Your character's profession is the choice that has the greatest impact on them and shapes them most significantly. In other RPGs, this is like picking your 'class', are you a fighter or a rogue or a wizard. In RFI:Freelancers this is more like picking their education (if any) and training. A character may have had many prior jobs, but the choice made here will determine what the character's current and most significant profession is.
This is their defining role in the galaxy.
Each Profession provides the following benefits:
You may choose your character's Profession, or randomly determine it from the Random Profession table by rolling a d20.
These professions are intentionally broad, and represent the most common professions a player character is likely to have. However, since RFI:Freelancers covers characters from all walks of life; if you really want to play a Space Janitor, we're not going to stop you.
+2.
Once you've decided that, follow the same basic template:
+2 to that skill. Then choose any two other skills and increase them by 1 each. A character may not have any skill higher than 4 at this stage.+2. They can use the specialties from Step 3 as examples.That's all there is to it. Feel free to create whatever professions you need for your game, as long as they folow this template.
In a galaxy driven by innovation, you’re the one uncovering the truths that others overlook. Whether it’s pushing the boundaries of scientific understanding, developing groundbreaking technologies, or delving into the intricacies of the human mind, your work shapes the future. You might be a physicist unraveling the mysteries of subspace, an engineer crafting the next generation of starships, or a psychologist helping individuals navigate the pressures of interstellar life.
Specializing in a single field—or a few closely related ones—you bring expertise and precision to everything you do. While your research may catch the attention of governments or militaries, you’re not necessarily tied to their agendas. You’re driven by curiosity, progress, and the pursuit of knowledge, whether you’re working in a cutting-edge laboratory or a cramped ship on the fringes of known space.
2. Then choose any two other skills and increase them by 1 each. A character may not have any skill higher than 4 at this stage.+2.
Who says crime doesn’t pay? In a galaxy of endless possibilities, breaking the law isn’t just a risk—it’s a lifestyle. Whether you’re smuggling contraband through subspace lanes, orchestrating daring heists, or dismantling security systems with a keystroke, crime is the ultimate game for those willing to bet it all. The risks are high, but the rewards are higher—assuming you don’t get caught.
This profession encompasses a broad spectrum of underworld operators. Gentleman thieves, con artists, mobsters, hackers, and small-time crooks all have their niche. Maybe you’re the smooth-talking mastermind pulling the strings, or the fixer who knows a guy for every dirty job. Whatever your angle, you thrive where others fear to tread—and you never let pesky rules stand in your way. Just don’t expect to share the details at family dinner.
2. Then choose any two other skills and increase them by 1 each. A character may not have any skill higher than 4 at this stage.+2.
You are the voice that bridges worlds, the mediator who turns conflict into cooperation. Whether you’ve dedicated your life to diplomacy or entered the field after an illustrious career elsewhere, you are now part of the intricate network of ambassadors, envoys, and negotiators shaping the galaxy’s future.
Diplomats serve in many capacities. You might represent a single world, an interstellar faction like the League or the People's Republic, or even an entire race, such as the Lyndri or NorAellians. Some rise to become roving ambassadors-at-large, using their reputation and experience to broker treaties, organize summits, and resolve galactic crises. With every negotiation and agreement, your words carry the weight of interstellar peace—or its collapse.
2. Then choose any two other skills and increase them by 1 each. A character may not have any skill higher than 4 at this stage.+2.
You are the vanguard of discovery, pushing into the unknown to map the stars and chart what lies beyond. Whether as part of an Exploration Guild or as an independent operator, you navigate the farthest reaches of space, uncovering new systems and evaluating their worth. It’s your work that opens the galaxy to expansion and progress, paving the way for future generations.
Exploration Guilds emerged alongside humanity’s first forays into subspace travel, driven by the innate desire to explore and expand. These guilds quickly became invaluable to the Terran Republic, offering their services to scout unclaimed systems. Over time, their ranks swelled to include Lyndri and NorAellian members, creating a more united effort to explore the galaxy. Some explorers focus on surveying known systems, seeking resources and treasures, while others strike out into uncharted space, selling their discoveries to the highest bidder.
2. Then choose any two other skills and increase them by 1 each. A character may not have any skill higher than 4 at this stage.+2.
You are a shadow in a galaxy of secrets, part of the unseen machinery that monitors, analyzes, and manipulates events to safeguard—or subvert—the interests of your government or employer. Whether you’re a handler orchestrating networks of informants, an analyst deciphering data from mission logs and sensor records, or a field agent carrying out dangerous covert operations, your work is defined by a blend of precision, discretion, and moral ambiguity.
