I'm not sure that adding Jawa's "inflates the importance of Tatooine" ? They're just an iconic race of the genre. Given their culture, of being scavengers and traders, it seems just as reasonable that they would be migrating to other worlds, just like every other race. My enjoyment of the Jawa race doesn't really have any ties to Tatooine itself. To me, making Tatooine some super special nexus place in the lore, defeats the purpose of it being the "backwater hole in the wall" place to hide a kid with a mark on his head. But it is still a planet with a starport, and constant commercial traffic going in and out. No reason some Jawas wouldn't go off planet and join the larger community.

Jawas might be iconic but so are Tusken Raiders. And Ewoks and Talz.

I don't claim to know the rules that FFG uses when deciding which species is going to make the cut. However, I strongly suspect said species has to have a certain level of sociological and technological sophistication so that, in games, players are at parity with one another. While the isolationist Dressellians were barely industrialized when they first encountered the Empire, their active, organized opposition to Imperial rule forced them into interacting with the greater galactic community. Even in non-canon Legends material, the Jawas are just scurrying around in the background.

I mean if you are trying to copy paste some crazy mishmash of like 5 different specs, then yeah, that's going to be insane.

A lot of the custom specs I see seem to have accidentally been munchkinised... The aim not being to min-max but try to do 'the James Bond Spec' or 'the Batman Spec'.

Which can't really be done, because experienced characters are built using several specs rather than just one.

Also, sometimes just having a decent skill will be fine. A Spec is something that really defines the character, gives them all the tricks. Not everyone who we see flying a starship needs Pilot; sometimes a good Piloting/Space skill will fit. Han Solo would have the Pilot spec because it kinda defines him; Boba Fett wouldn't, no matter how good he might be, his expertise lies in other areas.

Oh I understand, and I agree that a lot of the failed spec builds are probably just missing the point of multi-speccing. You don't have to accomplish it all with one spec. It's like they want to make a Jason Bourne or Batman at character creation, and that's just not feasible.

Jawas might be iconic but so are Tusken Raiders. And Ewoks and Talz.

I don't claim to know the rules that FFG uses when deciding which species is going to make the cut. However, I strongly suspect said species has to have a certain level of sociological and technological sophistication so that, in games, players are at parity with one another. While the isolationist Dressellians were barely industrialized when they first encountered the Empire, their active, organized opposition to Imperial rule forced them into interacting with the greater galactic community. Even in non-canon Legends material, the Jawas are just scurrying around in the background.

Well they've basically said they pick the new races based on thematic synergy with the book they are published in. A book about deep space exploration and discovery, they're going to include the races most known for exploration, or being out on the fringes anyway. Book about thug types, the races most known for being brutish thugs in the SW-verse. etc etc. As to them picking races that had very little significance to the story, well you could say that of most of the ones published. Some of them are nowhere but in the EU (as far as I can tell), or were barely in the story. I mean, I lub me some Solustans, but we just see him for a few seconds of screentime in Return, yet we've got an entire entry about them. And I would argue that the Jawa's were hardly "in the background" in Episode 4. They took direct action, were front and center in a long series of scenes, and directly engaged with the main characters. If a guy with a face like labia folds who was only on screen for 20 seconds can get a write up, then the race that captured, transported, haggled, and sold the droids to the Lars family, setting up the entire MacGuffin for the story can qualify too. Sure, we're probably not going to see them, until some book about outer rim planets or something, or *shudders* a Tatooine source book. But they definitely qualify as a significant race.

As I look at almost two dozen star wars books on my shelf, I'd love to see some Compendium books put out. One for Equipment and equipment mods. One for vehicles and vehicle mods. One for Races and planets. That way It would be super easy to look up a particular thing without going through the entire library. They could add compendium only content into each one so as to sate the complaints about buying old content over again. They can also add errata.

