There are two types of characters, Persistent and non-persistent.
Persistent
Persistent characters have large reputation bonuses and are able to influence events or do special things like spying or sabotage. They also help recruit and gather supplies and raise credits. Non-persistent characters are auto-generated out of recruitment and have randomized abilities. They can be placed in command roles to improve fighting forces reaction time and morale. Each character has an ‘expandable ability’ amount. This is how much they can be trained before they are maxed out. Alternatively, they will have a ‘potential’ amount which will be how fast their skills will grow. Characters can be promoted (full rank hierarchies, Army/Navy will be included) to use part of their expandable ability to improve their stats. Characters can be placed on planets, ships or in armies and provide stat bonuses to each. These most closely resemble the classic Rebellion characters.
Non-persistent
Non-persistent characters are squad leaders, task force commanders, and characters of that nature. They are dynamically generated when a command hierarchy is missing persistent characters, and by default it will be almost as if they are not there (since they will be composed of unexperienced units). Non-persistent characters may disappear at any time they are replaced with a persistent character. Non-persistent characters' stats will rise proportionally to their units'.
Notes
In addition, non-persistent characters might be able to be transformed into persistent characters.
