Talents Rewards 3.1
When ranking up, players can unlock unique talent trees using Contribution Ranks (CR). Unlocking a tree cost 1 CR, 30xp, and must be attached to two distinct Tier 5 talents (like a signature ability) and grants the first Core talent (Tier 1) for “free”. Then, the talents of the unlocked tree can be purchased using standard talent rules, as long as prerequisites are satisfied.
RP-wise, unlocking those trees requires the PC to take specialized training that is given to only a selected few; not to everyone in the New Order. Moreover, it requires a bit of time (between two adventures) to complete the training. The rarity justifies the CR cost, while acquiring the skills (the training itself) justifies the XP cost.
Use the Table of Contents, on the right, to quickly navigate between trees.
The idea is for characters to use minions as an extension of themselves, boosting their combat skills, speeding up encounters with many NPCs, while still using the number provided by the Empire, but at a smaller scale than mass-combats. You can also mix the Squads & Squadrons rules with Mass Combat to create epic squads battle inside of an epic war-scale adventure.
When purchasing a talent that talks about
[type of units], you must choose one, like Tie Fighter pilots for the Navy, Stormtroopers, Army troopers, etc.
Work in progress
This is a work in progress, so please use your judgement, their may be missing prerequisites or typos or talents that should be moved to higher tiers, etc. We tested the Squad talents more than the Squadron talents, so balancing issues are more likely to happen with Squadrons.
If you are a GM, please give me your feedback, balancing issues, or ideas at GitHub.
Release notes
Here is the history of changes.
Talents Rewards 3.1
[2020-06-14] This is a balance update. It also fix missing prerequisites.
- Update
Voluntary [unit] Sacrificetalents - Change tiers of
Formation: Dug InandFormation: Closetalents from 1, 2, 3 to 1, 3, 5. - Change tiers of
Formation: Search Partytalents from 1, 1, 1 to 1, 3, 5. - Change
Unthreatable [unit] [Squad|Squadron]from tier 1 to tier 2 - Change
Fearless [unit] [Squad|Squadron]from tier 2 to tier 3 - Change
Undespairable [unit] [Squad|Squadron]from tier 2 to tier 4 - Review
Running Darktalents (name, tier, effects, prerequisites) - Review
[unit] Formation Master
[unit]stands for the type of unit, like Navy, Army, or Stormtrooper.
[Squad|Squadron]stands forSquadorSquadron.
Talents Rewards 3.0
[2020-05-03] Initial release of the Squads and Squadrons talents.
Talent trees
There are three “types” of talents:
- Core Talents, that improve the base bonuses
- Universal Talents, that improve the squads and squadrons in general
- Formation-specific Talents, that improves the benefits of its formation.
Squadron Leader (Navy)
After an intensive training at the Imperial Naval Academy, that only a selected few can attend, squad combats should have no more secrets for the attendee, transforming wingmans into an extension of the squad leader!
This talent tree upgrades the benefits provided by the Squads & Squadrons rules.
Core
Squadron Leader I
Tier: 1
Activation: Active (Incidental)
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Imperial Navy or Imperial Security Bureau
- Rank 3
- Leadership 1
- Knowledge (Warfare) 1
Once per game session, the squad leader may spend 2 Story Points to perform a second action (requires at least 8 squadmates) or may spend 1 Story Point to perform a second action (requires 12 squadmates).
Squadron Leader II
Tier: 3
Activation: Active (Incidental)
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Imperial Navy or Imperial Security Bureau
- Rank 4
- Leadership 2
- Knowledge (Warfare) 2
- Squadron Leader I
Specials:
- Replace Squadron Leader I
Once per game session, the squad leader may spend 2 Story Points to perform a second action (requires at least 4 squadmates) or may spend 1 Story Point to perform a second action (requires 8 squadmates).
Squadron Leader III
Tier: 5
Activation: Active (Incidental)
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Imperial Navy or Imperial Security Bureau
- Rank 5
- Leadership 3
- Knowledge (Warfare) 3
- Squadron Leader II
Specials:
- Replace Squadron Leader II
Once per game session, the squad leader may spend 2 Story Points to perform a second action (requires at least 1 squadmates) or may spend 1 Story Point to perform a second action (requires 4 squadmates).
Tier 1
Born Navy Leader
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
Add to Leadership checks targeting [type of units] and add to Leadership checks targeting [type of units] when not in formation.
