If they look to launch before Ep 7 I would think the compressed time frame would limit a book to fluff, some gear/ship ideas they've had, a few new species, and some modular encounters. A stretch would be maybe a new universal spec, but that's about it. Then again, they may have been brainstorming this for some time and were just waiting for the word from the mouse and lotsa ideas ready. Who knows.

Noticed the F&D module went to print yesterday. Maybe we will get some info updates here.

My bet is that they release a sourcebook for the Force Awakens instead of an entire new core rule book. It would be silly to put out a $60 master book for each of the new trilogy and the two anthologies as they come out. Something updating the galaxy to the new order of things including the new races, equipment, and ships featured would be optimal. And while I know they want to hit that holiday shopping season the book would have to release on 12/18/2015 to avoid spoilers for the movie. That would be the best strategy in my opinion.

As others have suggested, I believe FFG is being shoehorned into producing some kind of TFA product and that's what's holding up other potential releases (I'm going to point to those last two EotE career books again as my example).

The Diplomat source book was announced one month before Strongholds of Resistance and just released a couple weeks ago. So while it appears that Strongholds of Resistance is not on the same pace that book was, I would think Desperate Allies would have been affected by any sort of Disney mandate.

One comment we’ve heard from Sam (and other writers) is that each book progresses at its own pace, and sometimes move faster or slower than previously expected.

So, I wouldn’t tend to read too much into any delays at this stage.

Personally the only other core rulebook I would like to see is one where it combines all three CRBs in one. I mean alot of the info is repeats of the basic rules. Just include the bits on Obligation, Duty and Morality. Then just re jig it a bit to include info on all three settings i.e. Fringers, Rebels and Jedi. The page count may be slightly more than the CRBs we have now but it would be handy to have just one book to run your games rather than three.

Just my 2 credits.

The next three core books will tie into the prequel trilogy.

1. The Declining Republic-an age of unrest where organizations such as the banking clans are trying to use their vast resources to increase their wealth. The Republic is not what it used to be and relies heavily on the Jedi to solve many of their troubles. The Jedi, in turn, chafe under the weight of policing an entire galaxy.

2. The Clone Wars-the galaxy is at war. The Jedi lead cloned troops against the Seperatists and their droid armies. Intrigue and battles on many scales are taking place. Behind the scenes lurk the Sith and their minions directing the downfall of the Republic.

3. The Dark Times-the Empire rises. Jedi are all but gone in their entirety. Force-users are hunted by the Empire's forces be they stormtroopers or Inquisitors or other Sith minions. People against the Empire must hide or be brought in as traitors and jailed or executed. It is a dangerous time.

These books will take us close, if not to, episode 10. At which point FFG will begin bringing out core books based on the sequel trilogy. The first of which will be the New Destinies CRB.

FFG has done an amazing job in terms of keeping rumors in check and preventing leaks. We really don't here a peep about upcoming books until they're formally announced. Someone needs to get some of the developers liquored up at some of these Cons and give us the dirt.

I agree with two of the points made several times in this thread. First, I don't think we really need more "Core" books beyond these three. With Force and Destiny, we've got the whole Jedi angle covered. Secondly, I think a tie-in of some sort with Episode 7 (and the era being introduced by the new films) is a no-brainer.

The question is, which game would an Episode VII sourcebook be for? Or will it mark the beginning of a unified 'FFG Star Wars Roleplaying' brand?

Empire Core would be awesome. We got stupid Rebels, I want me some Empire love.

I imagine they'd probably just do a sourcebook for AoR to convert it to be able to play Imperials.

Not that you need a sourcebook, you just literally say that they're Imps instead, and if they want fighters, give them suitable ones.

