I apologize if this has an extensive topic somewhere else (and if someone could point me to it, I'd appreciate it!), but since FFG has asked us to focus on regiments and character creation this week, I thought I'd give a post about something that's bothering me.
I think I've read it that people don't like the idea of a sniper being rolled into also playing a Ratling. I really must agree with that. I'll totally play a sniper, but I just don't think Ratlings are all that interesting, and pretty much all of my players agree with me. One /would/ have played a 'sniper' but didn't want to play a Ratling.
But even if Ratling is kept, or if some of it is divorced into a more general Sniper class with optional Ratling spice, I think it's kind of silly that Ratlings make better commanders than Sergeants, Commissars or Priests. They get an amazing +10 bonus to Fellowship to begin with, and then on top of that gain both Fellowship and Social as aptitudes. While the Sergeant's Comrade abilities better represent a character who actually is trained to command troops, it's very easy for a Ratling to have a way better Command roll than a Sergeant or Commissar, and I just think that's pretty silly.
I understand that hobbitses are friendly sorts, but I feel that might be represented well already with having Fellowship and Social aptitudes. Fellowship has nothing to do with what the Ratling is doing in the /squad/, however, and as such a +10 Fellowship bonus simply feels off. I think it should be replaced with either a +10 bonus to Agility (making them kings of stealth and the like) or Ballistic Skill (this might be a touch overpowered, but it does fit with a sniper).
And then I must reiterate: needs more non-Ratling Sniper.