My buddies recently invited me to play in their game mixing all of the FFG Rpg products. We are playing during the Old Republic Era on the side of of the Sith. They decided to only have one force sensitive in the party and gave that spot to me. There are also no real combat-oriented characters in the party. We have a great deal of social skills and technical expertise (and a pilot).

My GM suggested that I play a strong combat character,but that I will need to earn my lightsaber during play. I asked for a bit more guidance but the group is the sort where they consider it bad form to meddle with each others' characters.

I understand the system well, but I'm struggling to come up with a character that will make good use of a lightsaber... But isn't useless without one. If I go brawn, it seems I'd be better off with a vibroaxe against many enemies and "waste" some of that lightsaber potential. I could go agility and eventually get Ataru, but I have no idea what might synergize with lightsaber combat.

I'd love any advice you might have. I'm not here looking for a full build, just anything experience or observations you may have!

I would suggest a Warrior Aggressor as the starting spec for this build with a high star in both Brawn and Agility, as well as Willpower.

9 hours ago, Tramp Graphics said:

I would suggest a Warrior Aggressor as the starting spec for this build with a high star in both Brawn and Agility, as well as Willpower.

Another idea is to go shi-cho-knight. Then high brawn and agility

What books do you have available to you? I'll assume just the core book for now. Since your Sith the Dark Side is your friend, embrace it!

Does the group have a Decietful and stealthy character? The Shien Expert is a rather diverse character with some flexibility in combat. Ataru is straight up destructive and a great choice, but being based on Agility you will unable to utilise all your skill options. Shi Cho is the other excellent choice, it's really all about combat with a Saber but lacks Reflect.

I think we have...

A lying/stealing/coercing talky character (agitator?), an engineer, a pilot, another sort of tech character, and myself. I was looking at aggressor, but don't want to overlap too much with the talky guy's focus on coercion, but maybe it will feel completely different.

If I'm focused on on lightsaber combat and not going Ataru, what is the benefit of Agility? To be able to fire a blaster decently as well, even without skill investment?

One thing I know is that the campaign will be very "high economy" with great gear available that will probably beat a starter lightsaber from the get-go. I also expect to face more blaster-wielding enemies than lightsaber fighters given the campaign theme (and I'm the only force user).

Being a sneaky, conniving Shien Expert seems awesome (with Sense and such to evade) but I don't know how useful I'd be pre-lightsaber. Maybe it is fine if I'm weak before then? I lack the practical experience to know.

What would you think of...

1) Agi/Brawn/Will, Heading down the right side of Executioner pre-lightsaber, then going Ataru. I'd be pretty good with guns in the meantime.

2) Agi/Brawn/Will, Going pathfinder for Animal bond and FR, then grabbing Ataru?

Worried about getting strained to death for all of those, but that seems to be an issue in general!

I'm sure I'll have fun regardless, but I'm trying to show up with as workable a character as possible!

Basically in this system any character will be workable, particularly if you pick a characteristic at the start to have a 4 in. "Optimisation" usually takes a few hundred xp st the minimum and it's easy to come up with 800xp concepts that will never reach fruition.

Your ideas will work well, anything that can give Ataru an extra Force Rating will be great. Your also right about Strain, Ataru is very offensive, but the Advantage from Hawk Bat Swoop can be used to recover some when it's needed.

Another decent choice would be starting in Ataru then getting Seer. They pair relatively well and the additional Force Rating will open up more potency in Force Powers for you.

If possible I'd grab the ancient sword as your starting weapon. It uses the lightsaber skill, but isn't a lightsaber.

Based on your party's composition I can spot four gaps from main characteristics and from a well rounded party point of view.

Your party might need a strong leader who could command and direct the party as needed (Leadership/negotiation guy with high presence).
Or you might like the burly avalanche-like Sith lord (just an apprentice now) who could with his physical strength tear apart any opposition.
Maybe you will be the feared one-hit-kill sith, be it with a rifle or a lightsaber... and going crazy with the vicious
You might be the knowledgable and educated sorcerer-fledgling.

Which role do you see your character to shine?
Lead your team like a Warleader or Arbiter... starting with Agi3/Will3/Pre4 (e.g.: Pau'an) <you will be fine with that light or a simple blaster rifle until you can grab that lightsaber>
Hurt them hard and be able to soak up those wound like an Shi-Cho Knight... starting with Bra4/Will3 and some easily available soak2 armor & vibrosword & shield
Grab that energy bow and show them how you strike down your enemies, starting as a Seeker (Executioner or already as Ataru stiker) you get access to heavy weapons skills and could hand out formidable damage... starting with Agi4/Will3 for Human or Agi4/Will4 Mirialan. Going for the Soldier/sharpsooter spec second to pick those two 'Deadly accuracy' talents for your heavy weapon and for your lightsaber skills.

