While I am not sure, since I don't even know what the ship is, it does look like there is at least roon for one pilot and two gunners. There is a dorsal ball turret behind the cockpit and going by the colour of the cockpit glass (transparisteel),it looks like a gunner at the very front, at the lower tip of the nose.

I assume this ship is less fighter and more traditional bomber like an Avro Lancaster

Its possible. A new heavy bomber for the Alliance (At least to me it looks like an Alliance style design) rather then a fighter bomber might be interesting.

Anyone know what the fighter on the cover is?

Looks a bit like an arc-170, but no s-foils.

Also, it looks much larger, with a gunner in the nose. A long range bomber.

I look forward to seeing the other ships.

Maybe it's an arc 170 with the S foils closed?

Honestly, this is the first book that I feel meh about. Probably because our group doesn't do space combat that much and none of my characters have anything to gain from this book. I'm not interested in any of those species. The beast tamer spec seems odd for the Ace book, seems like it should've been an Explorer spec. That being said, if I'm still playing this game when it comes out I'll pick it up. Although my group is eyeing up the new D&D once all of those core books come out.

Anyone know what the fighter on the cover is?

Looks a bit like an arc-170, but no s-foils.

Also, it looks much larger, with a gunner in the nose. A long range bomber.

I look forward to seeing the other ships.

Maybe it's an arc 170 with the S foils closed?

If it is it has been extensively modded. Those two mini S-foils forward of the mains would have to be added, and I'm not certain but it looks like the main S-foils can't split

Will it be possible to go Smuggler Pilot / Hotshot in the Ace book since the Pilots of both classes are the same? Or will they be anal and you have to be Ace Pilot / Hotshot??

You should be able to do it, it's exact same specs you can't do. Although you could end up with a lot of overlap talents that don't rank necessarily.

Will it be possible to go Smuggler Pilot / Hotshot in the Ace book since the Pilots of both classes are the same? Or will they be anal and you have to be Ace Pilot / Hotshot??

Sure, but it'll cost you 10xp extra as per the normal rules since Hotshot isn't a Smuggler spec.

Honestly, this is the first book that I feel meh about. Probably because our group doesn't do space combat that much and none of my characters have anything to gain from this book. I'm not interested in any of those species. The beast tamer spec seems odd for the Ace book, seems like it should've been an Explorer spec. That being said, if I'm still playing this game when it comes out I'll pick it up. Although my group is eyeing up the new D&D once all of those core books come out.

I feel like Beast Rider makes sense as a piloting spec. There are plenty of examples of the military on both sides riding beasts, and Piloting (Planetary) is just as much Piloting as Piloting (Space), in this system.

I'm running a couple of D&D 5e games and I'm having fun, although in combat I do find myself longing for the dimensions of the SWRP dice!

But Survival governs riding beasts, not piloting...

I just hope I can mod out my taunt taun so I can make it past the first marker.

And you should be able to do the signature moves too right since the talents of pilot on both smuggler & ace are the same.

You'll have access to the Signature Ability of whatever is your root career.

You should be able to do it, it's exact same specs you can't do. Although you could end up with a lot of overlap talents that don't rank necessarily.

Why would that be?? If the talents of both Pilot specs are the same why would hotshot have overlap?? Wouldnt it be some sort of augmented thing that will help a PC?? It would be redundant to do that if someone went Ace Pilot/Hotshot and then have their stuff but redundant. Plz elaborate.

For instance Hotshot might have things like Tricky Target, or Brilliant Evasion, or Full Throttle. I'm not saying the trees will be mirror images of one another, but some overlap would be expected. You see that in Driver and Squadron Leader already.

Of course, it is my understanding that for Talents that are not ranked, if you have one on one tree, like say Natural Marksman, you also have it on another tree by default. You don't have to pay for it again.

Correct, you just skip it. So it can actually be a benefit and allow you to reach something more quickly.

Of course, it is my understanding that for Talents that are not ranked, if you have one on one tree, like say Natural Marksman, you also have it on another tree by default. You don't have to pay for it again.

Which could actually be used to reach dedication faster in trees that share abilities, while pumping up ranked talents.

This'll be interesting. Since each of the splat books have different signature abilities, it will make a real difference between a Smuggler/Pilot and and Ace/Pilot, and the F&D Warrior/Starfighter Ace. After all, one can't cross-spec for career signature abilities.

Having been involved in the book, I certainly understand why the Beast Rider was included with the Ace Career than one of the others.

For those feeling a bit "meh" about the book itself, I can say that even non Starfighter groups will find it as a great resource, and truthfully I think Edge of the Empire players and GM's will find the content very useful.

Plus, Xexto are awesome. Everyone who sees one played well, is going to want to play one. They are pure fun.

Plus, Xexto are awesome. Everyone who sees one played well, is going to want to play one. They are pure fun.

RIGHT! Just tease and then leave us to wait… how long until it ships?

I find it odd to see the beast rider as an Ace specialisation. It's a cool idea that I'm going to enjoy playing but I find it out of place for a book about Aces (an honourific I assossicate with Armour crews and fighter pilots). When I read about the concept if the beast rider I think of Doug Stanton's book "Horse Soldiers", where US SF soldiers conducted daring raids on the Taliban from horseback.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1416580522?pc_redir=1408853062&robot_redir=1

To me the inclusion of a cav soldier sounds like a bit of a stretch for an Ace Career supplement, and to me it looks they were a bit short on ideas and took and applied a spec that was being developed for a future suppliment for the soldier career and placed it in this book.

Riding or flying a beast and engaging in mounted combat while either riding or flying a beast seems, at least to me, pretty appropriate for a specialization based around piloting a vehicle and engaging in combat from that vehicle.

I find it odd to see the beast rider as an Ace specialisation. It's a cool idea that I'm going to enjoy playing but I find it out of place for a book about Aces (an honourific I assossicate with Armour crews and fighter pilots). When I read about the concept if the beast rider I think of Doug Stanton's book "Horse Soldiers", where US SF soldiers conducted daring raids on the Taliban from horseback.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1416580522?pc_redir=1408853062&robot_redir=1

To me the inclusion of a cav soldier sounds like a bit of a stretch for an Ace Career supplement, and to me it looks they were a bit short on ideas and took and applied a spec that was being developed for a future suppliment for the soldier career and placed it in this book.

I think it comes from the Essential Guide to warfare which when describing the development of Starfighter doctrine talks about how it is descended from airpower and mentions the various forms of units used in aerial combat including planes, airspeeders, and flying beasts with riders. It also describes military airpower as a form of cavalry, I guess FFG took those links and ran with them though I personally think it would make more sense for beast riding to be a soldier or spy spec, since cavalry mission include a lot of scouting, not an ace one but I trust that FFG knows what it is doing.

I trust FFG, but I do wish to have seen the Ace get a new dedicated Navigator tree kinda like the Explorer Spec in the place of this beast rider spec, so I could have every member of a bomber crew!

As it is I expect this to be another excellent addition to my library and for my own games, I think I'll make use of the beast rider as if it was a soldier specialisation rather than an Ace.

I will have to go back and reread my 'Essential Guide to Warfair' now, because I think I remember seeing that passage you mentioned...

A navigator might actually work under Engineer if it's combined with the flight engineer role.