I've read the description of the Fringer, but I still don't exactly understand what one is.

Can someone describe it better, and/or give examples of genre archetypes that would be considered a Fringer?

Thanks in advance!

A fringer or fringe dweller was a citizen of the galaxy who came from less settled, frontier regions, or the "fringe" of the galaxy. They typically had little or no high-tech equipment and luxuries and were forced to make do with what technology they could acquire, possibly used or cobbled together on their own. Fringers were often farmers, but due to the necessities of life found themselves adaptable to many situations, learning a wide variety of skills.

Examples of a fringer included Luke Skywalker and Biggs Darklighter before they became pilots for the Rebel Alliance. The term is usually applied as one would be the word settler.

During the Mandalorian Wars, the term "fringer" referred to a freelance tradesperson. Fringers assisted with provisioning when official channels were insufficient.

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Fringer

The specialization cards describe the fringer as part navigator, part negotiator.A jack of all trades type character ,they have a mix of social, piloting,knowledge, escape and a small amount of combat skills/talents. The combat talents tend to.go for the robustness but the top tier of talents has two entries of dodge which are definitely not to be sniffed at (since dodge is not limited to a specific type of attack), which can be used even if you are piloting. IMO its a great all round character. In fact a developper recommended it as a great partner to the mercenary soldier specialization to get a great mix of talents that range from social to pure ouut offense.

I think a Fringer would fit the adventurer-for-hire archetype. In the context of an Explorer career, it could cover treasure hunters, expedition members, or mercenary pilots who maybe don't consider themselves smugglers. Attach it to any other career or specialization and you have a decent freelance Doctor/Mechanic/Pilot/What-have-you.

Yeah, the whole deal behind the Fringer is that you know how to do things and you know how to get there because you've "been there, done that." At least as far as the edges of society (and the galaxy) are concerned.

So, would you say Mal from Firefly would be a Fringer? and possibly Shepard?

I could see Mal being either a Fringer or a Hired Gun. He certainly has traits of both. He seems to be a Fringer at heart, but probably took the Mercenary Soldier spec during the war. Shepherd Book seems like a Fringer at first glance, but that's sort of a front. I think he dipped into some Fringer specs later on in life.