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By HistoryGuy, in Star Wars: Edge of the Empire RPG

What do you want to do with the character? That's super important, after that we might be able to get more specific.

My character wants to be the "enforcer" of the group. He is very much the ends justifies the means character. "Oh, you won't give us the information we need?" Cracks knuckles. "Let me see if I can refresh your memory."

He is also a CQB fighter, preferring small pistols, vibro-knives, and fists over long range rifles.

I'm not seeing why you need Force Exile then. Also I would probably go with Hired Gun: Marauder with a general background like that. The Marauder is all about up close and personal combat.

Also if you're going for more enforcer role then I'd have Brawn and Agility at 3 at least and then a Will of 3 (so that you can make threats and what not).

Edited by Kael

I went with the Force Exile because, as I said before, he is a character I created for something else and now want to use in the game.

I'm not seeing why you need Force Exile then.

What? I'm playing an Enforcer right now with Exile. A player in my game has an Enforcer with Exile. That with Enhance is a great combo, you can boost your Brawn or Agility, or jump around like a rabbit. It's a most excellent combo.

However, I'd agree with everyone to wait to purchase Exile until later. Spend that 20XP, plus 10 from Obligation, on bringing another characteristic to 3.

If you want to see my Weequay Enforcer, check the link in the sig...

I'm not seeing why you need Force Exile then.

What? I'm playing an Enforcer right now with Exile. A player in my game has an Enforcer with Exile. That with Enhance is a great combo, you can boost your Brawn or Agility, or jump around like a rabbit. It's a most excellent combo.

However, I'd agree with everyone to wait to purchase Exile until later. Spend that 20XP, plus 10 from Obligation, on bringing another characteristic to 3.

I see the reasoning here. I have a slightly different idea though. Up three characteristics (Brawn, cunning, agility). Then use my obligation for the plus 10 XP and get one thing from each tree (Lethal Blows, Uncanny Senses).

One of the more important Enforcer skills is Coercion, which is based on Willpower. Another thing based on Willpower is Discipline, which helps you pass a Fear check. So I'd skip Cunning and go for Willpower. Or if you want mostly melee/brawn, skip Agility and go for Cunning and Willpower. If you want to still be a decent shot, just add ranks in Ranged-Light.

Ok. So brawn, willpower, and cunning at three. My two out of career skills I get for being human are Coercion and Deception.

I'm not seeing why you need Force Exile then.

What? I'm playing an Enforcer right now with Exile. A player in my game has an Enforcer with Exile. That with Enhance is a great combo, you can boost your Brawn or Agility, or jump around like a rabbit. It's a most excellent combo.

However, I'd agree with everyone to wait to purchase Exile until later. Spend that 20XP, plus 10 from Obligation, on bringing another characteristic to 3.

I'm not saying it's a bad combo. Based on the information he gave in regards to background and type of character he says he wanted to play I'm not seeing how the Force Exile fits into the grand picture of the character concept and as such don't see a point of spending the XP on the career. At the moment Force Exile feels tacked on and not a supporting piece of the concept.

Granted he's given us little to work with but overall that would be my advice based on the information presented so far.

One thing I will add is if you don't flesh out your background your GM may well do it for you.

I ran a 6 week arc of D&D 4e and none of my players had given me backgrounds by this point (lvl 4). During the arc they were involved in a best adventurers Torniment. For 4 weeks there was a heckler in the crowd, he got more and more annoying and one of the players played on it. Week 5 I said

"you finally spot the leader of the hecklers. It's your brother"

"But I never said I had a brother"

"Never said you didn't either"

Coercion is one of the Enforcer's career skills, so you can pick something else as a human. A handy tool for character creation can be found here:

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/89135-another-character-generator/

Actually, "handy" doesn't do it justice, it's seriously donate-worthy.

I totally missed that combo while I was picking my career. I went with the bounty hunter assassin because I thought that was the closest to what I wanted. I missed the hired gun. That changes a lot.

One thing I will add is if you don't flesh out your background your GM may well do it for you.

