Hi everyone,

I'm going to be starting up a Star Wars campaign for my game group and I'm interested in the FFG system rather than one of the older rules sets. I'd like to have a mix of character types from Age of Rebellion and Edge of Empire. Do I need to get both core rule books to cover everything, or would getting the Edge of Empire beginner's set cover everything that's not in the Age of Rebellion core book?

Problem with the Beginner Games is that, while the pregens are perfectly balanced with other PCs, they have a shelf life. They don't have a specialization as such; each career is simply given a single truncated talent tree that pulls a nice spread of talents from all three of that career's specializations. So they aren't really set up to purchase additional Specializations.

You'd also have to decide, in the case of one of those Beginner Game PCs having ranks in Piloting or Knowledge skills, which Piloting or Knowledge skills these ranks would apply to. These should also become career skills.

People here on the forums would likely be able to give input as to how to accomplish this, if you needed assistance.

So, to start out, yeah that's all you'd really need, as long as your players are okay playing as Pregens (or if you just wanted to snag the talent trees from some of those pregen character folios). But if you want upwardly scalable characters from both games, you would need both CRBs.

Also, a good question to ask is, "what kind of game are you wanting to run that you need careers from both Core Rulebooks?"

Each Rulebook is very well self-contained, and you can generate any sort of character you want using the Careers and Specializations therein. Obviously, having more options is nice, but you don't necessarily need them unless, for example, you want to run characters with Duty alongside characters with Obligation.

If you want X-wings you have to buy AoR. If you want YT-1300s you have to buy EotE.

Yeah, the beginners set doesn't have all the stuff that the core book does. It's just a simplified game intended to teach the mechanics and concepts. For the full experience you need the core book.

While both books do have essentially the same block of core rules, the character creation options are very different. Edge has lots of civilian fringer types that are function in combat, but not intended for it (sort of) where Age has lots of different military roles as well as a recruit option to bridge the gap should an Edge "civilian" want to become a more combat-y guy.

The secondary mechanic is different as well. Age has Duty that represents the characters rise through the ranks, Edge has obligation, that represents the skeletons in your characters closet, the the attempt to escape them.

Force roles are also a bit different, with Edges Exile being more a natural force user/jedi in hiding type and Age's Emergent being more the up and coming force fighter type. Available powers listed are also a bit different (though a character from either book can take powers from any other book.)

Finally supporting material is different. Available NPCs, Ships and to a lesser extent equipment is different between the two, with Age having more military stuff and Edge having more criminal and civilian gear. The fluff chapter about the setting is different in about the same way.

So to get the full experience you need both (and eventually all three) core books. The upside is when you're getting everyone started you'll have two books with complete chapters on core mechanics, so you can loan one out if you want....

Thanks for the viewpoints, everyone (and anyone else who wants to chip in, feel free).

From what you're saying, I think I need to get both books so I can have an in-depth look at what's in each and decide whether I want to run using one, the other or both. I suspect it's going to be both; I'd like to run something similar to a campaign I played in back at university, using the old West End Games system, where the players were a mix of Rebel military and fringer types. From what I've seen of the Duty and Obligation rules, it sounds like I'll be able to set things up so there are conflicting pulls on my players attention, which is always fun.

Since both books are $60US each, you're okay to start with one rather than the other. It's just picking which one.

Yeah, but anyone paying the full MSRP is a chump - especially in the Christmas sale season. Go hit CSI or Mini Market for a much more reasonable 40 bucks.

Amazon has them for around $40 too.

Just an FYI, I'm in the UK so my purchasing options are different. Amazon.com won't deliver these books outside the US and Amazon.co.uk is charging nearly $60 equivalent at the moment. I can get them for about $48 at an RPG specialist site.

You want to get both core books. You will enjoy them very much.

As much as people cry that getting both books isn't worth it because the rules are reprinted between the two, I do recommend having both. That is, if you can afford it.

There are a few reasons. The first is that since the rules are the same, you now have two books with rules for the table. One which the GM can use and one for the players. Another is when you start looking at the value. You get 6 careers with 3 trees each, plus the universial trees, plus the races, plus ships, plus the world building fluff, plus different GM stuff such as an adventure and bad guy stats. Compare that to any of the splat books. Splats have 3 races, 3 trees, 2 capstone spec trees (I always forget what they are called), equipment, ships, and fluff. For about the cost of two splat books you're getting as much if not more content. You just have to get over the "awe, shucks, it sucks that the rules are reprinted" feeling.

A fun note, races that are reprinted actually have different fluff in each book. So, FFG is doing their best to try to keep everything fresh and new with each books.

