Ok so a player wants to do something and I don't see anything against it in the book:

Can you start buying talent abilities in the three, but starting further than tier 1, if they're not linked to anything in the previous tier?

Say for example:

A Consular/Sage.

I want the increased Force Rating, so I start at One With The Universe (15xp), then go Knowledge Specialization (15xp), Preemptive Avoidance (20xp), Knowledge Specialization rank 2 (20xp), and finally Force Rating (25xp).

For a total of 90xp. Doable?

It looks like yes to me, because if I were to start from tier 1 at Researcher, and go down from there I'd spend the 15xp when I also get Confidence... that's the 15xp I spent on One With the Universe anyway, so total cost is still 90xp... right?

No, the only talents available to purchase without linking to a previously purchased talent is the top row.

FaD p103 3rd paragraph under Acquiring Talents

Edit: it would be 95xp too, just to be pedantic

Jeez, I JUST read that before posting. Misinterpretation then. Thank you

Tell your minmaxer to pull their head in. 15xp will come quick enough to get One With the Universe. In fact most characters only start to get into their own around 200-300xp... he will have a lot to spend before too long.

Hahahah it's so funny that you KNOW who it is already.

Just don't tell him about Gadgeteers and Auto-Fire rifles, its the quickest way to make GMing a MinMaxer hard, but there are some very fun ways to rain on their parade. In all cases just remember there is always someone watching.

Like, now he asked me: "What if I want to play a human but have 1 in a characteristic, can I have that 20xp?"

LOL I told him "Patience, young padawan. That 20xp will come."

And then I added "The real question is, you already switched careers and specs about 20 times now. Why try to come up with more stuff to give you MORE options that aren't in the book, when the options in it already have you completely lost?"

DTMFA