So, I remember in one of the sourcebooks for D20 Star Wars, a series of class builds that would give you a specific "flavor" of character. 3 Levels of this class, plus 2 levels of this class, get these specific feats, etc etc, and blamo, you have yourself a decent character concept for a particular type of Star Wars idea. My favorite listed was a Shipjacker. Specifically, described as the group of criminals, hired by the Rebellion, to steal ships for their fleet. Preferably from the Empire, but they weren't too picky about the VIN printed on the ships they got.

I always liked this idea, and thought it would make for a fun character party, and some fun "mini-dungeons" in the form of the various ships they would try and steal, either in port, or in space through various means.

So how would you build a shipjacker using FFG? Specifically, how would you build one character who specialized in stealing ships, and how, if you were making a group to handle this (3-4 players at most), would you spread out the roles so everyone got a chance to shine?

This is mostly a thought experiment, but assuming someday, I get to actually play Star Wars FFG, and not just GM it, I'm probably going to make a shipjacker, and would like some ideas on how to build him.

Off the top of my head, without the books for reference, I would probably go with Outlaw Tech + Slicer, for the range of talents to help me bypass whatever type of security/defenses the ship might have, with a few ranks in pilot and astrogation so I can get out of Dodge when things get Wookie (like when things get hairy, but bigger and meaner).

So how would you build one? How would you build a group of them?

For a lone shipjacker Smuggler:Thief+Pilot.

Thief would give me access to black market contacts, which might be useful for getting critical tools. Natural Rogue and Bypass Security would be needed when it comes time to actually gain access to a ship, and Shortcut will be needed eventually...

Pilot focus would be on ship enhancing talents like Full Throttle, Tricky Target, Defensive Driving, and Skilled Jockey. The kinds of ships worth stealing will typically not be high performance starfighters, so I can't rely on the stats of a ship to get me through a vehicular encounter, those talents help offset the fact the freighter that's perfect the for client's needs also happens to have the handling of a pregnant bantha. Galaxy mapper will also come in handy when it comes time to make a quick jump to hyperspace.

As a Smugler I'd also get access to the sig abilities, Narrow Escape having obvious uses, though Unmatched Luck would be valuable in a more broad perspective.

Even if you don't dip into a spec for it, be sure to grab some ranks in mechanics in order to disengage your gravity anchors or docking clamps.

Lone Shipjacker, Thief / Pilot / Slicer makes the most sense. Thief with some skulduggery can handle most of the hands on things, and help with stealth. Pilot would of course let you be more than proficient in getting the ship out of whereever it is, and Slicer for the special software defenses.

If there was a group, I'd probably have

1. Enforcer - Marauder

To keep everything smooth and scary

2. Slicer / Mechanic

To keep everything together and for all your hardware / software needs

3. Thief / Charmer

Help with the hands on and the comms

4. Pilot / Gunner

Flies the ship and can fend off pursuers

This gives everyone a role and allows everyone to shine. Charm or Intimidate to get to the ship if people are in the way. Fixers and disablers to maintain the security on the ship. The flier and space fighter too. Someone boards the ship? You've got a proficient fighter to hold 'em off. Someone shoots the ship? You've got a fixer to ensure you make it out alive. The person finds out you stolen their ship? Charmer negotiates a way out of consequences, or to at least get them off your back. Maybe even make a habit out of stealing smuggler ships, utilizing the thief to find their hidden goods and then ransom the ship back to people (when money is tough) but still take the hidden goods, pretending like yall don't even know they're there.

Seems like a good idea to me, and seems like something that can have a lot of substance as well as a team that can work together well. My only other addition would be a tracker / survivalist, 1. To track ships and people who need to be tracked. 2. If yall steal a ship and miss a crucial defensive system or get shot down, would be good to have someone who specializes in disaster.

Assassin/Gunslinger. Click click."gimmee yer friggin ship!"....

The classic ship jacker is definitely Pilot/Thief... for now?

For some different takes on a one character ship thief though:

1. Shadow/Hotshot is your shady force using ship thief, with a decent Agility, Cunning and Intellect. The Enhance force power and either Influence or Misdirect force power help too. Shadow gets you into the ship and Well rounded gets you Astrogation and Mechanics. Hotshot with shortcut and second chances gets you the hell out of dodge.
2. For character focused on planetary vehicles the Spy Scout is decent with Shortcut and Lets Ride, Utility belt could definitely come in handy too. no Mechanics though if your new ride gets roughed up.
3. Spy Scout/Hotshot gets you 4 ranks of Shortcut... 4 boost every time you try to escape with that new piece of kit!!! I think this is my favourite that i may actually use, you realy don't need many talents from each tree, almost everything you want is 10xp or less with only 1 rank of shortcut being 15xp, and the 3rd rank of High G Training 15xp as well.
4. Smuggler Charmer on its own with the Unmatched Fortune Signature Ability would be an awesome character too. this one is entirely built on the premise that you never actually have to fly away in a hurry, with everyone fully believing that you have a legitimate reason to be flying off with their ship
5. To build on the idea of flying of while the owner of the ship politely waves to you i think the left side of Diplomat Advocate could work brilliantly, and Human could take a free rank in both piloting skills 'just in case' or get Pilot/Hotshot to get them going. but its al about talking your way onto the target ship rather than sneaking.

For a Party of rebellion Ship Jackers i think it depends on how you plan on stealing the ships, these are all drawn from AoR, but its easy to find replacements from the other books;

• Pirates boarding in deep space and leaving the crew in life boats? a Squadron Leader, a Gunner, a Mechanic and an Agitator
• Sneaking onto the ship and stealing it, with a second ship flying wingman as protection until the jump is made? an Infiltrator, a Slicer, a Saboteur and a Hotshot
• Heist style where the owner has no idea whats even happened, or just think the ships gone off for maintenance? a Figurehead, an Advocate, an Analyst, and a Squadron Leader, all with the Recruit specialisation.

Actually Ace Hotshot/Infiltrator is a great ship jacker too. can handle themselves in combat, are deceptive, can fly the pants of anything, sound like any Corellian Human we know?

Actually Ace Hotshot/Infiltrator is a great ship jacker too. can handle themselves in combat, are deceptive, can fly the pants of anything, sound like any Corellian Human we know?

All but the bit about being deceptive. Han was about as cunning as a neon painted brick smashed into your face.

So i did get inspired and created a Han inspired Knight Level Corellian Hotshot Infiltrator: Han(g on while I steal your ship)

This is definitely NOT what i think Han should be, its just inspiration from him, and probably Mal.

I like the build, but what book is Hotshot in? I don't recognize that one.

Ace career book Stay on Target. not a fast flyer but a flashy flier. Worth it for the Corellian Sendoff talent alone!

Seriously go here and check it out the spec for yourself, but the book is one of my favourites and i own most.

Ah, yeah that's one I don't have. Maybe my buddy has that one. Sounds like an interesting spec.

Yeah, Hotshot + Pilot + Star-fighter Ace is an incredible group of specialisations with some amazing capabilities

Maybe some kind of Pilot/Thief? They're both Smuggler Archetypes. Maybe something techie thrown in

I would go for Smuggler: Thief with a second spec of either Pilot, Scoundrel or Charmer depending on your preference. If I were making the character for me I'd lean towards Charlie Sheen's "Ted Varrick" character from "No Mans' Land" (1987 movie about an undercover cop trying to catch the leader of a car theft ring, written by Law & Order creator **** Wolf) for inspiration...