Elite Commando (Soldier Archetype)

Although many resist such an unheroic notion, modern warfare is rarely shaped by lone heroes or individual acumen. To fight for their nation, the soldier of tomorrow must be well-equipped and well-informed, utilizing a much larger network of resources in order to ensure victory. Elite commandos embody this fact, being well-trained soldiers who draw on numerous connections to seize any tactical advantage possible.

Weapons and Armor Proficiencies

Elite commandos are proficient with all simple weapons, as well as light armor and bucklers.

If using Starfinder’s weapon categories, the elite commando is proficient with basic melee weaponry, small arms, grenades, and light armor. In addition, if this is the character’s first level in any class, she may select a martial tradition of her choice.

This modifies weapons and armor proficiencies.

Combat Training

The elite commando is considered an Expert practitioner, 21 gaining spheres and talents as appropriate. An elite commando chooses whether to use Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma as her practitioner modifier when she first gains the combat training class feature.

This ability replaces the soldier’s primary and secondary fighting styles. Any other archetype which would normally replace the secondary fighting style gained at 9th level instead replaces the combat feat gained at 10th level, with the ability being gained at 10th level rather than 9th.

Military Assets (Ex)

The elite commando can gain access to special equipment entrusted to them by the government they serve or by some other patron. This equipment may come in the form of equipment, intelligence networks, scouting drones, or supplies. An elite commando can select a military asset in place of a feat (including a bonus combat feat). At GM discretion, certain military assets may not be usable at certain times (for example, a supply drop may not be possible in a dimensionally warded underground bunker in enemy territory). Military assets are as follows.

• Bombardment: By spending a Resolve Point as a standard action, the elite commando can call down a bombardment on a location within medium range. This bombardment, be it from a plane, drone, or teleported explosive, functions as an attack made with a grenade of a level no greater than the elite commando’s soldier level, using the elite commando’s bonus for a ranged attack. The weapon used for this strike is selected when the elite commando gains this asset and may be changed every time she gains an elite commando level or in an adjustment process that takes 24 hours. She may select this asset multiple times, each time selecting a different type of grenade which can be used at any given time.
• Elite Skill: The elite commando gains ranks in a skill of their choice equal to their character level, and that skill is considered a class skill for them. If they already possess ranks in this skill, she may retrain those ranks.

Encrypted Network

The elite commando gains access to a special communications channel with any comm device that they are using. When using this channel, their communications cannot be traced or hacked into by third parties. At 7th level, the elite commando can use this network to interface with their starship at a range of up to 5 miles, accessing the ship’s transponder and downloaded data sets.

At 13th level, this can be used at a range of 50 miles and can also access the ship’s sensors, security systems, and engines (for the purpose of preparing them for takeoff). At 19th level, this range increases to the entire planet and close orbit, and the elite commando may remotely pilot the starship so long as it remains in this range.

Evacuation: Either through teleportation, a particularly fast ship, or some other similar means, an elite commando can rely on someone to get them out of trouble. By spending a Resolve Point as a move action, they can call for the evacuation of themself plus a number of additional creatures up to the elite commando’s key ability score modifier. This number increases by 1 for every 2 soldier levels the elite commando possesses. The evac arrives within 1d10 rounds and transports the characters to a safe location (this may include the elite commando’s safehouse if they possess that asset).

Eye in the Sky

The elite commando can utilize satellite imaging or drone scans to get the lay of an area, allowing them an aerial view of an area up to 1 square mile per elite commando they possess at any given time. Changing the viewed area takes 10 minutes. The elite commando uses their Perception modifier when observing an area in this way, and the imaging can see anything that a human could see.

At 5th level, the imaging can display images as if the elite commando had darkvision with unlimited range.

At 10th level, the imaging also gains sense through [vision] as per an x-ray visor. At 15th level, the imaging also gains the effects of the true seeing spell.

Intelligence Network: the elite commando gains a bonus on all skill checks to recall knowledge equal to half her soldier level.

