So after reading the announcement article for Savage Spirits, the sourcebook for Seekers, and particularly examining the section that discussed the three new specializations, I have come away feeling a bit worried. All of the Specializations for Seeker seem to be focused on the same concept, and they all seem to make the characters who take them fulfill the same role. For example how is the new Executioner Spec. going to be all that different from the Hunter Spec. from the Core Book? And the Navigator Spec. sounds like it will do very much the same thing as the Pathfinder Spec. from the Core Book (though probably minus the animal companion focus). The fact that the way they describe these new specializations in very similar ways to the two Specs from the Core Book is concerning, especially considering that the two Core Book Specs are already so similar.

Compared to some of the other Careers in the Core book, there seems very little reason why someone in one of the available (and soon to be available) Specs. would ever want to spend XP to buy into another Spec that does practically the same thing. Even the Guardian, which I thought would be susceptible to a similar problem when it got its sourcebook, managed to produce six unique Specializations (really 5 and a lightsaber form) that each have their independent archetype and focus, and would still be useful if a character wanted to buy other Specializations within their Career.

Now I get that there is little to get all that worked up about, seeing as the announcement article only had a few brief paragraphs discussing these new Specializations, but I felt that there was enough precedent to ask the greater community what their thoughts on this was. Do you think I am getting upset prematurely? Is there any substance to my concerns or is there a key something that I am missing from the Seeker Career that would help me understand FFG's decision process?

Can't wait to hear what others think!

P.S. the jury is still out for me on what to think about new the Hermit Specialization. Based on the information from the announcement article, I honestly don't know what to make of it!

Hunter has a much keener focus on hunting and tracking (Hunter, Keen Eyed, Expert Tracker, Uncanny Reactions, Natural Hunter, etc.) with only one talent for Ranged weapons (Intuitive Shot). From the sound of it, Executioner might be closer in line with Assassin or Sharpshooter, with a heavier emphasis on Ranged combat itself. And, it will likely get the conflict talent - I mean, it is called "Executioner."

With Navigator getting Astrogation, I image it will have more focus on traveling than just animal and Survival, probably including space travel in that. So while Pathfinder is good at wilderness survival, Navigator can compliment Seeker's Piloting skills, and fill that party slot if there's no Starfighter Ace. It could also have some of Beast Rider's talents.

Hermit is still a mystery, but it could be like Sage and Seer, with two ranks in Force Rating. Maybe Knowledge based?

There's been a couple of books now - not necessarily just in F&D, but in the other ranges too - where I was going "Hey, wait a moment - how is that going to work" before the book dropped, and my fears were soothed when I got my hands on the actual tome. Mind you, not all of the specs I'm interested in playing, but I now just assume that FFG knows what they are doing and have given up worrying.

I think it's too early to be worried and we haven't been given reason to think that these won't be unique. Just because you can find links between what is being offered and what we already have doesn't mean that they are really there. It is best to just wait till the books actually drop and make the case then. Because right now ...... all anyone can do is just guess.

There's been a couple of books now - not necessarily just in F&D, but in the other ranges too - where I was going "Hey, wait a moment - how is that going to work" before the book dropped, and my fears were soothed when I got my hands on the actual tome. Mind you, not all of the specs I'm interested in playing, but I now just assume that FFG knows what they are doing and have given up worrying.

Trader vs Entrepreneur

Hermit sounds like it could be a Pathfinder without the combat, possibly with more survival and seeing the future type talents. I hope it introduces a new talent or 2 for interacting with its animal companion. It may be another spec with 2 force ratings and no dedication too, making Hermit and Pathfinder a great way to get FR 4 and be able to have a Silhouette 2 animal companion. It could possibly introduce a talent that allows more than 1 bonded animal, having a pack of dogs or Hawks or something could be great.

I fully expect Hermit to be based heavily on OT Yoda. With a dash of Obi-Wan.

After rereading it, Hermit sounds like it will get two Force ratings, and have the animal related talents.

The Executioner is also a specialisation that I don't need personally. It does sound very much like the hunter, maybe it has more of an urban focus than the hunter, but I don't really need another "force killer" (just my personal preference).

The Navigator however is a spec I eagerly anticipate, because I guess it will be a space traveller with piloting and astrogation related talents (and maybe new powers). So that could be really interesting.

Otherwise I have to agree with the other posters before me: so far I have not been disappointed by any of the books really, even when the specs were not the best ever.

We don't know enough about them yet to make anything beyond guesswork.

Also, some of them are clearly designed to be complimentary to each other, and add synergies to existing classes.

My guess so far is that 'Executioner' is heavy on the rifle combat and sniping, in a way that Hunter isn't. Navigator concentrates more on Astrogation and space exploration than the Pathfinder does, and Hermit is the Yoda-type class that focuses more on the Force, probably with two Force upgrades at the expense of Dedication.

I wonder if any of them will have lightsaber focus? It would feel a bit odd that only one specialisation in six would offer the LS skill, when it seems so iconic in the lore. My players found it odd that none of the careers have it as a skill.

Possibly 'Keeping the Peace' set a precedent with 'Armourer' being a lightsaber class? .

As for Executioner, I wonder if that will offer the Lightsaber skill, and make a PC whose adept at both ranged and melee combat? In addition to having at least one talent that generates auto-conflict like the Warden and Aggressor have. I could see Hermit being not only Force-focused (two Force Rating talents, no Dedication) but maybe borrowing a bit from Pathfinder and having talents that allow the character to better interact with animals.

