I've spent the last few months sort of thumbing through my rulebook I have. I finally made a character a few days ago, but I'm lacking the required number of people to try the game with (I'd like to get my family involved, but it's too soon to know what I'm doing yet). It's also....intimidating how expensive it seems like it'd be collecting all of these resource books.

I'm not really sure what my options are in this position. Furthermore, I've never really played any tabletop RPGs in the past....I definitely have a little bit of trouble working everything out in my head - is there something out there for experienced players to run newbies through so they can learn everything?

It's all just rather overwhelming, and it doesn't help that there isn't anything like an official tutorial on YouTube (that I can find). Does anyone have any suggestions for new people just starting? Any particular parts of the rulebook to pay attention to? I know there is a resource list here on the forum, various wikis across the web, but nothing that really paints enough of a clear picture as to how a whole game would work.

I would suggest you to get Begginers Box, it will have everything you need to see how it goes. + dices for SW. RPG

And it sometimes is more fun to run game as you all are learning.

First of all, welcome to the fold! There are a lot of great people around here, and I'm sure a lot of them will be glad to help you out.

First things first--you don't NEED anything more than the initial sourcebook. Yes, most of us here want to collect them because we want to see what the official stats are for certain characters or vehicles or to get new character classes, but the truth of the matter is that if you're starting out, the opening classes will do just fine. Honestly.

There isn't an official tutorial, but I want to point out that the core rulebook itself does have some awfully good thoughts about how to adjudicate the dice rolls. If you're willing to shell out $30 for the beginner's box, you can get a lot of great information for first-time beginners and players. Plus you get your own dice! This might be your best bet if you're really looking for a way to get involved.

On the other hand, you could also search YouTube for live play sessions. Also, the Order 66 podcast has an episode where several people sit down and play a session.

However, what might be your best bet is to leap in . You'll probably have to be the Gamemaster, since you're the one bringing this to people's notice for the first time. That's fine! Do your best and try to run a good adventure. Keep it simple--maybe the characters have to deliver a package somewhere, and they have to shoot their way out of a cantina to get to their ship, then shoot down a couple of TIE fighters. Really, in an RPG everyone wins when you have fun. Gamemasters usually try to get most of the rules right, but I think very few people get it all right, with the possible exceptions of Jay Little and Sam Stewart.

If you're really hard up for people to game with, you can put a call out on this message board to see if anyone wants to join you on Skype. In fact, if you are hard up to find someone to play with you and walk you through, the game I'd invite you to play a couple of sessions at my virtual table. Send me a private message if you want to.

Welcome MoonlitDNC,

The beginner's box does seem to be a good idea for starting out, but I understand the cost-intimidation factor.

If you get a couple players together, try to simplify things at first. That might mean dropping advantage and threat for the first couple games, not worrying about critical hits, and focusing on the main skills simply succeeding or failing.

The thing I am still getting used to is that this game is unlike Dungeons and Dragons or a video game, it is about story development and cinematic excitement rather than simply becoming an engine of destruction. If it suits the scene better, sometimes it is the martially-weaker character that comes out on top by virtue of cinematic greatness. I love this system because it really does allow for something to both be successful, yet make the situation worse, like all haphazard plans seem to do.

The best way to learn is really to jump right in. Don't worry about getting everything right—the secret about being a game master is you'll never get everything right but no one will care. Just have a good time and that's all that will matter.

+1 on the Beginner Box suggestion. Run it for friends or family and everyone can learn the game step by step together so there's no pressure there.

Then, find a local game store and offer to run it (either the Beginner Box or other modules) there. Most stores love demos of the product they carry since it helps sell more boxes, moves more books, and brings people in. Before you know it, you'll likely develop a core group of regular gamers.

Hi and welcome,

While I agree with Hysteria 100% that the core book is the only book that you would absolutely need. If you have never played a tabletop RPG at all I would really recommended the Beginners Box. It was designed specifically to teach new players how to play an RPG, and specifically EotE.

It has an introduction to roleplaying where it discusses what you do as a player or as a GM. An abbreviated rulebook walking you through the basic rules, four pre-generated player characters, a map and an adventure specifically designed for the included PC's. That adventure is written more like a tutorial and steps the GM and the players through the adventure with clear instructions and advice on the rules and how to interpret die rolls.

In addition to the map the set includes dice and marker tokens.

What the box set does not include is all the rule options and how to make a character. To do that you need the core rule book which you already have.

But all in all, if you have never played an RPG and don't know anyone around who has, the BB is well worth it.

