PC Survival in Star Wars

[pawsplay]

Just some observations from my third Saga game. Our first level characters got into a shootout with four stormtroopers. I went down, two others got winged. Yet we won handily. It appears to me that 1st level characters have too many hit points, not enough defense.

 

[jdrakeh]

It appears to me that 1st level characters have too many hit points, not enough defense.

Well, characters in the films are ostensibly fragile but in truth are very, very, hard to kill. Inuring them is not so difficult. High hit points and low defense mirrors this reality rather well.

 

[wedgeski]

Indeed. I'm finding the same thing, and everyone seems happy with the way it reflects the movies.

 

[Ranger REG]

Just some observations from my third Saga game. Our first level characters got into a shootout with four stormtroopers. I went down, two others got winged. Yet we won handily. It appears to me that 1st level characters have too many hit points, not enough defense.

You could divide the total hit points for 1st-level character by 3, but then with the little hp, you won't get much use of the Condition Track.

 

[rgard]

Just some observations from my third Saga game. Our first level characters got into a shootout with four stormtroopers. I went down, two others got winged. Yet we won handily. It appears to me that 1st level characters have too many hit points, not enough defense.

It'll get more lethal. Crits by or against the PCs will get more frequent as the campaign level gets higher. Your wound points don't go up like hit points do.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Donovan Morningfire]

Just some observations from my third Saga game. Our first level characters got into a shootout with four stormtroopers. I went down, two others got winged. Yet we won handily. It appears to me that 1st level characters have too many hit points, not enough defense.

I'm assuming your refering to Saga Edition, particularly with the hit points mention.

Saga Edition was designed with the intent that 1st level heroes wouldn't get ganked by a random mook with a lucky shot. In fact, I've come to find that you'd have to be pretty determined as a player to get killed in Saga Edition, especially if employing the Destiny Point mechanics. Most people don't like losing characters, even at 1st level, hence getting triple HP at 1st level, which works because in Star Wars, the PCs are supposed to be a significant cut above the common populace.

 

[nerfherder]

It'll get more lethal. Crits by or against the PCs will get more frequent as the campaign level gets higher. Your wound points don't go up like hit points do.

Psst! He's playing Saga edition.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Just some observations from my third Saga game. Our first level characters got into a shootout with four stormtroopers. I went down, two others got winged. Yet we won handily. It appears to me that 1st level characters have too many hit points, not enough defense.

I think this is a feature, not a bug

i.e. it is by design, to make even first level heroes survivable characters.

 

[pawsplay]

I don't think it is a feature. In that fight, PCs were tagged by blaster fire five times. That's a lot of blood for a Star Wars battle. My character was supposed to get a quick scoundrel, and got nailed, three times. It does not seem to reflect the movies; those guys are tough, but first of all, most of them aren't first level, and second of all, every time someone in the movies gets hits, it's either a winging shot or it's a big deal. Saga rules turn characters into tanks, sort of a d20 version of the "blasterproof Wookiee" of d6 Star Wars.

If the PCs are so heroic, why are stormtroopers hitting them with every other shot?

 

[Skywalker]

I don't think it is a feature. In that fight, PCs were tagged by blaster fire five times. That's a lot of blood for a Star Wars battle. My character was supposed to get a quick scoundrel, and got nailed, three times. It does not seem to reflect the movies; those guys are tough, but first of all, most of them aren't first level, and second of all, every time someone in the movies gets hits, it's either a winging shot or it's a big deal. Saga rules turn characters into tanks, sort of a d20 version of the "blasterproof Wookiee" of d6 Star Wars.

If the PCs are so heroic, why are stormtroopers hitting them with every other shot?

Though Stormtroopers do go down with one shot, groups of 4 or so will still threaten 1st level PCs. On saying that the low level fights we have had have emulated the movies very well.

As a quick Scoundrel, were you shooting around corners (+5 Ref Def for cover) and ducking an weaving (+5 Ref Def for fighting defensively assuming you are trained in Acrobatics)? The result should be that stormtroopers should only hit you 1 out of every 10 or so shots. If you are caught standing in the open, it is best to do what Han does on the Death Star and run

Though a 1st level PC in SW has 3 times more HP than a D&D equivalent, weapns do 2x or 3x more damage. Add in the condition track and you find that SW PCs aren't like D20 tanks at all. Also, as you gain level your Def scores increase much more rapidly too.