so i need your guys opinion on something.

our group starts a new force and destiny campaign soon, and one of my players asked if he can buy the force sensitive exile spec from edge of the empire later on. in my opinion, the purpose of the exile spec is so that edge of the empire characters can learn the force, since theres no other way of doing this in that prouct line. on the other hand, pcs from force and destiny are force sensitive exiles by default, which could be seen as, yes he can buy it since he's an exile, or no he cannot, because every spec from f&d is an exile, why bother with that non-specific exile tree.

his reasoning to buying the spec is "to push his force rating and dedication", which doesn't really go well with me, so i gravitate towards sticking to the normal force and destiny specs.

so should i let him get it? what's your guyses opinionsens on it

I would see no problem with it. If you want to get a bit more technical, I wouldn't assume that every F&D character is automatically an 'exile' from the start. I would say that would have to happen only after the Empire gets wind of a character's sensitivity. So if he plays the game, some event happens that reveals everybody is a Force user to the worst people, then I could see 'I am not an exile, so the abilities I get from the FSE tree represent me trying to learn to use my powers on my own while on the run'.

RAW he can. Your table your rules. Tell you think he's min/maxing and you don't want him to.

Personally, I don't see there being a big problem with it but I would agree that I don't like the reasoning. If all he wants is Force Rating and Dedication there are other F&D specializations which will work. Why this one in specific? There isn't a boost to FR for the initial purchase, you get FR 1 if you don't have it yet. If they want access to other talents than just force rating and dedication then the choice seems reasonable. If it is just for those two, one can increase them through the use of most available specs in F&D and perhaps one is thematically more suited to the PC as well as offering other talents that are more useful to them.

The spec can be taken for a variety of reasons, even by F&D characters. Whether or not you want to allow this as a GM is up to you, but the Exile and Emergant specs are not unbalanced compared to other specs. Keep in mind they give no career skills initially.

in my opinion, the purpose of the exile spec is so that edge of the empire characters can learn the force, since theres no other way of doing this in that prouct line.

I don't consider that the main purpose, I consider it a nice side-effect. The "Exile" spec is good for people who want to lay low, be more alert, and foster the more subtle aspects of the Force. Any Force user who wants to walk among the Muggles can make good use of it, it's definitely good flavour for any F&D campaign. I'm sure Qui Gon had it filled out. It's also as close to a "padawan" spec as the game has.

his reasoning to buying the spec is "to push his force rating and dedication",

I'd be underwhelmed by the rationale as well, but I don't think it's really a problem. All the F&D specs do what he wants, or something close, so mechanically there's little difference. I haven't checked, but I don't think the Exile is a more efficient way to get those, or if it is the difference is marginal. Even if it is, you could just insist he has to purchase both ranks of both of the Uncanny Talents...that's an extra 40XP he'll have to spend to get what he wants.

So his reasoning might be meta-gamey, but I doubt it would have an impact on your campaign.

Besides, maybe he's just bad at rationalizing I think a lot of "character first" people just pick what they want and then find a better character-development way to express it. Maybe he just needs to be better at charades...

he is kinda min-maxy, but now that i think of it, he might misunderstood the "Gain Force Rating 1" at the top of the tree and thinks he gets some free FR when buying it (his reading comprehension isn't the best ). i'll talk it out with him if he still wants it then. anyways, thanks for the insight

You do know... wait no let's rephrase

Does he know that he only can gain 1 force rating more by doing this? And that s through the talent all at bottom? At the top of the talent tree there it says: Gain Force Rating 1

The talent "Force Rating" says: Gain +1 Force Rating. He can't get one force rating more just by buying this tree! It specifically says that he gains the force rating of 1. If he already had it or even higher, then it's moot. The same with emergent and exile. Only one will give the initial Force Rating of 1.

Make sure he's aware of this.

I definitely type too slow in these days...

I don't see a problem given the fact that (as others have mentioned) you don't ADD a force rating of 1, you gain force rating 1. The only problem I see is so many people blatantly trying to brainstorm a way to retard the growth of a player's character and then labeling him/her as a min/maker in a system with no character level. You do realize that there is no xp cap and it's inevitable that a characters power increases. To fault a player for explaining his wishes in game mechanics and not the narrative begs to question a gm's knowledge of this system. The player wants these things? In the end it's the gm's job to make that journey fun via the narrative.

