Hey guys I really need help with a new character for an upcoming campaign.

I've decided my species will be Trandoshans who is a higher ranking member of a security force.

I'm trying to think about a back story and I have narrowed down my career to the Hired Gun career but I haven't chosen a specialization yet. I was thinking about choosing Marauder since he is going to be a tough PC.

I also wanted to add a twist to his character by making him more of a hero who fights for the helpless rather than playing a role as a cold blooded assassin like how most Trandoshans are portrayed.

His background is going to be complex and different when compared to most Trandoshans.

His back story was that he born into the universe alone without knowing about the rivalry between his species and Wookiees. When he was young he saved a two Wookiee's from a Trandoshan who was planning on turning them over to the Empire. He earned the respect of these two Wookiees.

It was here he realized that he enjoys helping those who can't defend themselves. In the years following this event he traveled around the galaxy taking different types of jobs before being recruited to join a security team.

I know it's pretty brief but what do you guys think about this character???

Would a Marauder fit for his character for a more heroic role or is it too out of the realm or would Bodyguard be better??

I really like the idea of a complex character but is there anything else I should include that I'm missing??

I'll take all feedback into account.

Are you limited to EotE careers?

From your background I think I'd personally lean toward either bodyguard or enforcer.

Bodyguard for the obvious protection of other people angle and Enforcer more for having gained a reputation at not putting up with the big guys picking on the little guys, I see it as intimidating the bullies instead of being one in your application.

Sounds like a good character concept to me. It's not completely uncommon to see Trandoshans and Wookiees working together, its just highly unlikely. There are examples of it, though I can't remember from where.

I agree with Darksyde that it sounds more like a Bodyguard than a Marauder. Either way though, you can still make the background work with a Marauder. Do you want the character to focus more on melee combat or ranged combat? If melee, I would stick with Marauder. If ranged, then Bodyguard probably would work better. If he is going to be balance with skills in both, then either one would work.

I'd also try to flesh out who he interacts with Trandoshans and Wookiees he has met in his background and how those two species generally react to him and what he does.

We are just sticking to Edge careers at the beginning before branching off into different specializations from all the books.

Bodyguard is a better concept than Marauder IMHO, but I'm not really a fan of the spec. I have no idea what Barrage or Gunnery have to do with body-guarding, and the other Talents are self-protective. The odd thing to me is that you have to choose between self-protection and actually body-guarding. I really like Enforcer though, the beauty of it to me is that it adds a social element to a combat situation, which few of the combat specs do. Enforcer, combined with the left side of Bodyguard, could make a very effective "protector".

While I agree with many of the comments here, I'll add a further twist and suggest a few combos:

Marauder & Enforcer work really well together

Any of the Bounty Hunter (esp Survivalist or Gadgeteer, depending on your feelings about gear) & Enforcer

While Bodyguard might work thematically, I'm not a huge fan of the spec. Like Whafrog says, it doesn't really do what it says it does...

And I'd skip the whole "born alone in the universe" thing... Edge is all about who you know, and what those relationships do to you... so give him some good back story. I'm sure that there are some Trandoshan colonies that don't hunt Wookies... in fact: you just made one, so there it is. Where is it? Why? Go for it, and fill in those details.

And as for those two Wookies you saved - Bam! There's a 5 point Obligation (or more, depending on how important they are to you)... now ask your GM for some kind of Wookie flavored gear that identifies you as a "Friend of a Wookie" to anyone who recognizes it.

Like other Wookies.

And other Trandoshans.

Stir, serve chilled, and have fun.

I'd play the spec you want to play the most. The heroic approach is more about RP than mechanics imo.

I throw a Marshal into the hat. The spec is not limited to people who actually have jurisdiction, but very fitting for all security which has to deal with physical and social encounters. Which sounds splendid for security and cops with a mouth and those are the ones who make a difference instead of just shooting first and asking questions later.

Gadgeteer sounds cool too, a different approach, but for sure working as well. Not that Marauder would be wrong either, hey even some of the FaD specs would work for that basic concept quite well. And guardians are imho cool.

Actually, Enforcer/Marshall is a great combo... nice tip.

I'd even think about starting with one and adding the other "in game." I always forget that some tables don't start characters at Knight Level...

Yeah the Enforcer is looking more to my liking the more I look at it!!

I was just scanning the Lead By Example book, and...the Commander:Instructor spec makes a better bodyguard than Bodyguard...

I am not sure why you guys don't like the bodyguard talent, it is imho really, really good. And speaking of hat, Guardians, especially protectors or peacekeepers would not be a bad choice either. ^-^

The bodyguard talent is fine, it's the spec that is poor for what it is supposed to do.

IMO, Barrage and Gunnery are about protecting the ward before harm befalls them by attacking from a long distance, though I do find it a bit strange either way (not every threat will be so kind as to approach from a distance.) Maybe for shooting at people when they've made off with your ward? Extra versatility in the group? I dunno.

Nice concept.

I immediately had some inspirations hitting me as of why your character might be compassionate towards Wookiees:

• Born into a family which has ties to the Jedi, learned from "uncle/aunt random other species Jedi" that all life is sacred. Family lost all it's fortune, because of Jedi sympathizers.
• was born into a family of very low social standing (weak hunters, etc) was bullied all his life, can't stand bullies.
• Father/mother had Wookiee friends. (we learn most from our parents)

Of course you might already have a concept. I thought I just throw these out.

Have fun playing your Trando

IMO, Barrage and Gunnery are about protecting the ward before harm befalls them by attacking from a long distance, though I do find it a bit strange either way (not every threat will be so kind as to approach from a distance.) Maybe for shooting at people when they've made off with your ward? Extra versatility in the group? I dunno.

The key element is that in a case of emergency you bring your ward as quickly as possible into the security of a vehicle and get asap out of the sticky situation. You might not be able to stop that dark jedi, mandalorian bounty hunter, etc, but for sure your planetary scale guns can escalate the thing way bigger than anyone would have liked. If they were going to use big guns right from the beginning no talent whatsoever could have saved the ward from an orbital strike ;-)

Either way, the body guard spec comes with the right tools to protect the ward until he reaches the car and drive away with it when needed. Breaking away from a chase or actually destroying hostiles while on the run included. This does sound to me like a very practical spec. There is literally no point for a body guard to actually neutralize all threats first before leaving. That is what security or mercs are for, and bodyguards should be neither.

And as for those two Wookies you saved - Bam! There's a 5 point Obligation (or more, depending on how important they are to you)... now ask your GM for some kind of Wookie flavored gear that identifies you as a "Friend of a Wookie" to anyone who recognizes it.

Exactly - can you say Life Debt?

And yes, I would get rid of that "Alone in the universe" thing - what does his family think? Is everyone on board with his progressive beliefs? Was he disowned by his family? Is this a situation he wants to try and correct, get back in their good graces?

Is there dissent in the ranks - a brother who is pissed because his sibling has gone soft? A mate that broke up because she can't be with one of those "Wook Lovers"? A mate that's now gunning for him because of his nonsense ideals - too bad he still harbors a flame for her.

Is this something he keeps to himself? Does his superiors in the Security Force know about this? Does he toe the party line in public, keeping his beliefs private? What happens if his superiors start noticing a trend of leniency against those "dumb beasts"? What if he has to make a hard choice between the career that he's spent his whole life building up and a shipment of wookiee children being sent to a slave camp?

Is he a crusader, loud and proud despite the disdain of Trando society? Does he go to Wookiee Pride marches? Are there wookiees distrustful of his outspoken-ness, thinking this is a long con to set their species up?

So many questions. So much potential!