*SARCASM ALERT****SARCASM ALERT**

FFG need to release a Holiday Special sourcebook... we definitely need stats for Itchy, Mala and Lumpy TBH

It should come with dot to dots, colouring pages, crosswords and pop up sections,,,, may be some stickers too... it should be a diabolical sourcebook, to be a true RPG representaion of the Holiday Special and be released the week before Thanksgiving

***END OF SARCASM ALERT - CONSTRUCTIVE ADVICE WILL CONTINUE ON ALL FUTURE POSTS***

*SARCASM ALERT****SARCASM ALERT**

FFG need to release a Holiday Special sourcebook... we definitely need stats for Itchy, Mala and Lumpy TBH

It should come with dot to dots, colouring pages, crosswords and pop up sections,,,, may be some stickers too... it should be a diabolical sourcebook, to be a true RPG representaion of the Holiday Special and be released the week before Thanksgiving

***END OF SARCASM ALERT - CONSTRUCTIVE ADVICE WILL CONTINUE ON ALL FUTURE POSTS***

At LAST, we could have stats for Bea Arthur!

Any new core book would surly end up just being a re-skin of one of the current ones, with new equip/ships and fluff, or combining different parts of multiple of the current books, which seems to be a bit of a silly idea.

i can see some room for a source book that has fluff, equipment/vehicles and either 1 entirely new career or a couple of universal specialisations that tie into a particular theme (imagine a Sith career!)

but IMHO the 3 current core books cover every major mechanic required for the star wars universe, splat books have been expanding on those mechanics (the Business and base rules, the social combat rules, and hopefully some modification/creation rules in the tech book).

I'm also curious if there are plans to do additional rules-expanding splat-books after they six from each core game are done. I kind of hope they don't. I'd rather they just phase the line(s) into additional region books and adventures.

Since the sequel trilogy and anthology films will only be a year apart I think a new core rulebook would be prohibitive. They'd be better off putting out a sourcebook covering the events between Episodes VI and VII to set up the new political factions and highlight new equipment and ships that will be in Episode VII.

If think is Disney demanded a core rule book that would be foolish. You'd at least need one for Episodes VII, IIX, and IX as the story unfolds. Not even mentioning the anthologies here. I stand my my original idea, a sourcebook bringing us up to date to Episode VII released the same day as the movie or just a hair before it would be the best business move.

I do think there will be some sort of tie-in, I'm just not sure what.

All I can think of is some sort of beginner game type set, something that's a module, characters and (simplified) rules all rolled into one to sell as a standalone one-off "Force Awakens Role Playing game" box.

Empire Core would be awesome. We got stupid Rebels, I want me some Empire love.

I imagine they'd probably just do a sourcebook for AoR to convert it to be able to play Imperials.

Not that you need a sourcebook, you just literally say that they're Imps instead, and if they want fighters, give them suitable ones.

I would love something like WEG's Imperial sourcebook for the new system. And that isn't even counting all the ships, vehicles, and other hardware which FFG hasn't included so far which could appear there.

For those thinking it will just be a surce book let me ask, for which game?

At some point we may begin to see source books coming out that are specifically applicable to all three game lines. A general Star Wars line of books possibly. Maybe a historical Clone wars source book. Or a book dedicated to the upcoming Force Awakens.

So they would break the patron they so carefully set up?

Not that the books aren't cross compatible now, but that they may eventually release books that actually draw on elements from all or some of the core books. I'm sure for now they will continue fleshing out the current the lines though. I really wouldn't be surprised to see a supplement for the new movies at some point. If Disney/Lucas doesn't call for it, FFG would certainly put forward the notion. A tie-in would be great for the game and draws more attention to the upcoming movies.

So they would break the patron they so carefully set up?

From a mechanics point of view, I think the only things that differ between the three lines is Obligation, Duty and Morality. Skills are the same, character creation is the same, stats for gear works the same... What they have released for each of the lines fits with the general theme of those lines. Adventures for the Rebellion go under AoR, for scum and villainy under EotE, for force users under FaD. So, a book that is just fluff and stats wouldn't really be for any one of those lines, so nothing wrong with a general Star Wars splat book.

I think it's a long shot in hell they'd release a CRB for the ST this close after F&D.

I could see them eventually releasing a core book for the ST that lumps together all the core careers and species, but I wouldn't expect that until at least the release of E8.