Magical Resources: When an elite commando selects this asset, they gain one weapon fusion, magic item, hybrid item, or armor upgrade of their level or lower for free. This resource cannot be sold but will be replaced if destroyed or used up. The resource is selected when the elite commando gains this asset and may be changed every time they gain an elite commando level or in an adjustment process that takes 24 hours. An elite commando may select this asset multiple times, each time gaining an additional resource.

Precision Strike: By spending a Resolve Point as a move action, the elite commando can order a remote attack from a concealed drone, sniper, or strike satellite on a location within medium range of them. Treat this as an attack made with sniper weapon of a level no greater than the elite commando’s soldier level, using the elite commando’s bonus for a ranged attack. The weapon used for this strike is selected when the elite commando gains this asset and may be changed every time she gains an elite commando level or in an adjustment process that takes 24 hours. She may select this asset multiple times, each time selecting a different type of sniper weapon which can be used at any given time.

Safehouse: The elite commando can utilize contacts or simply their own resourcefulness to establish a safehouse. A safehouse takes one hour to create or change to from an old safehouse, and the elite commando may only possess a single safehouse at a time. At 1st level, a hideout is generally a small union center such as a small campsite or a room in a building. At 5th level, the safehouse may be larger, such as a small building, a hidden pathway, or a large section of a cave. At 10th level, the safehouse may be as large as a building complex or buildings of similar size. At 15th level, an elite commando may consider a large swath of land to be a safehouse, such as a small town or an entire district of a large city. At 20th level, the safehouse can include an entire metropolis as his safehouse, or regions of land just as large. Specific details regarding the region and shape of the safehouse are up to the Game Master’s discretion. Being in the safehouse allows the elite commando to hide from potential threats, and act in secrecy. Any objects or data stored in this safehouse cannot be located by any effect less powerful than a vision spell, and all attempts to locate or otherwise track down the elite commando or their allies who are within the safehouse suffer a -10 penalty to all rolls involved in finding them (this includes caster level checks).

Superior Armaments: When an elite commando selects this asset, they gain one weapon of their level or lower for free. This weapon cannot be sold but will be replaced if destroyed. The weapon is selected when the elite commando gains this asset and may be changed each time they gain an elite commando level or in an adjustment process that takes 24 hours. An elite commando may select this asset multiple times, each time gaining an additional weapon.

Superior Armor: When an elite commando selects this asset, they gain one suit of armor of their level or lower for free. This armor cannot be sold but will be replaced if destroyed. The armor is selected when the elite commando gains this asset and may be changed each time they gain an elite commando level or in an adjustment process that takes 24 hours. An elite commando may select this asset multiple times, each time gaining an additional suit of armor.

Supplied Supremacy: When an elite commando selects this asset, they gain one augmentation of their level or lower for free. This augmentation cannot be sold but will be replaced if destroyed. The augmentation is selected when the elite commando gains this asset and may be changed every time they gain an elite commando level or in an adjustment process that takes 24 hours (this process also installs the new augmentation). An elite commando may select this asset multiple times, each time gaining an additional augmentation.

Supply Drop: By spending a Resolve Point as a move action, an elite commando can call in a supply drop for themself plus a number of additional creatures up to their key ability score modifier. The number of creatures increases by 1 for every 2 soldier levels the elite commando possesses. This supply drop arrives in 1d10 rounds and contains 50 rounds of ammunition or 50 charges worth of batteries for every weapon the supplied creatures have in their possession. In addition, the supply drop supplies a medpatch for every creature supplied. This improves to a dose of sprayflesh for every creature at 5th level, plus an additional dose for every 5 additional levels you possess.

Welcome Wagon: By spending a Resolve Point in a process that takes 1 hour, an elite commando may employ media connections, advanced intelligence, or other resources to better facilitate their entry into a specific location such as a city. For 24 hours, the starting disposition of creatures in the location is one step more friendly than normal to the elite commando and anyone obviously associated with them. This asset cannot be applied multiple times at once to benefit the same party.