They have also made it clear that they plan a long way ahead, even suggesting recently that they have a roadmap for the entire series. I think once we have hindsight to look back on all the material they produce it will make more sense. An example of this I'm expecting to be played out at some point is "why are Jawa not in Special Modifications?" the answer being "Tatooine source book obviously"

They have also made it clear that they plan a long way ahead, even suggesting recently that they have a roadmap for the entire series. I think once we have hindsight to look back on all the material they produce it will make more sense. An example of this I'm expecting to be played out at some point is "why are Jawa not in Special Modifications?" the answer being "Tatooine source book obviously"

To add to this, the idea that anything from 7 would be in this book is minimal, at best. Especially where species are concerned.

I suspect that beginners box for the force awakens will pan out to something more with species and what not detailing that era.

So was there an AOR book or book announcement I missed or are they doing two AOR career books in a row?

I wonder if there will be any new ships or just planetary vehicles? I could see assault shuttles and transports, maybe larger ships which served as assault ships like the Accumulator or the CC-9600, and maybe some fighters specializing or widely used in the CAS role like the Zebra in it.

Some drop ships and troop transport ships/air speeders would be great, silhouette 3 (to fit into sil 5 vehicles).

So what other specs do you all think could be duplicated? These are my picks:

FaD will get all new specs, no duplicates here.

Between EotE and AoR we have 3 more career books to be announced, Bounty Hunter, Engineer and Spy (I think in that order).

Engineer could easily fit the Droid Tech into it, the others from SM seem too edge themed for cross over, Scholar is the other that could fit but it's very similar to Scientist. So 1 more duplicate here in the Droid Tech, with a Shipwright and a Fortifications expert.

If the Bounty Hunter book has some kind of detective in it then that could fit very well into the Spy book, sadly that would mean 3 duplicates in a single career so I hope that doesn't happen. Tactician could fit a BH too for those bigger Bounties that require a team to take down. Even Rigger may fit the BH book too, but I would prefer to see a better mix of Sig Vehicle and Piloting talents in an all new career. So 1 Duplicate here in Tactician, then a Detective (bring them in alive) and a Pirate Hunter

Spy already has 2 Duplicates, showing the broad skill base of Spy's in general, so I hope there are no more duplicates there. I'm hoping for a Cell Leader, a Ranged Specialist and an Under Cover.

Given that pretty much every F&D spec features one or more Force talents, I doubt we'll see much crossover, though certainly a few are likely to be referenced.

Engineer might include the Droid Tech, as it fits thematically, but I'd reckon on a Combat Engineer type (though if the Vanguard covers that then it's unlikely) and a Slicer/Computers expert type. The Shipwright would be nice, but I think it's a bit unlikely given the scale and cost of actually building a starship, while modding one is covered by the Rigger.

Bounty Hunter I'd agree on the Tactician (Pack Leader?) and Rigger (Fixer?), while the Detective type could be fun. However I'd suggest that the Marshal covers that, so perhaps a spec based on pure intimidation could be good.

For the Spy, I'd predict a 'Courier', who copies some Smuggler skills and is good at hiding goods, shifting goods, flying stuff and shooting their way out; an 'Assassin', who specialises in sniping and one-shotting targets; and an 'Operative', who in the manner of space James Bond is a brilliant face who can also shoot stuff.

There are 2 reasons I think we are getting a Ship builder:

1. There are a bunch of ranked Sig Vehicle talents that there are only one of, we need more!!!

2. We have rules for making every other thing a PC can own, except for Vehicles (and to a certain extent bases but I'm not crossing my fingers there, it seems too meta.

3. Bonus extra, I would love a Talent that lets a PC have multiple Signature Vehicles.

Well I would argue that the fact that Special Modifications didn't allow you to custom-build ships, or even landspeeders/airspeeders (which would be quite thematic) as evidence that such a thing is a little outside the remit of the official rules. That's not to say they might not provide custom parts at some point, of course.

They have also made it clear that they plan a long way ahead, even suggesting recently that they have a roadmap for the entire series. I think once we have hindsight to look back on all the material they produce it will make more sense. An example of this I'm expecting to be played out at some point is "why are Jawa not in Special Modifications?" the answer being "Tatooine source book obviously"

To add to this, the idea that anything from 7 would be in this book is minimal, at best. Especially where species are concerned.

I suspect that beginners box for the force awakens will pan out to something more with species and what not detailing that era.

I wouldn't count on that 100%. Although they have said they have a long-term plan, I've seen evidence of them adapting new details as they come. Technically, Rebels is in the same boat as the movies, and they've been incorporating details from that as time passes. And I know that they've added and made changes to preplanned species in the past. If they get the opportunity, they may throw in something new to chew on.

And from what I can determine, the Vanguard is likely to be a combat engineer type - part-saboteur, part-demolitionist, part-tank hunter, but still able to hold their own in a fight.

That sounds great, I'll have to do a Mandalorain Vanguard...

There are 2 reasons I think we are getting a Ship builder:

1. There are a bunch of ranked Sig Vehicle talents that there are only one of, we need more!!!

2. We have rules for making every other thing a PC can own, except for Vehicles (and to a certain extent bases but I'm not crossing my fingers there, it seems too meta.

3. Bonus extra, I would love a Talent that lets a PC have multiple Signature Vehicles.

Well I would argue that the fact that Special Modifications didn't allow you to custom-build ships, or even landspeeders/airspeeders (which would be quite thematic) as evidence that such a thing is a little outside the remit of the official rules. That's not to say they might not provide custom parts at some point, of course.

