I don't mean recycled talent trees and the like - that stuff is inevitable - I mean how much supplements for one will use mechanics from the other. For example. . . .

(JoY spoilers follow)

Yes the games are suppose to be stand alone, but logically, I don't see any reason why there couldn't be overlap like that.

I don't think it's all that hard to overlap myself. I can see a Padawan/Jedi on the run naturally needing the Smuggler's services while simultaneously wanting to help the Rebels with kicking some Imperials in the ding ding. I can see Rebels needing Smugglers and all sort of ne'er do wells for logistics and covert drops.

Honestly if you are looking to start a Rebellion the underworld is essentially a ready made insurgency for profit in every society and already has any number of methods and options for circumnavigating the authorities already in place. Of course the Smuggler/underworld types are always available for a price. Really easy to find all three book's characters at common purpose I think.

Interesting point, Desslok. You see it in a lot of games, where a given NPC released early on would be better served by having rules from a splatbook released later.

But... FFG are releasing the SW game, not as one game with various lines, but three separate games. So logically, they can't ever assume that a given player will have any of the other books.

Using your example, I think they might get around it by having a sidebar. For instance, building a Jedi in EoE would only use the EoE Force rules, but they might have a sidebar saying 'if you have F&D, you can also use these particular powers from that book'.

yeah that is probably how they would do it.

Might make a good article at a later point where they go into how they'd handle that once Force & Destiny is released?

Would make an interesting example for that book to show just how different each version could be if run only using one set of books of the trilogy.

The thing is that the rules for each of the books is the same. They all work together as the devs have repeatedly emphasized was the goal. We just haven't been exposed to the full set of rules. I'm sure that discussions we're had that ensured JoY fell in line with the rules for F&D even though they are still in beta. Should something change in the meantime with F&D they would likely only update that in the errata notes.

I don't really look as the three cores as three separate games. It seems more like they are three versions of the same game with additional rules for the bits that occur more for one than another -- the basic rules in EotE, capital ship and squad combat in AoR, and (presumably) lightsaber combat and expanded force powers in F&D. You don't need all the books to play, but having them all will definitely be fun for all.

Rules-wise, we're probably going to see a lot of overlap between F&D and the other two books.

At the very least, I suspect we'll see the five Force Powers (Enhance, Foresee, Influence, Move, and Sense) get reprinted in F&D, with the possibility of others. Naturally we're bound to see a fair number of talents get reprinted, especially if F&D was written to also cover non-Force using characters as some have suggested might be a possibility. AoR didn't have that many new talents when the Beta came out, and the core rulebook's only added a small number of newer ones (which where covered in the weekly updates anyway).

For species, Humans are a given, and we might see others from prior books show up in F&D as well; just because this is the book that pulls the curtain back on higher-end Force users doesn't mean that each species has to be one that's had a Jedi representative in the films or EU. I know that folks have been hankering for Togruta, Zabraks, Caamasi, Cereans, Kel Dor, and Miraluka, but there's not guarentee that even half of those species will show up in F&D, and FFG could very well recycle species like the Twi'leks (EotE core) or Sullustans (AoR core) or even droids (if F&D does permit for non-F/S PCs).

A lot of the equipment chapter's is bound to be recognizable to folks with either of the other two core rulebooks, though we're likely to at least get a few new options seeing as how the Force user crowd have a preference for close-quarters weapons, with things such as short lightsabers (at least regular shoto if not the guard shoto) and dual-bladed lightsabers being likely candidates.

As happened before, I suspect there will be a lot of complaining and gnashing of teeth from a portion of the customer base about having to buy multiple core rulebooks with a bulk of repeated material in order to get a "complete" game, just as there was when the product line was announced and FFG made their "three rulebooks" approach known.

Using your example, I think they might get around it by having a sidebar. For instance, building a Jedi in EoE would only use the EoE Force rules, but they might have a sidebar saying 'if you have F&D, you can also use these particular powers from that book'.

