Just got my Starships of the Galaxy!

[Klaus]

So, Moridin, let's say I have a 3-PC party in the Legacy era. I'm thinking of hooking them up with an old ARC-170 fighter (perfect for a PC party: crew of 3, one week of consumables, can get in a fight well). One is an aspiring Imperial Knight (let's call it Imperial Squire). One comes from a lineage of stormtroopers, and defects when the Sith take over the Empire. I need a third PC. What would YOU make?

Oh, and Dawn of Defiance looks really neat. I'll be adapting it to the Legacy era.

 

[Tarek]

I'm not Moridin, but I'd make a Duros pilot...

Anyway, depending on where the characters find the AR-170, I'd probably give it the Archaic template. Museums and collectors tend to restore things with their original parts, mothballed ships need maintenance before they go active and probably again have nothing but original parts that have deteriorated a little, etc.

If this ship was in active use by someone who spent money and time keeping it up with current equipment, then I wouldn't bother with the Archaic template; it's going to have trouble enough with the Legacy Comics Era generation of starfighters.

 

[Kaffis]

While there are new starship talents, the key piece of info you want from SotG is the maneuvering thrusters, which let Colossal freighters act like Gargantuan starfighters.

Ah, so it's the Falcon and Slave I that're exceptional, not the pilots (who are simply good pilots). That makes sense, and is quite satisfying as a solution. Thanks!

 

[Dragonblade]

I just have to say that Starships of the Galaxy is awesome! When does the Force Unleashed guide come out? And KotOR comes out in August of 08?

Also, another couple of questions for you Moridin.

1) Will Force Unleashed amp up Jedi to let them pull off the crazy over the top power seen in the trailers for the game? Like bringing a down a star destroyer, or blowing back like 20 some guys using force TK?

2) Will the KotOR sourcebook provide rules custom lightsabers and crystals? How about customizing mundane weapons? One of my favorite aspects of KotOR (especially KotOR 2)was being able to customize not only the color of my saber, but to also customize the emitter, and the other crystals to achieve different effects. It would be cool to be able to do something like this.

By the way, its probably out of print now, but the Prima Games strategy guide for KotOR 2 actually made a phenomenal sourcebook for running KotOR games using the SW revised core ruleset. Should work well with Saga too. I like it especially for the massive catalog of gear, guns, implants, accessories, and crystals it had.

Any plans for a similar massive catalog of cool gear and stuff for SW Saga? Perhaps in the KotOR book? Or even as a standalone book? Customizing my gear and lightsabers just really appeals to my inner gearhead.

 

[Kaffis]

Came into my FLGS today, and upon first blush, I'm digging it. The first chapter will prove helpful in ways I hadn't even realized I wanted to flesh out yet, but instantly recognized as cool and interesting additions to help the starship travel and piloting aspects be more fun and interesting (astrogation data age and its effects on hyperspace plotting! hyperspace mishaps!), as well as providing reality checked, consistent guidelines for a few things I've already run into and had to wing, DC-wise.

My only disappointments so far? No HWK-290 stats, or Firespray deck plan.

 

[Henry]

I bought mine. Been a long time since I've bought an RPG book that I REALLY wanted. Ironically, I bought it one day before the last game of my ongoing Star Wars Saga Campaign.

I love this book! Rodney, you guys put together an awesome book. Even if it weren't the only other book available to date, I'd consider this an indispensable book for the game. I will never run a SWSE game from this point onward without it handy.

 

[RodneyThompson]

So, Moridin, let's say I have a 3-PC party in the Legacy era. I'm thinking of hooking them up with an old ARC-170 fighter (perfect for a PC party: crew of 3, one week of consumables, can get in a fight well). One is an aspiring Imperial Knight (let's call it Imperial Squire). One comes from a lineage of stormtroopers, and defects when the Sith take over the Empire. I need a third PC. What would YOU make?

Depends largely on the schtick of my campaign. Me? I might consider something like a Galactic Alliance veteran who joins forces with the other two to help the Empire-in-exile. But that's just me.

Oh, and Dawn of Defiance looks really neat. I'll be adapting it to the Legacy era.

Thanks! I love the Legacy era. I actually think it's the perfect era for Star Wars roleplaying, because you have the best villains (Empire, Sith) and still have Jedi.