THIS !!! A THOUSAND TIME THIS, just last game session when the group was spaceship shopping and everyone was passing books around comparing stats and trying to remember in what book they saw which ship. I mean I understand the business side of how they designed the supplement as specific book on a given topic might not appeal to every player in the group. But lets be honest RPG where never really about all the player in a group buying all the book that come out ever, So I miss the older way of doing things. I really liked the one book per topic approche as it means most of the info on a given topic in one book and easily searchable, at this rate they will need to release an across all line master index book with the location of everything once all the curent line are done, giving they don't comme out with a 4 core on I don't know the old republic era or the clone war or something, not that I would mind really could be awesome actually.

But yeah compendium bringing together all the starship all the race and all the equipment would be truly awesome, so I doubt we will ever see that.

No particular desires myself, but I've got one player who'd like to see some Mandalorian stuff and another who'd love stats for light whips.

Species: Cathar,only because Mandos are already stated out in the Rebels book.

Spec: More Bounty Hunter, and Consular ones.

Region: The Rishi maze. A entire galaxy.(Sure it's a dwarf galaxy. But, still. )

Ship: Anything Mandalorian, so: Teroch-class gunship; Daavab-class Starfighter, Kor'mk class fighter/frieghter, Kyrat Gunship, those wierd gunships that only fit like two people from TCW, Etc, Etc, Etc,

As for species, I would like to see the Mandalorian (probably a human sub species) as well as more info on their culture and home world, I mean they are iconic, my guess is they will probably appear in the fabled bounty hunter book seeing their prevalence as such in the official canon. I could also see them expanded in FaD as they often where nemesis of the Jedi in the past but that look unlikely given the current format of the book.

I would also like a Starship deck as flipping trough all those book for ship stats and all is becoming annoying, especially for the core book as they seams cheaply bound and I already see wear and tear on my AoR core book after one complet read trough and two mont on once a week play, so meh. Not sure if it's likely to happen but a girl can hope.

What I would really be trilled about would be a true ship compendium with schematic and deck plan/map of freighter and bigger ship, but given the way the line is developed I also do not feel very optimistic about it. as for ship per see I would like to see both the Raider and Gladiator as well as the rebel assault frigate, and anything that we see in Armada as I use the model as stand in when required, as many of my player are of the "I like / need visual cue variety".

I second the motion! Definitely Mandos! As I've said elsewhere, I think they're too iconic to leave out. A ship compendium would be wonderful. I hate remembering a ship I want to use in my adventure and then having to flip through ALL of my books in an effort to rediscover it.

For other species Pantorans should definitely come soon they've been in at least two of the FFG adventures already. Whatever species the red helmeted guy from Maz's cantina was.

Tusken Raiders. (Though they're humans, so I guess you could just modify the human stat block; Twi'lek heat resistance.)

And while we're on the subject....rancor PC stats!

All in all, I'm pretty happy with FFG's species choices so far.

As I look at almost two dozen star wars books on my shelf, I'd love to see some Compendium books put out.

So, the problem with putting out Compendium types of books is that by doing so, you’re basically saying that nothing more will ever be added to the game in this space, because the definitive book has just been published.

You can’t really do that until the game system is finished. And doing so doesn’t really make sense from the publisher view, because then you’d be getting greatly reduced returns on your investment.

The only effective way that I could see FFG could do this would be for them to have an online database that is constantly updated. And the terms of the contract they signed with Lucasfilm/Disney prohibit them from doing anything that could be construed to be an online game, which was defined very, very broadly. FFG is probably pushing the boundaries just by having an electronic dice roller program for their various games.

The community may be able to continue to get away with doing that sort of online database thing, but I don’t think FFG could.

The only other way to do that would be to do loose-leaf publishing, where every year you put together a new paper-only publication with holes for three-ring binders, and that includes all the things that were published that year.

But that would be a lot of duplication of effort for little or negative return on investment, and you’d have to be careful about making sure that stuff doesn’t actually slip through one channel when something related is held up unexpectedly somewhere else.

