View source for Profession

{{Profession Navigation}}
== Overview ==
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Originally, all three [[Class]]es were planned for each [[Race]] in Earth & Beyond. However, before the game went Live in 2002, the [[Jenquai Seeker]] (JS, a [[Tradesman]]), the [[Terran Scout]] (TS, an [[Explorer]]), and the [[Progen Privateer]] (PP, another [[Tradesman]]) professions were dropped, and were not known during the game's [[Sunset Live]] (commercial) run from 2002 to 2004, leaving only six professions to choose from.

When the Earth & Beyond Emulator was developed, the three professions mentioned above were implemented, and may now be played!

There are now nine professions available in the Earth & Beyond Emulator which correspond directly to the nine race+class combinations:
<center>{{Profession Table}}</center>

== Max Level Profession Summary ==
<center>{{Profession Summary}}</center>

== Jenquai ==
[[File:Logojenquai.png|link=Jenquai|right]]
For more details on the Jenquai race in general see [[Jenquai]].

=== [[Jenquai Explorer]] ===
*Recommendation:  new players wishing to acquire combat XP would do well to kill everything possible in [[Io]] before taking missions requiring combat from anywhere outside the sector.  Your combat skills are so weak in the early stages that you'll find all such missions quite difficult unless you improve your weapons user level, which requires leveling up your combat XP.
**or get PM gear made and explore XP to EL 25 for combat cloak.  This skill doubles ALL damage and can make combat much easier. 

* As the only Jenquai that can prospect, it falls to the Explorers to collect any ores that are to be turned into minerals to become either ammunition or components.

* Jenquai only Devices can be built by any Jenquai (with the skill trained).  It becomes a matter of priorities -- Defenders need to use their building skills for Weapons and Seekers use their for Components and Engines (which no other Jenquai can do).  Thus, Devices and perhaps Reactors are usually built by Explorers {as long as they do not have the "Jenquai restricted" label}.

* Be advised that achieving 200% build quality at the highest levels requires practice -- and the materials with which to practice are costly in either play time or credits.

* Like all other characters capable of mining, JEs will likely NOT have a shortage of credits problem.

* JEs are excellent at risky prospecting, as long as the mobs in the area can't see through a Cloak. If they can, that area is best left to the Progen Sentinels and/or a group including plenty of warrior types.

* Uniquely, the Explorer has the [[Shield Leech]] skill, sometimes referred to as "the JE's fourth weapon".  Shield Leech partly reduces the shields of all mobs AND turns the energy of those shields into reactor power for the JE and, at higher levels, the entire group. Some warrior classes frequently run out of energy (reactor power) and thus may need to limit firing unless the JE is present and uses this skill to refill their reactors.

* Also uniquely, at the highest two levels of [[Cloak]] skill, a JE's can [[signature]]-reduce or completely conceal an entire group of ships.  Warping while cloaked is also possible at these levels.  Group Cloak is not available to Jenquai Defenders or Seekers, so having a JEs in company can be very useful in dangerous areas, and particularly when touring lower-ranked pilots around.

* JEs also have the [[Jumpstart]] skill.  Dead ships can be restarted on the battlefield, saving the cost of a tow to the last station that player registered at.  Of course, one does have to either kill or lure away the mobs that did the damage to the player's ship first since the JE's ship is not very robust.  To use this on yourself, target yourself with '''`''' (the upper-left-corner key on keyboard) and then use the handle on the target screen at lower right.

* In addition, the JE alone has the [[Create Wormhole]] ability. This allows the user and/or group members to instantly 'jump' to any of ten different pre-assigned locations, known as [[weft]]s, scattered across the galaxy. Having a JE "taxi" around can speed up the completion of mission immensely. However it is of limited use for trade runs, as passing through a [[wormhole]] damages "trade goods", reducing the profit margin considerably.

*  Given that the JE is a superb taxi and support vehicle, the JE pilot will usually try to maximize the Device, Wormhole, Cloak, Prospect and Shield Leech skills. As a beam user, JEs must face their target and, as such, cannot kite enemies like a missile user, and so impulse speed is of lesser importance. Some pilots will assign the Engine skill a lower priority due to this. However, the JE is capable of some of the fastest speeds after the [[Terran Scout]], and another school of thought is to maximize engine power. A short-cut to the best warp speed is to get your JE to L5 engines and then acquire [[The Polar Express]], a L5 engine with the same 4,000 warp speed as a good L8 engine. The only hitches are that this engine is only available as a reward for a seasonal mission, for a limited part of the Christmas season each year, and that the engine has two de-buffs, which weaken your ship's resistance to EMP and Plasma damage.

=== [[Jenquai Seeker]] ===
* Jenquai Seekers are the trading class for the Jenquai people.

* They will likely be tasked with Building multiple types of gear: Components and Engines certainly (they are the only Jenquai with the capability) and likely one or two of Weapons, Devices, and Reactors.  (Note:  no Jenquai are capable of building shields.  Jenquai shields are usually built by Terrans).

