So in the discussion thread about the new sourcebook for technicians an old topic resurfaced:

What about a mandalorian sector book?

So I took some time and wrote together, how I could envision what such a source book should encompass.

• Apart from a mandalorian human, the species I would include should all have some history with the mandalorians. Since FFG is drawing hugely from Legends canon I would suggest the cathar, a planet which suffered greatly under mandalorian conquest. Then maybe Herglics? No just kidding, but I really want Herglics!
• It should of course include a lot of Mandalmotors vehicles, maybe even a basilisk war droid of old. Definietly the pursuer though and the StarViper.
• Lot's of personal gear and weaponry like crushgaunts, beskad knifes and naturally the Beskar'gam itself in different strokes. Also special rules of how players can acquire them, because I don't want it to be won by one lucky modified throw!
• texts on mandalorian culture and how a player can become a mandalorian. Maybe even a lone universal specialization tree for that, like the recruit. It could have some talents which represent some of the mandalorian fortitude and fighting techniques. Maybe even more than one, representing the different mandalorian factions.
• The most important planets for mandalorian history inside and outside of mandalorian space. So yeah, Planets like Concord Dawn, Mandalore are fine, but also important would be Onderon (where we had a beginners box take place, but no fully fledged planet description yet), it's Moon Dxun, the remnants of Malachor V, Cathar etc.
• The remnants of the grand army of the republic and their somewhat mandalorian heritage could also be written about.
• Adventure seeds about the different mandalorian factions, like what happens when you hit upon a group of Death Watch Mandos?

So those are my thoughts and as you can see, there is actually a lot to draw from. What are your thoughts on this?

I'd also like to hear counterarguments. I don't need a mandalorian sourcebook that desperately, but they are such an integral part of Star Wars, especially now that we have a "nice" one in Sabine Wren.

MOELANDER out

Togorians need to be in the sourcebook for 2 reasons. 1) they were one of the first races the Mandalorians didn't conquer but instead recruited. 2) everyone wants to play as cat people

Good point! Then there are already two Cat-people viable for the species in this book! The Cathar and the Togorians.

Those who say, there's not enough stuff on the mandalorians to make a boom of don't know their old lore enough. And FFG is using tons of "legends".

I was going to mention the Togorians as well. Other than being a victim in the Mandalorian Wars, there aren't a lot of reasons to associate the Cathar with the Mandalorians. It actually sounds like a very good reason for why they wouldn't be in the book.

Anything Mandalorian is a major base breaker. Tread with caution. I would have it reconcile all the different portrayals, thereby pissing off everybody in equal measures.

Those who say, there's not enough stuff on the mandalorians to make a boom of don't know their old lore enough. And FFG is using tons of "legends".

Yes!

Rules on Beskar'gam would be nice, especially as it is lightsaber resistant. I think a recruit specialization tree for becoming a Mandalorian is a great idea as well, and it would be fun to throw into a game!

Mandalorians are very involved in the Edge world. It would be a shame not to have some kind of material for them.

Rules on Beskar'gam would be nice, especially as it is lightsaber resistant

So, armour with the Cortosis quality?

Rules on Beskar'gam would be nice, especially as it is lightsaber resistant

So, armour with the Cortosis quality?

I suppose we could represent it with the rules we have now, but I think there should be a Beskar quality to represent the difference in material.

Rules on Beskar'gam would be nice, especially as it is lightsaber resistant

So, armour with the Cortosis quality?

More or less. The Beskar'gam is a bit more than that though!

I suppose we could represent it with the rules we have now, but I think there should be a Beskar quality to represent the difference in material.

Especially since Beskar is supposed to be quite a bit heavier than cortosis. In my group we houseruled, that the beskar quality can't be modded, it needs to be innate, since the armor is made from the stuff, not just coated with it (you can't make armor from pure cortosis). So here are our rules for the Beskar quality:

• Beskar: Armor made from beskar is resistant to pierce and breach and can't be sundered; add 2 encumbrance to the armors base encumbrance; you can't retrofit armor with the beskar quality, you need to buy or otherwise get it with the quality; add 25.000 Credits to the price.

That is how we play with beskar. It doesn't add to soak though, but is more resistant to lightsabers.

*EDIT* And I forgot, that it's incredibly rare, so rare indeed, that you can't get it by rolling dice, you need to know a mandalorian smith, who is willing to make you ine, which basically boils doown to becoming a mandalorian.