Ah, so it's the Falcon and Slave I that're exceptional, not the pilots (who are simply good pilots). That makes sense, and is quite satisfying as a solution. Thanks!

It's more a combination of the two. The Falcon is an exceptional craft that is designed to go toe-to-toe with TIE Fighters, but Han behind the stick can make a world of difference.

1) Will Force Unleashed amp up Jedi to let them pull off the crazy over the top power seen in the trailers for the game? Like bringing a down a star destroyer, or blowing back like 20 some guys using force TK?

Yes, but it's something that will probably only happen once or twice in an entire campaign. We don't want it to be something happening all the time, and we want it to be an exceptional mechanic. And, of course, it's completely optional.

2) Will the KotOR sourcebook provide rules custom lightsabers and crystals? How about customizing mundane weapons? One of my favorite aspects of KotOR (especially KotOR 2)was being able to customize not only the color of my saber, but to also customize the emitter, and the other crystals to achieve different effects. It would be cool to be able to do something like this.

Reply hazy; ask again later. (Not that I don't know, it's just too far out to start releasing any details)

Any plans for a similar massive catalog of cool gear and stuff for SW Saga? Perhaps in the KotOR book? Or even as a standalone book? Customizing my gear and lightsabers just really appeals to my inner gearhead.

Rest assured that the KOTOR book will have some new gear. That being said, Star Wars really isn't about the loot, it's about the heroes and the adventure. I don't like the idea that a gear book puts forth, namely that for your heroes to be more effective you need this blaster, that suit of armor, and this special add-on. For the campaign guides, I'm taking great pains to balance every weapon and suit of armor against the core book's gear list, and probably leaning toward making the core book's weapons/armor still superior. There is a reason why 99.99% of the galaxy runs around with "generic blaster pistols" and not the "Rodian Sure-Shot 200XP Long-Range Heavy Blaster Pistol." Since cost is not a balancing factor in Star Wars (credits are nearly meaningless) that means each item has to be mechanically balanced against the core book's items.

Now, to do that in a whole book would be a herculean task. I'm not saying it won't happen, but we don't have anything to announce on that front right now.

My only disappointments so far? No HWK-290 stats, or Firespray deck plan.

The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide will help you with one of those two.

I love this book! Rodney, you guys put together an awesome book. Even if it weren't the only other book available to date, I'd consider this an indispensable book for the game. I will never run a SWSE game from this point onward without it handy.

Wow, thanks! Glad you like it.

 

[Klaus]

Depends largely on the schtick of my campaign. Me? I might consider something like a Galactic Alliance veteran who joins forces with the other two to help the Empire-in-exile. But that's just me.

That just might actually be perfect. Probably make her a pilot/spy type like Cade's mother.

Thanks! I love the Legacy era. I actually think it's the perfect era for Star Wars roleplaying, because you have the best villains (Empire, Sith) and still have Jedi.

I agree 100%. It's much less of a two-sided affair, like the earlier Eras (Rebellion vs. Empire), and lets you have dozens of Sith Lords.

If you have any unofficial notes on how to adapt Dawn of Defiance to the Legacy era, I'd love to hear them.

 

[Dragonblade]

Legacy is pretty cool. You can throw everything in there. Even the Vong! Any plans for a Legacy sourcebook?

I still have a soft spot for KotOR though. You also have multiple factions, especially if you set your game during or shortly after the Mandalorian wars. You have the "pacifist" Jedi who refused to get involved, but are quick to pass judgement and oppose the Jedi who did. You have the Jedi who joined the fight against the Mandalorians because they believed it wrong to stand by and do nothing (who I consider the truly "good" Jedi, but thats a philosophical debate for another day).

You have the fallen Jedi who turned to the dark side during the war and now are wandering the galaxy or perhaps setting themselves up as warlord on some backward planet somewhere. You have actual Sith and an entire Sith force of Sith ships, troops (KotOR version of Storm Troopers), and even other Sith lords once Revan and Malak start showing up with their fleet and troops. You have the Mandalorian clans, you have the Republic, you have all the different criminal groups and stuff as well. Definitely an exciting era to play in!

 

[Kaffis]

I'm finding it odd that there's no distinctions in construction resources between turrets and pilot operated weapons. Anybody else?