* With so many Building skills needing to be trained, Seekers will likely invest few skill points in Projectile Weapons, Scanning, Engines, and possibly Reactor Optimization (at least until they pass OL 150).

* The Seeker lacks the Shield Leech skill that the JE has, but the JS has one more weapons slot.

* Seekers also have one fewer device slot than the Explorer and thus may be slightly less useful at buffing and debuffing in group combat.

=== [[Jenquai Defender]] ===
* Having one fewer weapons slot than the Progen Warriors, and using lower [[Damage Per Second|DPS]] Beam Weapons, the Jenquai Defender is less able to directly kill mobs in straight up fights. However, using tactics, skills, and gear their DPS is unmatched in the EMU and at endgame they do considerably more damage than any other class.

* The Combat [[Cloak]] skill offers partial compensation for the lack of 6 weapon slots, and if firing while cloaked, the JD gains a targeting enhancement for a limited time after auto-decloaking.

* The JD is however, limited to only Level 8 shields and, therefore, can not use the brutal direct attacking methods of the Progen.

* Defenders uniquely have the Psionic Shield capability. Psi Shields make the JD (or any ship on which the JD confers it) completely invulnerable while the shield lasts. The Psi shield disappears instantly when either a certain period of time has elapsed, or when it has absorbed a certain number of hit points (both time and damage absorbtion amounts are dependant on the skill level you have). As Jenquai shields and armor tend to be less durable than those of the other races, JDs should remain alert and recharge their Psi shield frequently to maintain their invulnerability, as a strong enemy can quickly strip away a JD's standard defenses.

* Like all Jenquai, JDs specialize in Beam weapons and are the only race which can use Level 9 beams. As they can only use up to L8 MLs and PLs, most Jenquai pilots don't allocate skill points to non-beam weapon skills.

* JDs are particularly endangered when up against high-level mobs that are able to see through [[cloak]]s, rendering the JD's preferred stealth-attack tactics useless.

* As Beam users, JDs don't really have a strong need to train the Build Weapons skill, as they don't need to build ammunition. Should you wish to be a weapon-builder, building that skill on a character who is a missile or projectile user would be a better choice, as they will benefit from being to build their own ammo.

* The Defender, uniquely, has the [[Summon]] skill which allows for more precise teleportation than the [[Fold Space]] skill. Different levels of this skill allow a JD to teleport an enemy right infront of his guns, to teleport other ships or his entire group from far across the sector to right in front of him and, at the highest level, to teleport their own or a group member's ship directly into the hangar of that particular ship's last registered starbase.  Some mobs can resist being Summoned, this presumably indicates an ability to resist Psi attacks.

* The Defender also has the [[Energy Leech]] skill, which directly transfers some of the target mob's reactor charge to the reactors of the JD and (at higher levels) the JD's group.

== [[Terran]] ==
[[File:Logoterran.png|link=Terran|right]]
For more details on the Terran race in general see [[Terran]].

=== [[Terran Scout]] ===
* The fastest warping class in the game a geared TS can reach just under 9K warp.

* Both Devices and Engines can be built by both Scouts and Tradesmen, but shortage of skill points means you probably should decide which one will do one of them and then allow the other one to do the other.

* Capable of prospecting, Terran Scouts have the role of acquiring ores and refining them into minerals for use in building ammunition and components.

* Like the Progen Sentinel and unlike the Jenquai Explorer, the Scout is vulnerable while prospecting in heavily defended areas.  You may want to bring friends to kill the mobs (which has the happy effect of sharing both the combat and explore XP plus a little bonus — with each of you needing what the other supplies in order to keep your skills balanced).

* This implies that Scouts are unlikely to suffer from a shortage of credits.

*  The Scout has an interesting skill in Hull Patch.  While this is of limited use in the early going, gangs running raids may well find it very useful since the combination of Jumpstart (which all Prospector types have) and Hull Patch can get a fellow group member up and going again at near full strength without returning to a station.  {full strength would require the Repair Equipment skill as well, which some warriors may have trained.}  {Note:  Terran Tradesmen also have the Hull Patch skill.  No Progen or Jenquai characters have it.}

=== [[Terran Tradesman]] ===
* The Tradesman is usually tasked with building three different types of elements; Components, Shields, and one of Devices or Engines. No Terran can build Reactors -- player made Terran Reactors are built by either Progen or Jenquai characters.

* Because of this, skill points for other things will likely be limited.  Since Weapons and Devices/Engines will be built by another of the Terran characters, these are excellent choices to NOT receive skill points.

*  Many Tradesmen also limit skill points going into Beam Weapons (they don't fit the "kiting" model of combat) and probably Befriend (Befriend allows you to escape a single mob character, and you usual goal is to kill it — wasted effort). However, at max level both of these skills can become invaluable... depending on the TTs play style.