Rules on Beskar'gam would be nice, especially as it is lightsaber resistant

So, armour with the Cortosis quality?

More or less. The Beskar'gam is a bit more than that though!

I suppose we could represent it with the rules we have now, but I think there should be a Beskar quality to represent the difference in material.

Especially since Beskar is supposed to be quite a bit heavier than cortosis. In my group we houseruled, that the beskar quality can't be modded, it needs to be innate, since the armor is made from the stuff, not just coated with it (you can't make armor from pure cortosis). So here are our rules for the Beskar quality:

• Beskar: Armor made from beskar is resistant to pierce and breach and can't be sundered; add 2 encumbrance to the armors base encumbrance; you can't retrofit armor with the beskar quality, you need to buy or otherwise get it with the quality; add 25.000 Credits to the price.

That is how we play with beskar. It doesn't add to soak though, but is more resistant to lightsabers.

*EDIT* And I forgot, that it's incredibly rare, so rare indeed, that you can't get it by rolling dice, you need to know a mandalorian smith, who is willing to make you ine, which basically boils doown to becoming a mandalorian.

There is nothing in this system that is "rare beyond rolling dice."

Shipwise I would like the Cabur class fighters from the original Marval SW comics, and any Mandalmotors fighters from Galaxies that haven't appeared in other sources, plus the Starviper. I would like the Pursuer and Crusader classes, and maybe the Vengeance class. I would also love some FFG created Mandalmotors capital ships. I really wouldn't want the Keldabe to appear again though because it has already been in an EOE Career book, and an EOE Adventure book.

Rules on Beskar'gam would be nice, especially as it is lightsaber resistant

So, armour with the Cortosis quality?

More or less. The Beskar'gam is a bit more than that though!

I suppose we could represent it with the rules we have now, but I think there should be a Beskar quality to represent the difference in material.

Especially since Beskar is supposed to be quite a bit heavier than cortosis. In my group we houseruled, that the beskar quality can't be modded, it needs to be innate, since the armor is made from the stuff, not just coated with it (you can't make armor from pure cortosis). So here are our rules for the Beskar quality:

• Beskar: Armor made from beskar is resistant to pierce and breach and can't be sundered; add 2 encumbrance to the armors base encumbrance; you can't retrofit armor with the beskar quality, you need to buy or otherwise get it with the quality; add 25.000 Credits to the price.

That is how we play with beskar. It doesn't add to soak though, but is more resistant to lightsabers.

*EDIT* And I forgot, that it's incredibly rare, so rare indeed, that you can't get it by rolling dice, you need to know a mandalorian smith, who is willing to make you ine, which basically boils doown to becoming a mandalorian.

Exactly. Beskar'gam is pretty much restricted to mandalorians IMO. You shouldn't be able to get it by any other means.

Obligation, for those things that money can't buy...

Especially since Beskar is supposed to be quite a bit heavier than cortosis. In my group we houseruled, that the beskar quality can't be modded, it needs to be innate, since the armor is made from the stuff, not just coated with it (you can't make armor from pure cortosis). So here are our rules for the Beskar quality:

• Beskar: Armor made from beskar is resistant to pierce and breach and can't be sundered; add 2 encumbrance to the armors base encumbrance; you can't retrofit armor with the beskar quality, you need to buy or otherwise get it with the quality; add 25.000 Credits to the price.

That is how we play with beskar. It doesn't add to soak though, but is more resistant to lightsabers.

*EDIT* And I forgot, that it's incredibly rare, so rare indeed, that you can't get it by rolling dice, you need to know a mandalorian smith, who is willing to make you ine, which basically boils doown to becoming a mandalorian.

Did you eliminate Cortosis Weave from your game? Because if you didn't, I can't see the value of getting this. It costs more, weighs more, and does the exact same thing. Attachments and mods can simulate a variety of things. From simply modifying gear to giving it a complete overhaul. Personally, for me, Mandalorian armour can be any armour with the cortosis quality, whether from modding or having been found as "treasure".

Okay, I'll bite. What kind of EotE campaign does one run in Mandalorian space or how does Mandalorian space make itself specifically suited to stories about smuggling, bounty hunting or dealing with "Wild West" colony issues?

Wookieepedia's entry on Imperial occupied Mandalore portrays the planet as one literally enslaved by the Empire, with a great deal of the population literally in chains and other Mandalorians, like Sabine Wren, attending Imperial Academies and blindly following Imperial orders. That sounds like an Age of Rebellion setting to me.

