Hey all,

I've been playing in a SW game for a while now. Unfortunately my character was captured last session and I'm going to have to build one. I'm looking at making an ARC Trooper with a faulty control chip, who watched his squadmates turn on the Jedi and managed to make it out alive. This turned him against the Imperials and he's joined the rebellion.

I've been looking at a few ideas. The Verpine Shatter rifle looks awesome, and allows me to snipe with extreme prejudice from a distance. As he's a clone, my species choices are "human" or "Mandalorian Human." I've got a couple of builds, but nothing that really stands out as a character that reflects his wealth of experience. I started by building for as many class skills as possible, but that ends up requiring a number of talent trees that doesn't exactly scream "military background." And I want this guy to rock the battlefield, but have a few skills outside that to help out on our ship when we're not in battle.

Here's the kicker: I have 648 xp to spend, on top of whatever I get for my race.

I seem to be focusing on the Soldier career, and Vanguard spec, since the special ability that comes when maxing out that tree ("The Bigger They Are...") allows me and allies to ignore damage/soak for a single target, lasting a few rounds, once per session. But I'm open to other suggestions. I aslo built a Vanguard/Colossus build that looked fun. Essentially, he has unrealized force abilities that click in subconsciously and makes him more durable.

I've looked at the "Retired Clone Trooper" talent tree, and while its fun, it seems more explosives-focused.

I'm leaning towards a tanky leader. Anyone play any particular spec combo that fits that description and played well in-game?

Why do you need to build a new character simply because your current one has been captured? This is the perfect opportunity to role-play a prison break .

I'm with you on that. But where he's currently being interrogated is nigh-impenetrable. And he was captured during a surprise attack by an Imperial battlecruiser. He's suspected to be the leak that gave away their location, so the Rebellion isn't too keen on risking a lot to get him back. So it'll take a few sessions for the right opportunity to present itself, if it ever does.

In the meantime, I'm picking the worst time to build a clone trooper. But I can't wait for "Rise of the Separatists" to be released, so I'll have to make do with what's out now. We have Jedi in the party, so its a great character hook. The ARC Trooper surivived Order 66, but watched his squadmates turn on his Jedi allies. Vanguard gives me a "bodyguard" talent, so he can use it to protect the Jedi in our party. Anything to make up for what his squadmates did. Its a great character plot hook.

If you have all the XP to spend, and want a tank of a character, there's a build I'm looking for for my character that will take a few applications of Jury Rigged and Tinkerer to Kav-Dann armor and two attached weapons. Colossus looks like a great tree, and if you want to drop some XP into the Bounty Hunter- Gadgeteer and Technician- Modder trees for 4 ranks Jury Rigged and 4 ranks in Tinkerer, you can get a serious suit that would put Predator to shame. Those might make sense story wise for a character like you describe, a former imperial trooper who may have experience maintaining his own gear now reduced to having to cobble together what he can in order to make what he has work.

Between the extra wound threshold from Colossus and a loadout with armor that allows the firing of two weapons hands free, you'll be a monster. I have a spreadsheet with what I want for an armor loadout, which has a T-7 Ion Disruptor and Disruptor Rifle with Underbarrel Grenade Launcher mounted to Kav-Dann armor. I know, sounds unwieldy, that's why Jury Rigged (reduce Enc) and getting the weapons Stripped Down mods and both weapons and armor Superior quality mod. Total Encumbrance:8. The armor and weapons are tough to find and expensive, but I have ideas for getting as close to the loadout as I can until I get all the pieces, perform all the modding, if you're interested.

Walking in with a wound threshold in the 20s courtesy of Colossus and other tree's Toughened, in armor that gets your soak close to double digits provided you use a Dedication or 2 for Brawn, might make it a little less impenetrable.

On 10/10/2018 at 12:39 PM, eisenkrote said:

Hey all,

I've been playing in a SW game for a while now. Unfortunately my character was captured last session and I'm going to have to build one. I'm looking at making an ARC Trooper with a faulty control chip, who watched his squadmates turn on the Jedi and managed to make it out alive. This turned him against the Imperials and he's joined the rebellion.

