Fringer

This article is about the term referring to individuals from the galaxy's frontier regions.
You may be looking for "rimmer," a term referring to individuals from the Rim.

A male fringer. — A male Rodian fringer.

A fringer was a citizen of the galaxy who came from less settled, frontier regions of the galaxy such as the Outer Rim Territories. Far from the conveniences of the Core Worlds, fringers were forced to make do with what technology they could acquire, repair, and jury-rig. Fringers were jack-of-all-trades, adapting readily to new situations and possessing a wide variety of skills.

Description

Fringers hailed from countless worlds that lay outside the bounds of civilized galactic society, such as planets like Tatooine and Dantooine in the Outer Rim Territories. Many were born on these planets, but just as many found themselves residents of the Outer Rim through their own choices or necessity. They were jack-of-all-trades, learning whatever skills they needed to survive. With little or no access to the conveniences of the Core Worlds, fringers were experts at keeping old equipment running by performing jury-rigged repairs.^[1]

Rarely did they think of themselves as "fringers", preferring instead to identify themselves by their career, be that a spacer, mechanic, pilot, or colonist. Fringers who left their homeworlds did so for a multitude of reasons. Some simply sought a better life, others were searching for adventure and excitement, drawn away by the promises of riches and power. Sometimes, they had no choice, escaping from slavery or servitude, or were colonists driven from their home by an invading or marauding force. Some fringers were recruited into causes they believed in, or were motivated by revenge against a force that had wronged them.^[1]

Fringers generally had a dream they clung to, or an ideal view of the galaxy that sustained them. Often, they saw their homeworld as insignificant and sought their fame and fortune closer to the action rather than being in the galactic backwaters. Robust and independent, fringers were expert survivalists and capable of getting by without the trappings of civilization. Possessed of an enthusiasm that allowed them to push through and get things done even in the most dire of circumstances, fringers possessed good combat skills and were proficient with blasters and simpler weapons. They also learned how to barter effectively, stretching their resources when buying and selling equipment.^[1]

Fringers were common on the planet Tatooine;^[1] in 32 BBY^[2] local podracer^[3] Anakin Skywalker was considered to be a fringer. Years later, just prior to the Battle of Yavin, both Luke Skywalker and Biggs Darklighter were counted among their number^[1] with both going on to serve as pilots in the Rebel Alliance.^[4]

Behind the scenes

Fringer was one the eight starting classes established in the Core Rulebook for Wizards of the Coast's Star Wars Roleplaying Game. Kelko, a Rodian, served as the character example for the class.^[1] They are also a specialization for Explorer in Star Wars: Edge of the Empire.