It seems more likely we'd see a supplement and maybe an adventure to coincide with each of the lines and each of the movies. Give us an EotE setting supplement and adventure, for instance, that bridge the gap between VI and VII and continue down the line.

I'm curious to see where they'll go with EotE once the career books are out. Will we just see setting and adventures following that? I'd love to see an Empire book that really digs into the inner workings of Imperial command and politics, and I think a compendium of ships and gear could be an incredibly useful supplement to have as well.

As others have said, I think they've covered the major corners of the SW universe pretty well with the three existing cores. An Imperial book would be nice, but I don't think it warrants a new core since it's so close to an Age of Rebellion game. The only feasible core expansions I could see would involve a time shift, and even then it would have to be a pretty big time jump. The only real differentiating factor on these books are careers, races, and the obligation/duty/etc. mechanics. They play to archetypes, meaning they're pretty well adaptable to anything that takes place within a fairly long span of time. I could possibly see them doing an Old Republic core book that's designed for high-power play, I guess, but I'm at a loss for where else they could go with the cores.

... so nothing wrong with a general Star Wars splat book.

No one said it was. I just think it won't happen.

If they actually want to make a bit of money off of the biggest release of the license they pay a lot of money for they won't do it by releasing a splat book for an existing system.

I think it would be wisest to cover the ST and even the PT with sourcebooks for each line. I'm sure there is enough content for them and fans like us will buy them. In the end I believe it would make them more money without alienating those of us that have purchased the core rules.

I don't see how releasing a new core book would alienate anyone...

My personal opinion is there is no reason for any additional "core" books. The first 3 are generic enough and shifting to a specific time/setting/episode only needs a campaign supplement.

I'm not sure we'll ever get that Dark Side/Sith/Empire setting book, that seems to go against the design philosophy for this game. I don't think it's needed either. But I would welcome it, as with most of the stuff they've made so far.

I wouldn't want a Empire/Evil supplement so that PC's can play those options. But a series of GM oriented supplements would be very welcome.

Empire Core would be awesome. We got stupid Rebels, I want me some Empire love.

A more coherent detailed source book for a GM would be welcome. But more player options, meh.

For me the next logical move is not more splat books such as are being churned out. But actual useful books for the GM. For instance in EotE smuggling and encounters with Imperial Customs and Law Enforcement are a given. But except for a few NPC's and a few very very generalized and very vague statements in a few of the books you have virtually no information on them.

So a supplement about Imperial Law and one about the Imperial Customs Service for he GM would be fantastic.

A supplement that covers Starships and their design as a unified rulebook. The ship side is my greatest disappointment. The silhouette stat is completely useless for descriptive narration, sure it works great as far a the game mechanics go, but as a descriptor it is useless. Plus many of the ship have no illustrations at all. Just a listing of the ships overall length would at least give players and GM's a sense of scale.

Just what does an Imperial Customs Frigate look like? What other ships does Imperial Customs use? How many Imperial Customs ships in a system is normal?

All questions that have no answer in any of the books so far.

The strongest part of the FFG Star Wars RPG is it's narrative mechanic. It's weakest part of the FFG Star Wars RPG is it's relatively nonexistent GM support. There are extensive volumes of stuff for the Players to trick out their PC's. But very very very little concrete and usable information for the GM. The Players are on the run and an Imperial Customs Patrol is in pursuit. Just what is the average crew of an average Customs Cutter composed of. Hmm... is there even such a thing as a Customs Cutter? Would a small fringe system rate a larger vessel such as a Customs Frigate? Do Customs Vessels carry small craft such as fighters? If so, What kind of fighter? What do Sector Rangers fly? Are they usually solo or in teams? Do they work well with Imperial Customs or is there interdepartmental rivalry's that make them uncooperative or even antagonistic?

Beyond the fact of having a name and a title in the books does Imperial Customs even exist as a gaming entity?

And why do they not have book called "Imperial Forces: The Army and Navy of the Empire. Vol 1" with details and information to allow the GM to better run the military aspects in their games.

And so on.