I've been looking at a few ideas. The Verpine Shatter rifle looks awesome, and allows me to snipe with extreme prejudice from a distance. As he's a clone, my species choices are "human" or "Mandalorian Human." I've got a couple of builds, but nothing that really stands out as a character that reflects his wealth of experience. I started by building for as many class skills as possible, but that ends up requiring a number of talent trees that doesn't exactly scream "military background." And I want this guy to rock the battlefield, but have a few skills outside that to help out on our ship when we're not in battle.

Here's the kicker: I have 648 xp to spend, on top of whatever I get for my race.

I seem to be focusing on the Soldier career, and Vanguard spec, since the special ability that comes when maxing out that tree ("The Bigger They Are...") allows me and allies to ignore damage/soak for a single target, lasting a few rounds, once per session. But I'm open to other suggestions. I aslo built a Vanguard/Colossus build that looked fun. Essentially, he has unrealized force abilities that click in subconsciously and makes him more durable.

I've looked at the "Retired Clone Trooper" talent tree, and while its fun, it seems more explosives-focused.

I'm leaning towards a tanky leader. Anyone play any particular spec combo that fits that description and played well in-game?

Easy peasy for skills (not sure on overlap)... Hired Gun; demolitionist (dangerous covenants) / retired clone trooper (dawn of rebellion)

On 10/10/2018 at 2:39 PM, eisenkrote said:

I started by building for as many class skills as possible

Why? Just xp efficiency? with 600+ you probably don't need to worry about that too much. Or is this looking for versatility/utility outside of combat you mentioned? If so, I'd look at the skill profile for the rest of your group and focus on whatever needs shoring up. If everything is pretty strong, just choose one thing outside of combat to focus on (healing, interaction, repair, etc).

On 10/10/2018 at 2:39 PM, eisenkrote said:

I'm leaning towards a tanky leader. Anyone play any particular spec combo that fits that description    and played well in-game?  

I mean, this screams 'Hired Gun" to me, with both Bodyguard (tanky) and Merc Soldier (leader) trees in one place. Then reach into other trees, notably AoR's Soldier/Commando and Commander/Tactician.

I'm also not clear on why you mention mixing sniping into there. 'Tankiness' isn't a particularly valuable quality for a sniper.

3 hours ago, OrbitalVagabond said:

Why? Just xp efficiency? with 600+ you probably don't need to worry about that too much. Or is this looking for versatility/utility outside of combat you mentioned? If so, I'd look at the skill profile for the rest of your group and focus on whatever needs shoring up. If everything is pretty strong, just choose one thing outside of combat to focus on (healing, interaction, repair, etc).

I mean, this screams 'Hired Gun" to me, with both Bodyguard (tanky) and Merc Soldier (leader) trees in one place. Then reach into other trees, notably AoR's Soldier/Commando and Commander/Tactician.

I'm also not clear on why you mention mixing sniping into there. 'Tankiness' isn't a particularly valuable quality for a sniper.

One of the soldier specs from AoR would probably work, like trailblazer since he’s an ARC trooper, or Vanguard, and the retired clone trooper universal. Maybe also Demolitionist.

1 hour ago, Eoen said:

One of the soldier specs from AoR would probably work, like trailblazer since he’s an ARC trooper, or Vanguard, and the retired clone trooper universal. Maybe also Demolitionist. 

Yeah, I think it could make more sense to build the character from the ground up as a AoR character, particularly the Soldier or Tactician careers based on what the OP wants (but honestly I found the source is a little scattered). But as this was posted in EotE, I'm assuming it's an EotE campaign that requires EotE careers, hence starting with Hired Gun, and then nabbing other talent trees as necessary.

Also I don't have the Soldier splatbook, so the only specializations I can see are Commando, Medic, and Sniper.