I'll be shocked if they don't include rules for making your own ships and vehicles at some point

1: Custom ships and vehicles have always been a huge part of the setting

2: The competition between the two sides ship and vehicle designers is a key part of the back story

3: It would be a fairly easy system to add IMO. (Frame of Sil X has Y Hard Points and costs Z Credits plus the attachments weapons and engines the designers add)

4: I don't have my core book handy but wasn't designing new vehicles specifically mentioned as something Engineers did?

There are 2 reasons I think we are getting a Ship builder:

1. There are a bunch of ranked Sig Vehicle talents that there are only one of, we need more!!!

2. We have rules for making every other thing a PC can own, except for Vehicles (and to a certain extent bases but I'm not crossing my fingers there, it seems too meta.

3. Bonus extra, I would love a Talent that lets a PC have multiple Signature Vehicles.

We have no attachment crafting rules either. And that sounds a lot more inline with a soldier book. And it would lead just fine into the engineer doing the same in big for vehicles. And an engineer and bounty hunter book is what still missing as well. Together with the missing FaD spec books. We've got smugglers and aces, soldiers and hired guns, colonists and diplomats, we've got commanders and explorers. We've got technicians, but not engineers. As well still missing are spies and bounty-hunters. Vehicle building fits for sure best into the engineering book, weapon attachments sound like a good deal for soldiers.

Oh and speaking of vehicle signature abilities, a soldier spec focused on vehicle supported infantry combat would be cool. As signature ability I doubt it. we have aces for that and they do **** fine.

edit: Though a signature ability AIMED against vehicle might be actually very cool and very fitting for soldiers. Afterall they have to deal with those.

I'd hope that the Heavy will decently account for anti-tank duties, though the Vanguard might also have some talents for that purpose.

Heavy is just going to be the same as it is in Dangerous Covenants, yeah? The only possibility it may be different is if there's an editing copy/paste error. I guess they could be anti-tank, with Barrage, but they're really good with Auto-fire more than anything.

Heavy is just going to be the same as it is in Dangerous Covenants, yeah? The only possibility it may be different is if there's an editing copy/paste error. I guess they could be anti-tank, with Barrage, but they're really good with Auto-fire more than anything.

They get a different signature ability, so there might be some anti-tank synergie.

It's last in the tree, but that Triumph for +1 Breach is a good anti tank ability, and considering that Barrage works with Gunnery that's serious firepower there.

At this stage though I think it's the Synergy between Heavy and Sharpshooter that's got my attention, Targeted blow, True Aim and Sniper Shot really open up some big cans of whoop A. I guess we need to see what that Vanguard and the Signature Abilities are though.

A Sig Ability that reduces difficulty to hit vehicles, has a breach upgrade and adds to crit rolls would be rocking.

Hopefully there will be. Certainly Age campaigns have far more hostile vehicles than Edge ones.

For Signature Abilities I'd say we'll likely see one that will massively boost a single shot in the style of a sniper/tank hunter, with upgrades giving increased damage, accuracy, ability to disregard Setbacks/apply Boosts and maybe even some sort of AoE effect. The other will be some sort of 'forlorn hope'-type ability, giving incredible resilience in exchange for having to run into gunfire/rescue your friends.

Soldier is my favorite career and this is the book I have been waiting for.

I can't wait to discover more about the two new specs, and those signature abilities- so excited! The gear! The vehicles! The new rules! The species- what species could they be? I know Ubese don't really work here- they work more in the Bounty Hunter book- but I want them. So much can be done!

I am very, very excited.

Actually, let me throw a few thoughts out there:

The Trailblazer specifically is described as:

"...swiftly traverses rugged terrain, serving as a scout, a guide leading allies, and a wilderness infiltrator."

Stalker and Outdoorsman seem likely. Maybe Natural Outdoorsman or Natural Hunter. Long lost sibling to Survivalist? Or more diverse?

And the Vanguard:

"...extraordinarily tough, skilled at breaching enemy fortifications, and excels at leading the charge into combat."

Armor Master, maybe? Makes sense, 'specially if it gets Armor Master (Supreme). The leading the charge bit may be Coordinated Assault. If Vanguard does reference Battlefront, then maybe some of Demolitionist's talents (specifically Improvised Detonation; Saboteur has the rest).

I can only assume Trailblazer will have Swift as well, probably Keen Eyed, and possibly Heightened Awareness too. I hope there is a specialist style talent too, something new, but can't imagine what.

Vanguard's "extraordinarily tough" could be a rank of Enduring along with Supreme Armour Master, also could be a good character to bring in Suppressing Fire or Prime Positions into the AoR line.

Honestly the Commando/Vanguard is shaping up to be one very tough build, with lots of ways to bring the hurt.

See post below.

And the Vanguard:

"...extraordinarily tough, skilled at breaching enemy fortifications, and excels at leading the charge into combat."

Armor Master, maybe? Makes sense, 'specially if it gets Armor Master (Supreme). The leading the charge bit may be Coordinated Assault. If Vanguard does reference Battlefront, then maybe some of Demolitionist's talents (specifically Improvised Detonation; Saboteur has the rest).

Honestly the Commando/Vanguard is shaping up to be one very tough build, with lots of ways to bring the hurt.

Give it to me.

The book is now marked to On A Boat.

Eh, nevermind.

With the amount of Rebels stuff FFG has been releasing in the various Star Wars lines lately, I think we will absolutely get Lasat as a player species. This also feels like a likely place for Snivvians, given FFG's habit of including background species from the Cantina and Jabba's Palace scenes, plus they showed up a few times in the Clone Wars. Hopefully the third one is something classic from the EU - I would love to see Herglic but Barabel or Houk might fit for the Soldier book. It's also possible this would be a good place for them to reprint Wookiees if they want to pull them into AoR.