Crew Combat Strategy

''"Give me covering fire, keep their heads down! By Shalun we have the rat now!"

- Aurelius Family Bounty Hunter upon engaging his target's guards''

There are many approaches to crew combat and each Star Trader Captain will have their own preferred style, be it crippling the enemy before dealing devastating blows, or simply dealing so much damage that the enemy cannot keep up. This page will be dedicated to assisting Captains in deciding how to approach Crew Combat, and to offer advice in how to train and deploy combat crew. The following sections will detail individual crew training suggestions, as well as specific combat strategies and combinations. Experienced Captains are also invited to add their own strategies and crew builds.

Boot Camp
The basics of Crew Combat strategy are simple: Keep your crew in the slots they prefer, and try to keep them all from being defeated while you try to defeat the enemy combatants. However, like most parts of Star Traders, the basics are only the beginning. Different jobs work well together in Crew Combat, especially so when Officers can have two or three combat jobs at the same time. Each Job type, as discussed below, has their own preferences for their role on the battlefields of the galaxy.

All Captains start with one Swordsman, one Pistoleer, and two Soldiers as part of their crew. For those Captains who are not interested or actively avoid crew combat, these will likely be the only combat crew they have. A good, flexible strategy for these starting crew is as follows.

Soldiers: Good at slots 3 and 4, these backline fighters with access to crowd control talents, such as Suppressing Fire, and decent self-buffs like Discipline.

Pistoleer: Good at slots 1 through 3, Pistoleers like to stay mobile, buffing themselves while using crippling attacks on the enemy.

Swordsmen: Good at slots 1 and 2, Swordsmen prefer to hit frontline targets while buffing themselves.

The Soldiers should use Suppressing fire to knock position dependent attackers, such as enemy Swordsmen back to a position where they cannot attack from. At the same time, doing this will pull forward backline combatants like Soldiers, who will then have to waste turns moving back into a firing position. Pistoleers can prevent them from moving back with Pinning Shot, keeping the enemy disorganized, and the Swordsman can easily hack away at vulnerable targets who can't fight back.

Advanced Training
For those Captains who want to chase down criminals in the wilderness, find glory in boarding attacks, or fight the terror that is the Xeno face to face, the following sections will describe each job in detail, from suggested battlefield roles to their synergies with other jobs.

Assassins
Assassins specialize in frontline combat, using swords, knives, smoke grenades, and deadly poisons to weaken and kill enemies. As an Officer, synergizes well with Swordsman, Spy, Combat Medic, and Zealot.

Bounty Hunters
Bounty Hunters prefer backline combat, using Crippling Attacks, and issuing Intimidating Commands. As an Officer, synergizes well with Soldier, Sniper, Commander, and Exo-Scout.

Combat Medics
Combat Medics prefer to stay in the middle ranks, using squad healing Buffs, and uses the occasional Crippling Attack. As an Officer, synergizes well with Pistoleer, Doctor, and Military Officer.

Commanders
Commanders, on their own, lack any attacks. They do, however, provide powerful Buffs to the entire team, while crippling the enemy with Intimidating Orders. As an Officer, synergizes well with Military Officer, Spy, Combat Medic, and Pistoleer.

Exo-Scout
Exo-Scouts focus on staying mobile within the front ranks, while punishing the enemy with Crippling Attacks. Their Crippling and Buffing Attacks make them a formidable threat. As an Officer, synergizes well with Soldier and Bounty Hunter.

Military Officers
Military Officers, similar to Commanders, prefer to buff their team and issue Intimidating Commands. They also have a powerful Crippling Pistol Attack that reduces enemy Armor and Initiative. As an Officer, synergizes well with Pistoleer, Combat Medic, and Commander.

Pistoleer
Pistoleers are flexible combatants, using Crippling Attacks, self Buffs, and Buffing Attacks with mobility. As an Officer, synergizes well with Military Officer, Commander, Spy, and Combat Medic.

Sniper
Snipers specialize in long range combat, taking down enemies one at a time. Their attacks specialize in penetrating armor and dealing huge damage to single targets, usually at the cost of Initiative penalties. As an Officer, synergizes well with Bounty Hunter, Soldier and Spy.

Spy
Spies work best in the middle ranks, using their unique Stealth Mode to avoid attacks and inflict power Critical hits regularly. Their Stealth attacks can be powerful Buffs or powerful Crippling Attacks. As and Officer, synergizes well with Pistoleer.

Soldier
Soldiers are flexible and powerful combatants, with Talents that allow them to be deadly in the front ranks or support from the rear. Their Talents focus exclusively on combat, with Buffs, Crippling Attacks, and Buffing Attacks being the norm. As an Officer, synergizes well with Bounty Hunter, Commander, and Exo-Scouts.

Swordsman
Swordsmen are frontline combatants, using their blades to deal heavy damage and Crippling Attacks. Their Buffs focus on boosting Morale, defense, and they have the unique ability to Counter Attack when using Sharp Counter. As an Officer, synergizes well with Zealot.

Zealot
Zealots in combat focus exclusively on front rank melee combat. They have powerful self Buffs and can inflict the Bleed status effect. As an Officer, synergizes well with Swordsmen.