Easy Navy Formation
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
Downgrade leadership check required to create a formation to easy ().
Improved Attack Formation I
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
Specials:
- Formation: Attack Formation
Add a second to any attack made by the squadron.
Improved Evasive Maneuvers I
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
- Requires 1 Ranks in Piloting
Specials:
- Formation: Evasive Maneuvers
Add a second to all attempts to gain the advantage and add a second to enemy attempts to gain the advantage.
Improved Evasive Maneuvers II
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
- Improved Evasive Maneuvers I
Specials:
- Formation: Evasive Maneuvers
You can upgrade your check once to gain the advantage.
Improved Gain the Advantage
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
- Improved Evasive Maneuvers I
Specials:
- Formation: Evasive Maneuvers
Enemies must upgrade the difficulty once to gain the advantage.
Improved Running Dark Leadership I
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
Specials:
- Formation: Running Dark
Instead of upgrading the difficulty of all Leadership checks, add .
Improved Screen Formation I
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
Specials:
- Formation: Screen Formation
Add a second point of defense in all zones
Improved Sensor Sweep I
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
Specials:
- Formation: Sensor Sweep
Add a second to any Vigilance checks to determine initiative and to Computers and Perception checks to detect targets.
Quick Navy Formation
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
Add when creating formation of [type of units].
Skilled Navigator I
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
Specials:
- Formation: Skilled Navigator
Add to all “skilled navigator”.
Tight Navy Formation
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
Lower the squad silhouette by 1.
Unshakable Squadron
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
Minions cannot be forced out of position using .
Tier 2
Improved Attack Formation II
Tier: 2
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
- Improved Attack Formation I
Specials:
- Formation: Attack Formation
Instead of that second , upgrade the check once
Improved Running Dark Leadership II
Tier: 2
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
- Improved Running Dark Leadership I
Specials:
- Formation: Running Dark
Instead of upgrading the difficulty of all Leadership checks, add .
Improved Screen Formation II
Tier: 2
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
- Improved Screen Formation I
Specials:
- Formation: Screen Formation
Add a third point of defense in all zones
Improved Sensor Detection
Tier: 2
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
- Improved Sensor Sweep I
Specials:
- Formation: Sensor Sweep
Instead of that second , upgrade Computers and Perception checks to detect targets once.
Improved Sensor Vigilance
Tier: 2
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
- Improved Sensor Sweep I
Specials:
- Formation: Sensor Sweep
Instead of that second , upgrade any Vigilance checks made by the squadron to determine initiative once.
Improved Ship Hull I
Tier: 2
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
Specials:
- Formation: Screen Formation
Add 1 point of hull to all ships in the squadron. This last only while in formation and are lost when breaking it, which mean -1 per ship, so a ship with 1 hull threshold left will explode.
Skilled Navigator II
Tier: 2
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
- Skilled Navigator I
Specials:
- Formation: Skilled Navigator
- Replace Skilled Navigator I
Add to all “skilled navigator”.
Skilled Navigator III
Tier: 2
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
- Skilled Navigator II
Specials:
- Formation: Skilled Navigator
- Replace Skilled Navigator II
Add to all “skilled navigator” and upgrade the check once.
Unthreatable Squadron
Tier: 2
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
A squad cannot be disbanded (broken) using .
Tier 3
Fearless Squadron
Tier: 3
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
- Unthreatable
A squad cannot be disbanded after a failed fear check.
Hard to Hit (Evasive Maneuvers)
Tier: 3
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
- Improved Evasive Maneuvers I
- Requires 2 Ranks in Piloting
Specials:
- Formation: Evasive Maneuvers
Enemies must spend 2 more instead of 1 to activate Auto-fire or Blast weapon qualities.
Improved Attack Formation III
Tier: 3
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
- Improved Attack Formation II
Specials:
- Formation: Attack Formation
Instead of that second , upgrade the check twice
Improved Running Dark Leadership III
Tier: 3
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
- Improved Running Dark Leadership II
Specials:
- Formation: Running Dark
Instead of upgrading the difficulty of all Leadership checks, add .
Improved Running Dark Stealth
Tier: 3
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
- Improved Running Dark Leadership II
Specials:
- Formation: Running Dark
Downgrade difficulty of Stealth checks made by the unit a second time.
Improved Ship Armor I
Tier: 3
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
Specials:
- Formation: Screen Formation
Add 1 point of armor to the leader’s ship.
