I picked up my own copy of the book, here's a quick example of the combat scars thing: A critical injury like "Fearsome Wound" or "Gruesome Injury" might count as an Impressive Scar, and allow the character to pick up a talent like Commanding Presence or Intimidating. The XP cost depends on the severity of the injury, so a talent from a Fearsome Wound (Average) would cost 15 XP, while a talent from a Gruesome Injury (Daunting) would only cost 5 XP.
Forged in Battle - quick review
Among other useful bits, suggestions for spending dice results in urban combat, during boarding actions, and in wilderness combat.
Yep, lots of great stuff here! I need sleep so you don't get anything from me tonight, but I'll be around tomorrow with my new precious with me...
Enchanted Grounds (fun game: find the triple entendre in there!)
So... we have gaming, coffee, and a
strip
gentlebeing's club?
Here are some deeper thoughts on weapons and equipment. I will spoiler them, but only so I don't take up a lot of visual space.
Weapons:
I love the war shield/hat. It is awesome! At my table tonight we did agree to only one addition to it to really mimic Cap's shield, and that was adding Linked to it. But that is a minor thing. The flavor of it is awesome. A lot of the other equipment all comes together really well. In particular, what was something you worked on?
The weapons all fit the theme of the book exceptionally well. The SE-14C is a solid piece of murder, while the DH-17 can cause a lot of pain.The A280C is likely to become a favorite for frontline soldiers at the table, though we all thought the rarity was one or two higher than it should be. The Pulse Cannon's terror potential caused some deadly laughter.
The T-7 is guaranteed to find a Nemesis-level owner as a big bad in a game soon. It screams "Kill the PCs now".
The Energy Bow is sneakily deadlier than the Pulse Cannon in a straight contest. Also has good flavor. Some f us think that it should incur setbacks to non-Kyuzo users or bonuses to Kyuzo users.
The Z-6 is really good at what it does and the potential Heavy player is impressed. The J-10 and Quad Blaster were pretty cool. The 1.8FD is impressive, and we had an idea to move it around with beasts to avoid detection during ambushes.
The SH-9 was well received. The Berserker Rifle got very high marks. The Heavy Repeater seems very effective as well.
The Shaped Thermal Grenade got us awfully excited. The CSPL-12 doesn't look like it'll see much play in our group because of how nasty a despair can be. The LJ-50 works really well against fortified enemy, and thus synergies well.
The War Shield is amazing even without the little house-rule we came up with. The dagger is cool and the utility blade is effective.
Equipment:
3-MAL. I really like it. I like how small it is, which gave a lot of us the idea that it would be awesome for rebels in Imperial territory. So many options to make it not really an obvious sign that it is a comlink. The mechanical bonuses are also very effective for that role. We've taken to calling it the Trailblazer Com.
DH77 is really, really nice. The mechanical benefits are useful, and we all liked the fluff for it.
The Artillery Remote got a big reaction. It will be used for sure. Inaccurate 2 is painful, but the advantage can be tremendous. It adds a lot to the shoot and scoot formation we were thinking.
The Low Feedback Scanner is good, but the fluff got a big reaction. Good stuff there.
The Vigilant is really effective and something I see becoming a staple. There is no mechanical element to it beyond what the GM decides which is something I like since it always it to be a piece of equipment that molds to the needs of the story and group rather than a piece of gear you lug around purely for mechanical purposes.
Nullicaine is going to become a staple. There is nothing more to say than I think it will see consistent, strong use no matter the game.
The Stimstick is super situational but I think it is an awesome little addition. Will it be used often or in many games? Not really. But in certain games and with certain characters I can see it being something very special story and character wise.
the Traumapack is solid, but my group is 50/50 on it. In general most people seem to be willing to give up the extra credits and encumbrance for the medpak, but if credits and encumbrance are in short supply, the TP is solid.
The Condenser Unit is another of those things you won't see often, but in games where such things are important, will become vital.
The Entrenching Tool will become a required piece of gear for soldiers. It can be used as an effective weapon and is required for one of the coolest elements of the book. It is cheap. It will be used en masse. The fact it won't break is also amazing.
The Portable Power Generator is required in certain 'builds' of a group from this time hence.
The Plastent is very useful.
The Modular Backpack is AMAZING. Not only are all the units in the book amazing, but it got the entire group discussing about other modules that could be used. Artillery Remote modules, medical, etc. a lot of great stuff. It is an amazing piece of equipment not only because of what it does in the book, but what it can inspire outside of it. That, to me, is a sign of amazing work.