I ran a 6 week arc of D&D 4e and none of my players had given me backgrounds by this point (lvl 4). During the arc they were involved in a best adventurers Torniment. For 4 weeks there was a heckler in the crowd, he got more and more annoying and one of the players played on it. Week 5 I said

"you finally spot the leader of the hecklers. It's your brother"

"But I never said I had a brother"

"Never said you didn't either"

If my GM comes up with something about my character's background, unless it's completely contradictory to something I had written up I will roll with it. Sometimes I'm even okay if it does contradict my established backstory, because then I'll play it as something that my character didn't know or was wrong about. Like if I was an only child and suddenly I have a brother, it'll be a brother I didn't know I had. Or somehow forgot (amnesia, trauma, etc.).

That said, I've never done this, BUT I DON'T GET TO NOT GM, SO WHATEVER.

We need this on a T-Shirt.

Will agree on what the others said, but I still have to add something: talk to the GM about what kind of story it is. You don't want to know the secret reveal, but it is the story PG12 or 16 or 18? Is it more of a thriller or more of an action comedy? If you don't want to ask, keep watching for stuff like that. Of course you are supposed to bring something new to the table, being a new character and all, but take your time until you know a little about the campaign's direction.

But most importantly: welcome to the hobby. Enjoy yourself and have fun. Be warned, there will be lemon times, but it is one of the most rewarding hobbies ;)

I have an idea for a back story but it's not done yet.

My advice: keep your backstory concise, and focus a couple things (perhaps related to your Obligation or Motivation, nudge nudge) that the GM can use to tell a better story.

Here's the backstory:

Antonious was born about 8 years before Order 66 was given. In the temple he was always curious, preferring exploring the secret passages in the temple over the company of others. When the clones marched on the temple he used his knowledge of the temple to sneak out and escape. He stayed with a family still friendly to the Jedi for a few years before fleeing to the outer rim. While there, at about the age of 17, two Black Sun thugs attempted to mug him. In the ensuing brawl he knocked one unconscious and disarmed the second. He was then offered a job as an enforcer for the criminal organization. Upon hear of the destruction of the Death Star about 10 years later he left the Black Sun to help the rebellion.

Edited by HistoryGuy

What's your character's Motivation? How does this background support his Duty Obligation?

Okay, a couple of obvious fleshing out points that stick out to me:

Antonious was born about 8 years before Order 66 was given. In the temple he was always curious, preferring exploring the secret passages in the temple over the company of others.

So, did he ever get into trouble for his explorations, either with the Order or by stumbling into something he shouldn't? What did his master think of favoring these ventures over socialization? Did he ever find anything cool?

When the clones marched on the temple he used his knowledge of the temple to sneak out and escape. He stayed with a family still friendly to the Jedi for a few years before fleeing to the outer rim.

What happened to the family? Did they get in trouble for harboring a Jedi? Did a greedy relative turn them over to the Empire? Was it one close call too many force them to part ways?

While there, at about the age of 17, two Black Sun thugs attempted to mug him. In the ensuing brawl he knocked one unconscious and disarmed the second. He was then offered a job as an enforcer for the criminal organization.

Being an enforcer for a criminal organization, did he make enemies? Does he have a criminal record above and beyond being a Jedi? Does he have his own personal Inspector Javert chasing him, looking to bring him to justice?

Upon hear of the destruction of the Death Star about 10 years later he left the Black Sun to help the rebellion.

What does Black Sun think of their best Jedi Enforcer leaving their employ? How did he manage to find the Rebels?

Edited by Desslok

Ok good points. I'll keep working on it.

So, did he ever get into trouble for his explorations, either with the Order or by stumbling into something he shouldn't? What did his master think of favoring these ventures over socialization? Did he ever find anything cool?

His master actually encouraged his explorations. The only time he got "in trouble" was when he found a Holocron in a secret spot left by a previous Jedi. He showed the Holocron to his master who then gave it to Master Yoda and Master Windu. Master Windu assumed Antonious snuck into the archives and took it and began to berate him. However Master Yoda stepped in and said, "Jump to conclusions you should not. The boy tells the truth. If indeed into the archives you think he got, then find out how you should Master Windu, and make sure no one else can."