With the cold war between the People's Republic and the League heating up, espionage has entered a new golden age, reminiscent of humanity’s storied past. Despite the romanticized image of spies, the reality is far less glamorous: days or weeks of tedium interrupted by moments of chaotic action. Operatives often work alone, with little backup and no guarantees—only the knowledge that failure means disavowal and death. Yet, even amidst the danger, there is a strange camaraderie between spies, an unspoken bond that transcends factions and loyalties.
2. Then choose any two other skills and increase them by 1 each. A character may not have any skill higher than 4 at this stage.+2.
You are the lifeblood of the galactic economy, connecting worlds and factions through the flow of goods and services. Whether you’re brokering deals on a bustling freelance station, bartering on the fringes of known space, or running trade routes for a corporate fleet, your work ensures that the wheels of commerce keep turning. From valuable commodities to essential supplies—or even questionable goods—you make a living by knowing what people want and how to get it to them.
Merchants and traders come in many forms. You could be a savvy entrepreneur striking out on your own, a seasoned bartender exchanging information along with drinks, or a ship captain navigating trade lanes with a hold full of cargo. Some start their careers in the safety of corporate merchant fleets, building experience and contacts before venturing into the unpredictable world of freelance trading. Others thrive on the edges of legality, finding profit where others see risk. Regardless of your path, success means thriving in a galaxy where opportunity and danger are never far apart.
2. Then choose any two other skills and increase them by 1 each. A character may not have any skill higher than 4 at this stage.+2.
Mercenaries in the RFI universe operate in a morally gray area, providing their services to the highest bidder in a galaxy rife with conflict and opportunity. These warriors for hire may work as part of large, organized outfits or independently, taking on contracts that range from private security and bounty hunting to assassinations and large-scale military engagements.
In just the last century the demand for skilled, deniable operatives has only grown. Mercenaries are as likely to be found defending a frontier colony from raiders as they are engaging in covert operations for powerful corporate or political entities. Their loyalty lies not with ideology or patriotism but with the credit balance in their accounts.
2. Then choose any two other skills and increase them by 1 each. A character may not have any skill higher than 4 at this stage.+2.
You are part of a proud and disciplined tradition, serving as a cog in the vast machinery of a government’s military force. Whether you’re a commanding officer aboard a starship, a fighter pilot, or a member of the ground forces, your life revolves around structure, duty, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Orders, protocols, and regulations dictate your every move, and success—or failure—is met with corresponding rewards or punishments.
Military service is more than a job; it’s a lifestyle, one that demands dedication and resilience. It’s not for everyone, but you’ve grown within it, shaped by its challenges and forged into someone who can thrive under pressure. For better or worse, the military has become a part of who you are, and your actions reflect the honor—or infamy—of your command.
2. Then choose any two other skills and increase them by 1 each. A character may not have any skill higher than 4 at this stage.+2.
Nobles and Politicians wield influence not through brute force or technical skill but through their ability to navigate the labyrinth of power, alliances, and ambition. Nobles, often inheritors of wealth and status, represent ancient families or newly risen dynasties that cling to prestige in a galaxy reshaped by exploration and expansion. They are masters of diplomacy, leveraging their resources and connections to shape the future of their domains—or to keep rivals at bay.
Politicians, on the other hand, rise through the ranks of governments and factions like the People's Republic of Terra or the League of Allied Worlds. They debate policies, negotiate treaties, and lead their people with charisma or cunning. Whether through genuine ideals or ruthless pragmatism, they steer the course of history, often intertwining their fates with those of military leaders, spies, or mercenaries.
Both Nobles and Politicians are as much products of their circumstances as they are creators of them. Some seek to preserve order, others to exploit chaos, and a rare few genuinely strive to improve the lives of those they represent. Regardless of their goals, their actions ripple outward, shaping the galaxy in their wake.
2. Then choose any two other skills and increase them by 1 each. A character may not have any skill higher than 4 at this stage.+2.
Pirates and privateers are two sides of the same coin: one operates outside the law, while the other works within it—barely. Whether raiding trade ships for loot, preying on poorly defended colonies, or enforcing a Letter of Marque from the League, you thrive in the chaos of space where rules bend and power speaks loudest. The line between pirate and privateer is often thin, and some walk both sides, shifting allegiances as fortune demands.
As a privateer, you operate under the legitimacy of a government-sanctioned Letter of Marque, targeting enemies of the state with all the flair and brutality of a pirate—only with fewer consequences. Meanwhile, pirates embrace their outlaw status, carving out their own code and alliances in the shadows. Both live by cunning, force, and a willingness to risk everything for the next big score. Whether commanding your own crew or serving under a larger syndicate, your life is defined by danger, adventure, and the promise of riches.
2. Then choose any two other skills and increase them by 1 each. A character may not have any skill higher than 4 at this stage.+2.