And once you get the hang of playing a tabletop RPG, the possibilities are endless.

I noticed that there are suggestions to have multiple dice & some "traditional" ones not included in the box like d10s - Is there a definitive list of how many dice & other materials should be purchased alongside the Beginner Box?

While it is nice to have, it is by no means required to have multiple sets of dice. For your first game, the set that comes with the Beginner Box is all you need. If you're at your Friendly Local Game Store, they probably have a bin of loose dice and two d10s (a ones digit and a tens digit) can be picked up for less than a dollar.

You'll want pencils and some paper to take notes on and keep track of current wounds and strain. I prefer steno pads but if you just have some loose leaf lined paper, that's perfect. Don't spend money that you don't have to.

Finally, you'll need Mountain Dew and Cheetos. This is a requirement.

Other than that, all you need is imagination and a few friends.

The Beginner Box includes one set of the special dice used in EotE.

The only thing the BB does not include is paper, pencils and a set of standard d10s to make percentile rolls.

Most people will buy a second set of dice later on since you can need a die or two more on some occasions. Especially when PC gain experience and have higher abilities.

But beyond the 2 d10's the beginner box is complete.

If you do not have the Beginners Box you will need dice and have 3 options (from best IMO, to worst)

1. Buy a physical set for $14.95 (at your FLGS or here )

2. Buy the software app ($4.99, Android, iOS or Kindle here)

3. Download the die face symbols (here), print to label paper, cut out and attach to your own poly-die.

I prefer physical dice, but a app is good. #3 is a PitA and not really recommended as a good way to go.

I noticed that there are suggestions to have multiple dice & some "traditional" ones not included in the box like d10s - Is there a definitive list of how many dice & other materials should be purchased alongside the Beginner Box

3 or 4 sets of dice, or the app, a D10, some coins or tokens, something to jot notes on, imagination, and you are all set.

I noticed that there are suggestions to have multiple dice & some "traditional" ones not included in the box like d10s - Is there a definitive list of how many dice & other materials should be purchased alongside the Beginner Box

3 or 4 sets of dice, or the app, a D10, some coins or tokens, something to jot notes on, imagination, and you are all set.

It should be noted that the Beginner Box comes with all the tokens (and maps) that you'll need for the included adventure.

It's a bit of a downer that there actually used to be an RPG & board game store in the area (the nearest shopping area of note is like an hour away) , but I cant imagine they were doing enough business to stay afloat & they wound up closing years ago. I remember they literally had a bin full of dice sitting on the counter & each was like some amount of cents in price. I'd like to go back in time with a ton of money & just buy up a lot of the now-rare items they had for sale back then.

Now, the best I can seem to find is to either buy a pile of d10s in bulk online, or pay insane shipping prices for each individual dice. It's a bit odd that FFG didn't put some Star Wars-themed d10s in with the Beginner Box.

With shipping and everything, a Box by itself is still going to be somewhere around $30.....I keep swinging back & forth on whether I should take the gamble & see if it resonates with my family.

The app has the dice for this game but also standard dice included, so that's the most cost effective avenue. If you have the core book already I don't know if you need to spend the $ on the beginner box myself. The core book has an adventure, there is a free PDF one in the support section on this site as well. I don't know about videos on youtube of this game being played but I would think there has to be some of just RPGs being played. I know there is at least one video I saw discussing the dice and how they work.

I think you really can't go wrong with the Beginner Box. You don't need anything else other than the core rules, but the Beginner Box is going to get everyone pretty excited, especially people who have never played an RPG before. It really is designed for people exactly like yourself, but even old vets at RPGs like me have found it useful. And in the end you get another set of dice, which is pretty handy, along with maps and lots of ideas how to move forward. You can also then download the free extension to the Beginner Box, called "Long Arm of the Hutt" which picks up where BB leaves off. So for your $30 you're actually getting many many hours of game play for lots of people...a heck of a lot cheaper than a movie, if you think of it that way.

If you get it, make sure you explain to your players that this is more designed to explain the rules to them and that to some extent you're going to keep to the story as outlined so that all the facets of the rules can be explored. This will help you as a new GM not have to deal with too much player chaos. Then after your first session you can open things up for them, and you'll find you can more easily adapt to whatever they might want to do.

If you get the Beginner Box and a set of gaming dice, you might be $5 shy of qualifying for free shipping from Amazon.com—that's not too bad.

Also, you don't need-need the d10s. Any way of generating a random number between 1 and 100, inclusive, will do. You could use an online dice roller or even an Excel or Google Docs spreadsheet.

http://www.random.org has a button you can click to get a number between 1 and 100. Easy as pie.

