A friend of mine is starting a SAGA campaign up this summer and I'm looking for some help with my character.
I know our group is going to have two nobles, one soldier, and two jedi. We're probably going to start low level, anywhere from 1-5 and I don't see us leveling too high (probably 10 at max).
I'm looking to build a typical Jawa. I want him to be good with mechanics, computer use, bartering, and stealth. He sneaks around, "borrowing" things, and using them or selling them.
I'm flexible on the class. I was looking at Scoundrel, but I was wondering if maybe there might be a better option out there. I'm also unsure of what talents a character like this would benefit from the most.
I first and foremost want him to be an expert in mechanics, so I was thinking of taking Skill Focus for his first feat. I also heard Tech Specialist is good.
Some equipment ideas would be helpful as well. Is there anything out there that boosts mechanics, computer use, or stealth? I'm also looking for some type of grapple gun or something like that. Jawas have a low speed and I don't foresee this character having a good Str score for climbing and jumping, so I was looking for him to have some sort of trick to get around.
I'm mainly looking for some suggestions for feats, talents, and equipment that would be beneficial for this type of character.
Small Jawa Scout 3/Scoundrel 1/Noble 1 Init +9; Senses darkvision; Perception +9 Languages Binary, Bocce, Huttese, Jawa, Jawa Trade Language, 2 unassigned
Defenses Ref 20 (flat-footed 18), Fort 17, Will 19 hp 44; second wind +13/22; Threshold 17
Speed 4 squares Melee by weapon +1 Ranged blaster pistol +4 (3d6+2) Base Atk +2; Grp -1 Atk Options Point Blank Shot [Core p.87], scavenger Special Actions Bomb Thrower [GOI p.21], Shake it Off [Core p.88]
Abilities Str 8, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 12 Special Qualities desert dweller, mechanical aptitude Talents Acute Senses [Core p.49], Barter [Core p.49], Bomb Thrower [GOI p.21], Connections [Core p.44] Feats Linguist [Core p.86], Point Blank Shot [Core p.87], Scavenger [TFU p.35], Shake it Off [Core p.88], Skill Focus (Mechanics) [Core p.88], Tech Specialist [SOTG p.20], Weapon Proficiency (pistols, rifles, simple weapons) [Core p.89] Skills Endurance +8 (may reroll to ignore thirst but must keep the result of the reroll even if worse), Initiative +9, Knowledge (technology) +9, Mechanics +14 (may reroll but must keep the result of the reroll even if worse; +19 when handling explosives), Perception +9 (may reroll but must keep the result of the reroll even if worse), Persuasion +8 (may reroll but must keep the result of the reroll even if worse), Stealth +9, Survival +9 (may reroll to endure extreme heat and keep the better result) Possessions blaster pistol, mastercrafted tool kit
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If you're looking for a "grappling gun" of sorts, there's the Ascension gun, which is in Galaxy at War. Remember those guns that Padme and the rest of the Naboo security force used in A Phantom Menace? Yeah, that what it is. And if you start off at 1st level, I'd recommend starting off in either Scoundrel or Scout. Scout is a good all-rounder, but Scoundrel seems to have a few talents that you might want to look into, like the Slicer talent tree.
I'm both chaotic and orderly. I value my own principles, and am willing to go to extreme lengths to enforce them, often trampling on the very same principles in the process. At best, I'm heroic and principled; at worst, I'm hypocritical and disorderly.
You've got a pretty big group but I just want to say that telling us you have two Nobles, two Jedi, and a Soldier really doesn't tell us much about your group. I'm just saying that because telling us you want a "Tech Specialist" helps define the character as it could go into several different classes where your further statements help clarify which class is best for you.
I'm looking to build a typical Jawa. I want him to be good with mechanics, computer use, bartering, and stealth. He sneaks around, "borrowing" things, and using them or selling them.
