Talents and Special Rules
Talents are additional benefits a character possesses, defining areas of specialty, the advantages of their personal approach to circumstances, and other decisive abilities. These take the form of a bonus—extra d20s, rerolls, bonus Momentum, the ability to use a different department in a situation, and so forth—that applies when the character is performing types of tasks or taking an approach to a situation.
Many talents have one or more specific requirements. These are conditions that must be fulfilled before the talent can be selected, such as belonging to a specific species, or having a department at a specific rating or above. Character talents are listed starting on page 149.
A character may also receive game benefits from Species Abilities and Role Benefits. These function similarly to talents, but are provided by a character’s species or their role and cannot be selected as talents.
All main characters and many non-player characters are exceptional individuals, capable of facing most challenges the Galaxy has to offer. These characters often have tricks or knacks that help them overcome impossible odds and triumph when others might falter. These particular abilities are represented as talents.
Every main character built through the lifepath begins play with four talents, most of which are directly related to one of the six departments, enhancing how the character employs their training and expertise.
Careful talent selection helps a character feel distinct and dynamic in play. The ratings a character possesses in attributes and departments are a solid foundation, but the actions the character takes are usually the most memorable things about them. Talents provide a way to alter and influence those actions.
Some talents have one or more specific requirements. These are conditions that must be fulfilled before the talent can be selected, such as belonging to a specific species or having a department at a specific rating.
Each talent also has a condition and a benefit. The condition is the circumstances under which the talent can be used.
The benefit is what the character gains from meeting that condition. This benefit serves as an exception to the rules as written in some way, illustrating how the character is exceptional. Some of these conditions are mechanical in nature— using a specific game option or succeeding at a specific kind of task—while others may be more narrative.
Most talents are available to all characters, regardless of species. Unless otherwise noted, each talent may be selected only once. Players are free to rename the talents to suit their tastes and the backgrounds of their characters; this will not affect the rules for that talent in any way. Note the original name of the talent in case someone raises a question about it.
You might choose to spread out your choice of talents to apply to a wide range of situations, or to have them all work on the same narrow range of circumstances. You have the choice between versatility and specialization.