It is hard to pick my absolute favorite. If I had to rank my top five:
1- Modular Backpack
2- Nullicaine
3- Entrenching Tool
4- The Vigilant
5- Artillery Remote
I wasn't going to ruin the whole book for people. I left the Scars and Trophies out for a reason.
It's a solid book, worth the buy and read.
Maybe it's the parent in me, but I seem to be pushing the notion that you buy the book and read it yourself, and not look for answers on the internet. (My kids probably hate me...)
I wasn't going to ruin the whole book for people. I left the Scars and Trophies out for a reason.
It's a solid book, worth the buy and read.
Maybe it's the parent in me, but I seem to be pushing the notion that you buy the book and read it yourself, and not look for answers on the internet. (My kids probably hate me...)
You did just fine, everyone is just excited for new content. The fact this one is a "Must Have" for a lot of different people, be it because of the Clone Wars content, battlefield content, or the actual Soldier content the book was written for is just making it worse.
You went above and beyond, and I'm chomping at the bit to get my copy to I can get my hands on all the stat blocks and long descriptions you mentioned but rightly didn't post.
I wasn't going to ruin the whole book for people. I left the Scars and Trophies out for a reason.
It's a solid book, worth the buy and read.
Maybe it's the parent in me, but I seem to be pushing the notion that you buy the book and read it yourself, and not look for answers on the internet. (My kids probably hate me...)
You did great, so shush.
Later I'll do a personal review of the trees and armor.
I wasn't going to ruin the whole book for people. I left the Scars and Trophies out for a reason.
It's a solid book, worth the buy and read.
Maybe it's the parent in me, but I seem to be pushing the notion that you buy the book and read it yourself, and not look for answers on the internet. (My kids probably hate me...)
Most people will buy the book. They just want to know what all is in it before they buy. No one is expecting every word from the book to be previewed though. Just the details on what is inside the book that makes it worthy of buying. And some people are weeks (if not months if they happen to not live in the US or are unable to pay the increased prices for overseas shipments) away from actually being able to buy the book. So I would cut folks some slack for wanting all the details up front.
I wasn't going to ruin the whole book for people. I left the Scars and Trophies out for a reason.
It's a solid book, worth the buy and read.
Maybe it's the parent in me, but I seem to be pushing the notion that you buy the book and read it yourself, and not look for answers on the internet. (My kids probably hate me...)
Most people will buy the book. They just want to know what all is in it before they buy. No one is expecting every word from the book to be previewed though. Just the details on what is inside the book that makes it worthy of buying. And some people are weeks (if not months if they happen to not live in the US or are unable to pay the increased prices for overseas shipments) away from actually being able to buy the book. So I would cut folks some slack for wanting all the details up front.
Totally agree. I live in Europe and FFG books are really hard to find here (i was lucky enough to get Edge and Age CRB....no luck with FaD), so i have to deal with hugely inflated prices on amazon or shipment from US who can take forever. So i like to know as much as i can about a book before deciding to buy it.
Edited by LaregMinor annoyance: I don't like that the background suggestions often point towards Medic characters having been doctors or having had formal medical education before becoming a soldier. In my mind's eye, corrupted by exposure to actual medics, a Medic is first and foremost a Soldier that has technical training for treating battlefield injuries. The Alliance would do well to put individuals with formal education on health, illness, and treatments to use as doctors, nurses, or other professions operating (pun unintended) behind the lines.
OK, enough on that. The book looks great so far!
I guess this depends on your background. Official combat medics are soldiers first, with training. But what do you call the civilian doctor who joins a rebel cell, and receives military training? A combat medic. Although it might be more accurate to use Colonist:Doctor and add Recruit. But that requires the game to have both Edge and Age corebooks.
...often point towards Medic characters having been doctors or having had formal medical education before becoming a soldier...
... a Medic is first and foremost a Soldier that has technical training for treating battlefield injuries...
Official combat medics are soldiers first, with training. But what do you call the civilian doctor who joins a rebel cell, and receives military training? A combat medic.
Also imho it depends on the armed forces you use as basis. In a lot of military forces today what you describe Edgookin is the case. But not in all. Also there is a difference between the "front ambulance" guys that pull you out of the line of fire, stop the bleeding and dump you at a forward "field ambulance area". And we don't even talk about earth history here, but a galaxy far away.
But your general point that they could be soldiers with medical training, just as well as medical doctors with degree or nurses with blasters or anything else is valid of course.
