Signature abilities?

I have the book in hand!

Any questions? Keep in mind, I collect the books and typically skim through, but it takes me a while to actually get through them and rarely have a chance to play, so I may not be totally up to date on everything that has been released so far.

What ships does it have? Any notable equipment? Any notable special rules added? Rough impression, how are the new specializations?

Reinforces the "what ships?" question and crosses fingers hoping for some nice sil 5s and sil 6s along with some Alliance sil 7s.

I'm curious about the Mass Combat rules and if they're different from what we have now.

And also commendations. What's that about?

I have the book in hand!

Any questions? Keep in mind, I collect the books and typically skim through, but it takes me a while to actually get through them and rarely have a chance to play, so I may not be totally up to date on everything that has been released so far.

But...But...it's not out yet!

...Seconding, "What are the signature abilities called and what do they do?" Question.

Also, general overview of the specialization trees?

Keep in mind that I don't have a great understanding of the rules and what makes something "good" or not.

Specializations:

-Figurehead (civilian who has a leadership role in the military, like Mon Mothma or Leia)

-Instructor (think drill sergeant)

-Strategist

Signature Abilities:

-Rousing Oratory (give a speech to make allies less reluctant to do something)

-Unmatched Authority (you're good at seeing the bigger picture or cutting through the fog of war)

Gear

-A few uniforms or symbols of command that grant bonuses to social skills in military settings)

-Field equipment (a lot of stationary shield generators, weapons batteries, etc.)

Vehicles

-SU-42RS Flashblind Aerial Recon Speeder

-AA-70 Observation/Command Speeder

-LAVR QH-7 Chariot Command Speeder

-AT-FRC Force Recon Walker

-Munificent Frigate

-Surveyor Recon Frigate

-MC80A

-Assertor-class Command Dreadnought

-Maelstrom-class Battle Cruiser

I don't feel well-versed enough in the rules to be able to comment on the mass combat rules.

The Surveyor sounds like it might be interesting, perhaps we'll transfer to one if we ever return to our rebel survey team, and its nice to see the CIS capital ships beginning to appear. There were some Legends and Canon or both ships I really hoped to see in this that didn't appear but hopefully in later books. I have to admit that I am surprised to see the Surveyor here though because from its description it sounds like a better fit for the Spy book.

Super weird they didn't run any preview articles.

Specializations:

-Figurehead (civilian who has a leadership role in the military, like Mon Mothma or Leia)

-Instructor (think drill sergeant)

-Strategist

Could you please tell me the four skills for each of the specs?

Thanks! So jealous. Marcy want.

Yippie! The new sourcebook just made the transition to "Shipping Now", meaning that if you're on the Left Coast, you're probably about 8 days out from a new Tome of Knowledge.

Mind you, we're not playing AoR and I don't see a commander in my groups future - but more is always better!

Good call on the timing. Looks like it took 9 days for someone to get their hands on it from this post.

Specializations:

-Figurehead (civilian who has a leadership role in the military, like Mon Mothma or Leia)

-Instructor (think drill sergeant)

-Strategist

Could you please tell me the four skills for each of the specs?

Thanks! So jealous. Marcy want.

Figurehead: Cool, Leadership, Negotiation, Knowledge - Core Worlds

Instructor - Discipline, Medicine, Ranged Heavy, Knowledge (Education)

Strategist - Computers, Cool, Vigilance, Knowledge (Warfare)

Thank you!

More overlap than in the Core book specs... makes sense to have some synergies now.

Mildly surprised Instructor got Medicine instead of Coercion... Maybe this isn't an R Lee Ermey type...

Thank you!

More overlap than in the Core book specs... makes sense to have some synergies now.

Mildly surprised Instructor got Medicine instead of Coercion... Maybe this isn't an R Lee Ermey type...

Well, Commander already has Coercion as a career skill, and like you said, not every Instructor is going to be channeling the Gunney when getting their troops into fighting shape. You could possibly make a case for Peggy Carter from Captain America: First Avenger being an Instructor, and while she did use a few choice insults, she wasn't overly abrasive to the recruits under her supervision unless they did something to deserve it.