Other dice rollers:

http://www.game2.com/eote/

http://orokos.com/roll/

Now, the best I can seem to find is to either buy a pile of d10s in bulk online, or pay insane shipping prices for each individual dice. It's a bit odd that FFG didn't put some Star Wars-themed d10s in with the Beginner Box.

With shipping and everything, a Box by itself is still going to be somewhere around $30.....I keep swinging back & forth on whether I should take the gamble & see if it resonates with my family.

Miniature Market has the Beginner Game for $19.99. They carry the second printing, which has the latest errata and corrects several typos in the first printing.

A set of standard dice (including two D10s) will run you as little as $3.00 or less, depending on your preference of color.

Shipping will probably bring your total to around $30, depending on where you live. (If in St. Louis, you could just drive for a bit and pick them up in person.)

If you would like a preview of how things are handled (character folios, adventure structure, etc.) in the Beginner Game, there are two additional characters, a follow-up adventure, and an FAQ for the Beginner Game here.

There are multiple introductions and tutorials provided by FFG in their news section, including Character Creation Parts One and Two, an informational "FAQ," (with an official list of what is needed to play) information on the special dice, tips on using Obligation, how the Force works, and tips on how to GM the game successfully.

I can't find it right now, but somewhere in FFG's news archives is a jpeg with line-by-line dialogue of a demo game in session and how it is being run. It's not a "video demonstration," per se, but it did give examples of play.

Edit: I found it here.

Realizing that by this point, saying "Get the beginners box set" is completely redundant, I'll just point you towards my Top 10-ish tips on how to GM. Not all points everyone will agree with, but it's something to think about.

I agree with all that's been said about the Beginner's Box.

My other suggestion, if you can't find an existing group near you, is to see if you can get in on a skype or google hangouts game. I just saw someone on here trying to organize one.

And never listen to http://start.d20radio.com/home/the-order-66-podcast

especially the one about GM holocrons and the list....

I'll open by saying welcome to the hobby, and offering an open invite to PM me is something being said concerns you or you don't know what something means. As with any hobby, profession, or training, it can sometimes be hard to remember what it was like to be a clean slate. If something's being said that doesn't make sense or needs clarity, post it here or PM me.

I wouldn't get too caught up on dice. As mentioned, the beginner box comes with a set of dice. That or the bought set (depending which way you go) is more than enough. Some players buy more to accommodate later play when dice pools become larger (mostly for Force using characters) or because gamers like to have their own dice, but it's not something that is needed. As for d10s, these aren't a deal killer either. You only make the d100 roll (roll 2 d10s and read one die as the tens digit) once at the start of the session, so you can pre-roll this using an online number generator or one of a billion dice rollers or number generators for phones and tablets (I use a true random generator than has both a number generator and a die roller).

As mentioned, the beginner box is a good start and a decent value, but by no means necessary. The expansions are also not necessary, since much of the content is "endgame" stuff you won't be able to use right away anyways, or options that other players can't equally use since only a few career books have been released. I'm personally waiting for all to be out so that players can have equal access to those options if they want.

As for people to play with (and possibly trumping dice concerns and learning), try and find an online game. Both Roll20 and Google Hangout have dice rollers built in (IIRC as does RPOL), so that's a good way to try it out without dealing with the dice yourself. Star Wars is pretty popular so you shouldn't have too much trouble at least finding others who want to play. GMs are sparse, but I've always found that someone will cave and run a one off. Or better yet, everyone can take turns GMing once the game gets going.

If you've never roleplayed before, I'd swing by Roll20 and maybe see if you can get in on a D&D game or something. I only mention this because D&D and Pathfinder gamers are dime a dozen, can help break the ice, and there are often many for new gamers (though any game will do). From there, you can work on getting a Star Wars game going (either as player or GM). Something to keep in mind is that Age of Rebellion (the next game) is being released soon, so there will probably be a number of beginner box games and new campaigns for that starting. The rules are 99% the same (differing only in one or two mechanics and mostly in play style), so you could really easily cut your teeth on one and move onto the other.

Hope that helps.

Edit: I forgot that a d100 is also used for critical hits. But again, not a big deal. If you don't have dice or a die roller available, you could actually preroll a few dozen results, write them down, and just keep them secret. Whenever a roll comes up, just cross the next available number off.

Another option for dice is to check out a teaching supplies store. With d10s aren't Platonic solids, I think the teaching supplies store near my old work sold them as a math tool.