I'm certain that this is what they'll do. Not only would it satisfy everyone, it'll also advertise the other lines.

I'm certain that this is what they'll do. Not only would it satisfy everyone, it'll also advertise the other lines.

I've always wondered - what is the ratio between the "Buy all the things!" crowd and the "Game purity" folks. Okay, admittedly I have a sample of one to work from (me) but the "Buy all the things!" crowd is running at 100%.

I'm certain that this is what they'll do. Not only would it satisfy everyone, it'll also advertise the other lines.

I've always wondered - what is the ratio between the "Buy all the things!" crowd and the "Game purity" folks. Okay, admittedly I have a sample of one to work from (me) but the "Buy all the things!" crowd is running at 100%.

I'm a fence rider, I don't have, and won't have everything, but I honestly don't get the 'game purity' logic.

Well, I found a freebie poll service online and set up a poll. I wont crosspost a thread here, but I will mention it here (to catch any stragglers who don't visit the EotE forums) and I'll go post something on Reddit to get a wider crowd.

Which FFG product lines are you buying?

I'm with the penguin...

Why do I feel like a thug from Gotham after saying that?

At least you didn't call me a Joker. (:

I went with the pick and choose option I'll probably get most of the AOR and EOE stuff but I'm not really sure how much F&D I'll get beyond the core rulebook.

I'll buy everything - I'm an adult with plenty of disposable income for my hobbies. But I do kinda understand why some people might only buy into one line.

If you wanted to just focus on the Fringe, or the galactic civil war, say. Or just wanted to play an all-Jedi game. If you wanted to replicate the feel of the GCW from the movies, you may not want lots of lightsaber-wielding PCs running around.

Also, thus far, there hasn't been too much replication. The Explorer book has a race and specialisation from AOR, but we still get two new races and specs. But say the next splatbook has two races and specs we've already seen? That may not then be a 'must-buy' for all players.

Good poll anyway, Desslok.

With Maelora. Buying all the things, because I can. Judging by the poll, 60% of people heading the same way.

I might skip the odd product (I didn't want DC initially, though I eventually caved), but not enough to put me in the 'pick & choose' category.

So, 'buy all the things' for me. It's simply too much fun anticipating these books, and then oohing and ahhing over them once you get 'em home.

You can also consider on the NPC you just mentioned Desslok that in that "act" or mission, only uses that set of skills/talents/powers. So, no need to overlap/update it but, I believe that it's possible.

If you want merely observation I see that with the adventures they are going to keep said adventures along the theme of the line they are released in. Other than that they have a wide open path to choose how they want the adventure to go and what things are in it. Also another thought is there are a few things introduced in the adventures in the CRBs and those adventure lines that could be reintroduced in another line as a continuation of the path of that item. Let me just give a quick example:

In the CSS they are developing a new starship a Hutt wants to get earlier than anyone else so he sets a group from EotE to go get it.

Same vehicle comes up for sale to the Empire but the AoR players are tasked to destroy the plans and prototype (not knowing another is already being built by a Hutt because of the EotE successful run) or steal the prototype for the Rebellion.

A group of F&D folks foresee that this starship could mean an upsetting of balance in the universe and go forth to steal it to keep it out of the hands of anyone. Or one recognizes the design of the ship as it flies off from a Hutt stronghold and remembers that the ship is similar to the one his master designed for the Jedi Order when he was fighting in the Clone Wars. The group now pursues the origins of this starship to see if on a slim chance the original or even the master are still around to see if there is anything or anyone who could help them complete their training in the understanding of the Force.

So um, after writing that example am now wondering do I need to actually write up this multi-line adventure?

You can also consider on the NPC you just mentioned Desslok that in that "act" or mission, only uses that set of skills/talents/powers. So, no need to overlap/update it but, I believe that it's possible.

Oh, so kind of like Lando - who is woeful underpowered from what we see in the movies (wait - no piloting?) but is accompanied by a sidebar that says "He has abilities not relevant to the game that we didn't include"?