Who Should Make The Next Star Wars TTRPG, And What Should It Look Like?

[Aldarc]

I can't help how you feel or infer my meaning. If you don't like the term "intrusion" take it up with Monte Cook games. If you don't like the term "jive" take it up with Airplane.

And yet you take issue with my use of "disingenuous" as being extreme and poisons discussion?

 

[Micah Sweet]

This is where the "which source material" question really matters. In the OT, Vader WAS more powerful than everyone else, and Luke, by the end, went toe to toe with him. You can't be true to that source material without embracing jedi as special and more powerful.

And if that's what the setting suggests, you should allow for it IMO. Vader was a high level character too. So was Luke at the end. And there are plenty of examples of Star Wars characters working around Jedi without being completely overshadowed.

And also, the prevalence of Jedi in the setting depends greatly on the place in the timeline.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I agree with the bold part, and therefore the challenge of making it work. In some ways its similar to the problem of High Elves in Middle Earth games.

I do think there could be some paths for making PC Jedi work:
- High cost/risk to using force powers, which lessen as experience increases. (One such risk could be similar to "Eye Awareness" in The One Ring.)
- Roleplaying constraints: sort of like old-school Paladins, Jedi players have restrictions that mean you can't just go around mind controlling and telekinetically strangling NPCs at will. Or that you can, but you'll regret it.

Exactly! Lean into the setting.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I think 3 books could pretty much cover the SW Universe, assuming you were given tools to easily model things not in the books. Games don't actually need the supplement treadmill.

But if they don't have it, to some extent, people stop buying and eventually the game goes out of print. You're also missing out on new ideas and expansions to existing areas of the game.

 

[Reynard]

But if they don't have it, to some extent, people stop buying and eventually the game goes out of print. You're also missing out on new ideas and expansions to existing areas of the game.

All I know is that the games on my shelf that have one or just a few books tend to get more use than ones (like D&D) where I have a whole library.

 

[Micah Sweet]

All I know is that the games on my shelf that have one or just a few books tend to get more use than ones (like D&D) where I have a whole library.

And for you, that's great. But you would have the same number of books on your shelf if you just didn't buy the ones you don't use, and it would have no effect on people who do want those other books.

 

[Reynard]

And for you, that's great. But you would have the same number of books on your shelf if you just didn't buy the ones you don't use, and it would have no effect on people who do want those other books.

Sure. All I said is that Star Wars would be okay with a few books and robust support for GM creations.

 

[Cergorach]

I don't think WotC/Hasbro would be interested in the SW IP for pnp RPGs at this point, it seems they are concentrating on their own IP or trying to develop their own new IP. Which I find a shame, because an official 5e compatible version of SW would be interesting!

I extremely dislike Modiphius. They are very good at exploiting licensed IPs though...

Free League I didn't even consider, they are very good with popular licensed IPs, even have long support for them (Aliens is now in it's 2nd edition). Funny thing is, for LotR they produce two versions, one for 5e and one for their own system. If they did something similar for SW, that would be cool! But have you seen the release tempo of FL? It's slow and limited, the old FFG selection is wider then any FL game...

But at this point I think we're not going to see a new pnp RPG publisher for SW. Edge/FFG/Atomic/Asmodee still have a big SW license agreement. And looking at how they just revised the whole Legion miniatures game with all new HIPS plastics kits, they've strongly invested in the SW IP, HIPS plastic kits are expensive to make, this indicates long term investment. When the Games Workshop license was going to lapse, and they didn't intend to renew the license, you saw a decreased output across the board.

Message from October 2021:

Edge Studio is proud to announce that it will be producing roleplaying games set in the famous galaxy far, far away. Edge, as a part of the Asmodee Group, is now an official licensee of Star Wars™ Roleplaying.

“We are really excited with the opportunity of working on one of the most beloved IP in the world,” Gilles Garnier, the head of Edge Studio, said. “We want to follow in the footsteps of FFG’s fantastic work over the years, while bringing our own vision of what a Star Wars™ RPG should be.”

Edge will be exploring some of the many eras of Star Wars, revisiting old classics while venturing into the exciting new frontiers of this setting. The studio looks forward to building on the legacy begun with Fantasy Flight games, who launched the wildly successful Star Wars roleplaying game Edge of the Empire. Sam Gregor-Stewart, the former lead developer on Edge of the Empire and now the RPG Manager for Edge Studios, said that he is looking forward to revisiting the Star Wars™ galaxy.

“Star Wars has always been one of my favorite settings, ever since I was a kid,” Sam said. “I loved my time working on the game lines Edge of the Empire, Age of Rebellion, and Force and Destiny. Now, with Edge, I’m really thrilled to have a chance to try something new! I hope we can create something fresh for our fans, while at the same time creating something that is going to awaken the same passion for Star Wars™ in a new generation that I felt growing up.”

With the licensing deal reached, Edge is also working to ensure reprints of existing Star Wars™ Roleplaying products will be available to fans around the world. For more information on reprints and for other news on upcoming Star Wars™ products, be sure to follow Edge Studio on social media and on their website, as the website is expanded and enhanced in the coming months.

And the announced re-releases of the old books in November 2025: Star Wars RPG Returns With Reprints of a Dozen Classic Books

 

[Micah Sweet]

Sure. All I said is that Star Wars would be okay with a few books and robust support for GM creations.

The game would work fine, yes. But that's not IMO a good reason to not make more material.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I don't think WotC/Hasbro would be interested in the SW IP for pnp RPGs at this point, it seems they are concentrating on their own IP or trying to develop their own new IP. Which I find a shame, because an official 5e compatible version of SW would be interesting!

I extremely dislike Modiphius. They are very good at exploiting licensed IPs though...

Free League I didn't even consider, they are very good with popular licensed IPs, even have long support for them (Aliens is now in it's 2nd edition). Funny thing is, for LotR they produce two versions, one for 5e and one for their own system. If they did something similar for SW, that would be cool! But have you seen the release tempo of FL? It's slow and limited, the old FFG selection is wider then any FL game...

But at this point I think we're not going to see a new pnp RPG publisher for SW. Edge/FFG/Atomic/Asmodee still have a big SW license agreement. And looking at how they just revised the whole Legion miniatures game with all new HIPS plastics kits, they've strongly invested in the SW IP, HIPS plastic kits are expensive to make, this indicates long term investment. When the Games Workshop license was going to lapse, and they didn't intend to renew the license, you saw a decreased output across the board.

Message from October 2021:

And the announced re-releases of the old books in November 2025: Star Wars RPG Returns With Reprints of a Dozen Classic Books

And the reprints are chugging along, but no new books, or any indication they're planning such. I spoke to Edge employees at Gen Con last year, and they didn't even hint at anything beyond reprints. And how many years has it been?