Edge of the Empire: Support Technician

[Anonymouswizard]

I'm going to be playing in a game of Edge of the Empire (with some possible editions from Age of Rebellion), with character creation this weekend, and have decided to go in playing the party Technician after I realised my original concept required far too many Credits to pull off at the beginning of the game, so I was wondering if anybody had advice on building a Technician as more of a support character who keeps the party functioning at maximum ability. So far I'm considering:

Human, bonus skills going toward Medicine and Ranged (Light)
Technician Career, with the Outlaw Tech specialisation, although I'm also considering Mechanic.
Free Skills: Computers, Knowledge (Outer Rim), Mechanics 2, Perception, Streetwise.
XP (110)
Talents: Tinkerer, Solid Repairs, Utility Belt, Jury Rigged (50 XP)
Abilities: Intellect 3 (30 XP)
Skills: Discipline, Knowledge (Underworld), Knowledge (Education), Perception 2 (30XP)

For equipment I'm planning on a heavy blaster pistol, handheld commlink, emergency medpak, breath mask, backpack, datapad, tool kit, and utility belt, and 2 extra reloads. This leaves me with 75 credits and up to 5 obligation with which to customise (although adjustments will be made based on other characters).

Is this a good build? Am I spending too much on Talents (as I think I might be) and not enough on skills? Is there any important equipment I've missed?

I'm not sure what the other party members will be yet, so I'd prefer a general character, although not the point where I'm performing two roles (I can shift around some skills to become a pilot or face if really needed, but the character is not a bruiser).

I'm also considering a Duros from Age of Rebellion as my species, although I don't have confirmation about it being allowed, at which point I'll likely shift skills around a bit and drop the rank in medicine in exchange for astronavigation, and one of the ranks in perception for Pilot (planetary).

[Rakaydos]

If this is going to be a long term campain, you might be a bit light on characteristics- character creation is the cheapest point to buy up your base stats. Other than that, though, there are very few "traps" in FFG Star Wars- There's a few abusively powerful builds, but they tend to get bored outside their area of expertise.

In general, Droids are the second best specialists in any specialty, and humans are the best jacks of all trades. All the other races are somewhere in between, occasionally standig out as perfect for a build, but flexible.

A Toydarian might start with 1 brawn, but if you want to make a brawn 4 toydarian heavy gunner, you can buy up your starting brawn all the way to 4- though that's most of your starting points. Play what you want to play, and blame the dice if it goes horribly wrong.

[Anonymouswizard]

If this is going to be a long term campain, you might be a bit light on characteristics- character creation is the cheapest point to buy up your base stats. Other than that, though, there are very few "traps" in FFG Star Wars- There's a few abusively powerful builds, but they tend to get bored outside their area of expertise.

Thanks for the advice about characteristics, although Intellect is the only one I desperately care about, I might bump Agility or Presence to three but I can probably work with most at 2.

In general, Droids are the second best specialists in any specialty, and humans are the best jacks of all trades. All the other races are somewhere in between, occasionally standig out as perfect for a build, but flexible.

I don't want to be a droid, simply to avoid being compared to R2-D2. I'll have a look at the other races though.

A Toydarian might start with 1 brawn, but if you want to make a brawn 4 toydarian heavy gunner, you can buy up your starting brawn all the way to 4- though that's most of your starting points. Play what you want to play, and blame the dice if it goes horribly wrong.

Well thanks for the advice on that front.

I'll probably go for Duros if they are allowed and bump Intellect up to 4, and get mechanics, astronavigation, perception, and pilot (planetary) as my 4 free skills, not sure about my specialisation skills yet, but leaning towards mechanics and Streetwise. I might also bump Agility to 3, giving me 30XP to spend on skills and talents, 10 of which will go on ranged (light). That gives me 20 XP to pick up important skills other have missed, or if nothing's missing just spend it on a couple of rank one career skills and two rank one talents.

Might not be the best character ever, but 'vehicle guy' will be a fun character to play.

[Rakaydos]

Sounds good. I'm working on convincing my group to try a Knight level clone wars game- I've got a tinkering jedi I've put together who isnt really any more skilled than your guy, just with more options, with the whole lightsaber/move object/FR2 deal he's got.