So, I've been thinking about this, and I think the names of the Lightsaber Technique Specializations (Niman Disciple, Soresu Defender, Shii-Cho Knight, those types) should be changed in a more user friendly way. When I glance at the names from EotE or AoR, I can get a general jist of what they do. However, when I first saw all of these new names, I said "Nope!" and ignored them for a good amount of time. My players, who don't own a copy of the book, are also put off by the name, since all of the other names fit with a style, but the Lightsaber Specializations are too weird sounding to be understood right away.

I suggest we find new, user friendly names that can tell what the Specialization does at a glance. This is entirely because the names are too weird for my players to understand, and my group doesn't have the time for me to repeat them all over an over again.

Thoughts?

I don't disagree (ie: I see what you're getting at). As written they're a not to the actual names of various lightsaber styles from the EU. I think they tried to make them a little more readable by adding the descriptor (Defender, Knight, etc) but "Disciple" misses that mark, I think.

I don't think it's something that is likely to happen, but I've had the same thought.

Pretty much all the rest of the games, the specialization names are pretty user-friendly. My wife plays with us and she's not a scholar on the deep history of the Star Wars extended universe. But she knows what an "Archaeologist" is, or a "Medic", or "Doctor", or "Assassin", etc.

I'm a huge student of Star Wars but even I don't have any associations with the names of the various forms. I haven't ever read, seen or played anything that really made use of them or gave me any kind of reference for what they are. If you tell me Yoda used "Ataru" and Dooku used "Makashi", that is fair enough, but I will have to take your word for it.

Again, I really don't see it happening but I know at the very least it makes things more difficult for me explaining what the specialization options are to players who aren't EU junkies. But then I guess with the further complexity of Force powers, that Force and Destiny was always going to be sort of the "power users" version of the SW RP system.

What if we only used the non-technique part of the name? For example, not Shii-Cho Knight, but just Knight. Then the description blurb could say "The Knight uses a form of Lightsaber combat called 'Shii-Cho,' which is combat based." This would be easier for the players.

Of course, then we'd need to change the name of Niman Disciple, and maybe a few others that I can't remember on the spot, but that shouldn't be too big of a deal.

I can't argue with the OP's reasoning, but as a star wars fan, I was very happy to see these forms get published, and in their original names.

CastleCruncher is right, I think FFG is already attempting to clue the uninitiated in with their full names. Soresu Defender should tell you that the practitioner is all about defense. Makashi duelist should summon images of one-on-one sword fights.

They're not perfect, but I think they help.

I can't argue with the OP's reasoning, but as a star wars fan, I was very happy to see these forms get published, and in their original names.

CastleCruncher is right, I think FFG is already attempting to clue the uninitiated in with their full names. Soresu Defender should tell you that the practitioner is all about defense. Makashi duelist should summon images of one-on-one sword fights.

They're not perfect, but I think they help.

That's the thing. Do the names of the forms really hurt the specialization? I wouldn't think so, but then I'm in the same boat as Kaosoe (I was happy to see them there, and I knew exactly what the specialization was about as soon as I saw the name).

I think the lightsaber forms appearing in the titles only help to define the specializations, and they don't take anything away from them.

I can't argue with the OP's reasoning, but as a star wars fan, I was very happy to see these forms get published, and in their original names.

CastleCruncher is right, I think FFG is already attempting to clue the uninitiated in with their full names. Soresu Defender should tell you that the practitioner is all about defense. Makashi duelist should summon images of one-on-one sword fights.

They're not perfect, but I think they help.

Disciple makes me think of clerics; fighting magic users

Defender clues me in on a tanking style

Call a style "Duelist" and you're talking Zorro and Errol Flynn.

Striker tells me of a fast hitting combat spec

Expert; well, an all around utility style

And Knight I envision a strong warrior who wades into comabt with sword and honor.

Add in the lightsaber style names, and you've got both spec explination for the Star Wars fanboy and the not.

What more do you want?

I can't argue with the OP's reasoning, but as a star wars fan, I was very happy to see these forms get published, and in their original names.

