Smugglers
Smugglers live their lives in danger and take whatever mission comes their way. During the rebellion many traders were forced from their jobs and became smugglers. Some smugglers are more like mercenaries in that they will do any job that pays good. Every smuggler has their own ship and almost none of these ships is in its stock condition. Smugglers have to be smart and resourceful. They can use whatever is handy. Most are highly skilled as pilots and are at least familiar with their ships weaponry. Some like Han Solo, Dash Rendar, and Mako Spince come from Imperial backgrounds and are very good shots and pilots. Many smugglers like to stay on their own so they can avoid troubles with larger groups like the Hutts. Smugglers characters should be mainly scoundrel characters with a few levels in another class that would be what they did before they became smugglers. Scouts or soldiers would be appropriate if the character has a military background. Some might be nobles who fell out of grace for some reason or another.
Mercenaries
Mercenaries are always tough and they always put their life on the line. Few people are braver than the mercenary. Greed drives the mercenary although a few are addicted to combat and need to feel the excitement again and again. Nothing compares to the feeling of fighting for your life and pushing yourself to the edge. Most mercenaries work in large groups and work with a smaller unit inside that group. Mercenary groups are well trained and are able to use any weapon that they can find. The more elite mercenary units have specialized troops like a regular army and teach their members in hand to hand combat. Mercenaries will mainly be a combination of Scout and Soldier levels and the good ones will have some levels in Elite Trooper. A level in scout helps because you gain extra skill points and a free feat.
Pirates
Pirates are a tough lot and live a life of thievery and flying. Almost all pirates are able to fly and fight but the larger groups have different people for both jobs. Many groups have a large flagship with several smaller ships and a few squadrons of fighters. Pirates are tricky and know how to use their resources to stop ships and board them. Pirates try not to kill people because they can take them hostage and ransom them back earning more money than just raiding the ship and then blowing it up. Pirates will be mostly scoundrel characters and a few might have soldier if their group is more militant than normal.
Slavers
Slavers are considered scum by everybody even other fringe types. Only criminal leaders and the Empire deal with the slavers. Some slavers work as Pirate groups and hijack ships taking all the passengers as their slaves. Slavers are cruel and always work in very remote places. Many people detest the slavers and they go to great pains to track them down. Slavers are often trained to fight because families hire mercenary teams to bring their captured relatives back. Slavers love the cruelty the inflict on other people and enjoy what they do. Slavers are usually pure scoundrel but a few might have scout and a guard will probably have some soldier levels.
Bounty Hunters
Bounty hunters are feared through out the galaxy and the mention of the best known makes even the bravest people tremble in fear. Bounty hunters train themselves to use any and all weapons and are able to kill people with little to no effort. Many bounty hunters have their weapons customized to better suit them. The most feared bounty hunter is Boba Fett. Even the other bounty hunters fear him. Bounty hunters will be either soldier or scout levels and as they become more advanced they should take levels in the Bounty Hunter prestige class.
Playing a fringe character
A fringe character usually is a person who cars only about themselves and try to save themselves before thinking of others. Fringers have to rely on themselves for safety and develop several tools to help them. Some are quick talkers and are able to talk themselves out of almost any situation they find themselves in. Others are quick and efficient with their weapons. For the most part fringers are good at hiding and avoiding trouble spots. Fringe characters are generally motivated by greed although a few are in it for the action and excitement that they get from defying the law and tempting the odds. Some fringers are just looking for a way to make a living and that’s what they end up getting.