Okay, I'll bite. What kind of EotE campaign does one run in Mandalorian space or how does Mandalorian space make itself specifically suited to stories about smuggling, bounty hunting or dealing with "Wild West" colony issues?

Wookieepedia's entry on Imperial occupied Mandalore portrays the planet as one literally enslaved by the Empire, with a great deal of the population literally in chains and other Mandalorians, like Sabine Wren, attending Imperial Academies and blindly following Imperial orders. That sounds like an Age of Rebellion setting to me.

I think it would be more suited to playing Mandalorian characters who left Mandalore or Concordia to pursue life elsewhere - though Mandalorian doesn't need to mean Mandalorian space.

You could just as easily have a Mandalorian section in the Bounty Hunter splatbook.

I suppose it depends on the era you run the game in. Mandalorians could be played much more easily in the old republic era for example. Also, just because the majority of a race are subjugated doesn't mean that there can't be some free and adventuring. Take wookiees for example. Just my thoughts.

I think it would be more suited to playing Mandalorian characters who left Mandalore or Concordia to pursue life elsewhere - though Mandalorian doesn't need to mean Mandalorian space.

You could just as easily have a Mandalorian section in the Bounty Hunter splatbook.

The OP topic specifically mentions a geographically Mandalorian sourcebook.

I suppose it depends on the era you run the game in. Mandalorians could be played much more easily in the old republic era for example. Also, just because the majority of a race are subjugated doesn't mean that there can't be some free and adventuring. Take wookiees for example. Just my thoughts.

FFG Star Wars RPGs - Edge specifically - are set in the original trilogy. A Mandalorian source book has to fit in the original trilogy time period.

I'm not arguing that Mandalorians can't adventure. I'm not arguing that Mandalorian artifacts shouldn't pop up in sourcebooks or adventures. A war droid was in the first F&D pre-published adventure. I'm arguing that Mandalore as a planet - based on canon sources - doesn't seem to fit the Edge criteria. If it's a site of direct Imperial oppression, it fits AoR. If it's a source of artifacts, it fits F&D.

Depends on whether it is an official book or a fanjob. Just to be clear, personally I don't care about mando's. I do agree that Boba Fett's armour looks cool though (in fact my cat is named after him).

If we are talking about an official book then it is unlikely that it will ever happen, it just doesn't fit the model FFG seem to be following.

Mandalorians don't tend to help the Rebellion, a lot from what we've seen, therefore I would still say Edge, especially as most of them work as bounty hunters and hired guns.

I think a mandalorian sourcebook should have a history of their part in the sith empire, but not so sure about the grand army, as that wasn't very widespread knowledge even at the time.

There should also be mandalorian specific weapons....Bes'bev, anyone?

I think it would be more suited to playing Mandalorian characters who left Mandalore or Concordia to pursue life elsewhere - though Mandalorian doesn't need to mean Mandalorian space.

You could just as easily have a Mandalorian section in the Bounty Hunter splatbook.

The OP topic specifically mentions a geographically Mandalorian sourcebook.

I suppose it depends on the era you run the game in. Mandalorians could be played much more easily in the old republic era for example. Also, just because the majority of a race are subjugated doesn't mean that there can't be some free and adventuring. Take wookiees for example. Just my thoughts.

FFG Star Wars RPGs - Edge specifically - are set in the original trilogy. A Mandalorian source book has to fit in the original trilogy time period.

I'm not arguing that Mandalorians can't adventure. I'm not arguing that Mandalorian artifacts shouldn't pop up in sourcebooks or adventures. A war droid was in the first F&D pre-published adventure. I'm arguing that Mandalore as a planet - based on canon sources - doesn't seem to fit the Edge criteria. If it's a site of direct Imperial oppression, it fits AoR. If it's a source of artifacts, it fits F&D.

This is the closest thing I've seen to how I feel about the topic.

Basically, I don't feel that Mandalorians, as a culture, are anywhere near relevant enough (in the "Classic Era" that the FFG systems focus on), to warrant their own sourcebook in any way, whether a location supplement or a "cultural SB" much as SoR is an "operational SB".

