I was enjoying hearing about the Imperial Assault New product reveals yesterday. But did FFG present any news or info from any of the Star Wars RPG lines? Or will they?

From what I've seen in other threads on the forum the answer is no.

They revealed that Forged in Battle was there, but nothing else.

Look for a video of the ffg in flight report. That is where you will find the new info. Havent searched it out yet.

Yeah, no real news regarding Star Wars RPG products, much as it's been for prior years. Seeing as how FFG only has an hour for their seminar and a lot of other product lines to discuss, makes sense they'd focus on the major breadwinners like miniatures, board games, and card games.

I think they revealed that they want the RPG lines to fail, due to lack of advertising.

^So how is that half empty glass of sour grapes?

I think they revealed that they want the RPG lines to fail, due to lack of advertising.

They sure bug the crap out of me to playtest stuff for a failing line.....

I think they revealed that they want the RPG lines to fail, due to lack of advertising.

They sure bug the crap out of me to playtest stuff for a failing line.....

I'm curious, and feel free not to answer in case of the weird thing called NDA.

1. How does one go about becoming a play tester? I'd imagine being a senior forum member probably helps?

2. How does one go about testing these books?

Does everybody play the class of the book, with a different specialisation?

Do you play the classes in the published adventures and see how it turns out?

Or is it all dummy encounters and scenarios? As in, we're going to fight some rivals now at this XP level.

Or maybe it's completely different from what I imagine?

Cheers

I think they revealed that they want the RPG lines to fail, due to lack of advertising.

They sure bug the crap out of me to playtest stuff for a failing line.....

I'm curious, and feel free not to answer in case of the weird thing called NDA.

1. How does one go about becoming a play tester? I'd imagine being a senior forum member probably helps?

2. How does one go about testing these books?

Does everybody play the class of the book, with a different specialisation?

Do you play the classes in the published adventures and see how it turns out?

Or is it all dummy encounters and scenarios? As in, we're going to fight some rivals now at this XP level.

Or maybe it's completely different from what I imagine?

Cheers

It depends on what's being tested.

With a Core book, you throw together all manner of characters of the species and career/specs offered with a variety of the gear. There's an intro adventure in the back of each core book, and I ran it over and over with several different characters (but the same four players). Try out the vehicles too if you have the time, especially those PCs are likely to get. Location book can be fairly similar, but pay special attention to any special case rules and test them out. I've never tested a career splatbook, but I'd imagine it's like a Core book in miniature.

Testing an adventure is where it gets really tricky. It really is testing out each encounter individually as you get to them. Then you test that encounter again. And again. Then you test any encounter you bypassed. And repeat. Then move on to the next part of it and keep doing it. After you've tested the crap out of all the components, now get feedback on how the group feels the story plays out. Submit all that stuff. Wait for any author revisions. Now test it all again. It can get very repetitive--don't let anybody fool you into thinking it's not work (not that you can't enjoy you're work, but it's not the same as kicking back and playing for fun).

As far as becoming a playtester. They usually just contact you individually through the forums or email. I suppose some of the Devs take note of who participates in discussion and who shows a good knowledge of the material.

Thanks.

Very insightful!

Testing new mechanics seems interesting.

But the Adventure part does sound very tedious indeed.

I guess if you don't genuinely enjoy the developer side of things it's probably not worth to do it just to see stuff early.

Testing new mechanics seems interesting.

But the Adventure part does sound very tedious indeed.

I guess if you don't genuinely enjoy the developer side of things it's probably not worth to do it just to see stuff early.

I haven't tested a roleplaying game, but have tested boardgames and MMOs, and my experience is that it is more likely to put you off playing them, as by the time the new stuff comes out you've already done it so many times.

Testing new mechanics seems interesting.

But the Adventure part does sound very tedious indeed.

I guess if you don't genuinely enjoy the developer side of things it's probably not worth to do it just to see stuff early.

I haven't tested a roleplaying game, but have tested boardgames and MMOs, and my experience is that it is more likely to put you off playing them, as by the time the new stuff comes out you've already done it so many times.

