Saying FFG has a road map does not mean that road map is ideal.

Again, the Gotal are so obscure that I think they could have been left out of this entire RPG system and most of us wouldn't even have noticed. Honestly, I cannot recall a single action figure for a Gotal or any specific Gotal character from a novel, comic book, or video game. Yet the Gotal species makes it into arguably the most sought-after expansion book.

BTW, Devaronians belong in the EotE line way more than the AoR line. C'mon now...

(...although, I would like to see all of the more major - or oft-seen - species show up in each line at some point.)

Considering there are a large number of Gotal background characters in Rebels, I think including them in the RPG is a good idea.

Really disappointed to see the obscure Gotal make an appearance in the long-awaited Smuggler book.

Dig the Quarren. Okay with the Falleen.

But that third species should have been Devaronian. I mean, ever since John Ostrander's critically-acclaimed Quinlan Vos tales with the Devaronian smuggler Vilmahr Grahrk in tow? How could a Star Wars fan not include a Devaronian in the Smuggler expansion?!?

Oh well. The Devaronians better make it into the Bounty Hunter book then...

Since they were not included in this book I suspect they will be in the AoR Infiltrator / Spy book. (Sorry, but I am AFB at the moment and I can't remember the overarching career name.)

I was really hoping to have them sooner, but there are always fan made sources to use until then.

Some of the choices Fantasy Flight Games has made regarding which species fall in what book have seemed a little odd. For instance, as much as I like the Bothans, they so should not have been one of the playable species included in the Edge of the Empire Core Rulebook. Bothans should have been saved for Age of Rebellion, and the Duros should have taken their spot in the EotE core book. I also think Gamorreans should have been in the core rulebook and Gands should have been saved for the Bounty Hunter supplement. Devaronians and Herglics should have taken the places of the Chiss and Duros in the Explorer book, Enter the Unknown. I love the Gotals and I'm glad they're finally available as a playable species, but they should have been introduced in Far Horizons instead of the Gran.

I agree that the Bothans seemed an odd choice for the EotE core rulebook! To this day, I have not understood the logic behind that one...

But I do understand Rodians (Greedo), Droids (IG-88 and 4-LOM), Gand (Zuckuss), and Trandoshans (Bossk). Humans (Han Solo, Dengar, Boba Fett, etc.), Wookiees (Chewbacca), and Twi'leks (Bib Fortuna and pretty much every single NPC in every Star Wars video game ever) all seemed like no-brainers as well.

But, yeah, Bothans... Who knows? Personally, I'd have given that spot to the Quarren or the Gamorreans.

Anyway, the Devaronians better show up in an EotE book and not an AoR book. Again, I'm no EU expert, but I've read the "important" material such as Zahn's original trilogy, the Dark Empire comic book trilogy, "Shadows of the Empire," all of the old 70s/80s material from my youth (Han Solo Adventures, etc.), and I've played through both KOTOR games, both Force Unleashed games, and all of those great X-Wing/TIE Fighter PC games. In addition, I've watched the surprisingly excellent Clone Wars series and read John Ostrander's brilliant Quinlan Vos/Clone Wars comics. (Remember that Lucas himself appropriated both Vos and Aayla Secura for use in his canonical works.)

So Nar Shadaa? Yep, it's important. The Skipray Blastboats? Yep, important. The CSA? Absolutely important. Devaronian smugglers? Important ... but only to me, obviously. And to those of you who have also read Ostrander's Star Wars material.

(BTW, for those of you unfamiliar with that name? Ostrander is most famous for creating the modern interpretation of the Suicide Squad for DC Comics, which incorporated a bunch of the heroes' "supervillains" into a Dirty Dozen-style squad of agents working for the US Govt. in exchange for pardons. The series was known for its complex plots and dense characterization and will soon be turned into a live-action film by Warner Brothers.)