I don't see a problem given the fact that (as others have mentioned) you don't ADD a force rating of 1, you gain force rating 1. The only problem I see is so many people blatantly trying to brainstorm a way to retard the growth of a player's character and then labeling him/her as a min/maker in a system with no character level. You do realize that there is no xp cap and it's inevitable that a characters power increases. To fault a player for explaining his wishes in game mechanics and not the narrative begs to question a gm's knowledge of this system. The player wants these things? In the end it's the gm's job to make that journey fun via the narrative.

I have met a min-maxer in this system for the lack of a better word. T'was at a con: Corellian human, ONLY agilty up to the Maximum of 5 at the start, all 3 free ranks in piloting space. Everything else fell behind. Was bitching and moaning all the time, that the rebel adventure I was leading had not enough flight, because he can only do that. Wen't so far, that one of the other players told him off, because of this. If you want fun in this game, you have to stretch out your abilities, like a real person. extreme Specialists feel lonely in this game.

Sure, he shot himself in the foot. No need for the gm to do that for him. In narrative terms he's the Red Baron, Maverick, Po (ep7). Perhaps they didn't have much invested in other skills. That IS what xp is for. And if this player is at my table I guarantee that every session will have at least 1 pilot scene where he can shine. I attempt to let every player have their moment to shine in every session. Every Avenger had their scene time in the 2.5 hours, I should be able to do the same in a 5 hour session.

What you all call min/maxing, I'd call gimped/still in development. Without a level cap, ALL characters will end up with max skills, equipment, etc. The only difference between any 2 characters is the stage of development they are at. That term is invalid in this system.

I don't see a problem given the fact that (as others have mentioned) you don't ADD a force rating of 1, you gain force rating 1. The only problem I see is so many people blatantly trying to brainstorm a way to retard the growth of a player's character and then labeling him/her as a min/maker in a system with no character level. You do realize that there is no xp cap and it's inevitable that a characters power increases. To fault a player for explaining his wishes in game mechanics and not the narrative begs to question a gm's knowledge of this system. The player wants these things? In the end it's the gm's job to make that journey fun via the narrative.

I have met a min-maxer in this system for the lack of a better word. T'was at a con: Corellian human, ONLY agilty up to the Maximum of 5 at the start, all 3 free ranks in piloting space. Everything else fell behind. Was bitching and moaning all the time, that the rebel adventure I was leading had not enough flight, because he can only do that. Wen't so far, that one of the other players told him off, because of this. If you want fun in this game, you have to stretch out your abilities, like a real person. extreme Specialists feel lonely in this game.

Thing is, if you've got an Agility rating of 5 you are going to be pretty lethal with a blaster too. Those 5 green dice are going to be rolling a lot of pips against 1 or 2 purples. If he couldn't find anything helpful to do, he wasn't trying. Yeah, the pilot isn't going to be the star of the meat brigade, but that certainly doesn't mean he's useless with or without skill ranks in combat skills.

Thing is, if you've got an Agility rating of 5 you are going to be pretty lethal with a blaster too. Those 5 green dice are going to be rolling a lot of pips against 1 or 2 purples. If he couldn't find anything helpful to do, he wasn't trying. Yeah, the pilot isn't going to be the star of the meat brigade, but that certainly doesn't mean he's useless with or without skill ranks in combat skills.

true, he won't stink at shooting and flying. Id hit him in the dump stat. He will never get a triumph (without yellows) and won't be able to activate some cool talents. But with a balanced party he won't need to. That's what a party is for: A group of 4 average skilled characters or a group of 4 specialist characters, does it matter? I find it easier to gm for the specialist, since I know how to manipulate the campaign to allow for that moment I spoke of earlier.

Agree to all the above, but whatta ya know, he dug his own hole there: "Green dice suck!"

And, yeah min/max does not apply for this game, since you can't actually take any disadvantages or lower any traits.