Improved Ship Hull II
Tier: 3
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
- Improved Ship Hull I
Specials:
- Formation: Screen Formation
- Replace Improved Ship Hull I
Add 2 points of hull to all ships in the squadron. These last only while in formation and are lost when breaking it, which mean -2 per ship, so a ship with 2 or less hull threshold left will explode.
Voluntary Navy Sacrifice
Tier: 3
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
After resolving damage, the leader may eliminate a minion instead of applying damages normally.
The leader can forward a critical hit on a minion instead. Resolve like normal (Wound Threshold + 1). Must be called before rolling the critical hit.
Tier 4
Improved Ship Armor II
Tier: 4
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
- Improved Ship Armor II
Specials:
- Formation: Screen Formation
- Replace Improved Ship Armor I
Add 2 points of armor to the leader’s ship
Undespairable Squadron
Tier: 4
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
- Unthreatable
A squad cannot be disbanded (broken) using (still work with ).
Tier 5
Navy Formation Master
Tier: 5
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Squadron Leader I
- Know at least 1 talent improving 3 different squadron formations
Specials:
- GM discretion: a leader cannot combine opposite formations like Attack Formation and Evasive Maneuvers. These make a very powerful combo.
Allow the squad leader to merge two formations into one, giving the benefits of both formations at the same time. Requires a Daunting () check.
Stormtrooper Squad Leader
After an intensive training at the Imperial Stormtrooper Academy, that only a selected few can attend, squad combats should have no more secrets for the attendee, transforming Stormtroopers into an extension of the squad leader!
This talent tree upgrades the benefits provided by the Squads & Squadrons rules.
Core
Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
Tier: 1
Activation: Active (Incidental)
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Imperial Stormtrooper Corp or Imperial Security Bureau
- Rank 3
- Leadership 1
- Knowledge (Warfare) 1
Once per game session, the squad leader may spend 2 Story Points to perform a second action (requires at least 8 squadmates) or may spend 1 Story Point to perform a second action (requires 12 squadmates).
Stormtrooper Squad Leader II
Tier: 3
Activation: Active (Incidental)
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Imperial Stormtrooper Corp or Imperial Security Bureau
- Rank 4
- Leadership 2
- Knowledge (Warfare) 2
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
Once per game session, the squad leader may spend 2 Story Points to perform a second action (requires at least 4 squadmates) or may spend 1 Story Point to perform a second action (requires 8 squadmates).
Stormtrooper Squad Leader III
Tier: 5
Activation: Active (Incidental)
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Imperial Stormtrooper Corp or Imperial Security Bureau
- Rank 5
- Leadership 3
- Knowledge (Warfare) 3
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader II
Once per game session, the squad leader may spend 2 Story Points to perform a second action (requires at least 1 squadmates) or may spend 1 Story Point to perform a second action (requires 4 squadmates).
Tier 1
Born Stormtrooper Squad Leader
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
Add to Leadership checks targeting [type of units] and add to Leadership checks targeting [type of units] when not in formation.
Easy Stormtrooper Formation
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
Downgrade leadership check required to create a formation to easy ().
Improved Stormtrooper Close I
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
Specials:
- Formation: Close
Add a second to any attack made by the squad.
Improved Stormtrooper Comm Silence I
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
Specials:
- Formation: Comm Silence
Add a second to all Stealth checks made by the unit.
Improved Stormtrooper Dug In I
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
Specials:
- Formation: Dug In
Add a second to any attack targeting the squad.
Improved Stormtrooper Mission Specialist I
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
Specials:
- Formation: Mission Specialist
Add to all “specialist checks”
Improved Stormtrooper Search Party I
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
Specials:
- Formation: Search Party
Add a second to any Survival checks to track a target and to all Perception checks.
Improved Stormtrooper Skirmish I
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
Specials:
- Formation: Skirmish
Add a second to any Vigilance checks made by the squad to determine initiative or to any Perception checks to detect enemies.
Improved Stormtrooper Skirmish Perception
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
Specials:
- Formation: Skirmish
Instead of that second , upgrade Perception checks to detect enemies once.
Quick Stormtrooper Formation
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
Add when creating formation of [type of units].
Tight Stormtrooper Formation
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
Lower the squad silhouette by 1.
Unshakable Stormtrooper Squad
Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
Minions cannot be forced out of position using .
