Something I wouldn't mind seeing is another unaligned talent tree in F&D to help bridge in AoR and EotE characters. Something to reflect an existing character who actually finds somebody to train them and bring out their Force potential in a more traditional/controlled way. It would fill a similar role to the recruit in AoR.

Force Emergent and Jedi Exile are great, but don't really reflect a character who actually finds a master and gains the use of the force through that route.

Thoughts?

I disagree, as both Exile and Emergent fill that niche perfectly. "Padawan" and "Apprentice" are just titles from the Jedi Order, and as FaD has established, the Jedi represent just one school of philosophy. Mechanically, I think either of the existing specs would suit such a character. They're all just names, after all.

Mechanically, Emergent is one of the faster ways to pick up an extra force die (20 for the additional spec, +75 to reach +1FR), Offensive saber swingers can dip Sharpshooter for cheap access (50 XP plus the spec) to Deadly accuacy (at LEAST a +2 to your lightsaber damage, and goes up in play), and defensive saber swinges love the Bodyguard tree, with it's 2 ranks of sidestep, 2 ranks of defensive stance, and the Infinite Stamina capstone.

Fair enough. I guess a new tree isn't necessary, but the OCD part of me doesn't like using something called Force Emergent or Exile, when that's not what I am.

Yeah, I don't think a universal "Apprentice" Force-sensitive specialization is really needed, at least not officially.

The Recruit worked for Age of Rebellion since it offers a way to let characters otherwise sorely lacking in combat skills a chance to get those combat skills. And Emergent already works for a more combat-focused Force user, particularly those who started with one of the Lightsaber Form specializations.

Though in truth, I had been toying with the idea of revisiting my Jedi Initiate universal specialization from my Ways of the Force supplement in light of Force and Destiny. Said specialization had been set-up from the start as kind of a "Jedi 101" spec, giving the character what I deemed the fundamentals of lightsaber usage and some other abilities that I felt were in line with what a Jedi youngling in the old order would have been taught prior to becoming a Padawan. I may still do that, clearing out various talents to make room for some of the newer ones in Force and Destiny, such as Parry and Reflect (likely not more than one rank of each, and certainly not the Improved versions). Probably also would revisit how much XP would be needed to get to both Force Rating and Dedication; part of my initial set-up was predicated on the fact that Jedi Initiate provided not only (eventual) access to the EotE/AoR version of a lightsaber, but also a number of talents to build and expand upon what the character could do with that weapon as well.

Whether anything comes of that or not, only time will tell.

I disagree, as both Exile and Emergent fill that niche perfectly. "Padawan" and "Apprentice" are just titles from the Jedi Order, and as FaD has established, the Jedi represent just one school of philosophy. Mechanically, I think either of the existing specs would suit such a character. They're all just names, after all.

Fully agreed.

Fair enough. I guess a new tree isn't necessary, but the OCD part of me doesn't like using something called Force Emergent or Exile, when that's not what I am.

Don't let yourself get forced into the mindset of "putting yourself in a box." The names of the careers and specializations are just that... names. They give you an idea of what they're about. But you don't need to have the "Bounty Hunter" specialization to be a Bounty Hunter. You don't need the "Smuggler" career to smuggle things. Don't let your mind get too glued to the names. They don't define who/what your character is. You do.

I agree with working a bit on separation of names and mentality. The names can be a useful guide and starting point, but don't get hung up on them. My current character is a Gadgeteer (BH) and Force Sensitive Exile. He is neither a bounty hunter or an exiled jedi. I took those particular ones because he is a bit of fop who enjoys tinkering with his toys to make them unique who for some reason (he has no idea he is using the force) has always been a bit quick on the uptake. He'd maybe be a bit more in line with the fluff on the Emergent, but that wasn't out yet when I made him and FSE works just fine if you tweak the fluff.

I'm sure this option was considered very early on and it's absence is not coincidence I'd bet.

You'll notice that the word "Jedi" does not appear in any specialization anywhere. It's intentional--the specializations are supposed to be broad.