Might also just be that the "barking drill instructor" routine is covered under Leadership, as you are trying to get a group of individuals to function as a coordinated unit while retaining discipline under trying conditions. I've actually seen military drill instructors who weren't as verbally abrasive as the Gunney when performing their job, and Instructor could also be intended to cover class-room instruction, where yelling insults that call into question one's parentage is not the optimal approach to imparting the knowledge your students need in order to survive in the field.

Yep, I guess why they have Education too. Medicine just seems odd though?

I was expecting Charm for Figurehead too.

Kind of curious what sils are the Surveyor and the Munificent? Also how did they deal with the Munificent's prow guns, are they Heavy Turboasers or the equivalent of Battleship Turbolasers like they were in Saga?

Yep, I guess why they have Education too. Medicine just seems odd though?

I was expecting Charm for Figurehead too.

If I had to guess, the Instructor has Medicine to be able to treat injuries incurred from field training exercises.

As for figurehead, I'm thinking that Charm is meant to win people over to your side without reservation, and would be a Diplomat sort of thing, where Negotiation (brokering deals) and Leadership (guiding lemmings and cats) are the tools of a politician, which (to me at least) is what the Figurehead kind of represents. Sort of like how the U.S. President is the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Military, even though the PotUS generally doesn't have much in the way of combat experience nor is such required for the job.

I guess Negotiation fits okay. I would have thought someone like the US President probably spends a lot of time using Charm too, though. I kind of assumed the Figurehead was a Commander with a Diplomat flavouring. I'm happy with the skills overall though.

Medicine crops up a few times as an odd fit. I never quite understood why Scout gets it over Stealth, which I'd have assumed was pretty much essential for a Scout!

Maybe it will be like Protector or something with relevant talents in the Spec tree. We shall see.

The skills and talent trees are another aspect of design where I'd love to know the dev's reasoning, to be honest. I'm sure there must be some reasoning behind it, but I can't always see it.

Super weird they didn't run any preview articles.

I noticed that all last week was that new board game of theirs, so the signal probably just got drowned out.

Of course depending on if the Street Date policy is in effect yet or not, might have a difference on News from Official Channels.

Mildly surprised Instructor got Medicine instead of Coercion... Maybe this isn't an R Lee Ermey type...

I guess Negotiation fits okay. I would have thought someone like the US President probably spends a lot of time using Charm too, though. I kind of assumed the Figurehead was a Commander with a Diplomat flavouring. I'm happy with the skills overall though.

Considering the number of presidents that have lacked charm (Nixon, Reagan, both Bush's) and yet still got stuff done I think Negotiation and Leadership are better fits than Charm.

Do any of the new specs have Inspiring Rhetoric or Scathing Tirade?

I still hate the name Figurehead, it has such negative implications of not actually holding any authority.

Firebrand is more a "Leader of the People" title.

Haven't you been reading? The figurehead has Unmatched Authority.

Haven't you been reading? The figurehead has Unmatched Authority.

Wouldn't that be the signature ability, and not a talent?

'Tis a joke: he said the name Figurehead sounds like it lacks authority; a signature ability is Unmatched Authority, so...I guess it might have been a stretch. ..

Yeah, 'Figurehead' sounds like some lame, powerless sock-puppet. I get what it's trying to do, a Commander who is a Bail Organa or Mon Mothma type, rather than a lead-from-the-front badass.

But 'Figurehead' is a weaksauce name for a Spec.

Yeah, 'Figurehead' sounds like some lame, powerless sock-puppet. I get what it's trying to do, a Commander who is a Bail Organa or Mon Mothma type, rather than a lead-from-the-front badass.

But 'Figurehead' is a weaksauce name for a Spec.

Exactly!

I was in the beta testing. My team strongly suggested finding another name, and even offered some other options.

I'm very curious to see if any of our suggestions made the cut.

Come on, Miniature Market, don't let me down.

Yeah, 'Figurehead' sounds like some lame, powerless sock-puppet. I get what it's trying to do, a Commander who is a Bail Organa or Mon Mothma type, rather than a lead-from-the-front badass.

But 'Figurehead' is a weaksauce name for a Spec.

Bail Organa... father of the rebellion... capo de tuti capi della rebellione... queue the Godfather theme.

Even plain old "leader" would be better than figurehead.