That being said, their appeal is undeniable to the fan base, with Boba Fett being one of the most loved (hell, THE most loved) non-main character in the entire OT (and probably a top 5 pick of the entire EU). With the connection to the clone wars, and now with Sabine Wren, it's a slice of the SW lore they really should address. So how should they do it? One of three ways:

1. Some sort of a major portion of a book that focuses on another, broader topic. This would be like a big section of the BH career book (unlikely), or a chapter of an eventual Star Wars: Rebels sourcebook (also unlikely, considering the other material they'd want to get in there). There's also room here for a sort of "Traditions & Organizations" book, which might include detailed information on, say, Black Sun, Zann Consortium, Tenloss, the Corporate Sector Authority, Mandalorians, Iotran Bracemen, Gand Findsmen, Czerka Corporation, etc. While a book like this might be useful in AoR and F&D, it's probably most applicable as an EotE book...likely a good candidate for release (if they did it), after all of the EotE career books were out, but while they were still working on AoR and F&D careers.

2. As part of a "Historical Reference" SB for the F&D line, or as an uncategorized supplement to be used equally well in any of the game lines.. This is also unlikely, based on the current releases, which have all conformed to a "Career Book/Location Book/Adventure" categorization theme (and all most certainly aligned with one of the game lines, but could appear once we exhaust all of the career options in EotE. Basically, it'd be an offshoot line which connected all three games and their Classic Era setting, and expanded the game possibilities to extend back to the prequel era. I could see a three book set here, with one focused on the clone wars themselves, one on the Jedi order, and a final one on all things pre-Naboo, to allow FFG Star Wars gamers to set their adventures as far back as the Tales of the Jedi Era.

Granted, an option like this would have to come WAY down the road, because they would likely want to give Lucasfilm/Disney time to establish exactly what the lore is pre-Naboo, since it's now "officially" a clean slate. Once we have some new canon lore set in this time frame, I could see FFG making "core extensions" to address the period, but they're not likely (or not allowed) to start making footprints in that driven snow just yet. As I said, this would likely be WAY down the road, as we're about to get a LOT more official source material in a few weeks, and FFG would be wise to ride that wave of fresh enthusiasm before worrying about wringing anything out of the prequels. Before they'd go there, I could far more easily see a series of "core extensions" to allow current gamers to set adventures in the sequel trilogy era, since that's where everyone will be mentally in a week and a half. One book each for EotE, AoR, and F&D to address new locations, equipment, ships, characters, etc. from the new movie (and likely one for each subsequent installment). Which brings me to the third option...

3. Most likely (to me), is that we'll see some Mandalorian tie-ins in the sequel trilogy (not to mention the spin-offs, which are already supposed to feature a Boba Fett movie), and this will be reflected in the form of a Mandalorian SB, way down the road. I think the Fett movie is slated for a 2020 release, so a Mando book at that point would likely be a HUGE draw (not even thinking about all the anticipation that would have built in the gamer community in the intervening years). At that point, they'd likely already have addressed the topic of setting games in the sequel and prequel eras, so a Fett movie that would likely cover all three would be a perfect way to address everyone's favorite warrior culture.

Okay, I'll bite. What kind of EotE campaign does one run in Mandalorian space or how does Mandalorian space make itself specifically suited to stories about smuggling, bounty hunting or dealing with "Wild West" colony issues?

Wookieepedia's entry on Imperial occupied Mandalore portrays the planet as one literally enslaved by the Empire, with a great deal of the population literally in chains and other Mandalorians, like Sabine Wren, attending Imperial Academies and blindly following Imperial orders. That sounds like an Age of Rebellion setting to me.

To start you it would be a Sector book which would account for more than just Mandalore. As for the EtoE setting - Considering that Mandalore is a planet that has domed cities were provisions are shipped in. Smuggling to avoid Imperial Customs is straight forward. With numerous Mandalorians having backgrounds as Mercenaries and Bounty Hunters you have an established setting for at least two Career backgrounds. As for Wild West Setting, that is often attributed to many colonized worlds in the Outer Rim. Not to mention what Criminal Enterprises that would in habit the Sector. Like Tyber Zann 's Consortium which is already part of the EtoE.

If we are looking at the timeline of the Original Trilogy. Within Canon we are not sure how heavily subjugated the planet is by the Empire. For what we know is that there is an Imperial Academy on the planet. Lothal is an example of a planet that had an existing Academy, but until the events of Rebels did not have that strong of an Imperial Presence. The same could be said of Mandalore.

Within Legends there is that large enslavement of the population of a Single planet in the Sector. It does not show a true lockdown of the Mandalorian People. When Shysa breaks the slaves free and arms them as his new Army the Rebellion is no where to be seen. Slavery is a part of EtoE Setting more than AOR. The freeing of an enslaved population would fit well within both settings.