Anyway, not being able to incorporate Devaronian smugglers - integral to those Quinlan Vos stories - into an EotE campaign without resorting to fan-made material? Criminal!

Considering there are a large number of Gotal background characters in Rebels, I think including them in the RPG is a good idea.

Seriously?

You, sir (or ma'am), seem to have an interesting take on what constitutes both "a large number" and "a good idea."

Actually, I have no qualms with including this crazily obscure species (with one minor appearance in the Mos Eisley cantina and a representative fruit vendor in "Rebels") in the game. I just have a problem with the Gotal taking the place of other better-known species such as the Mon Calamari, Gamorreans, Sullustans, Devaronians, Nautolans, and quite a few other species who (a) would have made much more sense as smugglers based on what we have seen or read in other Star Wars material and (b) have not yet made their presence known in the EotE line...

Gee, somebody really got Harlock's goat.

Saying FFG has a road map does not mean that road map is ideal.

Again, the Gotal are so obscure that I think they could have been left out of this entire RPG system and most of us wouldn't even have noticed. Honestly, I cannot recall a single action figure for a Gotal or any specific Gotal character from a novel, comic book, or video game. Yet the Gotal species makes it into arguably the most sought-after expansion book.

BTW, Devaronians belong in the EotE line way more than the AoR line. C'mon now...

(...although, I would like to see all of the more major - or oft-seen - species show up in each line at some point.)

Gotal have been a staple "odd-ball" race since WEG. And there was an action figure for the Gotal in the Cantina of Ep 4. Plus Gotal were in the Clone Wars cartoon (background, no named Gotal).

I will agree that Gotal are an odd choice for the Smuggler Book, except that they seem to be matching "Career" with "Species". Maybe there will be something in the Bounty Hunter book that fits Deveronians better. Shipjacker/Repo Man maybe? (Spitballing, here...)

I will agree that Gotal are an odd choice for the Smuggler Book, except that they seem to be matching "Career" with "Species".

I wasn't aware Gotal made such excellent picks for gunslingers, gamblers, and charmers.

As far as I know, they're just really good at selling oddly-shaped fruit and vegetables... Ha.

I will agree that Gotal are an odd choice for the Smuggler Book, except that they seem to be matching "Career" with "Species".

I wasn't aware Gotal made such excellent picks for gunslingers, gamblers, and charmers.

As far as I know, they're just really good at selling oddly-shaped fruit and vegetables... Ha.

If you're read "The Courtship of Princess Leia," you'd quickly register WHY the Gotal are in here. I was taken aback at first, but once I remembered Han's comment about the Gotal's ability to "sense" shifts in emotions, it makes perfect sense to have them for the Gambler side.

In one of the X-Wing novels, we learn that Mon Mothma has a Gotal bodyguard, as his ability to "sense" helps pick out aggressive targets and, at least according to the novels, Gotal don't have as many issues with seeing due to this sense ability. Can you imagine someone with a pistol being able to shoot everyone without having to worry about light issues? There's the Gunslinger for you!

Finally, knowing ones emotional state could really help seal the deal, which seems to be vital for a Charmer.

This is all theory, of course, as we don't have the official stats yet, but again, in theory, the Gotal fits. I thought the Quarren was the oddball here, as the only purpose for them seems to be the Gunslinger.

Granted, I thought the Herglics would have been perfect (or at least amusing) once I heard "Gambler," but that's neither here nor there.

Gotal are very empathic (super sensitive horns) which makes them natural charmers and gamblers. It makes sense to me.

I'm not as steeped in the EU as others, so to me, Quarren was the odd duck, but I like them just the same so I am happy to see them.

As far as the Gotal are concerned, As a DM, I cant wait to Crit/shoot one of the stupid antennae humps off their head...

Yea...

Considering there are a large number of Gotal background characters in Rebels, I think including them in the RPG is a good idea.

Seriously?

You, sir (or ma'am), seem to have an interesting take on what constitutes both "a large number" and "a good idea."

