Strategist

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

Commander Career Skills: Coercion, Cool, Discipline, Knowledge (Warfare), Leadership, Perception, Ranged (Light) and Vigilance

Strategist Specialization Skills: Computers, Cool, Vigilance and Knowledge (Warfare)

The Strategist is a relatively low-key Commander, but one who is crucial for the Rebellion to achieve victory over the Empire. Characters who have connections to Alliance High Command, or who have otherwise seen how planning and logistics function at a higher level, are prime candidates for such a change. Characters who might be considered “armchair generals” also fit the role well, as does anyone with an analytical mind.

The role of a Strategist might also be tied to his prior specialization. For example, an excellent Slicer might be consulted as to the best way to lead a virtual assault on the Empire’s computer network.

Strategists are responsible for forming the core directives used in the war against the Empire. Rather than focusing on individual battles, they analyze the big picture—both what has happened and what is bound to happen should their plans bear fruit. They also monitor the effectiveness of logistics to ensure that military units aren’t too thinly spread or sparsely supplied to be effective. Anything that might change the tide of battle concerns them, and they must possess sharp minds and keen wits to keep all the variables under control.

Though they rarely possess direct command of armies or units, Strategists are expected to arrange the high- level details of the operations and battles the Rebel military must participate in. A Strategist must also be incredibly detail-oriented, as forgetting a minor item when planning a planetary strike could lead to the deaths of thousands of Alliance troops.

Strategists must be able to keep their cool. Viewing the Galactic Civil War from such a lofty vantage point can cause even the most tranquil individuals to break under pressure. In fact, the conflict at hand is so vast and complex that it can be difficult to digest it all, even in multiple sittings. Keeping a cool head also allows the Strategist an opportunity to examine an enemy’s movements in order to discern whether or not it is attempting a feint or a full-fledged assault. Imperial commanders are cunning tacticians, and their ruses can be disastrous if they aren’t seen for what they are before it’s too late.

Obviously, successful Strategists must know the ins and outs of warfare. Being aware of their enemies’ capabilities, as well as those of their own troops, is vital to planning a successful campaign. In addition, possessing intimate knowledge of wars both past and present allows Strategists to learn from the lessons of their predecessors, or to call up a little-used tactic to catch the Empire off guard.

Though a Strategist may seem like an odd choice for the typical Alliance cell, the knowledge and keen insight such a character brings to a party are well worth having. With a little combat training, a Strategist can act as a secondary combatant while watching the battlefield for signs of opportunity or disaster. Given their potential training in both Cool and Vigilance, it’s unlikely that a Strategist will be caught unawares when things turn ugly.

Potential Backgrounds

  • Defector: Palpatine’s grand strategy hasn’t always been clear, for the Empire is a dark and secretive institution. Many of the most effective military Strategists in the Empire found themselves marginalized once the Gla- ctice Civil War was in full swing. Others decided that the war they were fighting wasn’t the right one and chose to take their abilities elsewhere. Whatever their reasons, they may very well have an inside view of the Empire’s motivations and future plans that could be of great value to the Rebel Alliance.
  • Citizen Soldier: War in politics and business isn’t all that different from combat. Though the methods used to achieve victory may be different, the ultimate goal remains chillingly similar in all three mediums. Strategists from the civilian sector often have their roots in economic, corporate, or political endeavors. Those employed by the Rebel Alliance are likely to find themselves working to destroy the Empire not militarily, but economically. They also work to provide the Alliance with its own income streams, especially those that cannot be drastically affected by the Empire’s efforts to bankrupt the Rebellion.
  • The Failed Leader: When a Strategist fails, the outcome of an entire conflict can be placed in jeopardy. This defeat can be the result of a single bad decision, or the product of a number of smaller mistakes that snowball into an overwhelming catastrophe. Though Strategists rarely work alone, especially in the higher echelons of Alliance Command, their expertise and opinions are well respected and always considered when plans are made. To fail at this level is a rebuke that few can bounce back from, but learning from one’s mistakes may very well make one a better Strategist in the end.