Has anyone else noticed how Zeb got some artistic lovin' in the two most recent splatbooks, including Forged in Battle and Special Modifications?
My favorite pieces of gear from the book are the shistevan combat utility vibró knife and 5he kyuzo hat shield thing
If vanguard replaced the bodyguard (5 xp 15 xp) talents with grit, the improved bodyguard (20 xp) for enduring and the supreme bodyguard 25xp with something offensive like a deadly accuracy it would be my favorite spec in the game.
Right now demolitionist is my favorite spec in the game
Edited by EliasWindriderI like that the Soldier has a solid Bodyguard spec now, as it seems like the AoR career most likely to get stuck playing honor guard to a Diplomat or VIP. It has some nice synergy with Commando, and I always like to see strong in-career synergy. The Soldier does share a lack of Grit talents (and similar strain aids) with other combat-oriented careers, though. My Bodyguard has long had the Biofeedback System armor attachment on his wishlist, but that's a pricey fix for a low strain threshold.
For Strain issues, many Soldiers would do well to consider adding Saboteur. It not only adds a lot for Strain management, but it also adds some great career skills.
lightbulb/mind blown.... say a gadgeteer applies tinkerer to a shistavanen combat utility vibroblade and then gets a superior mod on it... does the +1 advantage now also apply to mechanics and survival checks made with the knife.
Also I don't think the Kyuzo war shield needs linked to do the captain america bouncy/pinball shield thing... just use it against minions... each crit kills another minion in a group which you can fluff as the bouncy/pinball shield thing
I've got a newly made Whiphid Soldier (Commando/Vanguard) that is likely to enjoy using that war shield with Point Blank (and, Strong Arm on occasion).
Just got my book when I got home from work.
Love it. That is all.
Minor annoyance: I don't like that the background suggestions often point towards Medic characters having been doctors or having had formal medical education before becoming a soldier. In my mind's eye, corrupted by exposure to actual medics, a Medic is first and foremost a Soldier that has technical training for treating battlefield injuries. The Alliance would do well to put individuals with formal education on health, illness, and treatments to use as doctors, nurses, or other professions operating (pun unintended) behind the lines.
OK, enough on that. The book looks great so far!
It's kinda different with rebel forces like this.
You wouldn't have field hospitals and the like, in most cases.
If you are a doctor and you join up with a rebel cell, they won't send you away to some other remote location to be a doctor there, they'd teach you how to fight and be a combat medic.
In a proper military, what you say would be true, though.
I wasn't going to ruin the whole book for people. I left the Scars and Trophies out for a reason.
It's a solid book, worth the buy and read.
Maybe it's the parent in me, but I seem to be pushing the notion that you buy the book and read it yourself, and not look for answers on the internet. (My kids probably hate me...)
Most people will buy the book. They just want to know what all is in it before they buy. No one is expecting every word from the book to be previewed though. Just the details on what is inside the book that makes it worthy of buying. And some people are weeks (if not months if they happen to not live in the US or are unable to pay the increased prices for overseas shipments) away from actually being able to buy the book. So I would cut folks some slack for wanting all the details up front.
Totally agree. I live in Europe and FFG books are really hard to find here (i was lucky enough to get Edge and Age CRB....no luck with FaD), so i have to deal with hugely inflated prices on amazon or shipment from US who can take forever. So i like to know as much as i can about a book before deciding to buy it.
I don't know where in Europe you live, but some of the Swedish companies that sell the FFG line also ship to most of Europe.
No need to hassle with Amazon pricing or US shipment.
Minor annoyance: I don't like that the background suggestions often point towards Medic characters having been doctors or having had formal medical education before becoming a soldier. In my mind's eye, corrupted by exposure to actual medics, a Medic is first and foremost a Soldier that has technical training for treating battlefield injuries. The Alliance would do well to put individuals with formal education on health, illness, and treatments to use as doctors, nurses, or other professions operating (pun unintended) behind the lines.
OK, enough on that. The book looks great so far!
It's kinda different with rebel forces like this.
You wouldn't have field hospitals and the like, in most cases.
If you are a doctor and you join up with a rebel cell, they won't send you away to some other remote location to be a doctor there, they'd teach you how to fight and be a combat medic.
In a proper military, what you say would be true, though.
They have medical frigates and large bases. These are where true medical professionals should be sent. Putting a doctor on the battlefield is a waste.
Oddball can you give me the names of some of those companies?
Which book has the stats for those medical frigates?
Is there no demand for more spaceship deckplans?