[SW Saga] Rodian Soldier optimization

[sol_kanar]

Hello, everyone!

I just started a SW Saga adventure, and I decided to play a Rodian Soldier. My stats are:

Str 14
Dex 18
Con 12
Int 13
Wis 8
Cha 6

My concept is a weapon specialist: thus, I would like to maximize damage for ranged weapons and the like. Is there any suggested choice of talents/feats/prestige class to do that effectively?

Thanks in advance :-)

[RandomLunatic]

We need more information.

What level are you at? What weapons do you want to specialize in? What sort of fighting style are you interested in (Aiming, braced autofire, multi-attacking, other)?

[sol_kanar]

We need more information.

What level are you at? What weapons do you want to specialize in? What sort of fighting style are you interested in (Aiming, braced autofire, multi-attacking, other)?

Thanks for the answer!

I am currently 2nd level. I am new to SW Saga, so I don't really know: what is the most effective weapon/fighting style for a Soldier?

[Seatbelt]

"saga doesn't work that way" is my short answer. Saga is not like 3.5 where a power attacking 2hander is the absolute clear winner in the damage race.

Now in any system with numbers and crunching of them you can find the build guaranteed to do the most damage. But it's pretty easy to contribute in Saga by doing whatever you think is cool. I made a human noble with virtually no combat skills at all and still managed to be useful in combat thanks to aid another actions and such. So pick what you think is cool and we can probably help you make that work.

[RandomLunatic]

Basically what he said. It is hard to make a weak character in SAGA unless you actively sabotage yourself. Most fighting styles can be made to work.

[sol_kanar]

"saga doesn't work that way" is my short answer. Saga is not like 3.5 where a power attacking 2hander is the absolute clear winner in the damage race.

Now in any system with numbers and crunching of them you can find the build guaranteed to do the most damage. But it's pretty easy to contribute in Saga by doing whatever you think is cool. I made a human noble with virtually no combat skills at all and still managed to be useful in combat thanks to aid another actions and such. So pick what you think is cool and we can probably help you make that work.

Basically what he said. It is hard to make a weak character in SAGA unless you actively sabotage yourself. Most fighting styles can be made to work.

I see. But since I visualize my character's role in a fight as "hit them with maximum strength", I was wondering what was the most effective strategy to reach this objective.

Right now I've selected Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot, and I am using a Heavy Blaster Rifle (3d10); I've also selected the talent that lets you consider the damage threshold of your opponents as 5 points lower when using rifles.

I was wondering if there was some better option. Thanks again! :-)

[IdleMuse]

The way to optimise damage with a Soldier is with autofire, with Burst Shot. I don't really want to post a full build (but can if you want), but what you should be looking at are the following feats/talents...

Burst Fire (feat)
Autofire Assault (soldier talent)
Controlled Burst (elite trooper talent)
Riflemaster (feat)

This will set you up for pretty hideous damage. You're already doing fine with the feats and weapon you've got (see if you can upgrade it with a Pulse Charger).

[RandomLunatic]

What books is your GM allowing? So far, you have listed nothing outside of Core, so I have to wonder if you have any restrictions on the sources you can draw from.

Also, while Burst Firing does indeed have the best raw damage potential, it has the worst accuracy. And if you miss, damage is zero. There are ways to brace a heavy blaster rifle, which makes the penalty less painful, but then you cannot aim, which means you end up at a net loss due to the fact your target is probably in cover. If they are not actively seeking it, then your melee ally whose existence I infer from your selection of Precise Shot will probably give it to them anyway. You may want to hold off on picking that up until 6th level, when you will be two levels away from PrCing into Elite Trooper and picking up sweet, sweet Controlled Burst.

[sol_kanar]

Thanks for the advice! I will look into it :-)
As for the sourcebooks, I have access to everything, but I only started reading core for now.

[IdleMuse]

... when you will be two levels away from PrCing into Elite Trooper and picking up sweet, sweet Controlled Burst.

It's just so delicious

Until then, you have the strength necessary for Rapid Shot, which is a good stand-in. For soldiers, I'm also a big fan of the Ambush talent tree from the Rebellion Era campaign guide, particularly Destructive Ambusher, it's worth looking at if you have two or more spare soldier talents.