As for the beginner's game, if you can find one cheep I'd recommend it. What are they, like $30 each? It comes with a set of dice worth $15. That way you can look at all of the other content as being worth whatever the price paid for the beginner box minus the cost of dice. Again, you get a small rulebook. Can be handy to have, although at my table we prefer the full rulebooks because there are a few tweaks and changes between the two. (Such as, there are no rules for characer death in the beginner box rules.) However, if you want access to another set of rules for someone to look through, it's worth it for that. The maps and tokens are nifty, but this game is designed to be used without maps. If you like published adventures, then the beginner box is worth it for the dice and adventure. That adventure is written is such a way to help teach the rules and gives you ideas on how to actually spent Threat and Advantages.

I hope this helps.

Problem with the Beginner Games is that, while the pregens are perfectly balanced with other PCs, they have a shelf life. They don't have a specialization as such; each career is simply given a single truncated talent tree that pulls a nice spread of talents from all three of that career's specializations. So they aren't really set up to purchase additional Specializations.

My current group is 4 of the PreGens. We/I reworked them to fit in with the rulebook version of things. I suggest leaving some XP and Obligations choices up to the player to give some "player choice".

If you do this you can still run through the starter adventure and get a bunch of new players, playing in time and without the need for both core books at the start of things.

If you do this you can still run through the starter adventure and get a bunch of new players, playing in time and without the need for both core books at the start of things.

This, definitely.

It is super easy to "dumb-down" Core Rulebook player characters' stats so that they resemble the pregens from the Beginner Game. All you're doing there is basically just conflating a few skills. Job done.

Just an FYI, I'm in the UK so my purchasing options are different. Amazon.com won't deliver these books outside the US and Amazon.co.uk is charging nearly $60 equivalent at the moment. I can get them for about $48 at an RPG specialist site.

Well, clearly there's your problem! Be in America like the rest of the Internet!

(for the purposes of this post, "America" covers Canada, too. What would we do without our 51st state?)

(for the purposes of this post, "America" covers Canada, too. What would we do without our 51st state?)

...just...don't go there...

Yeah, Canadia are those nice neighbors that really like hockey, not the extended family.

Yeah, but anyone paying the full MSRP is a chump - especially in the Christmas sale season. Go hit CSI or Mini Market for a much more reasonable 40 bucks.

That depends on your definition of a "cchump" I used to buy my books on amazon but I started exclusively buying them at my brick & mortar flgs (active imagination) to help make sure that they stay in business. The rent enough space for 2 stores but about on 2/3 of one of them is a store, the rest is space for gamers to come and gather and play. It's actually where my group meets to game. And if I am using their space it's only fair for me to give them financial compensation even if it means that I am paying a bit more for my books.

Yeah, Canadia are those nice neighbors that really like hockey, not the extended family.

The late great Robin Williams once described us as a really nice apartment over a meth lab... But I digress...

While I may be a chump for paying $60+, we have a really awesome games shop here in town that I like to support. If I didnt, I'd be ordering online.

I totally need to buy a boat so I can make $$ smuggling gaming accoutrements to CND and Aussieland.

Sounds like a good idea, by the time I get my gaming fix it has been around the world twice, uphill both ways, in the snow.

In my opinion,owning both rulebooks and the Force and Destiny that releases this summer would give the complete feel of star wars.Sure the core rules are reprinted,but that makes it easier at the table for the player's who need to look things up.

When deciding on the rulebooks,ask the one question that helps." What aspects of star wars do you like?"

After all,each of the rulebooks will have their own product line that can easily cross between the other books.

Above all,that question,when answered,will point you to what book(s) you may want for star wars gaming.

FFG has made an awesome rpg for star wars and so far i have not been disappointed.

Game on!!!

If I had to choose between both Core rulebooks I'd start with Edge of the Empire just because it feels more like a natural progression to go from being smugglers and criminals to being recruited to aid the cause of the rebellion at a later point in the campaign when you do get around to getting the second core book.

That depends on your definition of a "cchump" I used to buy my books on amazon but I started exclusively buying them at my brick & mortar flgs (active imagination) to help make sure that they stay in business. The rent enough space for 2 stores but about on 2/3 of one of them is a store, the rest is space for gamers to come and gather and play. It's actually where my group meets to game. And if I am using their space it's only fair for me to give them financial compensation even if it means that I am paying a bit more for my books.

Active Imagination? You don't live in/near Albuquerque, do you? I used to game there when I was stationed at Kirtland AFB back in 2009.

The late great Robin Williams once described us as a really nice apartment over a meth lab... But I digress...

No he didn't. He said:

Canada is like a loft apartment over a really great party.

The late great Robin Williams once described us as a really nice apartment over a meth lab... But I digress...

No he didn't. He said:

Canada is like a loft apartment over a really great party.

He has actually said both. The former in a reddit AMA quote from Sep 2013. The latter is from his Live on Broadway 2002 special.