This wouldn't be something that I think FFG would consider putting out until well after F&D was in the market, maybe even with a couple of supplements of its own, but I was talking with a friend about how it'd be nice to get a toolkit app for the iPad, similar to the Arkham Horror app, that would allow you to chargen, use the dice app, (provide soundboards even) and compile all the weapons, gear, armor, and vehicles/starships from each of the books in one place (with the accessibility based on in app purchase of those supplements).

I think this would be a handy tool for Players who can't afford to get all the books themselves or just don't want to lug around crates of books to campaigns. It'd reduce clutter at the table and be a nice addition to their digital presence. The problem I imagine is that this may require additional licensing through Disney/Lucas Film, but they seem to provide those on a per app basis (not all from Disney Interactive, I mean).

If an app couldn't be done due to licensing, I wonder if FFG will produces a compendium of the three Core Rules into one set. You could sell it individually, or I would love a nice boxed set of volumes to go on the shelf. I imagine it as something similar to one book that collects all three core rules mechanics minus redundancies, one book that covers all manners of chargen up to that point (races, talents, specializations, etc), one book that covers gear and vehicles and starships, one book that covers the known locations in the galaxy, and lastly an npc codex of sorts. I think that those would be a huge seller for FFG, especially once all the splat books are out for each career and major supplements are covered.

While this would mean re-buying information that I'd already have, I feel like it would be nice to have all the varied information contained throughout my books organized and compiled into one volume.

I know that FFG's strategy as of now is to not print in this fashion but rather a something of everything approach -- which I love! -- but this is for when they have pretty much covered their bases and most of the basic mechanics and splats are readily available across a 30+ book library. I'd like to see things condensed and organized for us into something that could even be designed as a sort of collectible boxed set.

Again, this is just the sort of thing I get up to while waiting for the news of additional supplements and their release...

Yeah licensing heavily restricts the production of digital content. A byproduct of a license agrreement that has been around since the days when a jet shooting a computer targeted missile at a six foot wide target was impossible.

A hard copy compendium is possible though..

I believe that the developers answered this a while back but Lucasfilm Ltd. has always had that restriction on PDFs. However, we do have the dice rolling app and there are fans out there who have made apps similar to what you are describing for other game systems so I will think you will just have to search around after F&D core comes out see if you can find something. Though I will point out the app probably won't be that comprehensive because if I could just spend say 30 bucks for an app where based on your description I would have access to the same materials people have spent ten times that might piss people off more than encourage folks. I will point out there a program for PC called hero lab and while it is cheaper to buy it and the bundles it offers so you can have everything it still probably only at best 30% less than if you bought the books and you still wouldn't have all the rules. Though I still use it for pathfinder and will probably use it for sr5 as well.

Yeah licensing heavily restricts the production of digital content. A byproduct of a license agrreement that has been around since the days when a jet shooting a computer targeted missile at a six foot wide target was impossible.

A hard copy compendium is possible though..

I suspect the compendium would be an "end of the product line" type of thing, when FFG figured that the RPG had largely run its course in terms of new content they could release.

Although, if they could re-negotiate the contract to include digital media, then having such an app would be freaking awesome, as it'd cut down on flipping through the hard copy books to find various rules on top of being easy to search through.

You know, a web-based reference document for the rules, like what Pathfinder and FATE have, would be the cat's elbows.

You know, a web-based reference document for the rules, like what Pathfinder and FATE have, would be the cat's elbows.

well they (read: some die hard fans) do have that Index being developed, but it's still in the early phases for me to really jump on board. I like where their heads are at though.

You know, a web-based reference document for the rules, like what Pathfinder and FATE have, would be the cat's elbows.

well they (read: some die hard fans) do have that Index being developed, but it's still in the early phases for me to really jump on board. I like where their heads are at though.

I don't mean an equipment index—I know about that site and love what they're doing. I mean the actual rules of the game: character creation, combat, space combat, etc. like this or this or this. But, something like what I want probably won't happen for the same reasons why there can't be a PDF of the book.

Yup that's what I'd want in an app

You know, a web-based reference document for the rules, like what Pathfinder and FATE have, would be the cat's elbows.

well they (read: some die hard fans) do have that Index being developed, but it's still in the early phases for me to really jump on board. I like where their heads are at though.

I don't mean an equipment index—I know about that site and love what they're doing. I mean the actual rules of the game: character creation, combat, space combat, etc. like this or this or this. But, something like what I want probably won't happen for the same reasons why there can't be a PDF of the book.

Well, an online website that's not an app could be allowed under the terms of FFG's license, since it's not for sale and could be placed under "support material for the RPG" as opposed to "electronic media."

Problem is the time and resources needed to keep it up-to-date as new material comes out.

You know, a web-based reference document for the rules, like what Pathfinder and FATE have, would be the cat's elbows.

well they (read: some die hard fans) do have that Index being developed, but it's still in the early phases for me to really jump on board. I like where their heads are at though.

I don't mean an equipment index—I know about that site and love what they're doing. I mean the actual rules of the game: character creation, combat, space combat, etc. like this or this or this. But, something like what I want probably won't happen for the same reasons why there can't be a PDF of the book.

That's also because Paizo started using the Open Gaming License back under D&D3 and kept going with it when they produced Pathfinder from the defunct D&D3.5. Yes, those sites are nice, but it also means that you don't need to buy the books to play the game. Great for a company that makes money off tons of supplements from a large fan-base vs smaller publishing companies that need actual $$$ coming in to keep producing new material.