I have all three major core Star Wars RPG books by FFG. Looking at the PC team aspect of the different books, Force and Destiny is one that I just don't get.

Edge of Empire is an easy one. The group can be from varied backgrounds and are centered around a ship. Entire media franchises are based around this concept, so it makes total sense.

Same with Age of Rebellion. The Empire's totalitarianism can unite people of varied skills and backgrounds. No problems there.

But that brings us to Force and Destiny, which encourages a group of people strong with the force to band together. My problem with this is it just feels like it doesn't work from a player's point of view. I really can't see 100% of a group of players that are all interested in playing force users. Don't get me wrong, at an rpg table there's always at least one out of four that want that force die to be rolled, and I've never seen the other players not smile the first few times they see it in action. But all of them being herded into playing quasi jedi? No way. I just can't see everyone being stoked about character creation being so limited.

Am I wrong in this? Are there tables full of people that all wanted to play as force users banded together for various reasons?

I really feel like this one should have been more of a sourcebook than a core rulebook. It feels so forced in character creation that I can't see everyone being happy about it. The others allow for teams of really varied groups. I don't feel this one is as strong.

Talk me down. Give me examples of groups that ALL wanted to play as force users. Show me this shouldn't have just been a simple sourcebook for the other two rpg core books

I think remembering FaD is based on the premise that Jedi are not the only force users in the Galaxy is important.

Second a Force Rating of 1 isn't much, it limits significantly your direct influence on the Force, but I does let you use it. It gives a character other ways of achieving goals.

Third is that the systems are compatible. The best bang your buck a group can get is buy buying all 3 core rule books. The PC & GM options are huge when they are all available.

This leads into number 4: Balance. This system is very well balanced for mixed parties of PC's, especially when narrative consequences for a PC's actions are taken into account.

So this all leads to the answer; with access to all the books your group can be whatever it wants to be. Force and Destiny provides a broad choice of character options that appeals to many players, but those same PC's can be part of an EotE or AoR campaign and not be over powering.

Talk me down. Give me examples of groups that ALL wanted to play as force users. Show me this shouldn't have just been a simple sourcebook for the other two rpg core books

I think remembering FaD is based on the premise that Jedi are not the only force users in the Galaxy is important.

Second a Force Rating of 1 isn't much, it limits significantly your direct influence on the Force, but I does let you use it. It gives a character other ways of achieving goals.

Third is that the systems are compatible. The best bang your buck a group can get is buy buying all 3 core rule books. The PC & GM options are huge when they are all available.

This leads into number 4: Balance. This system is very well balanced for mixed parties of PC's, especially when narrative consequences for a PC's actions are taken into account.

So this all leads to the answer; with access to all the books your group can be whatever it wants to be. Force and Destiny provides a broad choice of character options that appeals to many players, but those same PC's can be part of an EotE or AoR campaign and not be over powering.

Talk me down. Give me examples of groups that ALL wanted to play as force users. Show me this shouldn't have just been a simple sourcebook for the other two rpg core books

Your group all played as Obi Wan, Ahsoka, and Anakin?

Sounds weak.

I'm saying the Clone Wars TV Show was the annals of a jedi-heavy group, in a setting where a heavy jedi focus made sence.

My own group is a few Jedi Knights who work together regularly shortly after the outbreak of the clone wars, so the themes are similar, though my PCs are weaker than Masker Kenobi or "Chosen one" Anakin.

I think remembering FaD is based on the premise that Jedi are not the only force users in the Galaxy is important.

Third is that the systems are compatible. The best bang your buck a group can get is buy buying all 3 core rule books.

I'll second both of these. I've played for about a year in a primarily F&D campaign, and we had a mix of Force traditions--Jedi, grey Jedi, Gand Findsman and martial artist type. Even so, a mix of books probably reflects what I consider to be a "typical" party.

-Nate

I'm saying the Clone Wars TV Show was the annals of a jedi-heavy group, in a setting where a heavy jedi focus made sence.

