Star Wars Saga Edition [SECR] Preview #8 is Up

[Owen K.C. Stephens]

Well, I found a copy at my neighborhood Borders, in the Star Wars section instead of the RPG section. Last I saw, there was another copy still there...

Huh. I have no idea if I think of that as a good thing (Look! Exposure to SW fans who don't normally look at RPGS!) or a bad thing (Where is the SW RPG?! They must not carry it...)

I suspect people from group two are fairly likely to look at other SW books too, so maybe it's only a good thing.

And having stayed up half the night, I can honestly say that it was well worth picking it up at full price.

I stayed up numerous nigths writing my sections of it, so I suppose that's only fair.

Thanks once again, Owen and Rodney, for this fine addition to my Star Wars collection.

I'm just really glad you like it.

Owen K.C. Stephens
d20 Triggerman

The next volume is NOW AVAILABLE!
Loot 4 Less III: Belts, Boots, Cloaks, & Gloves

 

[theredrobedwizard]

Will any of the SECR writer-types be at GenCon this year? I'd like to get my copy autographed, if at all possible.

For some reason, it seems to me that anything that Owen touches turns to gaming awesome. Please, write more books. Lots of them.

-TRRW

 

[Owen K.C. Stephens]

Will any of the SECR writer-types be at GenCon this year? I'd like to get my copy autographed, if at all possible.

I know for certain I'll be at Gen Con. I strongly suspect Rodney will be at Gen Con. I also suspect some other people you're going to want to talk to about SW RPG material by then (Gary Astleford) will also be present.

I, at least, always lurk around a lot of the SWRPG seminars.

For some reason, it seems to me that anything that Owen touches turns to gaming awesome. Please, write more books. Lots of them.

Wow. I think that's the nicest thing anyone's ever said about me online. Thanks!

I am, I assure you, always looking to write more gaming material.

 

[RodneyThompson]

Will any of the SECR writer-types be at GenCon this year? I'd like to get my copy autographed, if at all possible.

As it stands right now, yes, I'll be at GenCon.

 

[arscott]

Second, there's a limited amount of resources for any given idea at Wizards. When they started the SW Minis line, and it started selling like hotcakes, Wizards had to make a decision. They could have continued producing RPG books with sliding sales and just done minis with the manpower they had left. Instead they grabbed the tiger by the tail and comitted to the thing doing great as best they could. Good business decision.

My understanding is that it wasn't just a manpower thing. WotC's contract with Lucasfilm specified a maximum number of products they could release. And since the minis game was part of the same contract as the RPG, they had to choose between minis and the RPG. Which, given the "selling like hotcakes" thing, was a pretty easy choice for them to make.

Since the contract came up for renewal in 2007, they renegotiated so they can do both at the same time.

 

[Henry]

Wow. I think that's the nicest thing anyone's ever said about me online. Thanks!

I am, I assure you, always looking to write more gaming material.

Let me flatter you one last time by saying that the Black Company/True Sorcery Magic System you and Rob came up with is still my favorite magic system I've yet seen.

Hopefully, I'll get a chance to shake hands with both you and Rodney at some point at the 'con.

 

[Henry]

My understanding is that it wasn't just a manpower thing. WotC's contract with Lucasfilm specified a maximum number of products they could release. And since the minis game was part of the same contract as the RPG, they had to choose between minis and the RPG. Which, given the "selling like hotcakes" thing, was a pretty easy choice for them to make.

Since the contract came up for renewal in 2007, they renegotiated so they can do both at the same time.

I've heard conflicting stories about that before - I think Bill Slavicsek (or was it Chris Perkins?) said that there wasn't such a provision in their previous contract on the WotC forums last year sometime, but I don't think anyone's come out explicitly and said one way or that other, I know it was speculation for a while though...

 

[Nebulous]

Owen, is there a section of the new book that stands out to you as your "favorite." Whether it is a ruleset you like, or a layout, or just a style that you feel that the game nailed really, really well?

 

[Owen K.C. Stephens]

Owen, is there a section of the new book that stands out to you as your "favorite." Whether it is a ruleset you like, or a layout, or just a style that you feel that the game nailed really, really well?

Wow that's an interesting question. Noting that I don't have my physical copy yet (though it's coming!) I can't really comment on the layout or art yet, since I haven't seen it in it's real, in-my-hands format.

I really, really like how talents, Force powers and class/PrCs came together when it comes to Force users. That's more than one system, but the fact they flow so well together is a big chunk of what I like. Making certain kinds of characters works so much better now, and these systems are why. You can do the Force-sensitive kid with no formal training, the Jedi dropout who got stuck in the ***-corps, the practioner of a weird Force tradition who later becomes a Sith Lord, and all wihtout having to plan things out 9 levels in advance. It really opens things up.

It also helps balance Force users and non-force users. A Jedi may want to buy more and more Force-related talents, but in doing so he passes up things the Soldier can grab up with ease. Of course even if the Jedi super-specialized in the Force, he'll end up with useful levels of other options, which is good too.

So far, I haven't run into a character I'd allow in a Star Wars game that these rules don't handle really well. And, it's very easy to add things if a GM wants, by tacking on new talents for example.

 

[Nebulous]

Thanks for the quick reply. I'm also eagerly waiting my copy in the mail (should be here in a few days) From everything i've read this sounds like a knockout book, i can't wait to read it.