* The Tradesman's credit generation is sometimes powered by his [[Negotiate]] skill.  Collect ores or loot with your characters on other accounts, then trade them in station to your TT (thus gathering the Trade XP).  Then trade them back if they need refining and get the minerals that will be sold from the miner type.  The TT then sells the goods to station and reaps a bonus in the selling price (just move some of the resulting funds to your other character and you're good). Trading items to a TT is much better trade xp, for looted/mined items, then trading to other classes.

* Otherwise, his fewer number of missile launchers than the Terran Enforcer and possible lack of player made ammo imply that his killing for loot prospects are not very strong.

* Tradesmen do have the largest holds of any ship in the game -- this allows them to act as ammo carrier on behalf of the warrior types when going on raids.

*  With Hull Patch and Shield Recharge skills, the TT is useful in gangs to get a damaged ship up to full strength without pulling back to a station.  {One of the prospector types will have to Jumpstart a dead ship first and then a warrior type can repair the equipment afterward.}

* The TT also has access to a number of debuff devices, which can be very beneficial in combat.

=== [[Terran Enforcer]] ===
*As a warrior type that uses ammunition, the Terran Enforcer will usually invest many skill points into Weapons since the resulting 200% ammo has superior damage (and thus [[Damage Per Second|DPS]]) relative to purchased goods. 
**(this is true for all ML and PL ammo and all Tradesman, Warriors, TS, and PS can make ammo. In fact the only class, in the EMU, that cannot make ammo is the JE).

*Other critical warrior uses of skill points include Shields and enough Reactors to keep the missiles firing.  {Alas, MLs are not the most effective damage per energy cost form of weapons, that position is held by PLs.  TEs probably are not going to use many PLs as the buffs required to optimize that are found mostly on "Progen only" devices and equipment.}

*Given the above, the TE is not very likely to have the skill points available for the Build Engines skill, which task must then be left to a different Terran type.  All three Terran types have the Build Engines skill, so which does it becomes a matter of which can spare the skill points.

== [[Progen]] ==
[[File:Logoprogen.png|link=Progen|right]]
For more details on the Progen race in general see [[Progen]].

=== [[Progen Sentinel]] ===
*As the only Progen type that can prospect, it falls to the Sentinels to collect any ores that are to be turned into minerals to become either ammunition or components.
*"Jenquai restricted" Devices can only be built by Progen Sentinels.  Thus, if you have any desire to engage in this activity, you'll need to budget skill points for this.  {Sentinels can also build many other devices -- as long as they do not have the "Progen restricted" label.}
*See [[Manufacturing]] if interested in what it takes to make 200% items....for ANY class.
*Like the other characters capable of mining, the Sentinel will likely NOT have a shortage of credits problem.
*Prospecting in some or many high level areas is fraught with risk of being attacked by well armed mobs.  Unlike the Jenquai Explorer, the Sentinel can not cloak to avoid most of these and so must be tough enough to defeat them, or else mine in groups capable of destroying these mobs.  This will likely require maximum skills in PLs, reactors, and shields, plus devices (for resistance buffs).

=== [[Progen Privateer]] ===
* If you have other characters that build weapons or devices, you may wish to use the Privateer to build everything else possible: Components, Reactors, and Shields. (Note: no Progen character can Build Engines. Player-made engines for Progen use are made by Terrans).
* In order to concentrate skill points for a builder's role, Privateers will probably neglect both Beam Weapons and Missiles. The Engine skill and Build Weapons might be others to give lower priority.
* Progen Privateers, like Terrans, can train the [[Negotiate]] skill, which increases the profit margins on items bought and sold.  
*<b>IMPORTANT</b>:The PP is the fastest leveling combat class in the game. They have the same number of weapon slots as the [[JD]] and [[TE]], and they have the best [[Damage Per Second|DPS]] of all Tradesmen. With this added to the combination of the Shield Recharge and Critical Targeting skills, they are basically warriors that can heal. Being able to recharge their shields, along with their massive hold, makes killing/looting/selling an incredible way to level TL and CL at the same time.

=== [[Progen Warrior]] ===
* In group combat, the Progen Warrior expects to find himself in the front of the attack, using his massive shields and effective resistance to draw the mob's fire and thus protect the other members.
**They are the Tank class in the EMU.
* The Warrior will likely also deliver the highest [[Damage Per Second]] (DPS) on the target, as long as their ammo supply holds out (and they are not going against an equally geared JD).
* Build Weapons is the only build skill that a Progen Warrior can have.  While needed in order to build higher quality ammo, finding enough skill points can be a challenge and may well require that other skills (such as [[Repair Equipment]], and weapons other than PLs) receive few or no skill points.
* Warriors generally satisfy their need for credits by looting dead mobs and selling the contents.  Their need to carry vast quantities of ammunition may limit warriors to only looting the highest value (stackable) items.

== Class vs. Profession Ambiguity ==
{{Class vs. Profession}}

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[[Category:People & MOBs]]