As for the new Force power that's sure to be included, I'm personally hoping that it'll be something to do with animals and beasts, in much of a similar theme as we've seen Ezra doing in Star Wars Rebels over the past few episodes. Perhaps initially starting out with just making a connection and making an animal within short range be more friendly towards you, and then expanding from there. Range Upgrades and Magnitude Upgrades certainly make sense, Duration Upgrade, either short term like Influence or a "commit Force die" is also a possibility. Strength Upgrades might function like Move to let you affect larger beasties, and finally a couple of Control Upgrades to let you do fun stuff like boost Survival checks made to ride a beast.

I also suspect we'll see something of a retread of the beast riding rules that showed up in Stay on Target, much like we saw a re-tread of Far Horizon's Homestead rules in Desperate Allies. Given the one article we've gotten has a section devoted to mentioning all the new critters as well as the first piece of artwork being a Lannik surfing on the back of a reek, it'd make sense to include said rules in this book rather than require players to pick up a book that's far more devoted to pilots.

Good point, Donovan - I wondered if 'Executioner' might be the Force version of an Assassin, with both close and ranged combat skills?

I'm happy to see new Force powers in the splatbooks, and to refine and develop the systems like Mass Combat. Unlike many systems, the FFG SW splats are packed with good stuff.

An 'Animal Empathy' Force power would be very fitting.

Did you guys read anything on the thread? Or the release article, or the product page? It names the power: Farsight.

Did you guys read anything on the thread? Or the release article, or the product page? It names the power: Farsight.

Meh. People's live have ended because people don't read things.

Farsight definitely sounds like Force Vision, with upgrades to range, possibly a control upgrade to see through others eyes (possibly animals?), mastery may let you share that vision with others too.

Executioner sounds a lot like Big Game Hunter, Quick Strike, Hunters Quarry and Bring it Down all fit the description very well. probably with some of the Force Talents relating to stealth and tracking too, such as UnCanny Senses and Slight of Mind. It's definitely odd for FaD to have 2 ranged heavy specs in one career, but I think it's the stealth and heavy hitting that Executioner will bring. And Bodyguard, Merc Soldier and Heavy are all varieties of a ranged heavy and all from the same career, but are quite a bit different, I'm sure it will make sense.

Navigator sounds a lot like the Fringer and Scout to me, but probably with a couple of new Force Talents to enhance their navigation skills.

Wish they would release the Warrior-book already.

Wish they would release the Warrior-book already.

I wonder if it will be last just like Bounty Hunter is for EotE

Wish they would release the Warrior-book already.

I wonder if it will be last just like Bounty Hunter is for EotE

Propably... :/

Wish list or predictions for the NAVIGATOR Spec.

To me, the Navigator spec sounds a lot like Jori and Gav Daragon, hyperspace explorers trying to find new or lost worlds, mapping new hyperspace routes and discovering new civilizations. I think the talent three should reflect that. It should have a mix of 3 types of talents : Piloting and astrogation ; Survival and First contact ; Repairs.

Piloting and Astrogation (it's his primary job) :

- Galaxy Mapper and Master Starhopper are no-brainers and should be there.

- I'd like some Force talent like "Instinctive Astrogation" where you can add Force Dice to Astrogation checks.

- Going into uncharted territories, you never know when you'll pop in the middle of an asteroid field or some other spatial anomalies, so a 1-2 Ranks of Skilled Jockey is a must.

- Getting those precious few seconds to calculate the jump to hyperspace while trying to dodge those pirates that you just stumbled upon, Brilliant Evasion would be nice.

Survival and first contact (you'll want to explore those new worlds) :

- Finding water, food and shelter seems like a good idea when first landing on a world, especially if you're out of supplies a few parsecs from civilized space, so Forager would fit nicely.

- Since you might meet with new people, being able to understand them would be nice, so Sense Emotions could help a lot.

- And since you explored a great many worlds, Familiar Suns would seem like a natural match.

Repairs (nothing spells death more then a broken ship on an uncharted planet) :

- Just to help you get back in space and to the nearest civilized world, Solid Repairs would be especially usefull.

- You also never know when your precious tool box will be stolen by native rat lizards, so Mental Tools could be handy too.

- Icing on the cake, no spare parts are available, why not scavenge some parts from the working systems with Redundant Systems.

I konw there are a lots of good talents that I propose... maybe too many for one spec. Especially if you have Force Rating and Dedication too.

I did a build but can't post it for an Unknown reason... was pretty sweet.

I loved my spec so i'll copie it like in the good old days

Skilled Jockey Galaxy Mapper Forager Solid Repairs

| | |

Grit Forager ------------------- Grit ------------------- Mental Tools

| | | |

Skilled Jockey Sense Emotions Galaxy Mapper Solid Repairs

| | |

Master Pilot Instinctive Astrogation ------ Familiar Suns Redundant Systems

| | | |

Brilliant Evasion ----- Force Rating --------------- Master Starhopper ----- Dedication

What do you guys think ?

Wish they would release the Warrior-book already.

I wonder if it will be last just like Bounty Hunter is for EotE

The ones I am most interested in are warrior and mystic, so they will be the last two to come out. In fact FFG will probably loose the license or abandon the line with those two unpublished. Just the way my life goes.

Wish they would release the Warrior-book already.

I wonder if it will be last just like Bounty Hunter is for EotE

The ones I am most interested in are warrior and mystic, so they will be the last two to come out. In fact FFG will probably loose the license or abandon the line with those two unpublished. Just the way my life goes.

I find it unlikely that this game will end before it releases all it's career books. Short of this game suddenly tanking I just don't see it happening.

Everything keeps selling out, reprints sell out, it seems to be performing as well as FFG projected. And there is a Star Wars movie every year for the next 4 years, not to mention Rebels (and probably an animated series between Ep6 and Ep7) Its not just popular with fanboys either, its in the mainstream too. So personally I worry more about how FFG are going to satiate everyone after all the career books are out!