"Borrowing" from Shadowrun

I've recently learned of the Priority system that Shadowrun uses in its lastest incarnation or two. Character generation ("chargen") is divided into several categories and the player assigns each category a priority. You can see it here. The categories there are: Race (and Special Points), Attributes (Strength, Dexterity, etc.), Magic/Resonance, Skill Points, and Resources. You pick one for your highest priority, another category for second, etc.

The way it is set up, if you want to be a full-on Wizard, you must assign Magic as your top priority. You want to be a Shadowrun Troll with all the trolly advantages, you must choose Race as your top priority. (So you can't have a Full Troll who is also Full Wizard, which shapes the world a bit, but this is also just the starting place in an hopefully balanced way between players).

This appeals to me. With some fiddling, it should work well with other settings.
Feudal (or Active Military) rank could replace Resources, or supplement it. More generically Organizational Power. Psionics or Powers can replace Magic, etc.

Just throwing up a quick hypothetical:

Priority	Attributes	Skill Points	Rank	Organization/Affilation	Resources	Powers
A	58	34	Head	Interstellar Mega Org. (Fleets)	Gigabucks	Kwisatz Haderach!
B	53	28	Senior Level	Interstellar Medium Org. (Battalion)	Megabucks	Veteran of a 1000 Psychic Wars
C	48	22	Junior Level	Interstellar Small/System Large Org. (Squad)	Kilobucks	You have one trick
D	43	16	Veteran NCO	System Medium Org. (Sidekick)	A few bucks	You can sort of sense something, maybe
E	38	12	None	None / System Small Org.	No bucks	You got bupkis
F	32	6	Stripped	Outcast from something	Major debts	You got worse than bupkis.

Keep in mind, this would be a starting point for players - things change. The goal is interesting choices and all players start with the same options.

The parentheticals in Organization/Affiliation is an idea that a character might control other characters to some degree. Han Solo has Chewie (or vice versa), but Admiral Thawn commands Fleets. Commander Apollo commands a Squad (which is effectively a "gang" in combat).

Also worth noting, I use the term "command" specifically. It isn't pure "control". A command gets interpreted and sentient entities have the ability to override or ignore them. Or fail a morale or discipline check. Or be influenced by others.