I tried my hand at a converting the Mass Effect species for use in the Edge of the Empire system. I am not working on a full conversion to the Mass Effect Universe but rather the option to use Mass Effect species in the Star Wars universe. As such Bionics is replaced with the Force and any other concepts are likewise converted to the Star Wars universe. I'd love to get some thoughts and feedback on what I came up with. Suggestions are appreciated.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sSAPeyWFxscLxq3fOHR2ph4r6MaTLtQVF0QD5FIjdEg/edit?usp=sharing

In genereal therms seems pretty good (there are other good versions on the forum too).

But I will suggest to reduce Asaris Wounds and/or starting XP a bit. Maybe to 90 or less.Tomorrow I'll try to give a deeper look to the rest

Take care and great work!

But I will suggest to reduce Asaris Wounds and/or starting XP a bit. Maybe to 90 or less.Tomorrow I'll try to give a deeper look to the rest

You think because of the automatic force sensitivity? I suppose that is a fair point. I would probably reduce the Exp then since Asari are supposed to still be pretty reasonably strong. At least as much as a human anyway.

I'm considering adding Vorcha, Prothean, and Collector. Does anyone have any thoughts about that?

A collector would be more like an enemy then a playable character.

A collector would be more like an enemy then a playable character.

I am intending to work on a list of Enemies as well eventually. Collectors and Vorcha will Definitely be on that along with some of the named characters from the Mass Effect games. I was thinking it might be possible someone would want to play as some of these less obvious races though. You think not?

True, and the vorcha and Protheans would be viable character options, but the collectors were Protheans before being brainwashed into working for the reapers. That to me says that they wouldn't be a good character option.

True, and the vorcha and Protheans would be viable character options, but the collectors were Protheans before being brainwashed into working for the reapers. That to me says that they wouldn't be a good character option.

I completely forgot that the Collectors were altered Protheans. Wow. Talk about failing to do your research. You are right. Collectors are out as playable characters. Vorcha are in and I may write up the Protheans as well but personally I would not let my players play as them.

I may write up the Protheans as well but personally I would not let my players play as them.

The only real reason to not let a player play a Prothean is because they are so rare. The one in Mass Effect 3 was there because he was in a cryo-pod for 50,000+ years and survived the purge of his time. If a player can give a good reason why his/her character is some how still alive, then I would allow it.

The only real reason to not let a player play a Prothean is because they are so rare. The one in Mass Effect 3 was there because he was in a cryo-pod for 50,000+ years and survived the purge of his time. If a player can give a good reason why his/her character is some how still alive, then I would allow it.

The Prothean character was there because it was an easy money grab of EA games. Players might not want to spend money on all the extra weapon packs or other nickel and dime extras but how many of them are going to turn down a Prothean? I also believe in a certain level of continuity. If one of the primary plot points of the entire series is that the Prothean's are wiped out, I say keep them wiped out. Adding the Prothean character felt cheap to me, and that is why I would not allow them.

I'll still work on creating them though in case someone else wants to use it or maybe one day I'll change my mind. My number one rule is if I player can sell me on it, then can do it, but to play a Prothean they would really really have to sell me on it.

I've been waiting for a good ME-hack for this system for a while. A bit too busy to create it myself.

As for your system mods:

I get why you merge skills together, but at the same time I'm not entirely convinced it's a great idea, even if it streamlines things and makes it simpler. Piloting I get, but Ranged and Discipline? Not convinced.

I don't find the biotic/force sensitive solution very elegant. You've already got ways to get that in the system, I'm not convinced a d100 roll is a good way to go, but that's me. I'll not comment upon that aspect of the species, because it's simply something I'd throw out if I used this with my group.

As for your species:

I do wonder about the Volus having two 3s, one 1 and 100 starting XP. Even with the pressure suit thing, they still get one free rank in a talent and a skill. Compared to the Quarians this is quite generous. I'd decrease starting XP to 90 at least.

Salarians have quite a high starting XP considering stats, starting strain threshold and skil and talent freebies. I'd decrease that to 100.

The Krogan has two free skill ranks, where it's usually 1 (either single or a choice between two). In addition it's got Blood Rage and Regeneration, a very high wound threshold and 90 starting XP. Even with two 1s and one 3, I'm not sure 90 is low enough. I'd consider decreasing that to 80.