Now this list of skills that it appears you'd like to be trained in narrows your class choices. Fortunately any Jawa (found in S&V) can take Mechanics as a trained skill and they can also reroll that check although they need that training to make the check in the first place; normally this request would make Noble an undesirable starting class. Use Computer is NOT a class skill for Scouts which makes that class less desirable if you're starting at 1st-level but it is available to other classes and could be picked up after multiclassing. Bartering is covered under the Persuasion Skill which means Noble or Scoundrel; Scouts have access to a talent that will allow you to reroll Persuasion to Barter but that isn't as good as actually having the skill trained. To be good in Stealth you're going to want Scout or Scoundrel for access to training where to Scout has some talents that can improve this skill. Looking at your desired skills you've basically narrowed your class choice down to Scoundrel although if you are starting at 4th or 5th level you could start in Noble and multiclass into Scout or Scoundrel (I wouldn't do both early because of the BAB hit.) and pick up Stealth as a trained skill by increasing your INT modifier at 4th level (start odd and give +1 then) or with a feat.
Now for what it is worth I actually like starting Tech guys in Soldier which has access to both Mechanics and Use Computer plus it's the toughest starting class around. I can't recommend it here because you mention wanting Stealth and Persuasion; neither of these is a Soldier class skill although there is a feat (or may it's a talent) that can put Persuasion on the Soldier's list which allows it to be taken at first level.
Jawa is a pretty good choice for a Tech Specialist. They get to reroll Mechanics checks and always have Mechanics as a class (but NOT neccessarily trained) skill. They also get to double their heroic damage bonus (full level instead of half) when using ion weapons against the appropriate targets; this makes it easier to "aquire" things.
When it comes to feats I think SF(Mechanics) and Tech Specialist are definitely something to go for. These two feats alone will certainly make you a "Tech Specialist" as far as most people should be concerned so anything you add that boost that is possibly overkill. I'm not saying you shouldn't and couldn't do it but I don't believe it is needed granted I may throw a few more resource that way and figure out other ways to use my great Mechanics ability.
I'm not a big fan of seeing equipment that boost skills and SAGA tried to do away with many of those "little" bonuses that could really add up. With Use Computer I believe that if you have a helpful computer you can add the computer's INT bonus to your skill when using that computer. I don't recall where Masterwork tools are talked about but they presumably could boost your Mechanics skill. There are several techs that relate to Stealth but in all honesty I'm not a fan of them do to power concerned; there is are armor upgrades that boost your stealth and apparently stack with a Camoflage Poncho that also adds a bonus.
Although some may not like this I may suggest you look into some kind of medium sized vehicle to operate if you're worried about your speed. This may mean you also need to be a Pilot but there are worse things. I may also suggest you carry around an ion weapon so you could use that Racial bonus when the opportunity presents itself.
When it comes to more build help I'd actually like to see what you've come up with. Tech Specialist does NOT need to be an all consuming build so part of me wants to know what else your character would be able to do.
For everyones reference, this character is going to be for an Old Republic campaign.
@FeeorinsRule: Thank you for the tip about the Ascension Gun. That is exactly what I was looking for to help out with this character! Big help. I think that'll help for when I need to get up to somewhere or get up to a vent to hide in or something.
@StevenO: I don't have a ton of information on the other characters yet in the group, everyone is still sort of figuring it out. I can share what I have so far...
The soldier will probably be the standard mercenary / bounty hunter type.
One Jedi is going to be a very defense-oriented melee character.
The other Jedi is more of a Sith from what I hear, she'll be dabbling in dark side powers no doubt.
One noble has aims to become a senator, so I think she'll be taking mostly social skills.
The other noble has set his sights on becoming a crime lord. I know he's going to take Computer Use because his character has an interest in lost technology. He is supposed to have various underworld connections. The hook for my character is that I'm sort of his "fixer". He calls me in to repair the stuff he finds or create new things for him. More or less my jawa will view him as a boss or a business associate.