What happened to the family? Did they get in trouble for harboring a Jedi? Did a greedy relative turn them over to the Empire? Was it one close call too many force them to part ways?

The family never is found out, although the Empire does start watching the house because of a rumor that they might be. Once they notice that the house is being watched, Antonious made his escape in the dead of night and then stowed away on a ship heading for Nar Shaddaa.

Being an enforcer for a criminal organization, did he make enemies? Does he have a criminal record above and beyond being a Jedi? Does he have his own personal Inspector Javert chasing him, looking to bring him to justice?

Being an enforcer on Nar Shaddaa mostly only gave him a criminal record of Intimidation, Assault, and Bribery. None of which he ever served any time for.

What does Black Sun think of their best Jedi Enforcer leaving their employ? How did he manage to find the Rebels?

Being a low level enforcer on Nar Shaddaa, the local crime boss wasn't too happy, but no one else. Enforcers like him are a dime a dozen. He hid his Force powers and Jedi background from them. Which is why he wasn't missed too bad. He starts collecting information on where the rebels might be and eventually finds a group of smugglers running weapons them. For a "small" fee they agree to take him.

Okay, so far so good. Two more questions -

What ever happened to his master? Was he in the temple when Order 66 dropped or was he out and about in the galaxy? Did he survive? Was he captured? Turned?

What happened to the family. So they didnt get nicked while he was with them, but the Empire had them under surveillance and suspected them when he up and vanishes in the middle of the night. Even if they claim ignorance of who and what he was, that doesn't reflect well on them. Were they hauled in for questioning? Did they suffer reprisals - either being shipped off to a work camp or finding themselves blacklisted on a social/business level. If they did suffer, how do they feel now about Jedi in general and specifically their former lodger?

Edited by Desslok

Or if being a Force user is actual central to the character I would ditch Bounty Hunter and play a Seeker Executioner from Force and Destiny's Savage Spirits. The Seeker overall is great for building bounty hunter themed characters.

Is his former Black Sun boss looking to force him back? Is he actively looking for you? What would happen to him if he went back to Nar Shaddaa?

The point that is perhaps being danced around is that a good backstory has people with names, faces, and relationship status. That family sounds important, so they need a name, what they do, and how the PC associates with them...it could be regular letters (sent through snail mail via trusted associates), or maybe some credits each month as a form of gratitude payment...or maybe even the other way around if the family has some means.

I say all this but don't look to me for an example :) the backstory for my PC is incredibly shallow. However, as my players didn't rise to the occasion, I have developed pretty intricate backstories for them, giving them some very specific and recurring NPCs who all have motives of their own. I kind of wish my players had done more, but in some ways I'm glad they didn't as I was able to bind their backstories more closely with the overall plot.

The point that is perhaps being danced around is that a good backstory has people with names, faces, and relationship status. That family sounds important, so they need a name, what they do, and how the PC associates with them...it could be regular letters (sent through snail mail via trusted associates), or maybe some credits each month as a form of gratitude payment...or maybe even the other way around if the family has some means.

Well, I didnt bring up mentioning names or anything because it seems we're still in the rough draft stage. Lord knows I have plenty of <MOM>, <DAD>, <OLDER BROTHER> and the like while I'm coming up with the outline. But yes - when you put down the final draft, you'll need to at least outline these people and come up with a sentence or two about them.

. . . . because if you don't, your GM certainly will. And they'll be more devious about it than you. (:

The back story is only told from his point of view. So if he doesn't know, then it's not in the story. The attack on the temple happened late at night. In the confusion he couldn't find his master who was in the temple. So he doesn't know his master's final fate.

The family was an elderly family and he doesn't know their fate either.

He would prefer not to return to Nar Shaddaa because, while his old boss isn't actively looking for him, he is certain to be recognized and his boss won't be happy to see him to say the least.