I may be an old grumpy bastard (I have it on good authority that I am or soon will be), but I think the species are a bit powerful across the board, this isn't necessarily a problem though, it just increases the overall power-level I guess. But some species are definitely more powerful than others here, so balance them against each other at the very least, even if they all are superior to the Star Wars species (and then you should avoid cross-over campaigns ).

I've been waiting for a good ME-hack for this system for a while. A bit too busy to create it myself.

As for your system mods:

I get why you merge skills together, but at the same time I'm not entirely convinced it's a great idea, even if it streamlines things and makes it simpler. Piloting I get, but Ranged and Discipline? Not convinced.

I don't find the biotic/force sensitive solution very elegant. You've already got ways to get that in the system, I'm not convinced a d100 roll is a good way to go, but that's me. I'll not comment upon that aspect of the species, because it's simply something I'd throw out if I used this with my group.

As for your species:

I do wonder about the Volus having two 3s, one 1 and 100 starting XP. Even with the pressure suit thing, they still get one free rank in a talent and a skill. Compared to the Quarians this is quite generous. I'd decrease starting XP to 90 at least.

Salarians have quite a high starting XP considering stats, starting strain threshold and skil and talent freebies. I'd decrease that to 100.

The Krogan has two free skill ranks, where it's usually 1 (either single or a choice between two). In addition it's got Blood Rage and Regeneration, a very high wound threshold and 90 starting XP. Even with two 1s and one 3, I'm not sure 90 is low enough. I'd consider decreasing that to 80.

I may be an old grumpy bastard (I have it on good authority that I am or soon will be), but I think the species are a bit powerful across the board, this isn't necessarily a problem though, it just increases the overall power-level I guess. But some species are definitely more powerful than others here, so balance them against each other at the very least, even if they all are superior to the Star Wars species (and then you should avoid cross-over campaigns ).

I believe you may have caught some unintentional mistakes. Sometimes with my revisions and copy pasting I forget to fix things. The Volus should not have two 3's. I have rectified that and put their intellect back at 2 where I intended it.

Salarians in fact are supposed to have 100 xp. I believe that is likely a result of me copy pasting from the Human stats template and me not properly adjusting it.

Krogan are quite powerful and I agree with you I am not yet satisfied with them. I have considered taking away their Regeneration but I hate to sacrifice something based on canon in order to ensure balance. Reducing xp to 80 was also on my list of things to do.

All in all I think you were correct with all those species suggestions since they were supposed to be that way in the first place. Lol.

About your other concerns. My group started with Saga and only recently switched to Edge of the Empire. Many of the changes I made to the system were there to make it an easier conversion for my players. One of the things that I neglected to mention in my changes summary is that we still use Weapon Proficiency. The Ranged skill is combined but if you are using a weapon you are not proficient with then you treat the Ranged Skill as 0. As such I do not think it is a problem to have them all governed by one Ranged Skill since it simplifies the dice roll but still keeps my players choosing different weapons. As for Discipline being combined with Cool, I don't see any need for those to be separate skills at all. They serve essentially the same function and my group doesn't need to think about which would be appropriate in which setting with them combined as one.

They Force Roll thing isn't a solution for Biotics actually. I perhaps wasn't very clear. All races in my game have a force sensitive rating including Star Wars races like Twi'leks and Wookies. I haven't made any kind of solution to Biotics actually I just use the Force instead. It's a straight replacement. SO if your concern about overpowered races is in part due to the auto force sensitive chance, hopefully that will help rectify it.

I very very much appreciate your feedback and your suggestion on Krogan's is especially helpful as I was having some difficulty with them. I've given the document a thorough review and there should no longer be any errors. Any further suggestions for balance or otherwise would be greatly appreciated.

How do you use weapon proficiency? Is it a talent?

So in your SW games you roll for force sensitivity? Have you made any adjustments to the Force Sensitive Exile or Emergent then?

We treat Weapon Proficiency as a talent yes. They are universal and any one can take them but everyone starts out with some of them.

We roll for initial Force Sensitivity so if you get a high enough roll than it is like being born force sensitive. Players can still choose the Exile or Emergent later if they want to. None of the rules are changed really it is just a flavor thing mostly.