Really isn't an apprentice/padawan any force sensitive spec with only a few points spent in it?

Really isn't an apprentice/padawan any force sensitive spec with only a few points spent in it?

More or less.

if the PC wants to describe themselves as an "apprentice Jedi" they're free to do so no matter what career/specialization they've chosen. Though the LS Form specs have a mildly stronger claim given that they have Lightsaber as a career skill and are trained in one of the Old Jedi Order's lightsaber Forms.

Mechanically, Emergent is one of the faster ways to pick up an extra force die (20 for the additional spec, +75 to reach +1FR), Offensive saber swingers can dip Sharpshooter for cheap access (50 XP plus the spec) to Deadly accuacy (at LEAST a +2 to your lightsaber damage, and goes up in play), and defensive saber swinges love the Bodyguard tree, with it's 2 ranks of sidestep, 2 ranks of defensive stance, and the Infinite Stamina capstone.

Offtopic, but I don't think Deadly Accuracy works the way you have implied here.

When you get a rank of Deadly Accuracy, you choose a combat skill. An attack made with that combat skill gains damage equal to the ranks of that skill, not the ranks of Deadly Accuracy. When you get a second rank of Deadly Accuracy, it applies to a new skill.

It's an extremely useful talent, but does not add "at least 2 bonus damage", it adds your ranks in the skill, and goes up as your ranks in the skill increase.

Offtopic, but I don't think Deadly Accuracy works the way you have implied here.

When you get a rank of Deadly Accuracy, you choose a combat skill. An attack made with that combat skill gains damage equal to the ranks of that skill, not the ranks of Deadly Accuracy. When you get a second rank of Deadly Accuracy, it applies to a new skill.

It's an extremely useful talent, but does not add "at least 2 bonus damage", it adds your ranks in the skill, and goes up as your ranks in the skill increase.

He means most players that will focus on lightsaber use will very likely have at least 2 ranks in Lightsaber, not that you can use multiple Deadly Accuracies for the same skill, something his post never really implied.

If Recruit is ok to have in the AoR book, I'm confused why an initiate-type specialization is so outlandish for a Force user. Don't get me wrong, I like the recruit tree. It gives you nice, well rounded training that they might not normally have otherwise, trained by the Rebellion. A "Force Initiate" tree would do the same exact thing. Give them talents and skills that would they might not normally have, trained by an actual Force user. Especially in a book like this where it seems Force users are running around rampant, it almost seems like there would be someone around to teach you the ways of the Force.

So I would think career skills being Discipline, Perception, Vigilance, and Knowledge (Lore).

Then you could have things like Uncanny Senses/Reactions, Sixth Sense/Superior Reflexes, and of course the force rating at the bottom. Basically something to introduce you to the basics of being a Force user in training. Not one focused on hiding or blending in.

Except for the skills, it sounds like you are describing the FSEx or FSEm unispecs.

Except for the skills, it sounds like you are describing the FSEx or FSEm unispecs.

This. These are already your "initiate-type specializations."

The only reason I can see to add a general beginner tree is if you want to simulate basic force training, and a broad grounding in several fundaments, and are using the book in the manner that FFG advertises it, as a stand alone product. If you are using either of the other "systems" then Force Emergent, or Exile work great.

I've been pondering on it, and I still feel a basic generalist tree wouldn't be a bad thing, though it's probably not absolutely necessary.

I've been pondering on it, and I still feel a basic generalist tree wouldn't be a bad thing, though it's probably not absolutely necessary.

Nimian Disciple. For about 170 XP you get FR2, the ability to throw rocks at people with your mind, and the ability to warp minds with your will. And lightsabers skill, ad the ability to do a basic parry or deflection.

Except for the skills, it sounds like you are describing the FSEx or FSEm unispecs.

This. These are already your "initiate-type specializations."

Except they are focused on hiding giving boosts to stealth and survival and such, where an initiate tree would give you boosts or setback removal for more Force-type things.