Soldier

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Soldier - Class Progression

"You want to live? Don't cluster. Keep moving. Aim for the head."

**Sources:** Elite Republic Trooper (veteran stormtrooper), Bounty Hunter, Sith Warrior (martial chassis), Mundane NPC Soldier, Arsenal

This replaces point-buy Fighter/gun guy. It is the only class that can wear heavy armor without penalty and make blasters lethal in gritty recovery.

**Primary:** STR or DEX, FGT

**Secondary:** STA, AGI

**Saves:** Fort High, Will Medium (Fearless gives +5), Toughness High (armor)

**Attack:** Full (1/lvl)

**Skills:** 4 + INT mod per level (you're not clever, you're alive)

Why Soldier is Scary in Gritty

You ignore most of the Toughness penalty from multiple Injuries when in armor (Armor Training).

You get Ranged/Area damage that forces Injury saves at +2 to +6 DC over baseline.

You are the only class that gets Diehard for free at L1 - you don't bleed out like Scum.

Level Progression

Lvl	Features	Talent	Feat
1	Armor Training 1 (No ACP, +2 Fort vs gas), Diehard, Weapon Proficiency (Ranged/Military), Combat Stance	-	Feat (Weapon Focus)
2	Tactical Assessment (Move: +2 attack to you+allies vs one target), Second Wind (1/scene heal Inj 1->Dazed)	Talent 1	-
3	+1 Ability, Suppression Fire (Area Affliction), Fearless (+5 vs Fear not immunity)	-	Feat
4	Weapon Specialization (+2 Damage one weapon group), Armor Training 2 (Protection +1 Armor bonus)	Talent 2	-
5	Takedown (minion clear), Improved Suppression	-	-
6	Great Endurance (Unlimited hustle, +2 Fort), Battlefield Awareness (Uncanny Dodge)	Talent 3	Feat
7	Close Quarters Battle (No Rifle penalty), Improved Critical (Weapon Spec)	-	-
8	Heavy Weapons Platform (Brace free), Armor Mastery (Ignore Vulnerability while moving)	Talent 4	-
9	Last Stand (When Dying, can act 1 round), Comrades Save (+2 ally saves 10m)	-	Feat
10	One-Man Army (Extra Attack + Area Burst 1 on hit), Elite Status (Tier 8 capstone (+1 Attack/Damage at cap) +1 ATK/DAM)	Talent 5	-

Feature Details

**Armor Training 1 (L1):** Per Armor.md, you can wear any armor (Battle Armor Prot 5, Heavy 6, Combat Jumpsuit Prot 3) and ignore -1 AGI penalty to Acrobatics/Stealth. You also get Immunity 2 (Heat/Cold half-effect) from sealed suits free. +2 Fort vs Gas, Radiation, Vacuum (10h limit).

**Diehard (L1):** Per Mundane NPC Soldier builds. When Dying, you do not need to roll Fort each round to avoid death. You just remain Dying stable for 5 rounds + 1 per STA mod. You can still be killed by coup de grace or second Damage 15+ fail. Someone still must Treatment DC 15 to stabilize you to Incapacitated.

**Weapon Proficiency (L1):** Proficient with all Ranged Weapons Hold-Out, Blaster Pistol, Heavy Pistol, Blaster Rifle, Repeating, Sporting, Ion. Also Melee Weapons: Vibro-knife, Vibro-ax, Electrostaff.

**Combat Stance (L1):** As Move, enter Combat Focus: +1 Parry +1 Dodge but -2 Initiative for first round. Or Aggressive: +2 Damage but -2 Dodge.

**Tactical Assessment (L2):** Move action, Expertise: Tactics DC 10 + enemy Tier (Tier 4 = DC 14, Tier 8 = DC 18). Success: you + allies within 20m get +2 attack vs that target, and you learn enemy Toughness, Will, Fort. Costs Strain if you use 3+ times per scene (-1 cumulative).

