Star Wars RPG Rulebook

[billd91]

I think the Star Wars RPG Rulebook does a fine job covering the rules and capturing the spirit of the setting. If that's what you're looking for, that's great. It will fit the job.
The biggest problem from my point of view is the relative lack of GM materials. There aren't that many races, creatures, information about the Empire, and all the stuff that would make running the game easier. Now, for an experienced GM, this is less of a problem, especially if they are pretty heavily steeped in the pulp literature.
The rules for the Star Wars RPG seem pretty decent. I haven't played them as extensively as other game rules but very little stands out as troublesome. I'm not certain they'll catch on as well as the other version (by West End, I think?) but it's pretty early to say. Overall, they are a relatively streamed down version of 3E D&D (and that's not a bad thing).

 

[Messageboard Golem]

Many other reviewers of this product seem to be confused about the concept of ‘high’ vs. ‘low’ fantasy. The Star Wars Roleplaying Game is WoTC’s descendent of the d6 high fantasy space opera version from West End Games. And this version has more on its plate to deal with: maintain compatibility with d20 System and take in the new material given out in the many years since the publishing of the d6 edition.

In general the mechanics are simpler then DnD 3rd Ed., making for speedier play. Naturally, one of the more important areas this work deals with is the Force. Fortunately, they did not wait for the Psionics Handbook to come out before dealing with the force (as some reviewers would have liked). I have nothing against the Psionics Handbook, but it is too detailed for high fantasy. Instead the designers modeled the d20 Force after the d6 version.

In the d6 mechanics, ‘Force Skills’ allow for the use of certain Powers. Along the same lines in d20 ‘Force Based Feats’ lead to certain ‘Force Based Skills’. There’s very much a one to one correspondence betweens these d6 Powers and the new d20 Skills (e.g. the d6‘Affect Mind Power’ is equivalent to the ‘Affect Mind Skill’ in d20 – AKA the “Jedi Mind Trick”).

In summary this product delivers and rocks! Don’t expect detailed space ship combat rules – I’d direct you to Star Fleet Battles if that’s what you’re after.

I do have a few complaints:
· The game system needs a ‘Force Jump Skill’ (in other words a more powerful version of Jump).
· The game system needs a ‘Jedi Master’ prestige class.
· The descriptions for ‘Senator Palpatine’ and ‘Darth Sidious, Sith Master’ neglect to mention that they are one in the same person (AKA the ‘Evil Emperor’). I assume this has to do with licensing issues since it’s in Episode II or III that this comes out. [Update: Looks like they've corrected this oversite in the Dark Side Source Book.]