Warleader

Of the 6 Career Skills, choose 3 to get a free rank. Of the 4 Specialization Skills, choose 2 to get a free rank.

Guardian Career Skills: Brawl, Cool, Discipline, Melee, Resilience and Vigilance

Warleader Specialization Skills: Leadership, Perception. Ranged (Light) and Survival

The Guardian begins play with a Force rating of 1

Not all Guardians solve their problems through feats of prowess with the lightsaber alone. The mind can be a deadlier weapon still, and a little foresight can do as much to win a battle as the greatest feat of heroism. The Warleader possesses a number of tricks and abilities that help to carry the day in battle, and more importantly, to keep friends and allies alive to fight another day.

Warleaders are calculating fighters who rely more on mental acuity and guile than on raw combat strength. While Warleaders are capable combatants in their own right, thanks to their ranged combat skills, their greatest edge comes when they have comrades-in-arms to guide in battle. Unlike Peacekeepers, Warleaders do not focus on inspiring others; while individual Warleaders might indeed be charismatic, their friends trust them with their lives not because of rousing speeches, but because of their reliability in the field. Warleaders might not protect their allies by deftly deflecting blaster shots with a lightsaber or heroically taking blows meant for them, but their guidance can keep comrades safe just the same.

Whether through formal military training, practical combat experience, or simply having keen minds, PCs who take on this specialization are well-equipped to handle matters of strategy and tactics. Warleaders often have an intuitive grasp of the field of combat thanks to their connection to the Force, and combine this with shrewd tactics to concoct and execute forward-thinking plans that seem almost prescient to their foes. Cover is an especially valuable resource for Warleaders. They can use it not only to grant their comrades additional defensive benefits, but also to gain the edge over enemies by guiding allies to strike from unexpected angles.

Trust is the foundation of any Warleader’s command. More often than not, a party of Player Characters consists of a group of equals pursuing a common goal rather than a formally structured organization. Even if one PC is nominally in charge, that person might or might not be the Warleader. When battle breaks out, however, the Warleader keeps friends out of the line of fire, exposes weaknesses in enemy plans, and comes up with cunning strategies that catch foes off guard.

Outside of battle, the Warleader’s acute problem-solving skills can also be very useful, as can the character’s foresight. Regardless of the situation, the Warleader can look at challenges from an angle others might have neglected. In doing, so, the Warleader can help lead the group to victory through unexpected solutions.

Potential Backgrounds

  • Ancient Order: A Warleader does not need to be a disciple of one specific ancient tradition to benefit from the wisdom of history. This character studies the techniques of a thousand conflicts and the tenets of a hundred fellowships. The Warleader can draw upon knowledge of the past to predict future events. This might mean studying the strategies and tactics of ancient leaders so that the Warleader can glean new tricks from the pages of history. Of course, such a character must still keep in mind the practical limits and applications of tactics. A Warleader needs a strong wit to adapt academic knowledge of the past into practical plans on the field of battle, and an even stronger bond with friends and allies to execute these tactics effectively.
  • Battlefield Leader: A Warleader who comes from a noble background might have been raised to command, and thus expect obedience from comrades-in-arms. However, loyalty must be earned, especially among Force-sensitive fugitives in the era of the Empire. Few heroes will follow an arrogant or dismissive leader, even if that person is often correct about matters of strategy. Such a character would have to learn respect for others to earn comrades’ esteem, and then their cooperation.
  • Outlaw Agent: Perhaps a Warleader once worked as a scout for a criminal group who inhabited some trackless wilderness in the Outer Rim. On planets where the environment and the wildlife can be as dangerous as any enemy, it pays to know the terrain and to pit one threat against another. A Warleader with this background might even have become dedicated to preserving the region from exploitation and other threats.
  • Wayfarer: A Warleader could have set to wandering just to see the galaxy after a tour of military duty. Travel might have made the character more aware of the injustices the galaxy holds, and the Warleader may have decided to face these challenges head-on using skills acquired in the field. Warleaders have a knack for helping others help themselves, and this is an extremely valuable skill when one seeks to affect real change. Saving people today does not solve their problems for tomorrow, but teaching people to save themselves can help them dramatically improve their lives.