Next week I am starting up a new campaign and chose F&D as the basis.

I got together with the 4 players and made it clear to them that they could take any species from any book (I have all releases thus far) and could choose to be non-force sensitive if they wanted to. So, all careers and all races were available...

The party as it turned out is:

- Human Warrior Ace Pilot

- Cerean Consular Healer

- Nautolan Sentinel Shadow

- Togruta Seeker Hunter

All 4 went with careers and races straight out of the new Core Rule Book, they didn't think twice.

Apparently it captures to the tone it sets out to perfectly...

Also seems like a really well rounded party.

So far the majory of groups I have participated in have been mostly lightsaber users.

I am pretty sure that once we get to finding their Crystals they will make a foray into those specs too!

That is how our group setup. Only the Shii-Cho Knight was taken, the rest are taking their primary specs and anticipating / dreading the creation of the lightsabers...

Unless the GM gives them their Lightsaber in the first or second game.... like the games from the Rulebook and GM Kit... then I would find it unwise to invest in a LS form specialization and never be able to truly make it shine since you don't yet have your LS.... so starting with another Specialization is probably wiser and you have access to the Force Rating talent, unlike the LS specs (except Niman).

I'm also really pleased with the book as is, but am eagerly awaiting additional splat books. There's a couple characters I've tried to put together and they just don't have what I want/need yet, but I'm betting once a few supplements are out there I shouldn't have any problems.

Unless the GM gives them their Lightsaber in the first or second game.... like the games from the Rulebook and GM Kit... then I would find it unwise to invest in a LS form specialization and never be able to truly make it shine since you don't yet have your LS

Or you did what my characters did and pick up a training saber or an ancient sword during character creation.

Unless the GM gives them their Lightsaber in the first or second game.... like the games from the Rulebook and GM Kit... then I would find it unwise to invest in a LS form specialization and never be able to truly make it shine since you don't yet have your LS

Or you did what my characters did and pick up a training saber or an ancient sword during character creation.

Pretty much.

I've got a Guardian/Soresu Defender in my game that's making use of an ancient sword currently (player just can't quite wrap his head around the idea of a training 'saber on type of having any sort of 'saber is far to obvious for a former Jedi initiate trying to keep a very low profile). He's able to do fairly well... at least when his dice cooperate; it's not often you see a player roll blanks on multiple proficiency dice on multiple rolls.

In the same breath, I've been playing an Ataru Striker and a Shii-Cho Knight in two separate games, and neither of those characters made frequent use of their 'sabers in the beginning; the Striker carried a light blaster pistol and the Knight relied on fisticuffs if they got into a fight and didn't want to advertise "Hey Everyone, There's a Jedi IN DA HOUSE!!!"

Actually, the Shii-Cho Knight doesn't need a lightsaber yet. As most of the skills apply to lightsaber, brawl and/or melee she is getting along just fine without it. I think everyone else in the group is glad of that, because they are afraid that when she finally gets it, she will pull it out every chance she gets... she's a bit on the short side and has this annoying habit of trying to conquer the manliest man of any group. It's great, but it's going to get them in so much trouble. I see the Empire in their future, much as the rest of them are trying to hide...