Hi all,

My group and I are considering jumping into RPGames for the first time and, as dedicated SW fans, we're considering one of FFG's. This forum community seems fairly active so I wanted to ask a few questions since there is 0 RPG experience between us (my group that is).

1. Can characters change specializations? Could an EoE bodyguard for example become a Rebel Soldier?

2. Can the EoE Force Exile or AoR Force Sensitive Emergent later become one of FaD's specializations?

3. How possible is it for a party to have a PC from each --i.e., an EoE Fringer, AoR Soldier, and a FaD Whatever-- be part of a regular group that plays through games between all three 'universes?'

4. How unrealistic is it for the GM to have a PC? My group has 3 main players and everybody wants a PC. Is there a way to accommodate that?

I understand that characters in all three RPGs can be ported over to the different 'universes.' My questions namely come from wondering if we should wait until FaD comes out so that we have access to all the potential character specializations when we begin or if there are built in mechanics that will allow a later change in character. Obviously things like race, experience, and history would remain the same. If switching characters isn't a big deal then we can begin without fear of being cut off later. Likewise, if characters from differing 'universes' can't form a regular group then we should make a dedicated choice to pick one 'universe' as our primary.

Sorry to be so OT but as beta testers I thought you'd all have some authoritative insight. Apologies to the mods if I'm hijacking, I'm trying to buy your product!

1. No changing specializations, but you're free to pick up different ones for more XP. So for instance, somebody with Hired Gun/Bodyguard could pick up Hired Gun/Mercenary Soldier for 20xp (10xp times the number of specialization trees the newly purchased would be) since it's in his career, but since something like Soldier/Commando is outside his career, it costs the normal amount plus and extra 10xp. The only thing you're really locked into with your starting career is what Signature Abilities you can access. So Hired Gun can only pick up Hired Gun Signature Abilities, but never anything else.

2. It is unlikely they will be added to the book itself if that's what you mean. But anybody from FaD can go into Exile/Emergent trees as a secondary (or third, or fourth, etc.) specialization, much like anyone can buy up any other trees.

3. You can actually check the newest Beta update for examples on how to get everything to work together mechanically. It's really more of just deciding on how to get everybody to work together in terms of story. The AoR player may be looking for helping the Rebels, EotE wants to rack up credits, and FaD wants to find Jedi artifacts. So it's more of just figuring out how to appease what everyone's looking to get out of the game. As an aside - EotE career players are free to start out or later earn Duty, AoR career players are free to start out or later earn Obligation, and the like. Basically, careers are more of just separated by each core because they fit better with a particular theme if you were unaware.

4. It's not unrealistic. I'm assuming you're asking because you either plan on rotate GM'ing duties or just like to be part of the action? Just make sure you don't fall into undesirable GMPC behavior: character knowing or doing things based on information the rest of the group doesn't know, being over-powered or over-equipped compared to the other PCs, and outshining the PCs by drawing too much focus in the story.

The only real issue with jumping in later with FaD, is that with Force-Sensitive characters, they tend to be stretched out a bit as is. So for if there were to be a character where being force-sensitive is their main aspect, then you'll be missing out a bit on waiting for FaD, both in how the character would grow and by blocking out whatever Signature Abilities the starting career could be. Although if force-sensitivity isn't a huge aspect, or if you don't mind the player re-rolling when the final version of FaD is released, then there shouldn't be a problem with just using Emergent/Exile.

1. Lathrop is right. You can't change specializations, but you can purchase new ones so you can start out as a Bounty Hunter (Gadgeteer), and later take Soldier (Medic). It just costs XP to purchase into that specialization. As Lathrop said, the career mostly locks you into Signature Abilities (which are released in the source book for that career) and which specs you can purchase at a discount to XP.

2. You absolutely can start out as a Force Sensitive: X from the first 2 books and later pick up a spec from Force and Destiny.

3. It's very possible. It's also worth noting that technically they are all in the same universe (STAR WARS!!) and general time-period, but different facets of the same universe. As Lathrop noted, the difficulty is making sure all the characters are tied in with on another and want to go on a crazy adventure with one another.

