Fair comment. This may have been intentional, but we don't see it in the other careers, which is why Explorer screams 'dip class' to me.

Yeah, it may also go along with that "Generalist" theme a few people have been hitting -- dropping in seemingly random skill-enhancing talents as a way to "round out" the career skills. Honestly, I've not paid much attention to the Explorer career, so I could be on the wrong track entirely. The problems you're seeing in the Explorer career and its specializations may be why it is the subject of the first and so far only announced career splat.

The problems you're seeing in the Explorer career and its specializations may be why it is the subject of the first and so far only announced career splat.

I concur. I think that may give us the 'Indiana explorer' and 'rifle hunter' we presently lack.

At present, I could see a Smuggler/Pilot wanting to take Fringer, a Survivalist BH dipping Scout, and maybe a face character taking Trader?

Actually, I think Trader is the only Explorer speciality that lines up its talents and skill set.

But does anyone here play a pure Trader?

I think everyone is ignoring an even more fundamental point.

Don't equate a hobo to a bum. Hobo's have much worldly experience. You will probably get an even more varied perspective from one living under a bridge, so-to-speak, than one who rides the rails as most hobos are stereotypically want to do. Regardless of reason, the one shared commonality is that they are primarily migratory and lack a home.

Bums, however, have a lot less to teach.

Your character would be lucky to learn everything they know from a hobo. Or, perhaps, a hermit living in a tree. You'll likely get a lot of sage advise should you give them a chance.

Hobo's have much worldly experience.

Also bindles. Hoboes are the leading carriers of bindles.

But does anyone here play a pure Trader?

I have a player whose PC is a pure Trader. He's based on the antiques dealer from the movie Pitch Black.

But does anyone here play a pure Trader?

I have a player whose PC is a pure Trader. He's based on the antiques dealer from the movie Pitch Black.

But does anyone here play a pure Trader?

I have a player whose PC is a pure Trader. He's based on the antiques dealer from the movie Pitch Black.

Pure awesome!

I see no flaw in desiring a character to be mechanically functional, in addition to thematically appropriate. The two aren't mutually exclusive.

As far as Explorers go, they're really not combat classes which is ok. An agility of 3 can still sneak around and shoot fairly well.

I'm not sure I agree with Scouts not needing stealth. While "boldly going where noone has gone before" is all well and good, being able to identify and avoid potential threats would also be highly desirable. As far as Lewis and Clark are concerned, they did need to eat and given the technology level at the time, being able to shoot straight and or hide from game would be critical to your survival.

I'm not sure I agree with Scouts not needing stealth. While "boldly going where noone has gone before" is all well and good, being able to identify and avoid potential threats would also be highly desirable. As far as Lewis and Clark are concerned, they did need to eat and given the technology level at the time, being able to shoot straight and or hide from game would be critical to your survival.

As an aside, if you've read any of the Lewis and Clark records, they had no trouble finding game. In fact, the amount of it was a marvel to them.

But besides that, it doesn't mean the game should be set up so you can play Lewis and Clark fresh out of the box. The mission was handed to these guys because presumably they knew what they were doing. In game terms, they'd spent a lot of XP rounding out their skills before embarking on their mission.

In any case, it sounds like the splat book is going to make everybody happy.

I find this discussion interesting and I can understand both dies of the coin. At first glance, we look at Explorer and we can see that it's odd that the Class as a Talent without the appropriate Career skill attached. But, in a way this may be by design. If we take the thought process that Skills/Career skills are something that are Trained while Talents are Inherent than that may help out. And in any case, they both seem to balance each other out to an extent.

I'd like to give an example - If we compare a Survivalist Bounty Hunter to a Scout Explorer, both are actually very similar talent trees (Neither with Stealth as a Career Skill). A Survivalist Bounty Hunter will have an edge on Combat, as nuanced by it's Talent Tree, but the Scout will focus on Non-Combat. The offset here, is while a Survivalist Bounty Hunter gets a Proficiency Die for Combat Damage and a Bonus Damage Talent, the Scout Explorer gets Proficiency Dice non-Combat skills and a talent for a controlling effect. Both classes are very similar, one wants to avoid combat one seeks it. Both are Trained in different skills due to their respective Careers, but as for their raw Talent they are the same.

I like to think of the Talent Tree as things that come natural to the PC and the Skill Tree as things taught to them - Anyone can be a talented shot, but I'd take a SEAL Sniper over a the businessman who shoots his gun at the range every day for fun.

Think of it this way, we've got two brothers born to a family of Fringer Farmers... They grew up on Tatooine. They've always wandered around the Wastes, searching for adventure. But, one day one of the Brothers gets bored of his life on Tatoonie and decides to become a Storm Trooper. After his commission, that brother finds Hunting down bounties in the most dangerous environments is a lucrative occupation (Survivalist Bounty Hunter). The other Brother, upon coming of age stay with his family a little longer. But, the family farm hits on hard times and he starts to sell his Talents to an intergalactic Corporation. The Corporation has him Scout out dangerous worlds in search of new resources.

Both have the same inherent talents, but one choose to focus his skills on combat, the other on non-combat. Both have raw ability in Stealth, but neither have training.