Actually, I have no qualms with including this crazily obscure species (with one minor appearance in the Mos Eisley cantina and a representative fruit vendor in "Rebels") in the game. I just have a problem with the Gotal taking the place of other better-known species such as the Mon Calamari, Gamorreans, Sullustans, Devaronians, Nautolans, and quite a few other species who (a) would have made much more sense as smugglers based on what we have seen or read in other Star Wars material and (b) have not yet made their presence known in the EotE line...

As to why gotal were chosen, I suspect their ability to 'read' people ties in rather well with the Gambler specialty. Much like the Falleen and the charmer. As for the quarren choice, with the only Mon Calamari seen working for the rebellion so far, and the quarren in Jabba's entourage. They seem to fit.

I do also want to see the devaronian, but their 'absentee father with child support' racial ability, might be a bit harder to incorperate.

There could be other factors we don't know about species inclusion. The powers that be at fantasy Flight, might be excluding races that are prominent in episodes VII, VIII, and IX. Or are working on the fact that races that show up in official Canon sources are first. One of the main antagonist characters in the book Tarkin, is a gotal.

We're only two days away from the release date now - surely someone will get this in-hand a day or two early and start spoiling... Any takers? I'm at least a week away from my copy and feeling very impatient.

Saying FFG has a road map does not mean that road map is ideal.

Again, the Gotal are so obscure that I think they could have been left out of this entire RPG system and most of us wouldn't even have noticed. Honestly, I cannot recall a single action figure for a Gotal or any specific Gotal character from a novel, comic book, or video game. Yet the Gotal species makes it into arguably the most sought-after expansion book.

BTW, Devaronians belong in the EotE line way more than the AoR line. C'mon now...

(...although, I would like to see all of the more major - or oft-seen - species show up in each line at some point.)

with out being able to see the roadmap I can't say. I can however say that FFG hasn't failed us yet. why assume they are now?

Had I any sort of authority or influence on the organization of species for different books, this is how I might have pushed the aliens.

EotE Core book

1. Human

2. Droid

3. Duros

4. Quarren

5. Rodian

6. Trandoshan

7. Twi'lek

8. Wookiee

Bounty Hunter book

1. Human (Mandalorian)

2. Gand

3. Lepi

Colonist book

1. Arconan

2. Bimm

3. Chevin

Explorer book

1. Devaronian

2. Snivvian

3. Squib

Hired Gun book

1. Aqualish

2. Gamorrean

3. Weequay

Smuggler book

1. Farghul

2. Herglic

3. Morseerian

Technician book

1. Arkanian

2. Ugnaught

3. Verpine

Corellian Sector book

1. Human (Corellian)

2. Drall

3. Selonian

Hutt book

1. Gank

2. Klatooinian

3. Nikto

4. Sakiyan

Tatooine book

1. Jawa

2. Tusken Raider

AoR Core book

1. Human

2. Droid

3. Bothan

4. Falleen

5. Ithorian

6. Mon Calamari

7. Sullustan

8. Wookiee

Ace book

1. Chandra-Fan

2. Gran

3. Talz

Commander book

1. Cathar

2. Ishi Tib

3. Siniteen

Diplomat book

1. Bith

2. Caamasi

3. Gotal

Engineer book

1. Omwati

2. Sluissi

3. Vratix

Soldier book

1. Barabel

2. Dressellian

3. Shistavanen

Spy book

1. Defel

2. Givin

3. Ortolan

Edited: Dropped second Morseerian, moved Lepi to BH, and added Givin to spy.

We're only two days away from the release date now - surely someone will get this in-hand a day or two early and start spoiling... Any takers? I'm at least a week away from my copy and feeling very impatient.

And it looks like CSI shipped my copy today! It is still probably a week out, but I'm pretty eager - especially considering that box also has my copy of Lords of Nal Hutta. I'll have lots of reading to do.

