Under the Integration Act of 2488 many military personnel were detached from their national forces to serve with local governments, private corporations, and allied nations. While most soldiers serve in standing forces under normal military discipline and authority, a significant number of officers and enlisted personnel now pursue their nation's defense as detached soldiers. It’s not for everybody, but many heroes prefer this career path for the flexibility and freedom of movement it allows. Such free-serving soldiers are still subject to changes of duty status and specific assignments; its not unusual for a character to be called up tor duty with a standing force. The privilege of detached service is usually offered only to enlisted personnel and officers with a few years of regular service under their belts: a detached private or junior lieutenant is very unusual. Every stellar nation maintains a sizable army, and most have commands or detachments serving in the Verge. Naturally, many Verge systems have their own armies, too.

In the Verge: The Concord Marines are an elite corps of space-to-ground assault troops. While they're often outnumbered and sometimes outgunned, they're also the only military force free to operate within the borders of all Verge systems. The 151st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, commanded by Brigadier General Walther Kiell, uses the Lighthouse as its base.

The Soldier is a trained warrior, as good with a gun as he is with a knife or some other melee weapon. Some soldiers come out of formal military programs or law enforcement academies. Others acquire their skills on the field of battle. The Soldier might be a dedicated idealist or a profit-seeking mercenary, a hired gun or a highly skilled adventurer. In all cases, the Soldier learns how to defeat his enemies, to complete his missions, and ultimately, to survive.

Select this advanced class if you want your character to be a well-rounded combat expert. It combines both melee and ranged weapon expertise, preparing the Soldier for whatever situation comes his way.

The fastest path into this advanced class is from the Strong hero basic class, though other paths are possible.

To qualify to become a Soldier, a character must fulfill the following criteria.

Base Attack Bonus: +3.

Skills: Knowledge (Military) 3 ranks.

Feats: Personal Firearms Proficiency.

The following information pertains to the Soldier advanced class.

Hit Die: 1d10

Action Points: 6 + one-half character level, rounded down, every time the Soldier attains a new level in this class.

The Soldier’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are:

Demolitions (Int), Drive (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Navigate (Int), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), Swim (Str)

Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.

The following features pertain to the Soldier advanced class.

At 1st level, a Soldier gains the Weapon Focus class feature, providing the benefit of the feat with the same name. The Soldier chooses a specific weapon, such as a 9mm charge pistol or a metal baton. You can choose unarmed strike or grapple as the weapon. You must be proficient with the chosen weapon.

You add +1 to all attack rolls you make using the selected weapon.

At 2nd level, a Soldier gains weapon specialization with a specific melee or ranged weapon that he also has applied the Weapon Focus feat or class feature to. You get a +2 bonus on damage rolls with the chosen weapon.

At 3rd, 6th, and 9th level, the Soldier gets a bonus feat. The bonus feat must be selected from the following list, and the Soldier must meet all the prerequisites of the feat to select it.

Advanced Firearms Proficiency, Archaic Weapons Proficiency, Armor Proficiency (light), Armor Proficiency (medium), Armor Proficiency (heavy), Brawl, Burst Fire, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Exotic Firearms Proficiency, Exotic Melee Weapon Proficiency, Far Shot, Great Cleave, Improved Brawl, Improved Knockout Punch, Knockout Punch, Power Attack.

As a Soldier becomes more skilled, his leadership abilities increase. Starting at 4th level, a Soldier can use his knowledge of tactics to direct his allies in combat.

As an attack action, the Soldier provides tactical aid to any single ally (but not himself) within sight and voice range of his position.

As a full-round action, the Soldier provides tactical aid to all of his allies (including himself) within sight and voice range of his position.

This aid provides either a competence bonus on attack rolls or a dodge bonus to Defense (Soldier's choice). This bonus is equal to the Soldier's Intelligence modifier (minimum +1), and it lasts for a number of rounds equal to one-half of the Soldier's level in the advanced class, rounded down.

A Soldier of 5th level or higher knows how to strike more effectively and have a better chance of dealing significant damage with the weapon he has applied weapon specialization to. For that weapon, your threat range increases by one. For example, a 9mm charge rifle threatens a critical hit on a 20. With this talent applied to the 9mm charge rifle, the threat range becomes 19-20.

At 7th level, a Soldier gains a +2 competence bonus on initiative checks.

At 8th level, a Soldier gains greater weapon specialization with the weapon he selected at 2nd level. This ability increases the bonus on damage rolls to +4 when using the selected weapon.

At 10th level, a Soldier gains the ability to automatically confirm a threat as a critical hit when attacking with the weapon he has applied weapon specialization to, eliminating the need to make a roll to confirm the critical hit.