4. I've done it before, but I do not recommend it. It's easy for your players to see your GMPC as a mouthpiece for the GM. IF your character says they should do something, the players can easily interpret that as the GM telling them they should should do that thing. If you do play a PC do NOT play a social character. At that point all social encounters just turn into you talking to yourself. In fact, in Star Wars, I recommend playing a droid to fill a hole. Something the players can think of as their possession and can order around. If it's something like R2, you don't even have to talk and have a ready made excuse to sit back most social encounters.

1. Can characters change specializations? Could an EoE bodyguard for example become a Rebel Soldier?

You can not change careers once initially chosen, but you may add specs just by purchasing them. A Hired Gun can not become a Soldier. But a Hired Gun (Bodyguard) may purchase the Medic spec from the Soldier career.

2. Can the EoE Force Exile or AoR Force Sensitive Emergent later become one of FaD's specializations?

Yes they can purchase F&D specs.

3. How possible is it for a party to have a PC from each --i.e., an EoE Fringer, AoR Soldier, and a FaD Whatever-- be part of a regular group that plays through games between all three 'universes?'

You can mix & match from each line as that is what they are designed to do. Characters of equal XP should be equivilant, for the most part.

4. How unrealistic is it for the GM to have a PC? My group has 3 main players and everybody wants a PC. Is there a way to accommodate that?

Many small groups do this. Personally I am not a fan, but whatever works for the group is what is important. Nothing inherently wrong with it if it is handled well, such as GMPC taking a backseat to the actual players or it is run more like a support NPC.

1. Can characters change specializations? Could an EoE bodyguard for example become a Rebel Soldier?

2. Can the EoE Force Exile or AoR Force Sensitive Emergent later become one of FaD's specializations?

There's some details, but as others have said you can take an FaD Spec in addition to your Starter Spec and your Force Spec. This is a way to make an emerging Jedi actually. You take your starter Spec, add exile or emergent, add a saber spec from FaD, done.

4. How unrealistic is it for the GM to have a PC? My group has 3 main players and everybody wants a PC. Is there a way to accommodate that?

A good comparison is to imagine you are the officer in charge of a squad of soldiers. They like you, so they invite you to the squad poker game where they gamble for real money. You accept... and then win... a lot. How do you think those soldiers are going to feel about you after that? Will they want to follow your orders?

As the GM part your job is to be the boss, run the game, and be judge, jury, and executioner when it comes to figuring out rules and adjudicating weird situations. If you're a player as well that can become a conflict of interest.

My questions namely come from wondering if we should wait until FaD comes out so that we have access to all the potential character specializations when we begin or if there are built in mechanics that will allow a later change in character.

Something I do, especially for new players or when starting a new system, is this:

After the first adventure (usually three sessions long and including at least one encounter targeting each characters strengths) if you really don't like your character, you can rebuild it from scratch. You still get all the rewards from the adventure. If you rebuild, I would prefer if you tried to stick to your original concept as much as possible, but I won't force you to. (So if you're playing a Gand Assassin and decide you'd rather be a Gand Thief, I'm happy, but if you decide you'd rather be a Bothan Doc, that's ok to).

This effectively fixes the problem you're concerned about.

if characters from differing 'universes' can't form a regular group then we should make a dedicated choice to pick one 'universe' as our primary.

They can. The only real difference will be secondary mechanics that are more there to help generate story ideas, and they mix just fine if you want to make a pizza out of em. These core books aren't different "Universes" they are just different aspects of the same universe.

So if you want to do a game where a Doctor (EotE) a Politician (AoR) and a Priest (FaD) team up to battle galactic homelessness, it run just as smoothly as you would expect such an endeavor to.

The others have answered questions 1-3 really well.