As I look at almost two dozen star wars books on my shelf, I'd love to see some Compendium books put out. ... That way It would be super easy to look up a particular thing without going through the entire library. They could add compendium only content into each one so as to sate the complaints about buying old content over again. They can also add errata.

I really like this idea, especially for playable races. The only problem is that they'd never make one until they released EVERY other sourcebook they wanted to make. A similar book for gear and ships could be cool.

I'd actually like it if they made some kind of beastiary/monster manual sort of book. Just a big collection of beasts PCs could encounter. Perhaps it is better how they organize alien beasts now by worlds, but when you're exploring (creating) uncharted planets in wild space it would be really handy.

When/if they release 2nd edition, they might start releasing compondium books for 1st edition.

The only other way to do that would be to do loose-leaf publishing, where every year you put together a new paper-only publication with holes for three-ring binders, and that includes all the things that were published that year.

I remember when D&D 2nd edition tried that with the Monster Manual. Nightmare (shudder)

FFG simply won't do a compendium, end of story (not until the end of the game line anyway).

Whether we like it or not, the design intended to give us the game in bite-sized modular parts, and over three similar lines. That's just how they decided to do things, so we may as well accept it.

They also use new splatbooks to experiment on what works and what doesn't - the invention rules in Special Modifications were expanded from what we first saw in Keeping the Peace. Other things they tried like 'Reputation' didn't really seem to work out, so they stopped doing it.

I think it works, myself, though I see why some people won't be happy with it. FFG are not going to change their approach in any case.

I still think we need some The Force Awakens species and info. Dowutin, abednedo, etc.

Honestly, I would LOVE and likely instantly buy, a The Force Awakens era core book. I know I am in the minority with this, but I love this new era.

We will see what Gencon holds.

I still think we need some The Force Awakens species and info. Dowutin, abednedo, etc.

Honestly, I would LOVE and likely instantly buy, a The Force Awakens era core book. I know I am in the minority with this, but I love this new era.

We will see what Gencon holds.

The movie isn't even a year old. They start working on the books loooong before the publication date. Since they didn't have any early access information about Force Awakens, if they have started work on it, it was at best, right after the movie released. So while I don't know if they are working on an Awakens content book, if they are, you've probably got a year or so before you would actually see it out, possibly even longer. They've got to fact check and green light everything with Disney before release, do the art, etc etc. That takes time

I am aware that the new material takes time, however, with certain characters and species like Abednedo and the pilot Ello Asty being in x-wing miniatures, countless mobile video games able to add force awakens characters, novels, comics, many of THESE wouldn't have any earlier access than FFG. There are even childrens books, visual dictionaries, incredible crossection books that can be referenced and have info defined already.

This is why I mention Gencon, as nothing has been announced so far, and Gencon is in August, it is likely the earliest time any material with the Force Awakens in it would be announced for the RPG.

As far art, well, FFG has created new content without adding art before. Several new ships introduced in the game for the first time have no pictures, so they could skip corners there.

As far art, well, FFG has created new content without adding art before. Several new ships introduced in the game for the first time have no pictures, so they could skip corners there.

I might be in the minority on this, but I wish they would include art for every ship. A ship can become almost as important as any character, and it's not like they don't have art for every race.

Hang on; I take that back... there are two things that I want as a GM: Spacetroopers and the Gamma-class assault carriers that they ride in on.

As far art, well, FFG has created new content without adding art before. Several new ships introduced in the game for the first time have no pictures, so they could skip corners there.

I might be in the minority on this, but I wish they would include art for every ship. A ship can become almost as important as any character, and it's not like they don't have art for every race.

I agree. I was intending to be sarcastic. It is actually really frustrating when they don't show the ship with the entry, as well as most peoples response of "look it up in wookiepedia".

