| Scout is, in my humble opinion, the best option.
Let's look at the build I'm just playing right now :
A good level for a Consular is level 12*, because :
- You gain your last *Innate* feat (Force Focus)
- You gain +2 defense bonus
- You gain +1 attack bonus
- You gain +1 all saves
- You gain a feat
*Note : level 15 could be better, depending on your playing style and tastes. If you want, get only 5 scouts levels on Taris and wait until your gain your Jedi class.
If you go for a level 12 Consular, it leaves you with 8 levels to spend in your first class.
A level 8 Soldier will have ...
- +8 attack bonus
- 6/2/2 (saves)
- 8 Feats (+Heavy Armor)
Soldier get, as their primary ranged/melee attacks, "Power Blast" and "Power Attack", wich are quite good abilities... but can be as good as Critical Hit, Flurry, Sniper Shot and Rapid Fire. This depends only on your own tastes.
A lvl 8 Scout will have ...
- +6 attack bonus
- 6/6/6 (saves)
- 5 feats (+ class-specifics ones : Implant 1-2-3 and Uncanny Dodge 1-2)
They don't get the "Heavy Armor" feat like soldiers, but in the end, you won't be able to both cast and wear an armor, so this is a wasted skill. Implants 1-2-3 make up for the lack of 3 feat points, and Uncanny Dodge is just icing on the cake. This character will be almost as good as a Soldier in battles, and can use useful skills like Repair (to repair HK-47 for example, since you're a DarkSider) and Computer Slicing. Good saves!
A lvl 8 Scoundrel will have
- +6 attack bonus
- 2/6/2 (saves)
- 4 feats (+ a 4d6 Sneak Attack)
- +4 defense bonus
The scoundrel may looks great... but take into account that :
- You won't use Sneak Attack alot
- He only get 4 feats. With 4 feats, your can only max, say, Critical Strike and add 2 poinds to Dueling.
- Scoundrel skills are less useful (Stealth, Lockpicking, etc.), an exception being the Persuade skill (not cross-class for scoundrels, but it won't matter if you gain the 2 mind tricks powers).
The only good side of being a Scoundrel/Consular is the +4 innate armor bonus, wich is great early in the game, but become less important further in it.
--------------------
I would personnaly opt for the Scout, because of :
- Lots of feats (5, +3 Implants, +2 Dodge)
- Good saves (6/6/6 instead of 6/2/2 and 2/6/2)
- Good skills (Repair, Computer Use).
- You can always save up (like I'm doing) your skill points to put in Persuade once your a Jedi (not cross-class skill anymore, so you should be able to buy 1 skill level per points instead of 1 skill level per 2 points)  |