To question 4, I'll add that it's unnecessary for the GM to have play a PC, especially in this system. You would be taking away the one thing that makes the players special: the ability to play as PCs . Do something that only you can do as the GM: bring in recurring NPCs, allies that the PCs might like and appreciate but that are essentially "supporting cast." Kaosoe suggested a droid; that's a good idea. Also good ideas are NPCs that fulfill a shtick that the PCs don't. For example, you need a little Jawa to crawl into a small space, or a big Togorian with a heavy repeating blaster for some covering fire. Maybe you need a good mechanic, or even an ex-Jedi to train your Force-sensitive PC in the ways of the Force. Maybe none of your PCs is a good liar. So bring in a shifty Twi'lek or somesuch and have him lie your PCs through wherever they need to go. For a hefty fee, of course. All in glitteryll.

Re: Question 1. The others explained it really well, but I have a little thing to add that caused confusion in my group.

You start with a career that provides most (but not all) of your career skills. You also start with one in-career specialization that gives you bonus career skills. If you later add a specialization that is outside of your career (paying 30 xp, as the others have explained), you only add these bonus career skills to the list of your career skills. You do not get the other skills (those come from a career that you still do not have).

In your example, the PC has the Hired Gun career and the two specializations of Bodyguard and Sharpshooter*. He gets the Hired Gun career skills and both the Bodyguard and Sharpshooter* bonus career skills . He never gets the Soldier career skills (because he cannot pick up a second career, only a second specialization.)

*or Medic, or Commando, depending what you choose to spec in.

Regarding 4: I've done it when playing with my son...he runs two characters (a main and a sidekick) and I run one. It works well, but I avoid having the GM-PC be a mouthpiece, or really be anything other than extra party member who just follows orders.

Wow, thanks everybody.

I have a few final questions if you don't mind.

5. So a player could start with an AoR Driver and, once FaD comes out, set out on a path to become a Jedi Whatever?

6. Lathrop mentioned "rerolling" a character once FaD comes out, am I correct in understanding that by that it is meant there is a mechanism for converting, say, an EoE PC to a FaD should you wish it? (I imagine as long as 70% of the effort that went into crafting the first iteration remains in some form nobody in my group will mind this.) This is an open question because I, for one, really like the morality component in FaD and, long term, would like to use it over obligations & duty. Can I start a PC now in either EoE or AoR and later make the jump in some form? Or am I locked in and only able to be bound to the morality mechanism if I wait for FaD to come out?

Thanks again everybody, you've all been wicked helpful. On the question of the GM playing a PC, I think my group could handle it if forced to. We have two theology, an ethics, and a philosophy degree between us so we're pretty good at separating our agendas and playing honest. In other games we often solicit advice from the person actively harming us and we're all good at giving what we think they should do, even to our detriment. That being said, we'll try to avoid the situation by default.

5. So a player could start with an AoR Driver and, once FaD comes out, set out on a path to become a Jedi Whatever?

Yup.

6. Lathrop mentioned "rerolling" a character once FaD comes out, am I correct in understanding that by that it is meant there is a mechanism for converting, say, an EoE PC to a FaD should you wish it? (I imagine as long as 70% of the effort that went into crafting the first iteration remains in some form nobody in my group will mind this.) This is an open question because I, for one, really like the morality component in FaD and, long term, would like to use it over obligations & duty. Can I start a PC now in either EoE or AoR and later make the jump in some form? Or am I locked in and only able to be bound to the morality mechanism if I wait for FaD to come out?

It’s not “re-rolling”, and there is no official conversion mechanism. It’s more a matter of “These were the starting motivations the character had, these were the starting skills and talents, now how can we re-create those in the new system?”

Now, since the attributes and the skills are almost exactly the same in all three books, the only significant changes are going to be in the Careers and Specializations (as explained above by GranSolo). And even then, there’s a lot of overlap — the F&D version of “Pilot” has a lot of the same talents, etc… as the AoR version of “Pilot”, as does the EotE version of “Pilot”. They might be called by different names (e.g., “Smuggler:Pilot” in EotE, vs. “Ace:Pilot” in AoR, vs. “Warrior:Starfighter Ace” in F&D), and there are some differences between them, but they are all different takes on largely the same role.

So, it’s not really a “re-roll” it’s more of a “re-create” or “re-skin”.

