FFG's SWRPG - If you could only choose one, which one would you choose?

[GreyLord]

So, with some extra time away from Gaming until just recently (where I started gaming online) I wasn't gaming but had that gaming time to do things, so I started reading through all my FFG Star Wars books for their RPG.

There is a great and a terrible thing about their books. The Great thing is that they are mostly compatible with each other. You can have characters from any of the three systems (Edge of Empire, Age of Rebellion, Force and Destiny) or ships or other items and run them all together. The terrible thing is that they are all in three different books and so in doing it that way you have to flip back and forth between three giant books along with many others.

I found I REALLY don't like the idea of flipping between three volumes plus other supplements. So, I figured if I run it in the future, I'm going to choose JUST ONE of the three and have that as the entire system I'm running. I'll allow a +1 (like D&D does) with the non system specific books (such as the new Speeders and Starships, or the Allies and Adversaries book or even the setting book Dawn of Rebellion).

With that in mind, looking at the books and having to choose I though of which I'd prefer to run. I don't really want to run a game full of Jedi and force users. That means I don't want to run Force and Destiny. I like the backgrounds and motivations for characters better in Edge of Empire. I like the taste of the force characters can buy into better in Age of Rebellion. I also like the Starships better. I like the raw edge of Edge of Empire though. I also like the races FAR better in Edge of Empire than I do in Age of Rebellion.

I can get all the Starships and vehicles I want from Speeders and Starships so that's an area where Age of Rebellion now loses out, and I think the characters and feel of Edge of Empire will be something I like better overall even if I like the taste of the Force better from Age of Rebellion. So, I think I'd probably choose Edge of Empire with Speeders and Starships to run. I can make my own enemies.

So, my choice right now is probably Edge of Empire, but if you had to choose, which would it be?

 

[Staffan]

For me, probably Age of Rebellion, because it's the "classic" Star Wars feel of Rebels vs Empire. But if you prefer Star Wars á la Firefly, Edge of the Empire is also a perfectly cromulent choice.

Force & Destiny would be a distant third for me, because the mystical side appeals to me more as a spice for the other aspects of the setting rather than as a main dish.

 

[innerdude]

Funny, I was kind of in the same boat. I own EotE, and really like it. I've read through AoR, but I didn't really see anything that stood out to me as being "vital."

I did end up buying Force and Destiny last week, just because my FLGS happened to have it in stock and no one's really sure when reprints will be available. I bought it for much the same reason @Staffan above picked it up. It'll be a "nice to have" if/when someone says, "i really, really, want to play a Jedi/force user." Until then, Edge of the Empire with a minor supplement or two should be more than sufficient for at least 12-18 months of gaming.

 

[atanakar]

I would choose Edge over the others. But after trying it (FFG narrative system) I still prefer WEG d6.

 

[hutchback]

I chose Edge both in the poll and my campaign because it is by far, IMO, the most versatile of all the settings. Combined with the supplements the OP mentioned there really isn’t any era or adventure you couldn’t create. I added Dawn of the Rebellion just to narrow my timeline a bit and open the possibility of the PCs getting involved with the Rebellion if they’d like. Plus the Force Adherent specialization presents an option for players to have a character that is connected to the force without the entanglements of being a actual force user.

As far as playable races, I see no reason to not allow players to pull from any of the material. Referencing the races is really only necessary during character creation.

 

[aramis erak]

So, with some extra time away from Gaming until just recently (where I started gaming online) I wasn't gaming but had that gaming time to do things, so I started reading through all my FFG Star Wars books for their RPG.

There is a great and a terrible thing about their books. The Great thing is that they are mostly compatible with each other.

Drop the "mostly" - they are compatible. the only thing is that the the meta ability is different in each. Obligation in Edge, Duty in Age, and Morality in F&D. And you can use them together, even. There is little to no problem mix-n-matching.

 

[ccs]

Wich one covers New Hope/Empire/Jedi the best?
That's the one I'd choose.

 

[Fenris-77]

I'd definitely go with Edge as the core system if I were picking from the FF list. I like the versatility, as mentioned above, and also the overall feel, plus I think it's easier to plan adventures on the RIM where the locations can be a little more manageable than, say, Coruscant or Corellia. You could start with EoE and then introduce a little AoR or FaD should the campaign trend that way, but that doesn't really work in reverse.

From a mechanical standpoint I don't love FF, and might prefer WEG, but I like the newer source material that underlies the FF products. The WEG stuff can feel a little dated sometimes, as much as I love it. Mt actual favorite system to play Star Wars in right now is actually Scum and Villainy, but that doesn't work for every style of game.

 

[aramis erak]

The differences between the FFG games aren't the rules (aside from my prior mention of the meta abilities, and a few errata which are applied in F&D and AOR), but what ships, vehicles, NPC Templates, and career/specialties. Of the vehicles, about 1/5 are duplicated in other cores, and 1/3 in the other line's splatbooks.
If you want the specialist stormtrooper templates, for example, you need AOR. For the jedi-hunters and Imperial Inquisitors, you need F&D. But they all have the basic stormtrooper and the ST sergeant.
The 3 force abilities each in Edge and Age are all in F&D, along with more...

 

[aramis erak]

Wich one covers New Hope/Empire/Jedi the best?
That's the one I'd choose.

Edge for ANH,
Age for ESB and RotJ...
But RotJ also needs a few force powers only in F&D.