I would highly recommend NOT to pick up the Ancient sword as a weapon of choice and focus on lightsaber skill too strongly until you have a proper lightsaber.

Thanks for everyone's advice. I'm definitely not trying to optimize so much as come up with a fun concept that will grow with me rather than "come online" with a certain piece of gear or talent combination.

I think I will go the "Force Sorcerer" route and use my lightsaber defensively once it comes to that. I think that route has the most Sith flavor.

If you wouldn't mind, do you have any recommendations on that front?

Any of the specs that offer 2 force rating talents

As well said before me: Start with a spec, where you can get 2 force ratings & Discipline is a class talent.

Speak with GM on mentor bonus, especially about the Sith mentor bonus as per the Disciplines of Harmony (you can read the details in that thread in this very forum)
Optimal character would start with Int4 and Will4 (e.g.: Chiss or Arkanian) no force power, no talents... and you make as you go. On the long run this is the build that starts slow, but can get strong as you go.

Alternatively, you can shape it quite differently: like going Cerean Consular Ascetic with Int4 Will3, taking Heal & Ebb/Flow basic powers at char gen (again depends on if you can convince your GM to allow you to apply the Mentor bonus at char gen). Later you would be able to pick up all knowledge skills with a good Int.
You could go for Int5 with an implant quite easily and Will4 (or Int6) quite fast from the Ascetic talent tree.
Eventually, you would use Harm to suck the life out of all your opponents and top your team mates with Heal (meat shields) and use Ebb/Flow to support your team with strain recovery and your research with nice advantages.
<Implants and Ascetic combination is again open for debate with you GM. You better clarify that in advance.>

Another alternative, which is definitely more xp intensive, is to pick up Seer with high Willpower (5) and rush to Force ratings.
In the beginning your main support role in the fight would be nothing else, but that your team would always go first!
Star Wars fights are quite deadly and initiative order is crucial... you might want to go Iktochi or a might stick with human with this build... any species with Will3 base characteristic would be good for you. You would only shine later game (like 200xp later).

Farsight is one of the best recon power in the game and discuss it with you GM if he is okay with you knowing were things are.
Influence is again an effective power to have with high willpower.
Force lightning (the power allowing you to finally start doing some real damage) is only available after you have grown to FR3 and you would have to spend quite an XP amount to get there.
Move is cheaper to start with and needed if you want to do dmg and you obtain fantastic utility capabilities. <Clarify with your GM what is your attack roll with Move>
Bind requires significant xp investment to work.
Ebb/Flow at least the basic strain recovery part is almost like a must for any longer play.
Sense/Foresee/Enhance/Seek/Misdirect up to you... you will find you definitely want to grab some of them.

Don't be surprised when you realize you need tons of XP to make a sorcerer work, but at high xp level you will become extremely deadly... but at that level every combat focused character is extremely deadly.

Like in SWTOR, lightsaber for a Sorcerer is only for the pretty lights... unless you can come up with some special crystal that helps your Force attacks, you will use it only for defence. You might want to consider picking up the Niman disciple as second spec for those nice Will based lightsaber & the Force rating.

On 6/24/2017 at 1:35 AM, Sfawas said:

Thanks for everyone's advice. I'm definitely not trying to optimize so much as come up with a fun concept that will grow with me rather than "come online" with a certain piece of gear or talent combination.

I think I will go the "Force Sorcerer" route and use my lightsaber defensively once it comes to that. I think that route has the most Sith flavor.

If you wouldn't mind, do you have any recommendations on that front?

The Mystic Seer is a good choice. Two ranks in Force Rating just for the Seer and the Makashi tree for the lightsaber form is good. Just go high Presence (as Makashi bases your Lightsaber Check on Presence instead of Brawn) and either Brawn or Agility for the other combat skill.

The Seer has a lot of ways to use the Force and Makashi has a lot of defense when dueling other people using swords or lightsabers.

Also the Advisor tree will give you social skills and another Force Rating. So if you run your character long enough it will have a Force Rating of 4 and two ranks in Dedication.

Lastly there is an artifact in the adventure in the F&D Core Book that would be very helpful to a strong force user called The Ilum Talisman. Once per session when making a Force Check it will give you one additional pip of your choice. Talk to your GM about how to get it.

Would recommend Makashi if you want to be useful in both social and combat situations. With high presence and Makashi technique you will have great saber, cool, charm and negotiation. Pick up the Influence upgrade that adds a force to charm, negotiation, coercion, leadership and deception for even more effectiveness/versatility. And as said above Seer is in the same career line which can bump up your force power by a lot.