**Second Wind (L2):** Once per scene as Move, remove Dazed, or reduce Injury penalty by 1 for 3 rounds (suppression). Not permanent healing.

**Suppression Fire (L3):** Ranged Multiattack becomes Burst Area Affliction: Standard, 20m line or 8m burst - Targets must Dodge DC (10 + your Ranged Attack bonus) then Will DC (10 + Damage Rank + Weapon Spec) or become Entranced/Impaired (suppressed) - Attack Impaired and -2 to attacks. Repeating rifle gets +1 Area rank free. Must have 10 shots left.

**Fearless (L3):** Per House Rules, not immunity: +5 circumstance bonus vs Fear, Intimidation, Force Fear. Stacks.

**Weapon Specialization (L4):** Pick one: Blaster Pistols, Blaster Rifles, Heavy Weapons, Melee (Vibro). +2 Damage DC (not Damage rank, so stacks over Tier cap as circumstance). This is the Pathfinder-style damage scaling.

**Armor Training 2 (L4) – NERFED FOR GRITTY:** While wearing armor, your Protection rank counts as +1 higher for purposes of Toughness cap. **Removed:** old version reduced Injury penalty by 1 – that double-dipped with Juggernaut and made you immortal to attrition. You still take Injuries normally.

**Takedown (L5):** When you Incapacitate a minion, free extra attack vs another minion within 5m at same bonus.

**Great Endurance (L6):** Can hustle/run without Fatigue checks for 10+STA minutes, +2 Fort vs exhaustion, starvation, forced march.

**Battlefield Awareness (L6):** Uncanny Dodge (can't be flat footed by surprise). If you have Perception 4+ ranks, you get +2 to initiative when ambushed.

**CQB (L7):** Blaster Rifle "Inaccurate at close range -2" Quirk removed. Can use rifle in grapple at no penalty.

**Improved Critical (L7):** Your specialized weapon crit on 19-20.

**Heavy Weapons Platform (L8):** Proton Cannon, Repeating Rifle, Missile Launcher (per Ranged Weapons) no longer require Brace action. You can move and fire heavy at -2 instead of -5.

**Armor Mastery (L8):** While moving, you are not Vulnerable due to armor bulk when Evasive Maneuvers (if you have Combat Pilot).

**Last Stand (L9):** When you would become Dying, you can act for 1 more full round (Standard+Move) then go Dying at end. You can use this to shoot, throw grenade, or drag ally to cover.

**Comrades Save (L9):** Reaction, 1/scene: ally within 10m fails Toughness vs lethal, you can Interpose (take damage instead) if you have Armor 3+.

**One-Man Army (L10):** Once per scene, after you hit with Weapon Specialization, you may make an extra attack as Free vs target within 10m at same bonus, with Burst Area 1 (2m?) - represents overpenetration/explosion. Or full Standard: Area Burst Damage 6 (grenade volley) centered on you but you are immune (you dove).

Talent Trees

**Talent 1 (L2):**

**Bounty Hunter (Tracker):** Gain Tracking, Startle, Ranged Attack 2, +5 Expertise: Streetwise to find targets. Use Streetwise DC 15 + Tier to locate a known target on this planet (1 day), DC 20 for off-world rumor. On success you know last known location + transport used. Need not be restricted to track.

**Heavy Gunner:** Repeating Rifle Mastery - Weapon Spec for Repeating counts as +3 not +2, Quirk (Inaccurate close) removed early.

**Veteran (Washed-out Pilot):** Combat Pilot free, Vehicles +4, Second Chance (Vehicles). Can do Evasive Maneuvers as part of Move that uses vehicle's movement.

**Talent 2 (L4):**

**Mandalorian Legacy (Favored):** Requires Armor Training 2. Battle Armor Heavy (Prot 6) becomes available at cost 15k creds (Military license included if you take Benefit). Can add Jet-Pack Flight 2 (120ft, 5 uses) and Flamethrower (Cone Area Damage 6) as array on armor (10pp cost covered).

