Star Wars Saga Edition [SECR] Preview #1 is Up

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=starwars/article/SagaPreview1

It mentioned talent trees (includes a sample Jedi Sentinel talent tree for the Jedi class), starting HP (HD X 3 + Con mod), and provide a sample stat block format of a 1st-level wookiee scout character.

Feel free to comment, but limit it to the article and game, not how WotC run its business, okay?

I wonder if having the high ground will grant me a +10 bonus to my attack roll in this edition

Lots of interesting stuff.

Take, for instance, the 'defences' line in the stat block

Defenses Ref 13 (flat-footed 13), Fort 14, Will 12

- no AC, and the traditional saves are listed as DCs rather than save bonuses. Interesting, No?

I like the idea of triple hp at 1st level - it retains the "WP/VP extra survivability at 1st level" angle which is good for PCs and challengers.

I like the idea of 'talent trees' of class abilities replacing a profusion of classes.

I note that in the statblock there is no strength bonus given to the vibroblade damage, which would be an interesting change if Str didn't add to powered weapons in general.

Skills list is interesting too

Skills Climb +3 (may take 10 even when distracted), Endurance +7, Perception +6, Persuasion –1 (may reroll checks to intimidate), Pilot +5, Stealth +5

Presumably Stealth == hide in shadows + move silently
Perception == spot + listen (+/- search?)
Persuasion == diplomacy + intimidate (+/- bluff?)
Endurance == concentration?
Stealth

My favourite bit was the reference to "future products". Hopefully there will be some!

Plane Sailing said:

Lots of interesting stuff.

Take, for instance, the 'defences' line in the stat block

Defenses Ref 13 (flat-footed 13), Fort 14, Will 12

- no AC, and the traditional saves are listed as DCs rather than save bonuses. Interesting, No?

Click to expand...

I also noticed in the description of the Force Talents that reference is made to Will Defence rather than a Will Save. The implication of this and the fact that they are listed as DCs is that the "offensive" player makes the roll rather than the "defending" one - just like when making an attack.

So, instead of the current situation where a player rolls for his character to hit an opponent's AC and the opponent rolls a Will save to avoid the effects of a Force Haze the player will roll on both occasions, attempting to overcome the Reflex Defense and the Will Defense.

I like the idea of triple hp at 1st level - it retains the "WP/VP extra survivability at 1st level" angle which is good for PCs and challengers.

Click to expand...

I agree. I think I'll port this directly over to my D&D game. It will reduce the difference in survivability between 1st and 3rd level enormously.

I wonder how armour will work. I can't see it adding to the Reflex Defense, so I guess it may add to the Threshold.

I also like the triple HP.

A scout seems to get 6 Skills/Level (Int8 -> the Wookie got 5 learned Skills) and each skill seems to be fixed at 5 Ranks (+/- Attribute) at first level. I'm very interested how the skills will look at higher Levels ... 5 Ranks are usually not possible at first level and they said that there will be less bookkeeping with the skills.

What I didn't like is that there is a Climb Skill. I hoped there will be something like Athletic, that is not so specialized (and useless if you have powers/vehicles/tools that let you levitate or fly). At least the other skills seem to be broader than in the last Edition.

As for the skills, if you look at the bonuses, the Wookiee scout has much less than 6. I think the Scout only actually gets 4 or 5 (or one less for the Wookiee due to his negative Intelligence modifier). Or it could be that negative Int scores don't impact your starting skill lists. After all, the Climb bonus is just his straight Strength bonus, and is included since he has a racial ability pertaining to climing. Same with Persuasion.

Having the saves be a static defense would definitely help streamline combat.

I agree that triple HP at 1st level keeps the increased survivability for low-level heroes that the VP/WP system allowed.

Personal note, I like that a Wookiee doesn't need an exotic weapon proficiency feat to use a bowcaster (a house rule I've had in place for quite some time). As for vibroblade damage, Rodney confessed it was a type over on the WotC boards and that it should include his Strength bonus.

Ups, yeah Climb is Attribute only ... I think it is 4 Skills/Level without the Int-Modifier, because eliminating the Int from the Skillpoints would simplify the Charactergeneration especially when you think about the problems that arrise with Int-Changes (especally if you create a higher Level Character).

amethal said:

My favourite bit was the reference to "future products". Hopefully there will be some!

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Future products?!?!? But Star War was set a long time ago....

Seriously, though, I can't wait for this game. The talent trees idea is a great idea, and, dare I say it, a possible glimse of D&D 4e?

amethal said:

My favourite bit was the reference to "future products". Hopefully there will be some!

Click to expand...

Star Wars Galaxy Tiles 1
Starships of the Galaxy, by Owen K. C. Stephens and Rodney Thompson