SAGA: Too few force points?

[Stalker0]

I just got my first thorough read of the new book, and I'm impressed. One thing I'm curious about though, there's a fair number of talents that require force points to use. At 5 + 1/2 level, it seems to me you burn through pretty quick. There are a few ways to get them back, but only very specific prcs or talents.

Obviously its just an initial impression, but I have the feeling people will be ripping through force points very quickly overall.

 

[Skywalker]

I just got my first thorough read of the new book, and I'm impressed. One thing I'm curious about though, there's a fair number of talents that require force points to use. At 5 + 1/2 level, it seems to me you burn through pretty quick. There are a few ways to get them back, but only very specific prcs or talents.

Obviously its just an initial impression, but I have the feeling people will be ripping through force points very quickly overall.

Its a valid concern. Despite there being an XP standard, each group will take different lengths of time to level up. You can certainly modify FP so to have a huge impact on the game. I quite like the per session house rule around here.

However, from play, I have found that having FP as a valuable and finite resource is vital to get across the right feel.

 

[Bagpuss]

From playing with Action Points I've found there are few types of players...

1) Those that hoard them and use them only against the big baddie just before they level.
2) Those that hoard them and use them only on rolls to save their bacon.
3) Those that forget about them altogether.

Admittedly Force Points seem to be more vital to Force using characters, but they seem to be the ones that have more ways of getting them back so I imagine they even out. Besides you level so fast they are never gone for long.

Perhaps if you are slowing the level advancement to suit your play style then it might be an idea to add a couple more Force Points each level.

 

[Donovan Morningfire]

From playing with Action Points I've found there are few types of players...

1) Those that hoard them and use them only against the big baddie just before they level.
2) Those that hoard them and use them only on rolls to save their bacon.
3) Those that forget about them altogether.

I've run two sessions of SECR so far, and that seems to be the case with my group, particularly #2, although the Jedi Healer has burned a couple of his to power vital transfer and the Jedi Duelist used one to empower her battle strike against the 1st adventure's big bad.

So far, I don't see a problem with Force Points being a finite resource, as players aren't spending them friviously.

 

[ValhallaGH]

It hasn't been a problem thus far. There are a lot of uses for Force Points but usually you don't need to take advantage of those uses; what you can do just by being alive and heroic is generally enough to get you through all but the most harrowing situations.
My character has used them the most, mostly to boost attack rolls when burst-firing on big, bad, evil Sith types. That -5 to attacks is a pain, especially when you can't Brace and reduce it to only a -2.

Also, most of those talents that require a Force Point are Force related, and even more of them are only available to the Force-using Prestige Classes, and all of those classes get at least 6 + 1/2 level, leaving them with enough to (generally) do what they need to do.
Besides, any Force Sensitive can get an extra 3 force points per level, for those that find themselves using them a lot to power their abilities. It's just one feat and that's a big enough boon to definitely be worthwhile.

 

[Technik4]

Low-level characters get 5-8 and level up quickly.
Mid-level characters get 7-10 and level up moderately fast.
High level characters get 10+ and level up slowly.

I think they are a neat resource, making them more abundant (presumably to help the jedi) weakens the other classes.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

As long as you use the XP progression provided in the book, the Force points seem to be just about right. You should be able to use an average of 1 FP per encounter without being too worried about running out, although obviously different players will spend them at different rates. Characters who want LOTS of FP can take Force Boon.

If you speed up or slow down the level progression, you should probably adjust the FP accordingly.

 

[Mallus]

The way Force Points are handled is my biggest complaint with the new Saga rules. I would have much rather seen an implementation like M&M's Hero Points; Force Points per adventure/session.

I can't understand how resource management over the course of something as arbitrary and abstract as character level is fun.

Oh well, it's easy enough to fix...

 

[Stalker0]

It sounds like so far, most people aren't using force points very often. In that case, do you all see talents that require force points as a waste?

 

[ValhallaGH]

In that case, do you all see talents that require force points as a waste?

Not in our game. It's just that we're only now getting to the point where we can take advantage of all those neat talents; previously, there has been a lot of emphasis on things more central to the core character concept.

Actually, my observations support the idea that those talents are as nice as they look. You won't be using most of your force points for anything else, so that leaves you free to use them on your spiffy talents. Which is good, since it encourages the coolness factor.