So a new preview of the Beginner Box was just released, and it revealed some interesting information:
"You’ll learn, for instance, that Sarenda grew up in a big, close-knit family and would beat up anyone who threatened her sisters. Her love of exploring the outdoors led her to a secluded cave in which she found and activated a lightsaber, the first sign that she was sensitive to the Force."
Looks like at least one PC will definitely have a lightsaber from the beginning. There were also images of the Kel Dor character wielding a green blade, so maybe more than one character will be lightsaber-focused.
"You and your companions are high up in the snow-clad slopes of a Mount Tellec on the Outer Rim planet Spintir. You all have received a signal from your mentor, Hethan Romund, that she is being held captive on Spintir by a dangerous, dark-side Force user known as Malefax."
Ugh, that name. Malefax. Not their greatest work, name-wise. But I guess it fits with the Original Trilogy feel of cheesy sci-fi and connecting the Force to tropes of magic (Maleficent immediately came to mind).
Also interesting that Romund is described as the players' mentor, so it seems they'll be trying to introduce characters with more obviously connected backstories. The Edge of the Empire Beginner Box had a lot connections between characters but they were more for character-building, while it seems that this expects players to start with a pre-established connection with Romund that will be pretty central to setting the stage for the adventure.
"At the top of this mountain lies an ancient, partially ruined temple where you hope to find Romund – but where you may also have to confront Malefax."
The trick here will be making the confrontation suitably grand for a finale without either making it too easy, letting the players kill Malefax, and making the fight so obviously designed to allow Malefax to escape (I suspect they will be featuring in whatever supplement adventure FFG releases) that the players feel no ability to make an impact.
"Once you and your companions have reached the top of that cliff, what will you find? Who – or what – dwells amid the snowy crags and forested valleys of Mount Tellac?"
This combined with the fairly extensive map of the area around Mount Tellac sounds to me like they're doing another version of Mos Shuuta - a pretty big sandbox, somewhat thought out, that ultimately has little bearing on the adventure. I'm both pleased and saddened - I'm glad there will be fodder for expanding the adventure as GMs see fit or making the location a recurring one, but I felt like FFG didn't use Mos Shuuta to its fullest.