I think such a book it is ok as fan made, Mandalorians or its sector has little interest in this period (in my opinion)

Especially since Beskar is supposed to be quite a bit heavier than cortosis. In my group we houseruled, that the beskar quality can't be modded, it needs to be innate, since the armor is made from the stuff, not just coated with it (you can't make armor from pure cortosis). So here are our rules for the Beskar quality:

• Beskar: Armor made from beskar is resistant to pierce and breach and can't be sundered; add 2 encumbrance to the armors base encumbrance; you can't retrofit armor with the beskar quality, you need to buy or otherwise get it with the quality; add 25.000 Credits to the price.

That is how we play with beskar. It doesn't add to soak though, but is more resistant to lightsabers.

*EDIT* And I forgot, that it's incredibly rare, so rare indeed, that you can't get it by rolling dice, you need to know a mandalorian smith, who is willing to make you ine, which basically boils doown to becoming a mandalorian.

Did you eliminate Cortosis Weave from your game? Because if you didn't, I can't see the value of getting this. It costs more, weighs more, and does the exact same thing. Attachments and mods can simulate a variety of things. From simply modifying gear to giving it a complete overhaul. Personally, for me, Mandalorian armour can be any armour with the cortosis quality, whether from modding or having been found as "treasure".

Nope, Cortosis Weave is still viable, but if you read correctly in the rules, then you'll notice that Cortosis as an armor quality can in fact still be sundered. Only weapons can't be sundered with the Cortosis quality. Which adheres to canon and is also the reason why we did not make a beskar quality for weapons.

Okay, I'll bite. What kind of EotE campaign does one run in Mandalorian space or how does Mandalorian space make itself specifically suited to stories about smuggling, bounty hunting or dealing with "Wild West" colony issues?

Wookieepedia's entry on Imperial occupied Mandalore portrays the planet as one literally enslaved by the Empire, with a great deal of the population literally in chains and other Mandalorians, like Sabine Wren, attending Imperial Academies and blindly following Imperial orders. That sounds like an Age of Rebellion setting to me.

Oh I don't know, maybe gunrunning? Family feuds? the Death Watch being general pricks? We actually had quite a few run ins with mandalorians, desperately in need of some basic stuff and hiring. Then there were those other Mandos who wanted the stuff for the Death Watch. Prooved to be quite a challenge

I think it would be more suited to playing Mandalorian characters who left Mandalore or Concordia to pursue life elsewhere - though Mandalorian doesn't need to mean Mandalorian space.

You could just as easily have a Mandalorian section in the Bounty Hunter splatbook.

The OP topic specifically mentions a geographically Mandalorian sourcebook.

FFG Star Wars RPGs - Edge specifically - are set in the original trilogy. A Mandalorian source book has to fit in the original trilogy time period.

I'm not arguing that Mandalorians can't adventure. I'm not arguing that Mandalorian artifacts shouldn't pop up in sourcebooks or adventures. A war droid was in the first F&D pre-published adventure. I'm arguing that Mandalore as a planet - based on canon sources - doesn't seem to fit the Edge criteria. If it's a site of direct Imperial oppression, it fits AoR. If it's a source of artifacts, it fits F&D.

You've read wrong then. I did mention geographic locations yes, but not in any way as you put it. Most of those locations are far away from mandalorian space. I thought along the lines of Nexus of Power which will describe different planets, strong in the force but in different parts of the galaxy. Or look at Strongholds of Resistance, which does have a few known rebel bases, but also gives you guidelines on how to create your own bases plus infrastructure.

I meant it to be the same, just shortly tell us some infos about the known planets, but more importantly focus on the culture, because that was very rich during the last few years of the old canon.

Oh and I never intended it to be an Edge of the Empire sourcebook per se. It's just that theis is the most active part of the Star Wars RPG forums.

I don't care under which label it might surface, I am fully supporting the whole line of books anyway. And again: I don't NEED a mandalorian sourcebook, i'd just like one.

So relax and just discuss politely and please don't interpret something in my posts that just isn't there.

And please don't mind my grammar, I am german after all...

A Mandalore book? Unlikely. We will probably see bits of Madalorian content here and there. Equipment, armour, weapons, vehicles, etc. Maybe a species as we have Correlian. The upcoming Bounty Hunter book or an AoR Imperial version of Strongholds (Bastions of Oppression) are good places for information.