One simple question: Which is the best class for a hotshot pilot?
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A Mystic with the Star Shaman specialization. Their Channel Skill class feature gives them a +7 Insight Bonus to Piloting checks. Add on top of that a good Dexterity Score, the additional +1 from the Ace Pilot theme, and maybe the +2 racial bonus that Lashunta can get to any skill they like, and you can make the most accomplish hotshot pilot in the galaxy.
If you don't want to play a caster (thus ruling out Star Shaman) then the argument is between Operative and Envoy. Both make great hotshot pilots. Heck, an Operative often ends up being the best pilot at the table without even trying.
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A Mystic with the Star Shaman specialization. Their Channel Skill class feature gives them a +7 Insight Bonus to Piloting checks. Add on top of that a good Dexterity Score, the additional +1 from the Ace Pilot theme, and maybe the +2 racial bonus that Lashunta can get to any skill they like, and you can make the most accomplish hotshot pilot in the galaxy.
The downside is that Lashunta make pretty crappy Mystics, having maxed Dex at 1st means you only have Wis 12 at most.
If you don't want to play a caster (thus ruling out Star Shaman) then the argument is between Operative and Envoy. Both make great hotshot pilots. Heck, an Operative often ends up being the best pilot at the table without even trying.
Operative is a flatly better Pilot than Envoy. Envoys can't add their class bonus to Pilot, while Operative can and does.
If you don't want to play a caster (thus ruling out Star Shaman) then the argument is between Operative and Envoy. Both make great hotshot pilots. Heck, an Operative often ends up being the best pilot at the table without even trying.Operative is a flatly better Pilot than Envoy. Envoys can't add their class bonus to Pilot, while Operative can and does.
Envoys can add their class bonus to Pilot, they just need to take the Additional Skill Expertise talent. An Envoy Pilot comes online at 3rd level when they get their first Expertise Talent.
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Envoys can add their class bonus to Pilot, they just need to take the Additional Skill Expertise talent. An Envoy Pilot comes online at 3rd level when they get their first Expertise Talent.If you don't want to play a caster (thus ruling out Star Shaman) then the argument is between Operative and Envoy. Both make great hotshot pilots. Heck, an Operative often ends up being the best pilot at the table without even trying.Operative is a flatly better Pilot than Envoy. Envoys can't add their class bonus to Pilot, while Operative can and does.
Nope. Read 'Additional Skill Expertise', it specifies that it has to be a skill from the specific list under Expertise, which is all Cha and Int skills, and does not include Pilot.
To be fair, with how the point buy system works, maxing any stat gives you a max 13 in your second stat (including theme, assuming no racial bonuses)A Mystic with the Star Shaman specialization. Their Channel Skill class feature gives them a +7 Insight Bonus to Piloting checks. Add on top of that a good Dexterity Score, the additional +1 from the Ace Pilot theme, and maybe the +2 racial bonus that Lashunta can get to any skill they like, and you can make the most accomplish hotshot pilot in the galaxy.The downside is that Lashunta make pretty crappy Mystics, having maxed Dex at 1st means you only have Wis 12 at most.
That's not true at all. Human can do 18/14, and a race with bonuses to both stats can do 18/16.
Edit: I guess the question is why you would assume no racial bonuses, as the Lashunta racial bonuses are precisely the problem with this build.
Nope. Read 'Additional Skill Expertise', it specifies that it has to be a skill from the specific list under Expertise, which is all Cha and Int skills, and does not include Pilot.Envoys can add their class bonus to Pilot, they just need to take the Additional Skill Expertise talent. An Envoy Pilot comes online at 3rd level when they get their first Expertise Talent.If you don't want to play a caster (thus ruling out Star Shaman) then the argument is between Operative and Envoy. Both make great hotshot pilots. Heck, an Operative often ends up being the best pilot at the table without even trying.Operative is a flatly better Pilot than Envoy. Envoys can't add their class bonus to Pilot, while Operative can and does.
Wow, that's terrible. I may have to rethink my Envoy Ace Pilot :(
Thank you all for your help.
It seems that my elven pilot will be an operative and not a mystic.
It is sad that there is neither a pilot specialization for the operative nor feats for pilots... :(
I've could have used Iseph, the iconic operative, as a template, but my elf is more a daredevil than a ghost. Her fighting style in space is the same as on the ground: fast and agile. And she is a charmer with a girl in every port...
