What Does the RPG Hobby Need Now?

[kronovan]

Too bad folks don’t seem to like FFG SW

For me the FFG take on SW was hampered by too many moving parts. 3 different CRB's when 1 with optional companions for the Edge of the Empire, Age or Rebellion and Force & Destiny themes would have worked just fine. Proprietary dice which just a few years after initial release were hard to source. I know that at least in my area, unless you bought one of the 3 starter boxes, you were out of luck for acquiring any more. And some players just didn't gel with those proprietary dice. Personally, I found them easy enough to grok and use, but I didn't care for the way they at times through player agency at the GM. And then the multitude of companions and splat books for the 3 different lines - you needed a lot of shelf space for just the books from 1 line. And...all those card decks and other accessories...

To me FFG-SW was reflective of the Ameritrash (games with many plastic, fiddly parts) label that FFG had. While I don't treat that as a derogatory term and enjoy all those fiddly bits in FFG boardgames like Arkham Horror, Runebound, Warrior Knights and Descent, that approach seems out of place for a roleplaying game. The Genesys core rule are decent as far as a ruleset goes, but other than the world of Terrinoth, FFG (then Asmodee Editions-Edge Entertainment) hardly supported the system. That it took almost a decade to get a reprint of some core books, was nothing short of ridiculous. And then there's the no-PDF issue. I mean, unless you're the 800 lb WOTC gorrila driving the TTRPG juggernaut, that limitation just seems destined to failure.

So I agree the hobby needs an official Star Wars RPG that TTRPG fans like and is well supported.

 

[CleverNickName]

It being May 4th, I am reminded that the hobby really needs a great official Star Wars RPG that is supported and an easy onramp into the hobby. I still think that an Official 5E Star Wars RPG would break every crowd funding record ever (even if I don't necessarily think 5E is the best fit for a Star Wars RPG).

Of all the pop culture properties, I think Star Wars has the broadest appeal and most versatility when it comes to RPGs.

Well it's not "official" but there is already the Star Wars 5E adaptation, and it's free.
www.sw5e.com

 

[Staffan]

Too bad folks don’t seem to like FFG SW

I, for one, like it, and I've said multiple times that the Age of Rebellion beginner set + web enhancement are among the best RPG experiences I've had. For me, the web enhancement provides a mini-campaign direction and just enough detail on each part to provide a skeleton around which the GM can do their own stuff, without being hampered by too much detail.

But it's not like the system is perfect. The dice are cool and all, but are pretty expensive* and often hard to get a hold of – moreso now that the system has been shifted to Edge Studios rather than FFG. And while they can often create cool situations, it can be exhausting to do stuff with the advantages/threats all the time.

I am more forgiving of the three different branches than @kronovan. I think they bring more focus to each game, and the selection of careers, opponents, tech, and other stuff in each one really shape those campaigns. Or at least I can buy it when it comes to Rebels vs Edge. Perhaps the Force stuff could have been in a neutral book that could be used with either one of the other two – particularly with the default being that the game is set between A New Hope and Empire, having a whole group of force users with specialization into multiple distinct areas seems weird. It would probably have worked better in a High Republic setting.

* Technically, they're not really more expensive per die than regular Chessex dice, but regular polyhedrals are used in hundreds of different games while these are only used in this one, so it feels more expensive. Plus, the dice sets are really too small – ideally they should come with five each of the ability, proficiency, difficulty, and challenge dice, two or three each of the boon/bane dice, and one force die, in order to enable you to do any roll with one set.

 

[MGibster]

Too bad folks don’t seem to like FFG SW

I can't say FFG didn't make a successful Star Wars line. Not counting adventures, they've produced something like thirty Star Wars books over the years and that's nothing to sneeze at. Someone likes it. While I dislike the proprietary dice, it's not all that bad. My biggest grip is that it feels as though making a competent character is fairly difficult without hyper specializing. It's also overly reliant on equipment and modifying said equipment which isn't something I really associate with Star Wars.

 

[Reynard]

Too bad folks don’t seem to like FFG SW

Personally, I think it is too complex and crunchy for Star Wars. Stars Wars begs for a quick resolution system. That's why I advocate SWADE: it has the perfect pace and tone for Star Wars right out of the box.

 

[Reynard]

Well it's not "official" but there is already the Star Wars 5E adaptation, and it's free.
www.sw5e.com

Yeah but if it were official, people would actually buy and play it.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I can't say FFG didn't make a successful Star Wars line. Not counting adventures, they've produced something like thirty Star Wars books over the years and that's nothing to sneeze at. Someone likes it. While I dislike the proprietary dice, it's not all that bad. My biggest grip is that it feels as though making a competent character is fairly difficult without hyper specializing. It's also overly reliant on equipment and modifying said equipment which isn't something I really associate with Star Wars.

My biggest gripe is that someone apparently lied about continuing to support the game post-FFG.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Yeah but if it were official, people would actually buy and play it.

Not sure what you're getting at. Being able to acquire and play it without buying it seems like a check in the "pro" column so far as playability is concerned.

 

[Laurefindel]

Not sure what you're getting at. Being able to acquire and play it without buying it seems like a check in the "pro" column so far as playability is concerned.

But if it’s free it’s still just a fan-made product. If its published and purchased it’s like a seal of approval; its professional instead of amateur, which in the subconscious of enough people makes it that a paid official product has more worth than a free version of the exact same thing.

 

[Theory of Games]

But if it’s free it’s still just a fan-made product. If its published and purchased it’s like a seal of approval; its professional instead of amateur, which in the subconscious of enough people makes it that a paid official product has more worth than a free version of the exact same thing.

Just because something has been "officially published" doesn't mean it's automatically an excellent product.