Who Should Make The Next Star Wars TTRPG, And What Should It Look Like?

payn said:

Im sure they thought twice about it too. Free League is the biggest one and im sure they have an entire division to working out the deals. Deals that are likely better than SW as far as IPs with legs go.

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Does Bladerunner have legs?

Reynard said:

Does Bladerunner have legs?

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I would hope so; how else would it run?

Reynard said:

Does Bladerunner have legs?

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I'll go out on a limb and speculate that the Bladerunner license cost a fraction of what the Star Wars one would. Making a limited product line more viable.

Reynard said:

Does Bladerunner have legs?

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Ones that give you a much better IP license deal than SW surely. There are other considerations too like making a bespoke system with a few expansions as Bladerunner has. Im not sure SW fans would be ok with that, or the license contract could pay for itself with such little development.

Ninja'd by @Reef

payn said:

Ones that give you a much better IP license deal than SW surely. There are other considerations too like making a bespoke system with a few expansions as Bladerunner has. Im not sure SW fans would be ok with that, or the license contract could pay for itself with such little development.

Ninja'd by @Reef

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Isn't that exactly what is happening with the current SW license? Or is the TTRPG license wrapped up with the rest of "tabletop" and therefore theyare letting it languish because they are more interested in selling collectible cards and x-wings?

Do we actually know anything about the Star Wars TTRPG license? Or even that it changed under Disney ownership compared to Lucasfilm?

Reynard said:

... but personally I would be behind a Modiphius 2d20 version of the game. i think Momentum and Threat could add a lot to the way the game playes, and generally i like the 2d20 system (I know the system has some detractors). In addition, Modiphius is known for solid licensed works and I would trust them with the franchise.

What about you?

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DItto. I think this game would fit 2d20 really well. Also, the books Modiphius has made for other franchises are gorgeous!

MGibster said:

Combat in Modiphius' 2d20 system can get really wonky. It works fine for Star Trek which isn't a combat oriented game, but it gets rather tedious in Fallout and I think it'd get tedious in Star Wars as well. ...

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I would be curious to learn more about your experience. I'm currently playing in a Star Trek Adventures game, and I own a couple of older games in the system. Perhaps I should start a new post...

Reynard said:

That feels extreme.

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It's not. 2d20 provokes strong reactions in my experience. At least equally often negative ones to positive ones, too. It's like saying "We should put marmite on all these sandwiches!". Moreso than most game systems.

It's not a good fit for a system which would be looking at an audience as broad as SW would potentially have.

People are proposing a lot of clunky and very gamer-ish systems here I think, which are all bad ideas for an SW RPG. 5E ironically, whilst clunky, could kind of get away with it, because it's D&D, but some of these others, naming no name, that's just like grog dreams man. And I say that as a grog!

Reynard said:

Does Bladerunner have legs?

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As a setting? No. As an RPG? No. It's a collector's item. The same is true for most RPGs licenced for "non-current" IPs, especially 1980s ultra-nostalgia stuff which is laser-targeted at 50ish (or older) men with a lot of disposable income.

Personally I'd say any SW system needs to be two things:

1) Accessible.

2) Dynamic and fun.

Most of the systems proposed don't really meet those criteria. WEG met the first in earlier editions at least, as did WotC's SW. Both also arguably (only arguably met the latter).

There are a lot of system that could do the job. I would rule out a lot of systems I like because they're too esoteric or w/e.

I think the best thing for it would be a new system, designed specifically for Star Wars. One that's actually aimed at being accessible and natural, and that takes lessons from modern RPG design. Failing that, 5E wouldn't be a disaster as a starting point.

Reynard said:

Isn't that exactly what is happening with the current SW license? Or is the TTRPG license wrapped up with the rest of "tabletop" and therefore theyare letting it languish because they are more interested in selling collectible cards and x-wings?

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The x-wing mini game and BGs and CCGs made loads more money than the RPG. Im not sure there is an interest in licensing out the RPG, and then the Bgs, and then the CCGs., etc.. All those being under one license is likely more attractive. So, thats another hurdle for RPG companies to get the license.

Reynard said:

Do we actually know anything about the Star Wars TTRPG license? Or even that it changed under Disney ownership compared to Lucasfilm?

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Not much as far as I can tell. Disney and/or Asmodee might seem fine sitting tight at the moment. I think all the factors above demonstrate why folks are not fighting for the license. Big IPs need big investment.

Ruin Explorer said:

2d20 provokes strong reactions in my experience.

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It's such nonsense. I have never seen a "2d20 hater" be able to actually articulate what they hate about it, unless they are just dead set against metacurrency.

payn said:

The x-wing mini game and BGs and CCGs made loads more money than the RPG. Im not sure there is an interest in licensing out the RPG, and then the Bgs, and then the CCGs., etc.. All those being under one license is likely more attractive. So, thats another hurdle for RPG companies to get the license.

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That is what I was asking: are they under a single license with Asmodee?

payn said:

Not much as far as I can tell. Disney and/or Asmodee might seem fine sitting tight at the moment. I think all the factors above demonstrate why folks are not fighting for the license. Big IPs need big investment.

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DO we know if there have been any negotiations behind the scenes? Would we know? I would be VERY surprised if neither Free League nor Modiphius wanted the license.