But the later games (e.g., F&D and AoR) do make a point of telling you how they think they can work together with the earlier games (e.g., AoR and EotE), so that you could easily have a campaign with characters from all three systems. Or, you could even have a campaign where each and every one of your characters has Specializations from all three books, even if they all started out in different books at the beginning.

Just to weigh in on a couple things:

If the spec name is the same, the bonus career skills and talents are identical. So the EotE Pilot is exactly the same as the AoR Pilot. However, they have different base careers (Smuggler vs Ace), so their total career skill list will likely be different.

You don't really need to re-skin anything, in fact I'd argue against it. The character has a life up to the point where F&D comes out, and there's nothing to prevent them from *buying* an F&D spec and carrying on with that. This potentially gives them new career skills, allows them to develop in their new spec, but also allows them to continue to develop their original spec if they so choose.

One note about buying an F&D spec: technically this does not grant them a Force Rating. So "technically" before buying an F&D spec they will need to have purchased one of the other Force-using Universal specs from EotE or AoR. However, you can easily hand-wave that and allow the first F&D spec to grant FR1. However #2, the player is likely to find great value in one of the Universal specs, plus it allows them to develop their Force abilities before F&D comes out.

Lastly, you are never "locked in" to using any of the mechanics. You can use any of Obligation, Duty, Morality; or you can use them all at the same time, it works quite well. The only purpose for these mechanics is if you need a way to motivate your players to be in character. Otherwise...honestly I don't find them that important. I found it useful for setting up a story and background, but beyond that it hasn't really come into play much for me. That said, lots of people get good use out of it, depends on how you want to run your game.

5. Yes, but if he starts out as (for example) an Ace and takes Driver as his first specialization, to actually gain a Force Rating he'd have to buy into the Force Sensitive Emergent (AoR), or Force Sensitive Exile (EotE), specialization. After buying into either of those, he would get Force Rating 1, and could benefit from all the nifty Force talents (and purchase nifty Force powers) in Force and Destiny . So that FaD specialization would likely be, at minimum, his third specialization and would cost 40 XP (round about two sessions' worth) to purchase.

6. No official method, and "rerolling" might be a bit of a bad term to use anyway since the only thing you "roll" for in character creation is your pocket change But if you have a PC that starts as (say) an Ace:Driver/Force Sensitive Emergent, and then you buy Force and Destiny and your Driver player looks at the Warrior career and Starfighter Ace specialization and he's like, "Whaa...where was this when I created my PC??" Then, if the GM and the player feel that the character would be better flavored to be a Warrior instead of an Ace, you could (at the GM's discretion) refund the character's XP and rebuild from the ground up. That's how I'd do it, anyway.

Thank you R22 for saving me the trouble of asking about EotE force users becoming F&D Jedi/Sith.

The responses have answered that well. I can now imagine my character's origins; and where his destiny will lead.

1. Can characters change specializations? Could an EoE bodyguard for example become a Rebel Soldier?

To add what everyone else has said: normally you wouldn't be able to switch careers. However I would say that while learning the game, it would be perfectly acceptable to get 4 or 5 games into it and go "You know, now that we have some experience with the game engine under our belts, I really don't see X as a smuggler. Can I switch her over to a Politico?"

Don't allow the characters to jump around specs every week, but a one off offer of "Everyone can respec their characters if they want" is reasonable.

4. How unrealistic is it for the GM to have a PC? My group has 3 main players and everybody wants a PC. Is there a way to accommodate that?

3. How possible is it for a party to have a PC from each --i.e., an EoE Fringer, AoR Soldier, and a FaD Whatever-- be part of a regular group that plays through games between all three 'universes?'

It would be sort of like Episode IV. Assuming they were all PC's (and I don't reaaly want to start a debate about that) then Leia is an AOR character. Han is an EOTE character. Obi Wan is a F&D character. Luke is an EOTE character who takes Fringe Sensative Exile (and a F&D carreer in later movies). R2-D2 is an AOR character. C3P0 is an EOTE character (he's owned by Rebels but has no politics and just wants to save his own metal skin). Chewbacca is an EOTE character (but might have started as one of the very first AOR characters in Episode III).