I work on video games as a programmer, and the same applies - I wouldn't want to work on, or test a game, that I wanted to play. It just makes it mundane and un-fun.

Thanks.

Very insightful!

Testing new mechanics seems interesting.

But the Adventure part does sound very tedious indeed.

I guess if you don't genuinely enjoy the developer side of things it's probably not worth to do it just to see stuff early.

Shoot your mouth off on the forums alot and they contact you. Occasionally have something intelligent to say while doing it.

CRBs are a lot of material. Splat books are pretty straight forward and I get the feeling different testers are used for the different ways they approach how and what they test.

Adventure testing is very analytic and isn't like playing a module at all. We picked apart the one I did mostly based on story. I don't focus on mechanics much unless I think something is really crappy or really OP, as they aren't interested in us designing the game, but are receptive to loophole discovery and stuff we think is just plain bad.

ok now I watched the video and sounds like they still have plans for Star Wars that is in the works and can not comment on future releases but my question is at least say there are things in the works or even better yet have the rpg line manager even give us some ideas of what to look out for in the coming weeks, I do understand that the miniatures games are their big sellers but at least give the RPG fans something to be excited about. I mean that is all that video was mainly about was the Miniatures line and new lines that is coming out soon.

There are things in the works. Good things.

There are things in the works. Good things.

Any hints or clues?

I can't say, and honestly look at what has been released for splatbooks, then look at what hasn't, there is the clue. It's all in the works. Finishing out a career book for each career, a few more region books, and some adventures is a given. The 'surprise' if you want to call it that will be how much stuff they add for the new movies/content, which I am confident without any specific knowledge will come.

About the answer I had expected. Good to see stuff is in the queue. I for one was not as worried as the doomsayers on here predhing the RGP is dying.

My #1 on a wishlist would be an Imperial Region book for AoR

I'd like to see region books done like Core and Inner RIm, Outer Rim and Wild Space, etc. I still hold out hope for a big book of modular encounters and pre made named NPCs, we shall see.

Region book for the Deep Core could be interesting too.

Mr. Pirate, I am deeply baffled by you. You are a very nice guy and I appreciate that, but the fact that information I want exists and you clearly know it makes my Brain very angry.

I apologize if it appears I give you a hard time - it's not my intention. It's a side-effect of my obsessive nature. Thanks for all the awesome stuff you do!

Oh, I understand the sour-grapes people who feel ‘the sky is falling!’ That’s only human.

I just think we have to temper our expectations, understand that RPGs are traditionally niche products that are mostly made as a labour of love rather than for huge profits.

The RPG is a distant fourth behind the card game, X-Wing/Armada and Imperial Assault, because these are better sellers. Collectible card games traditionally sell well, while minis games are huge sellers. Descent is one of their most profitable lines, so it’s a no-brainer that they were going to do a Star Wars themed version of it.

Compared to some games, we see a lot more product for our RPG than most. There’s more FFG SW stuff than, say, One Ring (a high-quality product that Cubicle 7 are passionately committed to). Bear in mind the Big Daddy of all RPGs, D&D, is currently being kept alive on life-support with one splat-book in over two years, just to push the MMos and minis games – because that’s what the bean-counters at Hasbro believe sells.

There is not a deluge of SW RPG stuff like Pathfinder, but FFG seem committed to the game, and I’d sooner have a slower, high-quality release schedule than low-quality monthly power-creep. I know we’re all like rabid rancors over the latest releases, desperate for our raw meat and Spec spoilers, but I don’t think we have it too bad.

And there are people like 2P51, people whose information I trust, who have assured us this slow but steady release pattern will continue. Seriously, if D&D had this kind of release schedule, my group would be playing that now.

Shoot your mouth off on the forums alot and they contact you. Occasionally have something intelligent to say while doing it.

Oh well, that counts me out!

Although in retrospect, an AoR book play-tested by me would be kinda fun, wouldn't it?