Class Preview: The Operative

Yessss

That thief looks awesome.

So how does this cloaking field ability work? Is it magic, some sort of "force" power, or tech? Because while I can wrap my head around a thief's sneak attack I can't figure how this cloaking field works. I've never seen this sort of thing work without the three things I mentioned. So I'm curious to hear how this works.

I love that picture! Though he should really tie his shoes.

So how does this cloaking field ability work? Is it magic, some sort of "force" power, or tech? Because while I can wrap my head around a thief's sneak attack I can't figure how this cloaking field works. I've never seen this sort of thing work without the three things I mentioned. So I'm curious to hear how this works.

"Pick one"

That armor looks awesome! he gona trip tho

So how does this cloaking field ability work? Is it magic, some sort of "force" power, or tech? Because while I can wrap my head around a thief's sneak attack I can't figure how this cloaking field works. I've never seen this sort of thing work without the three things I mentioned. So I'm curious to hear how this works.

We actually address that aspect of class abilities in the chapter's introduction, but the short answer is "any or all of the above." :D

As in, we can pick? Hm....

The golden dragon emblem is a nice detail.

Crusader3025 wrote:

So how does this cloaking field ability work? Is it magic, some sort of "force" power, or tech? Because while I can wrap my head around a thief's sneak attack I can't figure how this cloaking field works. I've never seen this sort of thing work without the three things I mentioned. So I'm curious to hear how this works.

We actually address that aspect of class abilities in the chapter's introduction, but the short answer is "any or all of the above." :D

Okay I can buy into any of the three I mentioned since I can as a player and GM envision how all three could work. Plus it gives the player more freedom to his character development. I like that. Heck I like the idea of a "divinely inspired" operative. "I'm on a mission from my god." :-) Faith Ninjas!

And I assume this would be the class to build the "Operative" in Serenity from.

I know this is a bit tangential but which class makes the best pilot?

If tech, it could have some sort of gene-engineered/mutant biological base.

Crusader3025 wrote:

So how does this cloaking field ability work? Is it magic, some sort of "force" power, or tech? Because while I can wrap my head around a thief's sneak attack I can't figure how this cloaking field works. I've never seen this sort of thing work without the three things I mentioned. So I'm curious to hear how this works.

We actually address that aspect of class abilities in the chapter's introduction, but the short answer is "any or all of the above." :D

So how does that work with EMP and/or antimagic fields? Is it a decision that can be changed (by the player, in case that was unclear- start with magic cloaking and switch to tech cloaking)?

So how does this cloaking field ability work? Is it magic, some sort of "force" power, or tech? Because while I can wrap my head around a thief's sneak attack I can't figure how this cloaking field works. I've never seen this sort of thing work without the three things I mentioned. So I'm curious to hear how this works.

Just like all other Ex abilities do: through pure awesomeness.

Also as an Ex it should be functional in an AMF and is not dispel-able.

I think there is an error on the first sentence; last week was Envoy, this week is operative.

I love the idea of the trick attack!

Being able to excel in combat because of your focus on skills and not despite them really makes me happy.

I feel like the Ysoki would make excellent Operatives.

(Speaking of Ysoki, anyone know where the heck they came up with that name?)

I feel like the Ysoki would make excellent Operatives.

(Speaking of Ysoki, anyone know where the heck they came up with that name?)

Like any other name, experimenting with random syllables and going with what sounds right.

i wish the operative have a assassin archetype one days. But i like this preview Owen. My next hope is the solérian and the mystic class.

Finally, a variation of hide in plain sight that I can actually use.

i wish the operative have a assassin archetype one days. But i like this preview Owen. My next hope is the solérian and the mystic class.

I believe that, from my understanding, the specializations are separate from themes and archetypes. That's the impression I had. Although they sound alot like themes so maybe not.

i wish the operative have a assassin archetype one days. But i like this preview Owen. My next hope is the solérian and the mystic class.

Oh believe me, from what we've seen so far around here of operatives, you should have no problem building an effective and flavorful assassin with the class right from the start (especially if you choose the right high-level exploits). I'd probably go ghost and use the previewed power to disappear into the shadows after I make the kill!

