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Good afternoon all,

It is so awesome to get a copy of the game and be able to have fun with it.  In having fun with it, I ran into a question that some of you might have either figured out, see it differently, or it might have already been answered in a thread I missed.

So when I look through character generation, I run into some of the talents from the Concepts, and see that some have a Talent and Gear setup that remain completely different from eachother, while some of the Concepts have a so called 'Talent' hiding in the Gear section.  I will use the Pilot as an example.

Talents: Zero-G or Exo Specialist or Targeting Scope (CYB)
Gear: LINE 3 - Targeting Scope (CYB) or Communicator (IV)

I found that a bit dd really.  I know that the targeting scope is something that can be purchased later, but then again, all talents can be obtained later.  For me, it seems that some of the Concepts get 2 chances at something being 'identified' as a talent.  I mean, why take the targeting scope as your talent slot when you can just take it as equipment.  The Operative has:

Talents: Executioner or Intimidating or Licenced

So by the pilot's example, since the licence can be purchased, why isn't it in gear so you get two shots at a million?  The negotiator can take Faction standing, and still get the other cybernetics from the talents list from gear while the Fugitive's Talents don't get to be taken as gear also.

Just found it a bit odd is all that some of the Concepts are set up like that and just wanted someone else's point of view on that, how it works, if there was a way to have it work where everyone's talents are something special that you have to make a serious decision about.  Just wanted someone else's point of view.  Thanks guys. 

It makes it clear somewhere in the rules (I can't recall where and I don't have the book) that if you want the talent, you MUST select the gear that goes with it. So it's not two chances to get the talent, rather it's the talent limiting your choice of gear.  Similarly, to get a cybernetic talent later you must spend xp AND birr. 

That is actually kind of cool.  I must have missed that part completely.  Thanks for pointing that out then.  Gives me a better understanding of chargen now.

Cheers

It's  also worth pointing out that A license, and the LIcensed talent are not the same. The licenses you can buy are annual, and relevant only to the juristristiction you buy them in (and affiliated locations). The Licensed talent is lifelong and Horizon wide. 

There are 2 locations talking about the licenses - p73 talks about the licensed talent, and p132 where it talks about licenses (the gear).

Importantly, the last 2 sentences under the "Licensed" talent read:

Being licensed is not the same as being permitted
to carry all kinds of weaponry in public, however. Local
regulations can still stop you from carrying weapons you
are allowed to own.

My reading of this is that you can have the licensed talent, and can mostly buy, carry and use restricted items. I would liken this to a police officer being able to buy, carry and use some gear that would be restricted from regular citizens. However, if that officer wanted to bring his sidearm to another country, he would still need to get a permit from the destination government. A real-life example would be "carry-concealed weapon" (CCW) permits. They are handed out by the Sheriffs of individual counties, and each Sheriff has a lot of latitude on the requirements to get one. But once you have it, it's good across the state. However, you still have to adhere to rules - such as not entering businesses that post "No Firearms" signs in their windows. In addition, there are many states which recognize other states' CCW permits, and you can move between them freely. But there are several states that do not, and you have to apply for a separate permit in those states.

In game terms, I think this gives the GM a fair amount of flexibility in restricting things. Maybe you get the licensed talent on Coriolis station, and it lets you use your restricted gear there, except in certain sections of the station, and also is most of that system. Maybe some of the other systems recognize that talent, maybe others don't and force you to buy a separate permit (read: the licensed gear) to use them there. Or maybe their law enforcement just won't issue that permit. I know this might feel restrictive as a player, but a good gamemaster will be judicious in using these restrictions - hopefully in ways that drive the story.

Atomics sums it up pretty well. the talent get you the ability to purchase restricted items. 

In some places you are allowed to carry fire arms but have to pay a licence or fee to do so. The example from the Rulebook is Coriolis, where you are allowed to carry fire arms as long as you pay the yearly fee (page 277), but you still can't buy mind-enhancing narcotics*, a Legionnaire carbine* or communicator with pulse-funtion* if you don't have the talent Licenced.

*Restricted items, requires Licence talent (page 104).