Star Wars Saga Edition [SECR] Preview #6 is Up

[gribble]

I like that idea a lot, so hopefully that's the way it will work out.

That is indeed the way it works (at least, as far as we can tell from the previews thus far). Combined with different class skill lists, different talent tress, and different first level bonus feats, I don't think there will be a "no-brainer" class for first level. See the preview of the Scout class for an idea of what each class will look like.

 

[RigaMortus2]

he's still more likely to go with blasters IMO (+5/+5 5d8 v/s +7 1d4+3 and grapple).

Assuming grappling works basically the same, it would actually be +9 for the initial attack roll which would be against a touch AC. After that, if he hits (generally not hard to miss on a touch attack), with a +17 grapple, the PC is going to have a problem escaping.

Droideka Series Destroyer Droid
Ranged 2 heavy repeating blaster cannons +10 (3d8) or
Ranged 2 heavy repeating blaster cannons +8 (4d8) with Rapid Shot or
Ranged 2 heavy repeating blaster cannons +5 (5d8) with Burst Fire
Fighting Space 2x2; Reach 1 square
Base Atk +9; Grp +17

So a +9 on the initial attack roll for grapple (which is usually against touch AC) vs. a +10 with blasters. I think grapple is the winner in this instance.

Now obviously the droideka isn't going to want to get into melee if they can help it, but if you have melee characters (I don't know, such as Jedi maybe?), as they are slicing through the competition they are most likely going to want to get into melee with the droideka to take it out quicker. And a GM would be stupid not to grapple them to keep them out of combat and prevent them from doing more damage. Often times, it is the PCs who are outnumbered during combat, so taking 1 out of combat (by grappling him with a huge grapple check) is really going to hurt.

Of course, we don't know what changes to grapples were done. Perhaps a Jedi can use their lightsabre and cut out easily, who knows? Perhaps ranged attacks don't provoke AoO (thus a droideka in melee could fire with impunity if they desired). I still feel that it is very strange that the droikeka has a huge grapple check (+17) when they are supposed to be better at blasting.

 

[hobgoblin]

my guess, the grapple score is a artifact of the rules...

but then i have found the grapple rules in d20 a bit weird from day one...

also, does not the grapple lock down the droid as well? as in, someone else could find it easier to remove the droid because it loose some of its AC while in a grapple...

 

[gribble]

I think grapple is the winner in this instance.

Personally, I look at it as a defensive measure. Really, the only time I'd see a droideka's grapple check coming into play is when a PC grapples it (which is - or at least would be if their modifer wasn't so good - a viable tactic against these things). Then again it *should* be hard to grapple a strong, large sized droid.

As an offensive tactic, it's mud. Sure, it has a higher bonus to hit: +9 BAB +3 Str -1 Size = +11 to hit with a touch attack; then it's +17 grapple check bonus means it'll most likely win the grapple, but where does that really get it? It's taken one PC out of the fight, but then can only deal 1d4+3 damage pretty reliably to that PC each round, while the other PCs can blast it (without it's dex modifier to reflex save, as it's grappling) with impunity.

As opposed to taking a 5ft (one square in the new parlance) step back from the meleeing character (assuming it can't attck with it's blasters in melee) and unloading with autofire twice? That'll deal somewhere between 3d8 & 6d8 (depending on whether it "hits" with both attacks or not) not only to the meleeing character but also to all other PCs within 2 squares...

I think I know which option wins - at least if I'm running the droideka.

 

[M.L. Martin]

I can see your concern. Since defenses are Level + Ability + one time class bonus, I imagine that this initial defense bonus is based on your initial class.

Actually, the design team addressed this on the WotC boards and confirmed that you get the class bonus to defenses for all of your classes--but the bonuses don't stack. Thus, if you multiclass from a class with a +2 Ref and +1 Fort to a class with a +1 Ref and +2 Will, your class bonuses are +2 Ref, +1 Fort, +2 Will.

 

[hobgoblin]

Actually, the design team addressed this on the WotC boards and confirmed that you get the class bonus to defenses for all of your classes--but the bonuses don't stack. Thus, if you multiclass from a class with a +2 Ref and +1 Fort to a class with a +1 Ref and +2 Will, your class bonuses are +2 Ref, +1 Fort, +2 Will.

hmm, picking up classes to get better saves across the board...

 

[Skywalker]

hmm, picking up classes to get better saves across the board...

As saves are based on level and the one time class bonuses don't stack, multiclassing will only achieve a very small bonus to saves. I don't think this will provide a great incentive to multiclass (unlike in SW RCR).

 

[Skywalker]

There's two threads going on the WotC boards. One claims droideka are too weak, and the other claims they're too tough. My not-the-least-bit scientific analysis leads me to thereforem conclude they're just about right.

The WotC boards are kind of special that way.

 

[gribble]

The WotC boards are kind of special that way.

True. Although, to be fair what's actually being argued is:

The stats given are too weak for a high level jedi and his padawan (Qui Gon and Obi Wan in the Phantom Menace) to run away from.

The stats given are too strong for the stated CL (which people are assuming is equivalent to CR in D&D).

So, in this case, it is possible for both arguments to hold.

 

[Stalker0]

I have to agree that I can't see high level jedi masters ever being scared of the presented droidika.

However, I think the main difference I saw in the movies vs any gaming system is the droidika's shields never seem to go down vs normal blasterfire. I don't think a jedi could penetrate the shields, meaning there's no point in fighting it.