I loved that we didn`t know the species in TFA, it made the Galaxy feel bigger and more "real" in a way. My favourite Star Wars scene of all time is the Mos Eisley Cantina one, and I liked it even better when I didn`t know the names of most of the species in it. Knowing the name of every species make the Galaxy feel smaller. Why should every background thing be explained? Why should nothing be left to the imagination? What happened to the magic of mystery? When the scene was made, the species in it didn`t even have names and backstories yet.

I wish they had made the "I'm a super goth looking alien vixen" woman who informed the First Order, be the Resistance contact, and the cute droid be the First Order contact. Would've been nice to see them play with that cliche a bit.

Parry in a non-FnD specialization. It would be great to have this in the Bounty Hunter book.

I'd like a big book of named NPCs (w/ art) with careers & backgrounds written up to be able to quickly populate a session and give it meaningful depth.

This could be in conjunction with full blown modular encounters or just plot hook ideas similar to the career books.

Some floor plans to small personal locations that go with the named NPCs location like "Bob's Bistro" or "Moe's used ship lot" etc.

I loved that we didn`t know the species in TFA, it made the Galaxy feel bigger and more "real" in a way. My favourite Star Wars scene of all time is the Mos Eisley Cantina one, and I liked it even better when I didn`t know the names of most of the species in it. Knowing the name of every species make the Galaxy feel smaller. Why should every background thing be explained? Why should nothing be left to the imagination? What happened to the magic of mystery? When the scene was made, the species in it didn`t even have names and backstories yet.

I get that... But at the same time, if there is a cool looking alien, I kind of want to play it. Now, were this rpg designed another way where species choice was only cosmetic, then no need for names or to stat anything out. However, we do have crunch, and players being what they are, I'd rather that a species have names and balanced traits.

Also, the galaxy IS fairly small.. Why else would every fiction (video game, comic, and novel) go to tatooine - though the canon has been better so far.

I'd like a big book of named NPCs (w/ art) with careers & backgrounds written up to be able to quickly populate a session and give it meaningful depth.

The Adversary cards are a good start in this space. Especially if you use the ones that Salith has done, where he has every single known Adversary that has ever been published by FFG in this game — at least up until whatever the most recent book is that he has processed.

This could be in conjunction with full blown modular encounters or just plot hook ideas similar to the career books.

Some floor plans to small personal locations that go with the named NPCs location like "Bob's Bistro" or "Moe's used ship lot" etc.

Neither of these necessarily need to come from FFG. You could just re-use some of the previous work in this space by WEG or WotC.

I mean, I’m sure that FFG would do an excellent job if they decided to do this, but I don’t see this aspect of the game being ground-breaking or earth-shaking. I see it as a “nice to have” that may or may not be likely to result in a moderate response and maybe not much profit for the amount of work required to make it happen.

Frankly, I’d rather see more region or timeline or culture-based sourcebooks.

I'm not a huge Rebels fan, but I wouldn't mind seeing the Lasat species.

I'm also hopeful we'll get the stats for the Sentinel landing craft at some point.

I'm not a huge Rebels fan, but I wouldn't mind seeing the Lasat species.

I'm also hopeful we'll get the stats for the Sentinel landing craft at some point.

Answer to the first, the Rebels sourcebook, or Donavan's blog. (If you don't mid home brew.)

Answer to the second, in the AoR Core book.(Although the crew is slightly off)

I'm not a huge Rebels fan, but I wouldn't mind seeing the Lasat species.

I'm also hopeful we'll get the stats for the Sentinel landing craft at some point.

Answer to the first, the Rebels sourcebook, or Donavan's blog. (If you don't mid home brew.)

Answer to the second, in the AoR Core book.(Although the crew is slightly off)

Not sure if any are in the few books I don't have (being that I'm only missing the AoR and FaD supplements, I would imagine not), but I would love to see Ortolans, Kitonaks, and Pa'lowicks. So sue me, I'm a Max Rebo Band fanboy. Galactic Dance Blast is the theme song of my life. Actually, Yarkora, too, please, so I can bust out my Yakface (Saelt Marae) action figure.