Here's the dilemma that I'm facing. Our group is starting a new Knight level F&D game, however my last character was a smuggler pilot/exile/emergent so I've already tried the force thing, which was cool. I'd like to play the 'atheist aka non-force person' of the group this session. I'd also want to try out the Duty system. Finally I also volunteered to be the bus driver. My GM nixed my Ace Rigger aka Jetpack Rocketeer build and asked me to come up with an alternative to make his life easier, he's a new GM. I love my Wedges, Corrans and Dashs but I want to try something different since Star Wars is a huge galaxy. It was when I introduced my wife to the movie Heavy Metal last night that I thought I'd try to do a Beast Rider/melee build, or Taarna. I messaged my GM and he gave me the all clear and even said I can take on extra obligation to get a Ruping mount. He said it would make his life easier to deny a silhouette 2 creature in an encounter over a jetpack which is basically a glorified backpack. The deadline is looming near for our game and I'm trying really hard to find a class that works with beast master that has good melee. Is Marauder my only option or does another specialization offer better synergy. Thoughts?

Alternatively I'm also thinking about Dav Woodersun, the Rigger/Charmer who's signature vehicle would be his muscle-speeder and who has a disposition to glitterstim and 'age appropriate' women.

If you are looking for raw melee horsepower that doesn't include a force rating and the "Universal Lock Pick" I think it is hard to trump Marauder. For a little less combat oomph and a little more flavor, I would look at something like the "Big Game Hunter" to pair with the beast rider, as it gives you two outdoorsman ranks, confidence (which is one of those talents that is either clutch or useless depending on the game), and bring it down which can add a lot of damage over the course of an encounter. Now, not a lot actually synergizes well with melee specifically, and Hunter's Quarry becomes useless, but this would be more of a "utility" build.

A second option for Melee synergy looks to be Commando from soldier. Lots of toughened and a durable early on, 2 Feral Strength and a knockdown in the bottom half of the tree, and point blank for those that wish to use blasters in melee range.

Thanks gentlemanscoundrel appreciate the advice, I like both of the specs you recommended and am going to try different build using those.

Shii-Cho Knight is pretty good even for a non-Force-user that wants to bust heads with Melee.

I want to try a Shien Beastrider, high cunning linked to Lightsaber, enhance tree for the agility enhance, only ever FR1, lots of cunning stuff,.

The other Beastrider I would love is a VERY long term build, with the ultimate goal of combining FR 4, Animal Bond Talents and the lower parts of the Beast Rider Spec. The 2 other FR could come from Hunter and Force Sensitive Emergent or Aggressor, depending on the ultimate them of the character.

I want to try a Shien Beastrider, high cunning linked to Lightsaber, enhance tree for the agility enhance, only ever FR1, lots of cunning stuff,.

The other Beastrider I would love is a VERY long term build, with the ultimate goal of combining FR 4, Animal Bond Talents and the lower parts of the Beast Rider Spec. The 2 other FR could come from Hunter and Force Sensitive Emergent or Aggressor, depending on the ultimate them of the character.

This was my initial combo build until I decided I wanted to go the non-forceuser route, I do think this build would be super fun! It has awesome flavor too.

Just looking through the AoR book and Tactician jumped out at me as a Spec that would work well with Beast Rider. If the Character has a 3 in Brawn, Cunning and Presence it would make for a well rounded Leader/Survival/Melee Character. I love the idea of using the Bodyguard talent to protect the mount!

The other that may fit well depending on your group is the Medic. Essentially your creating a Veterinarian, this would swap the 3 in Presence for Intelligence.

I guess it's going to depend on what the rest of the party are doing and weather you want to be the Melee Monster you spoke of

Actually 1 more just came to mind. A Beast Rider Charmer, the Cowboy with a Carming smile (throw gunslinger in for a real Wild West character!)