Commando Archive

Squad Leader -- 0004 Marksman (Ranged Support IV) + 0004 Scout (Survival IV)
Ranger -- 0040 Marksman (Carbines IV) + 4000 Scout (Exploration IV)
Bounty Hunter -- 0004 Marksman (Ranged Support IV) + 4000 Scout (Exploration IV)
*Commando -- 0004 Marksman (Ranged Support IV) + 0400 Scout (Trapping IV)
*Smuggler -- 0400 Marksman (Pistols IV) + 0004 Scout (Survival IV)

I have done the number-crunching. If you look at the schema I have outlined closely, you can see where this falls in line with everything that the development team has been putting into place since the Combat Upgrade. The only two hybrid elites that get funneled into a particular Marksman elite are Smuggler and Ranger, which is Pistoleer and Carbineer respectively. The rest are appropriately differentiated. Also, by removing Brawler prerequisites from Commando and Smuggler, it lightens the load and problems of making these classes viable for both melee and ranged combat - instead focusing on ranged combat, which has the added bonus of being more in line with the "Star Wars" theme. In addition being able to switch between melee and ranged absolutely adds nothing to the game and obviously to be effective most players will specialize in one or the other. Hence hybrid elites who encompass both are something that should have been left behind with the Combat Upgrade.

The schema was drafted to offer a balanced system of template customization that is in line with the current Combat Upgrade engine. There are also particularly thematic template possibilities within this schema, such as any combination of Smuggler and Squad Leader (Han Solo and Lando Calrissian), Commando and Bounty Hunter (Boba Fett), Ranger and Bounty Hunter (Zam Wessel), Commando and Squad Leader (ARC Trooper), etc.

Please provide feedback here. No schema will satisfy everyone's desire. For instance the new prerequisites for Ranger are not exactly the most popular to the old Rangers who do not understand that it is simply being moved to Scout. The key point is that Ranger is no longer a Scout Elite, not anymore than Bounty Hunter is. Ranger and Scout must be disassociated. To continue the Pre-Revamp Ranger playstyle, one simply must have Master Scout and hence will have an additional 63 skill points to play with, in addition to not having to take up the Carbines IV line. One must also consider that under the planned Ranger Revamp, attempting to be a Master Rifleman, Master Ranger is akin to attempt to be a Master Rifleman, Master Smuggler. You lose SP in the translation. To continue your playstyle Pre-Revamp, you simply go Master Scout, Master Rifleman.