I think that gives a little more info into the character I'm trying to create beyond a Tech Specialist. He is involved in illicit activities. Maybe he'll help the noble with some break-ins or thefts.
I like the idea of the Jawa having a really good stealth score so he can get away with "acquiring" items and walking off with them before anyone notices or pick pocketing interesting things off of people. I think this would apply to how he fights in combat as well. If he is caught in the open, he ducks and looks for some cover to hide in before using that as a sniping spot. If he has time before hand, maybe he scouts out a location and uses that to snipe at his targets. If he has a high enough stealth, I think that makes the Snipe attack option a realistic choice to take advantage of.
Would that kind of playstyle make Scoundrel a more attractive option because of Sneak Attack? I'm not sure off-hand if being hidden allows me to catch targets flat-footed.
For feats, I think the first one I'm taking is Skill Focus: Mechanics for sure. Pick up Tech Specialist next, then I'm sort of open for anything from there.
As for equipment... the ion weapon is a good suggestion, I think I'll carry one around to take advantage of that racial perk. I do like the Camouflage Poncho, that'll be a huge perk for this PC since he's small sized too.
I see a lot of Large-sized vehicles and mounts, but haven't come across any Medium ones. Any suggestions on that?
Also is there a starting credit list or a standard wealth chart in the Core Rulebook for PCs above level 1? If so, what page? I'm curious to know how much I have to work with depending on the level.
I think if the GM lets us start at level 4 or higher, I'll start with Noble and pick up a ton of skills, then multiclass over into Scout to train Stealth from the bump to Int along with the Improved Stealth talent.
I don't have the build worked up yet, but I'm going to start on it and post it when I've finished it. The advice so far has been helpful.
When it comes to more build help I'd actually like to see what you've come up with.
Me too !!!
Ideas for your character concept : From Dono's big list of NPCs :Spoiler:Show
"Where most Jawas are content to simply patch together a mechanical item before selling it to an unsuspecting buyer, the Jawa mechanic has an unusual fondness and aptitude for machinery, often spending their free time tinkering with any such object within reach. Wise leaders can see the value of letting them carry on with their tinkering, as it often leads to better sales. However, most Jawa mechanics end up being drive from their homes by their brethren, with the especially adventurous souls being found on planets far from their native Tatooine, using their talents to earn a living."
Small Jawa Scoundrel 3 Init +8; Senses Perception +7, darkvision Languages Huttese (understand only), Jawa, Jawa Trade Language, 1 unassigned __________________________________________________________________________ Defenses Ref 18 (flat-footed 16), Fort 14, Will 15 hp 30; Threshold 14 __________________________________________________________________________ Speed 4 squares Melee Unarmed +1 (1d3) or Ranged Heavy Blaster Pistol +4 (3d8+4) or Ranged Heavy Blaster Pistol +4 (3d8+4 ion) Base Atk +2; Grp -1 Atk Options Point Blank Shot, Scavenger Special Actions Fast Repairs, Gearhead __________________________________________________________________________ Abilities Str 9, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 15, Wis 13, Cha 8 Special Qualities desert dweller Talents Fast Repairs, Hotwire Feats Gearhead*, Point Blank Shot, Skill Focus (Mechanics), Tech Specialist, Weapon Proficiency (pistols, simple weapons) Skills Endurance +2, Initiative +8, Knowledge (technology) +8, Mechanics +13 (may re-roll), Perception +7, Pilot +8, Stealth +13 Possessions modified blaster pistol (ion setting, improved energy cell, no stun setting), filthy robes, mastercraft tool kit
"The eyes and ears of the various Jawa tribes, the Jawa scavenger is frequently used to scout ahead in search of prize salvage and other vital resources. Often working in small groups, Jawa scavengers can prove a danger to the unwary, either due to theft of unattended objects or outright assault, although Jawas will only attack if the target has something they perceive as highly valuable and worth the risk."