5 hours ago, OrbitalVagabond said:

Yeah, I think it could make more sense to build the character from the ground up as a AoR character, particularly the Soldier or Tactician careers based on what the OP wants (but honestly I found the source is a little scattered). But as this was posted in EotE, I'm assuming it's an EotE campaign that requires EotE careers, hence starting with Hired Gun, and then nabbing other talent trees as necessary.

Also I don't have the Soldier splatbook, so the only specializations I can see are Commando, Medic, and Sniper.

The soldier splat is worth getting it has lots of cool weapons like the T-7 ion disrupter, and lots of clone wars vehicles like the LAAT.

On 10/17/2018 at 9:14 PM, Eoen said:

The soldier splat is worth getting it has lots of cool weapons like the T-7 ion disrupter, and lots of clone wars vehicles like the LAAT.

it also has scar talents, the only way outside of specs and species to pick up a PARTICULAR talent you want... my kotor era character (warrior:steel-hand-adept/niman-disciple; will eventually add ascetic) got steely nerves (want to protect the 5 willpower from crits) and spare clip talents that way, spare clip was to prepare or ascetic (a lightsaber and blaster pistol, a stripped down theed arms s-9 [and yes intuitive improvements gave it the extra 2 hp so it could be stripped down] is 2 enc right there, so he won't be able to carry an extra reload). he lost his right hand twice (once was backstory, second was an in game crit, that blew off his repulsorfist )

A "tanky leader" character? That sounds like a build I made for AoR with Soldier as Career. Then take Vanguard and mix in Tactician. If you have the XP to spare, shallow-dip the top of Commando too.

FYI, one of the Force & Destiny source books has Clone Trooper armor listed. I don't know which one but I think it's one that Oggdude hasn't put in his Character Generator yet. IIRC it's 1 defence, 2 soak and comes with an integral Load Bearing Equipment attachment. Unfortunately I don't remember it's encumbrance, the hardpoints available or cost.

On 1/4/2019 at 7:16 PM, T70 Driver said:

FYI, one of the Force & Destiny source books has Clone Trooper armor listed. I don't know which one but I think it's one that Oggdude hasn't put in his Character Generator yet. IIRC it's 1 defence, 2 soak and comes with an integral Load Bearing Equipment attachment. Unfortunately I don't remember it's encumbrance, the hardpoints available or cost.

Laminate Armor.

7 hours ago, Rimsen said:

Laminate Armor.

No. Knights of Fate has actual Arc Trooper armor.

1 Defense, 2 Soak, Encumbrance 4, 2 Hard Points, Rarity 8. Cost is set at 5000 credits (and its restricted).

The special notes add that the sensors in the armor remove 1 setback from any Perception test, it adds the benefit of a hardened comlink, AND load-bearing gear.

Simply put, ARC Trooper armor is supremely badass, as one would expect. Mk1 Katarn-class Commando Armor is also statted out in the same book and even better still.

3 hours ago, Silim said:

No. Knights of Fate has actual Arc Trooper armor.

1 Defense, 2 Soak, Encumbrance 4, 2 Hard Points, Rarity 8. Cost is set at 5000 credits (and its restricted).

The special notes add that the sensors in the armor remove 1 setback from any Perception test, it adds the benefit of a hardened comlink, AND load-bearing gear.

Simply put, ARC Trooper armor is supremely badass, as one would expect. Mk1 Katarn-class Commando Armor is also statted out in the same book and even better still.

I just hope any player going ARC doesn't go full Traviss. Even as a fan of the EU, I'll be the first to say: You never go full Traviss.

On 1/6/2019 at 5:25 PM, HappyDaze said:

I just hope any player going ARC doesn't go full Traviss. Even as a fan of the EU, I'll be the first to say: You never go full Traviss.

I'd agree with you on that. In an AoR game I'm playing an old clone (long before we had the tree for that... I should get Retired Clone eventually just because I can) who was a former 'Cody' or 'Rex' to another random Jedi, and there's so much room for diverse characterization AND mechanical specialization with clones in the game that just going full Traviss is bad on so, so many levels. 😛