**Commando:** Grenade Training - Frag Grenade Damage 6 Burst Area 4 free 3/day crafted, can use Grenade Launcher free on rifles.

**Sharpshooter:** Ignore cover (exccrt total), +2 circumstance to attack at Long range (negates -5 to -3).

**Talent 3 (L6):**

**Expert Gunner:** No penalty to attack as gunner on moving vehicle (per New Advantages).

**Juggernaut – NERFED:** When you take Injury while in Heavy Armor, reduce Injury by 1 (min 0) **once per scene** (was once per round – was immortal in sustained fire).

**Shock Trooper:** When you enter combat with jet-pack/flamethrower, enemies in 10m must Will DC 15+FGT mod or become Shaken (Impaired) 1 round.

**Talent 4 (L8):**

**Top Shot:** Pistol/Rifle Improved Critical +1 more (18-20). On crit, free Pin: target Hindered+Vulnerable 1 round (Fort DC 10+Damage negates).

**Demolitions Expert:** Detonite damage +1 rank per doubling is +2 for you. Can make Thermal Detonator (Damage 9 Burst 67? Actually Ranged Burst Area Damage 9) for 500cr 1/day.

**Indomitable:** Will +3 vs Fear, Mind Trick, Force Fear. When you roll Will vs Fear and succeed, recover 1 Hero Point.

**Talent 5 Capstone (L10):**

**Elite Republic Trooper (Canon):** You are the monster as a veteran stormtrooper: STR 4 STA 4 FGT 5, Battle Armor Prot 5, Repeating Blaster Damage 7 Multiattack, Vibro-knife Damage 5 Crit 18-20, Toughness 7 Fort 8 Will 4. You count as Tier 7 for all caps (Attack+Damage max 14, Dodge+Tough max 14) but attack/damage can exceed Tier cap by 2 due to Weapon Spec.

**Death Watch:** Mandalorian but darker. Jet-Pack becomes permanent Flight 4 (60m). Flamethrower becomes Damage 8 Fades, plus Wrist Missile Launcher (Damage 6 Burst 2 Unreliable 5 uses) free.

**War Marshal:** Give Tactical Assessment to all allies as Free action, +2 to all, and you can redirect minion attacks to yourself as Reaction 1/round.

Starting Package

**Abilities:** STR 3, STA 3, FGT 3, AGI 2, DEX 2, STA? Actually array: STR 3 STA 3 FGT 3 AGI 2 DEX 2 INT 0 AWE 0 PRE 0 (per Elite Trooper chassis)

**Defenses:** Dodge 4, Parry 5, Toughness 2/5 with Combat Jumpsuit (Prot 3), Fort 7, Will 3 (but Fearless +5 vs fear)

**Offense:** Blaster Rifle +5 (Ranged Damage 6 Multiattack, medium 80m long 160m), Blaster Pistol +5 (Ranged 4), Vibro-Knife +5 (STR-based Damage 3 Crit 18-20)

**Skills:** Athletics 4 (+7), Expertise: Tactics 4 (+4), Intimidation 4 (+4 or +9 if STR), Perception 3 (+3), Vehicles 3 (+5)

**Gear:** Combat Jumpsuit (Prot 3, half heat/cold, Perception Package +2), Blaster Rifle, Blaster Pistol, Vibro-Knife, 2x Frag Grenades (Burst 6), Comlink, Field Kit

**Credits:** 1,500cr, Military license (temporary cover) via Benefit if needed

**Complication:** Orders, Duty, Enemy.

Gritty Note

Blaster Rifle average damage 6 vs Toughness 5+Injuries. Two hits = likely Staggered. Three hits = Dying. Your job is to ensure you give those three hits before they give them to you. Use cover.

House Rule Reminder: All Rifles get 2 free ranks Extended Range (40m short/80m med/160m long). Use metric!

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