Archaeologist

Of the 8 Career Skills, choose 4 to get a free rank. Of the 4 Specialization Skills, choose 2 to get a free rank.

Explorer Career Skills: Astrogation, Cool, Knowledge (Lore), Knowledge (Outer Rim), Knowledge (Xenology), Perception, Piloting (Space) and Survival

Archaeologist Specialization Skills: Athletics, Discipline. Knowledge (Education) and Knowledge (Lore)

Though Archaeologists have a strong focus on their scholastic pursuits and understanding of history, they tend to have a rough-and-tumble approach to dealing with the inevitable challenges they are likely to face in the held.

Most Archaeologists believe very passionately that what they do is noble and important to the people of the galaxy. They tend to be less concerned with who is currently in charge, except for how the prevailing policies of the current government impact their studies and digs. Unfortunately for the current state of the held, the Empire tends to take a very heavy hand in matters of "revisionist history," preferring to alter findings to best fit its agendas. As such, most Archaeologists either work outside of Imperial channels or wish they did.

Player Character Archaeologists can easily be the centerpiece of a new campaign, building a team of other specialists to help in a recently embarked-upon expedition. Otherwise, -'such a character may be between digs and looking either for an expedition to join or "filler work" until he can make the right kinds of contacts.

Perhaps an archaeology-oriented Explorer joins a group that's journeying to an area for completely different reasons; he trades his skills and knowledge for the chance to investigate rumors of a potentially valuable find once he gets to where they are going.

Potential Backgrounds

  • Academic: Archaeologists inherently possess a scholarly background, making this almost a default part of any history for a character of this type. The study of history, ancient civilizations, and related topics requires a great deal of in-depth research and academic focus before taking a single step into the held. Simply put, no Archaeologist is going to be worth a gundark's broken tooth if he doesn't start out with at least some academic foundation.
  • Criminal: Archaeologists are not always of pure heart and noble of purpose. More than a few see uncovering ancient artifacts as a means to financial reward, and they are willing to break both taboos and laws to get what they want. They will sell to the highest bidder, even if it means a priceless heirloom goes hidden into some greedy aristocrat's vault instead of being shared with the galaxy. Then again, an Archaeologist doesn't necessarily have to possess a dark heart to become a criminal; just poking into the wrong tomb on the wrong planet at the wrong time can set him on the fugitive's path.
  • Entrepreneur: Archaeologists are not usually entrepreneurs at heart, but there are plenty who follow that calling who are more than happy to find ways to make money at it. Ancient civilizations—and the knowledge, technology, and potential secrets of power they hold—are highly valuable to governments, corporations, and other factions. Like a Scout, a savvy Archaeologist may well put a solid team together to go out and find treasures that can net a tidy profit.
  • Ex-Imperial Operator: Archaeologists are often employed by the Empire to find and uncover the knowledge and secrets of the countless civilizations that existed prior to the Empire. Such knowledge may need to be suppressed, of course, should it not fall in line with the current propaganda, yet it is still important to know everything possible about the planets and cultures absorbed. Some such Archaeologists may find the suppression of their life's work too much to take, thus seeking to strike out on their own to find and reveal the truths they discover. Perhaps one such Archaeologist may discover rumors and evidence of a powerful ancient culture that directly undermines Imperial doctrine and, knowing the Empire will do all it can to wipe any trace of the offending culture out, he decides to break out on his own to get there first.
  • Fallen Noble: Archaeologists are inherently well educated, which is also true of the aristocracy in many cultures. Archaeology is a favorite pastime of the rich and powerful, so a noble who is fallen from grace might find that what was once a passionate hobby is now an option for making a living. A possible twist on that theme is a noble who, due to his obsession with rumors of a great lost treasure, finds himself on the outs with his family. To redeem himself, he sets out among the stars to prove them all wrong and return to even greater heights.
  • Wanderer: Archaeologists can easily evolve from a background of wandering. As a restless soul traveling the Rim, coming across ancient ruins and hidden places as his feet took him there, someone could develop a keen interest to uncover and learn more. It may make for an interesting story should a group go looking for a particular site of ruins and are repeatedly told to find the "grungy guy with the strange metal pole" who wanders through the area regularly, speaking often about his latest finds.