I made a spreadsheet for my players during character creation to help guide the best species for each career and specialization and thought I would share it since it seemed to be useful. I know the book says that this doesn't really matter but my players wanted some kind of guide. The first worksheet is the Core rulebook only and the second spreadsheet I spent less time on but includes the unofficial species guide.

Specialization/Race Guide

At least in the games that I play, players are far better off considering the narrative aspects of who their character is and what kind of character they want to play than which species and career match up mechanically because of various statistic combinations.

I feel it's just more fun that way, but your mileage may vary of course.

A good player can have a lot of fun playing a Twi'lek Bounty Hunter (a combination "Not Recommended" on your chart) because they are playing a compelling character who is doing interesting things and telling a fun story, regardless of whether they might have a statistic that's lower than some other race.

From a mechanical perspective starting out makes a bit of sense, but really far more important to play what you like. Plus, that's just starting out because it's off to the races after that and as a players adds talents and skills it becomes less and less of an imperative I think to have the best mechanical starting point.

I made a spreadsheet for my players during character creation to help guide the best species for each career and specialization and thought I would share it since it seemed to be useful. I know the book says that this doesn't really matter but my players wanted some kind of guide. The first worksheet is the Core rulebook only and the second spreadsheet I spent less time on but includes the unofficial species guide.

Specialization/Race Guide

You state that the purpose of the Mercenary Soldier is Ranged (Heavy) and Gunnery and state that Gand is recommended. I disagree. I think that Leadership and Presence are very important for this specialization, and I think that makes the Gand less than ideal for it.

You state that the purpose of the Mercenary Soldier is Ranged (Heavy) and Gunnery and state that Gand is recommended. I disagree. I think that Leadership and Presence are very important for this specialization, and I think that makes the Gand less than ideal for it.

Alternatively, the Gand's high Willpower will make him a pretty good Bodyguard since the linchpin of the tree is the Bodyguard maneuver and costs Strain to use.

I think that you could make a Mercenary without a high Presence who was good at shooting stuff. And that'd be okay...but you'd hamstring yourself on one of the best talents in the CRB. Give group members immediate Maneuvers and Actions? Godamn! That is an incredible talent that hinges on your Leadership and therefore Presence.

Thanks for the tips, especially on the Gand, I thought it looked lacking when I made this up. It was never meant to be a concrete guide...more like...guidelines.

From a mechanical perspective starting out makes a bit of sense, but really far more important to play what you like.

And sometimes you like how the mechanics start you out