Hmm. Interesting.

I wonder if the fair attack bonus is better or worse than the average attack bonus.

What I like is that it that both Envoy and Operative have a lot of skillpoints to play with and different mechanics to boost their skills.

The new "sneak"-attack looks to be very useful, but I hope the skillcheck is part of the trick attack and not a separate action (or if it is a separate action, fast enough that you can still use the trick attack in the same round).

We actually address that aspect of class abilities in the chapter's introduction, but the short answer is "any or all of the above." :D

Wait, so you can have extraordinary supernatural abilities now?

I love it, this is exactly what the rogue should have always been. :)

This looks awesome. So the operative seems to be the catch-all bounty hunter/rogue/assassin from sci-fi? Whelp, guess I have a new main class.

I love it, this is exactly what the rogue should have always been. :)

When I concocted the initial chassis for this class way back at the start of the process, I had a little note in front of me with "lessons from the rogue". My #1 goal there was to avoid the pitfalls we knew about from years and years of rogue PCs and NPCs, so your comment hits the nail on the head for me. Add to that all the amazingly cool stuff that Owen, Rob, and all the rest added and tweaked through the many months since then, and you're left with a class that I'm sure is going to excite rogue fans and skeptics alike!

Hmm. So is the ghost specialization the phantom of the operative?

Hmm. So is the ghost specialization the phantom of the operative?

Ha!

(Organ not included.)

It's refreshing to see that the problem of untying shoelaces still hasn't been solved. The art looks great though.

Ghost makes me think of Nova from Starcraft.

I'LL TAKE A DOZEN!

Really loving the idea of specializations, reminds me of cleric domains, or wizard schools, which makes them far more interesting. 2 big questions now:

Which is better, average or fair? I'd guess fair, which makes me wonder if it's 2/3,3/4, and full. Or something

And 2-what specialization is Iseph?

The mental image that I got for using Bluff for Trick Attack was "LOOK OVER THERE!"

BLAM!

Wouldnt Sniper Rifles generally be considered Small Arms? Or is it more of basic small arms is similar to "simple weapons" and "sniper weapons" is more like a weapon group, Monk Weapons or the like?

Cautious hopeful about how awesome this could be but a 10th level ability that sounds like "Hide in plain sight with a cool down timer!" doesnt strike me as the best way to show off the class.

Very interesting art piece to go with it, is that a cybernetic arm? looks like some kind of tribal scaring on the cheek too, interesting bit of flavor for a high tech setting :)

I think so far with each class presented the Envoy and now Operative they both had allot of things they could do/class abilities. I would think the Soldier would be no different. Staff would take the knowledge and feedback they gained from the Fighter in Pathfinder. So based on what I have seen so far not too worried about the Soldier.

Dave2

Wouldnt Sniper Rifles generally be considered Small Arms? Or is it more of basic small arms is similar to "simple weapons" and "sniper weapons" is more like a weapon group, Monk Weapons or the like?

Cautious hopeful about how awesome this could be but a 10th level ability that sounds like "Hide in plain sight with a cool down timer!" doesnt strike me as the best way to show off the class.

Very interesting art piece to go with it, is that a cybernetic arm? looks like some kind of tribal scaring on the cheek too, interesting bit of flavor for a high tech setting :)

I think of it as similar to how a Rogue gets simple weapons, and also the martial/exotic weapons most suitable for rogues (rapier, shortbow, hand crossbow).

I've really enjoyed both these class write-ups to far, but also want to mention that the Q&A afterword has been very refreshing and informative as well. I appreciate how open you(developers) have been with giving direct and meaningful answers to our questions. It's probably because of how close we're getting but honestly the more I read the more I want to know! Really glad you're comfortable divulging details ahead of time because this slow reveal is totaly working for me.

Very nice!

Oh this is really cool. I am particularly interested in the explorer, hacker, and thief specializations :D

Now I wonder about multiclassing. So much possibility!

demiurge108 wrote:

i wish the operative have a assassin archetype one days. But i like this preview Owen. My next hope is the solérian and the mystic class.

