universe?). It's not "just another Chadra-Fan." It's a mutated raccoon.

I would treat Rocket as he is. An escaped experiment. Choose the species stats that work for you whether it be chadra-fan, drall or whatever and paste them over. call him and uplifted animal or whatever works for you.

The clincher for me is the Silhouette 0. I could take or leave any other mechanical aspect.

Star Lord is a Human Smuggler- Scoundrel, Gunslinger

Rocket is a Chandra Fan Bounty Hunter Gadgeteer Heavy

Gamora is Twi'lek Bounty Hunter Assassin

Groot is a Wookie Consular Sage with Protect and heal

Draxx is a Trandoshan Hired Gun Marauder Enforcer

I'll disagree on this point to some extent. He certainly "don't know talkin' good like me and you", but he's smart enough to look at a situation such as being incarcerated, and come up with a plan within a day. And he's done that several times. That could fall under the characteristic of cunning. But all the computer and mechanical work it took to pull that off showed a huge amount of intelligence. I could easily peg him at an int 4 and be satisfied.

And the Chadra-Fan has an intellect of 3, so yes, that's above-average intellect, before he spends any points on it. I'm not saying Drall can't work here, the Chadra-fan is just a better fit.

There's nothing to say that a Drall can't be agile and almost-but-not-quite-a-genious smart.

Besides, Rocket is also very strong (judging by the outrageously large weaponry he wields with little to no effort).

Well, no, there's nothing that says the can't, just the Chadra-Fan abilities mesh well with the character while the Drall abilities mesh less well.

He doesn't have to be very strong (though I would probably give him the +1 to bring him up to 2); that's what the Heavy spec and Burly are for. Anyway, both Drall and Chadra-fan are Brawn 1 races, so that's not a point of discrimination between them.

A chandra-fan "rocket" would just be another chandra-fan in the long line of other chandra-fans that were good mechanics and had a good aim.

Not very special in my book.

Aaaaand so what? Isn't the whole concept here that we're picking races that kinda-sorta fit the characters? Is a droid Groot 'special' enough as compared to a Neti or something? Is a mirialan Drax 'special'? I don't think one of the design limitations was "be unique in the universe just like Rocket".

Edit:

One more thing (Jackie!) -- I have to quote from the Chadra-fan description:

Their small size, desire to tinker, and upbeat demeanor cause most Rebels to find the Chadra-Fan as either endearing little siblings they never had, or annoying little thieves they wish they'd never met.

I think "be unique in the universe like Rocket" is one of his absolute main features, though.

That is the main point of the character, if you ask me.