Female elf operative 1
NG Medium humanoid (elf)
Init +5; Senses low-light vision; Perception +7
DEFENSE SP 5 HP 10 RP 5
EAC 14; KAC 14
Fort -1; Ref +6; Wil +2; +2 vs. enchantments
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee +0
Ranged +4
Offensive Abilities trick attack +1d4
STATISTICS
Str 12 (+1); Dex 18 (+4); Con 8 (-1); Int 13 (+1); Wis 10 (+0); Cha 12 (+1)
Skills Acrobatics +11, Athletics +8, Computers +6, Culture +6, Diplomancy +3, Engineering +6, Perception +7, Physical Science +3, Piloting +10, Sense Motive +5, Stealth +9
Feats Skill Focus (Acrobatics, Athletics), one feat*
Languages Common, Elven, Lashunta
Other Abilities daredevil specialization
*I just cannot decide which one
I've also not decide which gear she has.
So, what do you think?
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Given that you have two skills with ranks but no Class Bonus, Skill Synergy (Diplomacy, Physical Science) seems like a good Feat choice (and definitely the one I'd go with), though Great Fortitude is also always a solid 1st level Operative Feat.
Personally, I'd also go Str 10, Con 10. Con less than 10 hurts, while Str 10 loses you 1 point of damage occasionally. Your melee attack should also be +4 with an Operative weapon.
@ korinthmalar
I think you made a mistake on the cost of your computer. If you want it to be worn you would need to pay for the miniaturization upgrade twice which would add a cost of 10cr. At 1 bulk you would have to set the computer down on a surface to use it.
It does not because all three of them give insight boni.
BTW you have forgotten your specialization which gives skill focus and free ranks each level in two skills.
Solarian has Skill Adept, that allows them to add skills to their class skill list. Pick piloting as one of those if you plan to be a good pilot.
A Mystic that is a Star Shaman has Walk the Void as a first level power. That power makes Piloting a class skill. You also get the insight bonus on the skill from Channel Skill.
so at level one the max a Lashuntas pilot can have is 14 piloting
and any other race can have a max 12
so it does not mater what class you as long as its a class skill
dex +4 rank 1 class 3 skill focus +3 ace pilot 1 =12 (or lashuntas race+2 =14)
so a Mystic or solarian will will just loos +1 from ace pilot but it becomes a class skill so they can have a max 11 piloting.
unless anyone can see anything i missed
Only a mystic with a different connection than star shaman cannot have the theme bonus on piloting, because both star shaman mystics and solarians gain piloting as class skill at first level, solarians only if they choose piloting as one of the two new class skill gained through skill adept.
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The stamina should be 5 not 4, operatives get 6+constitution modifier, yours is only -1. Funny I came with pretty much the same build yesterday, (didn't post it or anything), only difference is that I went with themeless to get diplomacy as a class skill, and I also upgrade the computer to have an AI, still thinking of a goo hacker name, leaning toward Crash Override
Female elf operative 1
NG Medium humanoid (elf)
Init +5; Senses low-light vision; Perception +7
DEFENSE SP 6 HP 10 RP 5
EAC 15; KAC 16
Fort +0; Ref +6; Wil +2; +2 vs. enchantments
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee survival knife +4 (1d4 S; analog, operative)
Ranged tactical semi-auto pistol +4 (1d6 P; analog)
Offensive Abilities trick attack +1d4
STATISTICS
Str 10 (+0); Dex 18 (+4); Con 10 (+0); Int 13 (+1); Wis 10 (+0); Cha 12 (+1)
Skills Acrobatics +11, Athletics +7, Computers +6, Culture +6, Diplomancy +6, Engineering +6, Perception +7, Physical Science +6, Piloting +10, Sense Motive +5, Stealth +9
Feats Skill Focus (Acrobatics, Athletics), Skill Synergy (Diplomacy, Physical Science)
Languages Common, Elven, Lashunta
Other Abilities daredevil specialization
Combat Gear mk 1 serum of healing, medpatch;
Other Gear second skin, tactical semi-auto pistol with 90 small arms rounds, survival knife, everyday clothing, field rations (1 week), hygiene kit, personal comm unit, starstone compass, credsticks (160 credits)
I still not have good name for her.
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Looks good to me.
Though, with a Starstone Compass, your Pilot is actually +11 some of the time, which might be worth noting. I might be inclined to go with a laser pistol rather than the semiautomatic, too...but that's a personal preference issue as much as anything.
A Backpack and Trapsmith's Tools are also both easily within your price range and good things to have.
Originally I wanted to give her a laser pistol, but the semi-automatic is cheaper, especially if you plan to add the hybridization fusion (to the laser pistol and not the semi-automatic).
She is no thief, she is a pilot, so she really does not need trapsmith's tools. An engineering kit is much better, because it lets her make repairs on her ship.