Oh believe me, from what we've seen so far around here of operatives, you should have no problem building an effective and flavorful assassin with the class right from the start (especially if you choose the right high-level exploits). I'd probably go ghost and use the previewed power to disappear into the shadows after I make the kill!

Would the Operative be the best class to make a surgeon? (No magic)

Mark Seifter wrote:

demiurge108 wrote:

i wish the operative have a assassin archetype one days. But i like this preview Owen. My next hope is the solérian and the mystic class.

Oh believe me, from what we've seen so far around here of operatives, you should have no problem building an effective and flavorful assassin with the class right from the start (especially if you choose the right high-level exploits). I'd probably go ghost and use the previewed power to disappear into the shadows after I make the kill!

Would the Operative be the best class to make a surgeon? (No magic)

There's more than one good choice for that, but an operative would be excellent at it. You'd potentially want to make a new specialization for it beyond the core seven (they aren't hard to build for those interested in doing so and I can see a lot of the pieces you'd want for it already), and you'll get a few of the powers Owen mentioned that not all surgeons might have, so you might be something of a mix. For instance, Owen mentioned the detective can use Sense Motive to analyze foes' weaknesses and make a trick attack, so if you were hypothetically a surgeon specialization, you might gain the ability to use your medical skills against the foes in the same way to pinpoint weak spots. This would make you into the type of surgeon who can also put those anatomatical skills to use to take lives as well as to save them (even if she might be reluctant to do so depending on the backstory). You might also be a combat medic, asked to perform surgery in the most dangerous situations or, a secret badass who accompanies a bedridden patient to serve as both surgeon and secret bodyguard. I'm sure you guys have even more ideas about how an operative can be a surgeon while still matching the flavor and abilities that Owen described in the blog.

Does that make sense?

Why do I get the strange feeling the Soldier is going to get a medic specialisation?

TIE YOUR SHOES

They're actually lockpicks disguised as shoelaces.

I mean they'll still trip you up, but...

They're actually lockpicks disguised as shoelaces.

I mean they'll still trip you up, but...

I believe you mean plasma lockpicks.

This is Starfinder, after all.

Those lights you see are the visual effects of a curse going to work and untying his shoes.

Pratfall cantrip?

Wouldnt Sniper Rifles generally be considered Small Arms? Or is it more of basic small arms is similar to "simple weapons" and "sniper weapons" is more like a weapon group, Monk Weapons or the like?

I would speculate that "small arms" here is being used in contrast to "longarms" - the "small arms" group is one-handed firearms while there is probably a heavier firearms group that is two-handed firearms, of which "sniper rifles" is a subset.

Ghost makes me think of Nova from Starcraft.

Somebody call for an exterminator?

I am interested in the daredevil, ghost, and spy specializations. Also interested in trick attacks.

Dave2

James Sutter wrote:

We actually address that aspect of class abilities in the chapter's introduction, but the short answer is "any or all of the above." :D

Wait, so you can have extraordinary supernatural abilities now?

There's how the thing works, and there's how you got it.

How it works is, at the point your character is using it, extraordinary. It's not invoking magic to " bend light around yourself and muffle any minor sounds you make." Things like real-world interactive camouflage and sound dampening show that you don't have to have magic to produce those effects.

Nor is it a piece of gear that can be taken from you.

Now, maybe that means you had a technomancer alter the quantum state of your entire body, so you could have different light and sound refracting qualities. that certainly would take magic to accomplish... but once it's done you just do it, like glass allows light to pass through it.

Or maybe you learned deep meditation techniques. This is the same universe as occult rituals after all, there's no telling what you can do with mind over matter.

Or maybe you had Stealthites, a form of nanites, injected into your body that can cause this reaction, with the same biochemistry that allows your electric nerve impulses to continue to function even if you are hit by an EMP.

Or maybe you allowed a Vangarian Phase Ooze seep into every pore of your body, so you could gain its natural ability to be hard to see and hear, though you can only prod the thing into doing so for short bursts at a time. Plus, everything sweet now tastes like copper, as you aren't afraid to remind friends.

Those are decisions you can make to match your character's background.
the effect is extraordinary -- far from "normal," but not explicitly driven by magic or active technology, regardless of how you originally gained the ability.