Small Jawa Non-Heroic 4/Scout 1 Init +4; Senses Perception +8, darkvision Languages Jawa, Jawa Trade Language, 1 unassigned __________________________________________________________________________ Defenses Ref 16 (flat-footed 14), Fort 13, Will 12 hp 15; Threshold 13 __________________________________________________________________________ Speed 4 squares Melee Unarmed +3 (1d3) or Ranged Blaster Pistol +5 (3d6) or Ranged Blaster Pistol +5 (3d6 ion) Base Atk +3; Grp +5 Atk Options Scavenger Special Actions Shake it Off __________________________________________________________________________ Abilities Str 10, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 9 Special Qualities desert dweller Talents Acute Senses Feats Shake it Off, Skill Training (Endurance, Mechanics, Survival), Weapon Proficiency (pistols, simple weapons) Skills Endurance +8, Mechanics +7 (may re-roll), Perception +8 (may re-roll), Stealth +9, Survival +8 Possessions modified blaster pistol (ion setting, no stun setting), filthy robes
From Jedi Comedian [Saga] Star Wars Miniatures RPG Stats :Spoiler:Show
Jawa CL 2 Small Jawa nonheroic 6 Init +4; Senses darkvision; Perception +9 Languages Jawa, Jawa Trade Language, plus 1 other language -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Defences Ref 12 (flat-footed 11), Fort 9, Will 11; Dodge hp 9; Threshold 9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Speed 4 squares Melee unarmed +3 (1d3-1) Ranged ion pistol +5 (3d6 ion) Base Atk +4; Grp +0 Atk Options scavenger, Trip -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Abilities Str 8, Dex 13, Con 8, Int 13, Wis 13, Cha 8 Feats Dodge, Skill Focus (Mechanics), Skill Training (Stealth), Trip, Weapon Proficiency (pistols, rifles) Skills Mechanics +14 (may reroll), Perception +9, Stealth +14, Survival +4 (may reroll and keep better result when resisting extreme heat) Possessions ion pistol, datapad, tool kit, satchel, 2 energy cells, mesh tape, 70 credits
Jawa Trader CL 1 Star Wars Roleplaying GameSaga Edition Statistics Small Jawa nonheroic 4 Init +3; Senses Darkvision, Perception +1 Languages Jawa, Jawa Trade Language _____________________________________________________________________________ Defenses Ref 12 (flat-footed 11), Fort 10, Will 9 hp 10; Threshold 10 _____________________________________________________________________________ Speed 4 squares Melee unarmed +3 (1d3) Ranged ion pistol +4 (3d6 ion) Base Atk +3; Grp +3 Special Actions Point Blank Shot _____________________________________________________________________________ Abilities Str 10, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 9, Wis 8, Cha 11 Feats Dodge, Point Blank Shot, Skill Training (Deception), Weapon Proficiencies (pistols, simple weapons) Skills Deception +7, Mechanics +6, Perception +1 Possessions Jawa robes, ion pistol, belt with pouches containing random bits of technology, credits
I'm not a big fan of the Sneak Attack talent but I do like Dastardly Strike. You can only take DS once but you'll notice that the conditions of its use are a little less restrictive (no range limitation) which makes it much better for sniping. I'll also say that knocking your target one step down the CT (or I should say an additional step above what the attack would normally do) can be a much bigger benefit then just getting an extra 3 points of damage; moving the target down the CT lowers its attacks, defense scores, and skills which just makes it a lot weaker while just taking off extra hitpoint often does nothing to hinder the target. Eventually a character could get into Gunslinger and (with some levels in Scout) Bounty Hunter for two more talents that, when used with the aim action, will each provide an additional -1 step in CT movement. This sniper build is often called the "CT-Killer" and can drop targets much faster then damage can; while there may be an optimum version of it you can play around with it and fit some "tech specialist" into it.