I've worked out the Vorcha but I'm not sure about how to go about it with the Yahg or the Prothean...

I feel like the Yahg are hard because they are described as strong, agile, intelligent, cunning (Shadow Broker) but obviously I can't give them 3's in everything. I'm inclined to go 3, 2, 2, 3, 1, 1 but I'm not sure.

Oh, ok. Fair enough about the WP. In that case I get that ranged weapons are slammed into one skill.

As for the force sensitivity, if you roll that you're force sensitive, do you gain Force Rating 1, or does this just allow you to pick Exile or Emergent? Or when FaD comes out, allow you to pick careers from that book/game?

The Yahg... I'm not sure I'd add that species as playable. You could let it start out with 3 in everything, the coercion thing that Zabraks have, and 15 starting XP ...

As for the Prothean. Hm. Depends how you want to define them, I think 2s really, they're a bit like humans in my mind, adapting and conquering a bit like the Romans (except on a galactic scale). I seem to remember that anyone conquered was a Prothean, so in that sense Protheans were a multitude of species... but for arguments sake let's say they're one species. I'd think 2 across the board, perhaps a higher strain and/or wound threshold (like 11 or 12+, but no higher!), a free rank in one of three alternative skills (for instance: Negotiation, Know (Warfare) or Ranged (light)), the player picks at character creation and 100 to 110 starting XP.

I can't seem to remember much about them, except they seemed slightly superior and aloof...

Oh, ok. Fair enough about the WP. In that case I get that ranged weapons are slammed into one skill.

As for the force sensitivity, if you roll that you're force sensitive, do you gain Force Rating 1, or does this just allow you to pick Exile or Emergent? Or when FaD comes out, allow you to pick careers from that book/game?

The Yahg... I'm not sure I'd add that species as playable. You could let it start out with 3 in everything, the coercion thing that Zabraks have, and 15 starting XP ...

As for the Prothean. Hm. Depends how you want to define them, I think 2s really, they're a bit like humans in my mind, adapting and conquering a bit like the Romans (except on a galactic scale). I seem to remember that anyone conquered was a Prothean, so in that sense Protheans were a multitude of species... but for arguments sake let's say they're one species. I'd think 2 across the board, perhaps a higher strain and/or wound threshold (like 11 or 12+, but no higher!), a free rank in one of three alternative skills (for instance: Negotiation, Know (Warfare) or Ranged (light)), the player picks at character creation and 100 to 110 starting XP.

I can't seem to remember much about them, except they seemed slightly superior and aloof...

You are treated as having Force Rating 1 and have all the benefits that entails.

Yahg is another one I am iffy about. I probably wouldn't let my players use them unless they really convinced me.

What is the Coercion thing that Zabrak have?

Protheans have extra eyes and can somewhat see through stealthed things. They have a psychometry type ability. They are very organized and militaristic subjugating any race they feel is weaker. Technologically advanced but rather arrogant and condescending, at least in the case of Javik. I am figuring one on Charisma (Presence) and perhaps a 3 in Intellect?

If you're giving people Force Rating 1 based on a d100 roll, is it then possible to pick up Exile or Emergent without FR 1? If not, what does Exile/Emergent give you instead of FR 1?

I'd just drop the Yahg. The Coercion thing I think, is an automatic advantage or something when doing a coercion check. I may be mistaken.

Right. I didn't remember those things. So. With the eyes, remove 1 to 2 setback dice on Perception checks - or give them a boost to Vigilance?

The psychometry is difficult, but you could make an ability based on Foresee from FaD? Make it narrative more than mechanical, but like a Discipline check...? Or

Javik was a ******, so I wouldn't base an entire species on him. You could give them increased Cunning and decreased Presence... although xenophobia is also a sign of lower intelligence, so you could arguably also decrease their Intellect. I'm sure there were some charming Protheans out there or just go for all 2s...

With the abilities and depending on how you solve the psychometry-like power, I'd give them reduced starting XP, at about 90.

We roll for initial Force Sensitivity so if you get a high enough roll than it is like being born force sensitive. Players can still choose the Exile or Emergent later if they want to.

It just gives you a chance of being "obviously born with it." If you take the Exile or Emergent Specialization it is like your innate abilities finally awakening.