Had I any sort of authority or influence on the organization of species for different books, this is how I might have pushed the aliens.

No offence, but with your list versus FFGs I am glad they didn't go with yours. How can they have a Hutt book without Hutts?

Had I any sort of authority or influence on the organization of species for different books, this is how I might have pushed the aliens.

No offence, but with your list versus FFGs I am glad they didn't go with yours. How can they have a Hutt book without Hutts?

Because some people--well, this guy thinks they shouldn't be playable species.

Had I any sort of authority or influence on the organization of species for different books, this is how I might have pushed the aliens.

No offence, but with your list versus FFGs I am glad they didn't go with yours. How can they have a Hutt book without Hutts?

Because some people--well, this guy thinks they shouldn't be playable species.

I feel sad about limits like that.

I think every species should be playable, given a decent enough back story. You want to play Cad Bane? nope, you want to play the same species? go for it. Want the same style? maybe. Same mannerisms? nope.

Why should a Hutt not be playable? They force you to be creative and thought provoking in your methods of solving problems.

I wouldn't restrict a player from choosing to play a Hutt if he/she wanted. I told my table that I was **** happy we started a month before Lords of Nal Hutta came out because two or three of them would have chosen Hutt as their character. If that's what they want to, I wouldn't stop them, nor would I stop them from playing Chiss (even though they should be unheard of at the time the game is set) or Toydarian (even though they're racist caricatures).

However, in my totally hypothetical scenario where I have the power to determine how the game is released, then I would create more restrictions based on my personal preference and bias.

Indeed it is your personal bias...

No offense but I do also prefer FFGs listing. Them making Hutts playable is a big deal because, as far as I know, it has never been done before and I applaud them for making the effort.

Furthermore while I appreciate your "I won't stop my players playing this..." attitude. It's the "I don't like it because Chiss aren't supposed to be around...etc" that I have a problem with.

In a RPG, the player characters are not the rules, they are the exception. Just like how Thrawn was the exception, it is a LARGE galaxy and many people probably see species they never have seen before every day and simply shrug it off as "Interesting...but not noteworthy."

I much rather place my stock in a company with writers and developers that know what they are doing, rather than someone who has such an overinflated opinion on a particular comic/book series that they proclaim FFG are wrong to miss the inclusion of a certain species in a certain career book. I'm sure that character was VERY entertaining as a Smuggler. However looking down the list of notable Deveronians, two of them are smugglers, two are jedi knights, and two are bounty hunters, three of them are sith! So while you say they belong in the smuggler book, they very clearly have no belonging and could fit in either smuggler, a jedi career book or a bounty hunter book.

"I don't want to be left behind at the first sight of a ladder." -one of my players telling me why he won't play a Hutt.

"I don't want to be left behind at the first sight of a ladder." -one of my players telling me why he won't play a Hutt.

1, if your players can only find 1 way through a situation either they suck or you do as a GM. There should always be multiple ways to "skin a cat". That is called "allowing for creativity". If you fail at that, not much I or anyone here can do to help.

2, Does everyone have to go everywhere? Does Hera go along on every single Rebels Mission? no? oh my gosh you mean there are other options? Cray-cray.

3, You know this box you are thinking inside? try outside of it.

4, I think those 3 covered it actually.

"I don't want to be left behind at the first sight of a ladder." -one of my players telling me why he won't play a Hutt.

1, if your players can only find 1 way through a situation either they suck or you do as a GM. There should always be multiple ways to "skin a cat". That is called "allowing for creativity". If you fail at that, not much I or anyone here can do to help.

2, Does everyone have to go everywhere? Does Hera go along on every single Rebels Mission? no? oh my gosh you mean there are other options? Cray-cray.

3, You know this box you are thinking inside? try outside of it.

4, I think those 3 covered it actually.

The player meant it as a joke, not an in depth critique on the quality of GM. No one in the group was interested in playing a Hutt. Simple as that.