Each player plays a single character on the starship. If your Life Support allows more crew than you have players, you’ll fill the extra spots with bots. Having your own character puts you into the action in a more visceral way.

Your character will have several characteristics to differentiate you from other characters:

Species, Profession, Skill Set, Equipment

To build a character, you will need to do the following:

1. Start at Rank 1
2. Pick a species
3. Select a profession
4. Assign skill numbers
5. Select a starting Special Ability
6. Calculate Hit Points
7. Get starting Equipment

Rank reflects your character’s pull with the brass as well as calm under fire. Characters start at Rank 1 and spend prestige to rank up after missions (see character advancement page 149).

Each rank adds 1 to your Hit Points and Luck as well as giving you a Special Ability.

Rank also adds to your check when requisitioning shiny new equipment after a mission and figures into some special abilities such as “Calm” or “Smooth”.