There is no official "wealth by level" table for SAGA. In all honesty I believe a 20th-level character should be playable using the same gear they've had since 2nd-level. I build characters with the assumption of basic equipment and never look at the need for "magic" items that are superior to normal things. Now an unofficial WBL calculation I've seen is level x (level -1) x 1000 credits BUT that also assumes that a large portion of those credits is valued with allies, favors, and other less tangible resource which were given a value but aren't things you carry around.
I can't think of any medium sized vehicles off the top of my head (wait, maybe Darth Maul's speeder bike but I forget where that is) but they shouldn't be hard to create. A very basic "repulsor scooter" could have speed 6, a low max velocity, minimal armor, a few hit points, and relatively low ability scores (say STR 16, DEX 12, INT 10).
Sorry for the delay in responding, it has been a busy week!
After some thought and feedback, I decided to alter the character a little bit. I gave up the bartering aspects of the character. He counts on his boss (Owen, the crime noble PC) for that sort of thing.
A couple of notes… We rolled stats and I did fairly well for myself as you can see. Also rolled pretty high for my HP as well.
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Real Name: Reizo Kkak Nickname: Ratchet Class: Scout 4/Scoundrel 1 Race: Jawa Languages: Jawa, Jawa Trade Language, Basic, Binary, Huttese, Shyriiwook HP: 54 (Threshold: 17) Defenses: Ref 22, Fort 17, Will 18 BAB: +3 Speed: 4 Abilities Str 8, Dex 19, Con 13, Int 18, Wis 14, Cha 10
Special Qualities: Desert Dweller, Mechanical Aptitude Talents: Fade Out, Hidden Attacker, Dastardly Strike Feats: Weapon Proficiency (Pistols, Rifles, Simple Weapons), Shake it Off, Skill Focus (Mechanics, Stealth, Use Computer), Tech Specialist, Point Blank Shot
I haven't done his equipment, but the GM gave us a 28,000 credit budget. I'll probably be putting some of that up to help pay for a group ship. Potentially, we're seeing the Stealth at a +26 if I use the Camo Poncho and the mechanics and use computer skills one or two points higher depending on additional equipment. I found an all terrain vehicle (forget which book off hand) that I'm going to purchase to help me get around.
The high Mechanics and Use Computer along with the Tech Specialist cements him into his role in the party: tech guy. If there is something that needs to be done in those regards, he is the man. The high stealth benefits him in two ways. First, it helps him do his Jawa thing--pick pocketing and sneaking around to "find" items.
Secondly, stealth plays a big role for him in combat. With the Fade Out talent, he uses his Stealth instead of Deception when making a distraction to hide. So, his first move into combat is to distract everyone and then hide. Then with the Hidden Attacker talent, it only requires a Swift Action to snipe and remain hidden after attacking. Even with the -10 penalty, he has a good chance of remaining hidden in combat. When you combine that with Dastardly Strike, he'll be knocking people down the condition track as combat goes on.
For my weapons, I'm probably going to pick up a Blaster Rifle and an Ion Rifle along with that Ascension Gun. If anyone knows of any better weapons, I'm all ears.
I’m starting to work on his backstory as well, here are the basics so far. I still need to communicate with the other PCs to see how he met up with them and that sorta thing.
Background: Normal Jawa life from 1-15--natural knack for salvaging and repairs. At the yearly gathering of clans at Dune Sea, his clan (Kkak) traded him as 'marriage merchandise.' Viewing this as a bad trade, but unable to convince his clan otherwise, Reizo refused and left before he could be wed to Izdi and her clan (Weekkata). A vagabond at 16, he headed to Mos Eisley and adopted the nickname Ratchet.
Personality: Interested in how and why things work. Uncomplicated in his desires: looking to try new things. Enjoys challenges. Friendly until given reason not to be.
Jawa Quotes: "Do not look for uses in a salvaged item, imagine someone else who might find uses for it." “Sand stays, all else changes.”
That is it for now, I'm going to keep working on the little guy but I've loved all the help people have given me so far!
