// CLASSES
Varath Broker
Trade
The Broker is an economic force who carries weapons for self-defense. Trade Protocols, market intelligence, faction access - these are the Broker's real tools. Where a Vanguard fights through firepower, the Broker fights through options: the ability to hire escorts, access stations others can't dock at, and convert faction standing into advantages that no amount of skill points buys for another class.
The Overcharge mechanic on a Broker typically runs toward engines (escape when necessary) and shields (survive the ambush), not weapons. The Broker didn't come here to win a gunfight.
Build archetypes:
- The Merchant Prince - max Trade Protocols + Market Intelligence + Reputation Network → economy powerhouse, best prices on everything, fastest faction standing gain in the game
- The Fixer - max Diplomatic Contact + Contract Authority + Corporate Charter → access-focused, opens content other players can't reach
- The Survivor - max Emergency Recharge + Evasive Protocols + Field Patch → a Broker who can actually take a hit and live, useful in hostile sectors
Broker Class Perk Card
(Shown at character selection)
VARATH BROKER
- Best cargo capacity of any class - the largest hold, the most hauls
- Access to restricted corporate stations that no other class can dock at
- Crafted items sell for 15% more credits at all markets
- Faction standing gains are 20% higher from all mission sources
- Exclusive: Corporate Charter - hire NPC escort wings, file salvage claims, unlock restricted stations
Broker Skill Tree
| Skill | Type | Unlock OL | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade Protocols | Passive | 0 | Improved market prices - reduced buy costs and increased sell prices. R5: unlocks "hidden" vendor price tiers. R7: grants access to a daily black-market price listing with exceptional margins. |
| Market Intelligence | Passive | 0 | Reveals supply and demand trends across known stations. R5: shows projected price changes 24 hours ahead. R7: flags rare item availability at distant stations before traveling. |
| Cargo Optimization | Passive | 0 | Increases cargo capacity and reduces mass penalty from full holds. R5: specific item categories take half normal cargo space. R7: overloaded cargo no longer reduces ship speed. |
| Diplomatic Contact | Active | 11 | Improve standing with a targeted NPC faction by a fixed amount. 30-minute cooldown. R5: cooldown reduced to 20 minutes, larger standing gain. R7: can be used on a faction you're Unfriendly with (normally blocked). |
| Reputation Network | Passive | 0 | Reduces standing losses from all sources (mob kills, mission failures) by a percentage. R5: -25% standing losses. R7: -40%, and notoriety with criminal factions decays passively over time. |
| Emergency Recharge | Active | 0 | Rapid shield regeneration burst. R5: restores 50% shields in 3s. R7: also clears one active shield debuff on activation. |
| Field Patch | Active | 20 | Emergency hull repair. R5: restores 25% hull. R7: 35%, also repairs a disabled ship system. |
| Evasive Protocols | Passive | 0 | Reduces enemy targeting accuracy and tracking against the Broker. R5: -20% incoming accuracy. R7: also reduces the duration of movement-impairing effects. |
| Broker's Eye | Passive | 0 | Identifies item values on hover; detects rare items in salvage and derelict containers. R5: reveals item quality tier before salvaging. R7: occasionally reveals bonus loot in containers other classes miss. |
| Contract Authority | Passive | 35 | Improves contract rewards and unlocks exclusive mission tiers from trade companies. R5: access to Tier IV contracts, +10% payout. R7: access to Tier V contracts and rare-blueprint mission rewards. |
| Crew Coordination | Active | 20 | Buff to NPC escort ships - improves their combat effectiveness. R5: escort ships gain +20% damage and HP. R7: escorts gain a coordinated attack behavior, focusing the same target as the Broker. |
| Overcharge Efficiency | Passive | 0 | Reduces heat generation from Overcharge use and speeds up heat dissipation. R5: Overcharge can run 30% longer before heat cap. R7: hitting heat cap no longer disables systems - it triggers an emergency cooldown instead. |
| Safe Passage | Passive | 30 | Reduces aggro radius from neutral and lightly-hostile mobs. R5: mobs below Unfriendly standing don't attack unless provoked. R7: even Hostile faction mobs hesitate briefly before attacking, giving the Broker time to disengage. |
| Corporate Charter (Exclusive) | Active | 15 [Q] | Call in a corporate NPC escort wing. File legal salvage claims on derelict wrecks. Access restricted corporate stations. R3: 1 escort ship, basic station access. R5: up to 3 escorts, mid-tier stations. R7: up to 4 escorts with coordinated AI, top-tier restricted stations, and salvage claims respected by Varath Navy patrols. |