Tier 2
Improved Stormtrooper Comm Silence II
Tier: 2
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
- Improved Stormtrooper Comm Silence I
Specials:
- Formation: Comm Silence
- Replace Improved Stormtrooper Comm Silence I
Instead of that second , upgrade the check once
Improved Stormtrooper Mission Specialist II
Tier: 2
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
- Improved Stormtrooper Mission Specialist I
Specials:
- Formation: Mission Specialist
- Replace Improved Stormtrooper Mission Specialist I
Add to all “specialist checks”
Improved Stormtrooper Mission Specialist III
Tier: 2
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
- Improved Stormtrooper Mission Specialist II
Specials:
- Formation: Mission Specialist
- Replace Improved Stormtrooper Mission Specialist II
Add to all “specialist checks” and upgrade the check once
Improved Stormtrooper Skirmish Vigilance
Tier: 2
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
Specials:
- Formation: Skirmish
Instead of that second , upgrade any Vigilance checks made by the squad to determine initiative once.
Unthreatable Stormtrooper Squad
Tier: 2
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
A squad cannot be disbanded (broken) using .
Tier 3
Fearless Stormtrooper Squad
Tier: 3
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
- Unthreatable
A squad cannot be disbanded after a failed fear check.
Hard to Hit (Skirmish)
Tier: 3
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
Specials:
- Formation: Skirmish
Enemies must spend 2 more instead of 1 to activate Auto-fire or Blast weapon qualities.
Improved Stormtrooper Close II
Tier: 3
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
- Improved Stormtrooper Close I
Specials:
- Formation: Close
- Replace Improved Stormtrooper Close I
Instead of that second , upgrade the check once.
Improved Stormtrooper Comm Silence III
Tier: 3
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
- Improved Stormtrooper Comm Silence II
Specials:
- Formation: Comm Silence
- Replace Improved Stormtrooper Comm Silence II
Instead of that second , upgrade the check twice
Improved Stormtrooper Dug In II
Tier: 3
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
- Improved Stormtrooper Dug In I
Specials:
- Formation: Dug In
- Replace Improved Stormtrooper Dug In I
Instead of that second , upgrade the difficulty once
Improved Stormtrooper Search Party II
Tier: 3
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
- Improved Stormtrooper Search Party I
Specials:
- Formation: Search Party
- Replace Improved Stormtrooper Search Party I
Instead of that second , upgrade the check once.
Voluntary Stormtrooper Sacrifice
Tier: 3
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
After resolving damage, the leader may eliminate a minion instead of applying damages normally.
The leader can forward a critical hit on a minion instead. Resolve like normal (Wound Threshold + 1). Must be called before rolling the critical hit.
Tier 4
Stormtrooper Firing Squad
Tier: 4
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
Specials:
- Formation: Close
- TO BE TESTED: this has the potential to create deadly/overpower combos
Upgrade attack checks once for each 4 squadmates after the first 4.
Undespairable Stormtrooper Squad
Tier: 4
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
- Unthreatable
A squad cannot be disbanded (broken) using (still work with ).
Tier 5
Improved Stormtrooper Close III
Tier: 5
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
- Improved Stormtrooper Close II
Specials:
- Formation: Close
- Replace Improved Stormtrooper Close II
Instead of that second , upgrade the check twice.
Improved Stormtrooper Dug In III
Tier: 5
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
- Improved Stormtrooper Dug In II
Specials:
- Formation: Dug In
- Replace Improved Stormtrooper Dug In II
Instead of that second , upgrade the difficulty twice.
Improved Stormtrooper Firing Squad
Tier: 5
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
- Stormtrooper Firing Squad
Specials:
- Formation: Close
- Replace Stormtrooper Firing Squad
- TO BE TESTED: this has the potential to create deadly/overpower combos
Upgrade attack checks once for each 3 squadmates after the first 3.
Improved Stormtrooper Search Party III
Tier: 5
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
- Improved Stormtrooper Search Party II
Specials:
- Formation: Search Party
- Replace Improved Stormtrooper Search Party II
Instead of that second , upgrade the check twice.
Stormtrooper Formation Master
Tier: 5
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Prerequisites:
- Stormtrooper Squad Leader I
- Know at least 1 talent improving 3 different squad formations
Specials:
- GM discretion: a leader cannot combine opposite formations like Close and Dug In. Close and Dug In make a very powerful combo.
Allow the squad leader to merge two formations into one, giving the benefits of both formations at the same time. Requires a Daunting () check.