Wither Star Wars d20?

[Kanegrundar]

I'd love to see a KotOR book, plus a D20 book covering the New Republic Era. A revised starships book wouldn't be a bad idea, as would a followup to UAA. Maybe the new movie and the TV series (if it comes about) will spur WotC to put out some new material.

Kane

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

There's a big problem with doing a KotOR book...its already been covered, TWICE. Dark Side Sourcebook and Power of the Jedi cover that era in as much detail as can be done without simply reprinting everything. Sure, there are some things from the KotOR games that could be added, but its not nearly enough to warrant a whole new book. At least, not something I'd pay $30 for...now, the KotOR fan sourcebook that was done was very good.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

Im not sure I buy the notion that adventures sell systems... I have RPG'ed for 24 years and never ever in all honesty bought a system because of an adventure.

I think it's more that you need to have an idea what the adventures are supposed to be like, and that's kind of hard to get from the main book.

I bought Shadowrun for example because of the write up on the back of the book, word of mouth and reviews...

I bought Shadowrun because of the Vindicator minigun. I figured a game that had a minigun in it was just really freaking cool.

Brad

 

[Ranger REG]

Yeah, MOST people don't buy adventures, yes, we know that but for every 2 people who don't buy adventures there is one that does.

So, 1 out of 3 Core Rulebook owners will buy adventures. Try selling that to WotC's accountants.

Adventures SELL systems.

I have no objection to that statement, especially if we're talking about newbies, which we desperately need to expand our d20 Star Wars fanbase. But I personally would take any adventure, even if it is offered free on Wizards' web site. I believe they are doing so, though it is for miniatures. I think they should re-iterate in boldface type that mini adventures can work with RPG ruleset.

 

[Desdichado]

But SW and Sci-fi games are inherently more difficult to run on a seat of the pants basis. It's not that it can't be done - just that it's harder.

Maybe I'm missing something really obvious, but that seems to be a completely unsupportable statement and one that I'd disagree with fundamentally. It's not any harder to run Star Wars, sci-fi, modern or fantasy. In fact, in some cases, Modern's gotta be the easiest to run of all.

 

[Desdichado]

I hate to put you on the spot, but that statement smacks of opinion. I'd like to know if you have hard facts to back up your affirmation. I'm not saying you're wrong, but I don't see how you can make such a specific statement without some raw data. :\

The only numbers I could find were Ken Hite's restatement of the C&GR numbers at the end of 2003, which had Star Wars as the number 2 game with about 10% of the market behind D&D with it's 43%.

 

[Narfellus]

When i started my SW d20 buying binge i found a nearly inexaustable supply of books on Amazon from other developers, not necessarily gaming books. There were dozens of compilations from the expanded universe that categorized every alien, vehicle, weapon and planet that appeared in any medium other than the films.(and also included the films, of course) I bought tactical books of (extremely cool) cutaway views of lightsabers and robots, intending to use these as props in game. These supplementary non-WotC books literally doubled my collection and were jam packed cover to cover with plot hooks and visual aids. I went online and found that there are dozens of sites where you can download brief sound clips from the films. Want a barrage of blaster fire? You got it? Want a warbling droid? You got it. Want Chewie screaming his head off at a tie squadron zooming overhead? Done.

I suppose my point is that even if SW d20 does get shelved, there's more than enough material to keep using for a lifetime of gaming.

 

[teitan]

Poly WOULD have been a nice place to put some SWd20 material, but (lack of)licensing between paizo and the Lucas establishment might have prevented it. Im not sure either way if the lilcense that Hasbro is using (or completely ignoring, as the case may be) extends to paizo publishing.

Paizo publishes Star Wars Insider...

Jason

 

[teitan]

There's a big problem with doing a KotOR book...its already been covered, TWICE. Dark Side Sourcebook and Power of the Jedi cover that era in as much detail as can be done without simply reprinting everything. Sure, there are some things from the KotOR games that could be added, but its not nearly enough to warrant a whole new book. At least, not something I'd pay $30 for...now, the KotOR fan sourcebook that was done was very good.

Ummm, what about vehicles, equipment and period PrC's etc? Most SW PrC fits ANY era of Star Wars but the vehicles etc have barely been touched and many of the important elements of the time period haven't been looked at... What about the powers of the period? There is some crazy ass stuff in the TOTJ era that hasn't been covered AT ALL> I am talking 10th level spell type crap.

I suggest if you want to run a game in the KOTOR period that you get Tales of the Jedi COmpanion from WEG. A LOT of it has been converted over on SWRPGnet or you COULD just buy the WEG game as well, it goes for a pretty cheap price over on Ebay and the Tales book is about 20 with S&H.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Ummm, what about vehicles, equipment and period PrC's etc?

Contrary to many complaints about some D&D books, you can't just fill a book with stats. You need OTHER information, at least some fluff to pad the pages. And that's all been covered. We've GOT PrCs, vehicles, and equipment from that time period. Look in the Dark Side Sourcebook and the Power of the Jedi book. They HAVE all that. No, it isn't from the video game, but that's a TINY amount to add and not worthy of a book in its own.

Most SW PrC fits ANY era of Star Wars but the vehicles etc have barely been touched and many of the important elements of the time period haven't been looked at... What about the powers of the period? There is some crazy ass stuff in the TOTJ era that hasn't been covered AT ALL> I am talking 10th level spell type crap.

But beyond the TotJ comics and the later KotOR games, we know little to NOTHING detail wise about the era. The major Force Powers have been covered in the two Force books already. Beyond that, there isn't much to be seen. Vehicles were seen very rarely in the comics, and they were pretty much covered in Power of the Jedi.

They've been 'barely touched on' because there's not much to touch on in the first place. What there IS to be covered has been covered, except for the two KotOR games, which still isn't enough information to warrant their own books.

I suggest if you want to run a game in the KOTOR period that you get Tales of the Jedi COmpanion from WEG. A LOT of it has been converted over on SWRPGnet or you COULD just buy the WEG game as well, it goes for a pretty cheap price over on Ebay and the Tales book is about 20 with S&H.

I've got all the TotJ comics, and nearly every single d6 book put out by WEG. I KNOW the Era, and that's why I feel qualified to say the things I'm saying. d20 has covered it. Sure, its not much, but there's NOT MUCH TO COVER.

Probably the biggest problem I've seen with the SWd20 group of fans is that we don't know what kinds of books we want. Sure, there's a at least one nearly everyone can agree on(Ultimate Starships or something similar), but beyond that its all a toss up. Everyone wants something different, and that doesn't help WotC at all.