CastleCruncher is right, I think FFG is already attempting to clue the uninitiated in with their full names. Soresu Defender should tell you that the practitioner is all about defense. Makashi duelist should summon images of one-on-one sword fights.

They're not perfect, but I think they help.

This.

Disciple makes me think of clerics; fighting magic users

Defender clues me in on a tanking style

Call a style "Duelist" and you're talking Zorro and Errol Flynn.

Striker tells me of a fast hitting combat spec

Expert; well, an all around utility style

And Knight I envision a strong warrior who wades into comabt with sword and honor.

Add in the lightsaber style names, and you've got both spec explination for the Star Wars fanboy and the not.

What more do you want?

Total agreement here.

For the people who don't know the styles...just ignore the first half of their names and read the second. I see no reason for the flavor to get watered down when there are already "user-friendly" portions right alongside the Star Wars fanboi/scholar titles.

I'd say that Shien could use something more descriptively relevant than "Expert."

I also expect that the final book will have more of the fluff info to explain it.

I also expect that the final book will have more of the fluff info to explain it.

Like...two extra pages per career, perhaps?

I'm fine with the name, as long as the flavor text fills in some more details. The beta book is very sparse, but I'm assuming it will get filled out for the actual product.

At the least, Niman Disciple and Shien Expert might want to get a revision, to make them more easy to ready. If everyone else is fine with it as is, then I suppose it's fine, but I'm warning you that for groups where he players only get a chance to glance at the name, some might be thrown off since they have little understanding of what it is and it sounds weird, or thrown in the wrong direction as they expect something that isn't there (I'm not sure how well they conform to their namesakes since I don't know what the namesakes mean, so it could theoretically happen).

I have to admit, I'm a bit surprised that this is such a concern. I don't think I've ever played a game with classes, and picked one on JUST the name of the class.

I have to admit, I'm a bit surprised that this is such a concern. I don't think I've ever played a game with classes, and picked one on JUST the name of the class.

The issue is that when my group gets together, we don't tend to have the time to go through all of hem in depth, especially when we only have one book.

I think your concern is valid. A sub heading in each entry wouldn't hurt.

At least they didn't include the even more esoteric names. "Soresu: The Way of the Mynock" or "Shii-Cho: The Way of the Sarlacc"

At the least, Niman Disciple and Shien Expert might want to get a revision, to make them more easy to ready. If everyone else is fine with it as is, then I suppose it's fine, but I'm warning you that for groups where he players only get a chance to glance at the name, some might be thrown off since they have little understanding of what it is and it sounds weird, or thrown in the wrong direction as they expect something that isn't there (I'm not sure how well they conform to their namesakes since I don't know what the namesakes mean, so it could theoretically happen).

Totally agree. Niman Disciple is the first saber style in the book and I didn't realize what it was (I read up on the styles at some point but didn't memorize them) until I read a couple more of the specialization names and recognized the pattern.

I have to admit, I'm a bit surprised that this is such a concern. I don't think I've ever played a game with classes, and picked one on JUST the name of the class.

The issue is that when my group gets together, we don't tend to have the time to go through all of hem in depth, especially when we only have one book.

I think that's something that can be addressed on your end--maybe read aloud each of the paragraph-long descriptions for those specializations? Or scan the pages and e-mail them to everyone so they can have a look-see beforehand?

I think that's something that can be addressed on your end--maybe read aloud each of the paragraph-long descriptions for those specializations? Or scan the pages and e-mail them to everyone so they can have a look-see beforehand?

Or read the book and learn what they mean before you ask the players if they want to take that specialization so that you can give it a better name yourself? If I don't hear or understand what something is, I tend to ask, personally.

Well, I don't normally read through Specializations (I'm sorry!), especially if it's not for a Career I might consider playing. I still haven't read through all the FaD Specializations yet!

A I was just pointing out that for groups like mine where we don't tend to read through it (and I'm too forgetful to change), we generally choose by name, not description.

"Uh, expert, duelist.. uh.. defender... uh.. expert..."

"You said that one already!"

"Dude, we're running out of words for dudes that, like, do stuff!"

"Grab the - thesus...theseosaurus ... the big word book !"

Yep, seems the target audience are those who came in at TPM or familiar with post-WEG fluff.