Star Wars Saga Edition [SECR] Preview #3 is Up

[Donovan Morningfire]

Will there be AoO in Saga?

Good question.

That detail right there might absolve the issues of moving into and fighting in melee.

Granted, Jedi (and Wookiees) are probably going to be the only ones routinely engaging in melee combat while everyone else blazes away with ranged weapons. The Jedi typically have a defense against this (Deflect in RCR + Lightsaber Defense feats), but once they got into melee, especially with another melee-focused combatant, they tended to stand still and just wail away, as moving more than 2 meters provoked an attack of opportunity on top of preventing higher-level heroes from taking advantage of iterative attacks.

I figure whichever preview details combat will shed some light on this subject. But with what we've got so far, there's no way to know.

 

[Donovan Morningfire]

If I still want to include iterative attack, what problem might pop up in this game?

Well, the higher level opponents would be able to dish out damage akin to high-level Jedis with lightsabers, given the damage bonus all characters get based on level. That would be the biggest concern right there.

 

[McBard]

Will there be AoO in Saga?

AoOs exist in the Star Wars Minis game, so my guess is that they'll remain in Saga. There have been other instances where the Saga designers have stated that some of the Saga rules will now be put in line with how the rule is handled in the Minis game (e.g. one said that the rules for determining cover will now be determined like it is in the minis game).

Notice how the change to a hit point system for Saga (rather than Wound/Vitality) now puts it in line with the Minis game, too. And iteratives, for that matter--they don't exist in SW Minis, so now not in Saga.

So, as far as a D&D approach to actions (standard/move) or a Spycraft one (half action/half action), my guess is that it will be the former--just as it is in the Minis game.

Lastly, with no listing of a threat range in the 4 stat blocks we've been given in the previews, I'm now wondering if criticals have been simplified. Perhaps there no longer is a "confirmation roll", and the damage is automatically doubled on a natural 20 (once again, like in the Minis game). 'Course, we don't know yet.