My own group is a few Jedi Knights who work together regularly shortly after the outbreak of the clone wars, so the themes are similar, though my PCs are weaker than Masker Kenobi or "Chosen one" Anakin.

Kudos to you though for making a Clone Wars campaign work. I haven't dug terribly far into the extras for this rpg. Is there a book or supplement that gives you stats for battle droids et al or did you just wing it?

But how would the rules cover the very broad capabilities of a Force User, and cover it from the very beginning? The way it's done now Firce Users do everything a muggle does, but in different ways. The way in which a PC gets stronger in the force would have been much different any other way, as it is a PC can be very skilled at something but can't access the Force, or they can be quite focused with their Force use but not as skilled.

The end result we have is that each Core book is essentially a large supplement to a non existent generic core. With each of the 3 core books there is an enormous amount of fluf text that expands a GM or PC's inspiration for adventures.

If FaD had been a supplement it would have been so big as to be almost a core book on its own, or the EotE/AoR books would have been much much different. I'm not sure I actually understand the problem with the way things are now? We got a massive amount of content in 3 books, rather than a much diluted core with many more large supplements to purchase if we wanted focused campaigns.

As to the answer of who wants to play FaD only campaigns you only need look at the Play by Post games here. Exploring the lost ruins and the depths of a PC's inner daemons is awesome for many people. Or having a Clone Wars era game of Jedi Knights kicking droid droid butt is appealing. It's an avenue of campaign theme that's certainly on many people's radar.

Am I wrong in this? Are there tables full of people that all wanted to play as force users banded together for various reasons?

Sure, why not. Just because one person hasn't encountered it doesn't mean they don't exist. And there is also groups that all willingly to agree to play a Force and Destiny campaign, even if they aren't normally inclined to.

And the "playing quasi Jedi" bit is probably the most damaging bit of misinformation anybody can describe the setting as. Yes, Jedi can play heavily into it, if you want it to, but you can include all variety of Force sensitive individuals and groups.

The fluff text may be set in the Dark Times, but the equipment sections are riddled with Clone Wars stuff

I think remembering FaD is based on the premise that Jedi are not the only force users in the Galaxy is important.

Third is that the systems are compatible. The best bang your buck a group can get is buy buying all 3 core rule books.

I'll second both of these. I've played for about a year in a primarily F&D campaign, and we had a mix of Force traditions--Jedi, grey Jedi, Gand Findsman and martial artist type. Even so, a mix of books probably reflects what I consider to be a "typical" party.

-Nate

That's cool about the different force user backgrounds coming togethet for your group. What was the catalyst that initial got your characters together?

Never wished there was a down-vote on this forum until now. Obvious troll post is obvious.

Am I wrong in this? Are there tables full of people that all wanted to play as force users banded together for various reasons?

Sure, why not. Just because one person hasn't encountered it doesn't mean they don't exist. And there is also groups that all willingly to agree to play a Force and Destiny campaign, even if they aren't normally inclined to.

And the "playing quasi Jedi" bit is probably the most damaging bit of misinformation anybody can describe the setting as. Yes, Jedi can play heavily into it, if you want it to, but you can include all variety of Force sensitive individuals and groups.

I'm mainly looking for personal experiences from players on here to get a wider point of view.

I must also point out many players don't want to be Scum and Villainy, they want to be Rebells fighting to save the Galaxy from evil oppression, others want to BE the evil oppressors. Either way there are groups entirely happy with only using the AoR line of books. This may be the key thing you haven't considered, every group... heck every idea for a campaign, is different. What's great for you isn't for others.

FFG has attempted to split the SWRPG into 3 core themes that flow throughout the Cannon and Legends material. This way they could provide a richer gaming experience to more people, with the ability to have anyone who buys a Core rule book get a very detailed system that's suitable to the preferences of their group.

If there was a single Core with lots of supplements then this conversation would be about "why do I not get a rich detailed experience with the core? Why are supplements a necessity?"

Kudos to you though for making a Clone Wars campaign work. I haven't dug terribly far into the extras for this rpg. Is there a book or supplement that gives you stats for battle droids et al or did you just wing it?

Antiquated Battle Droid is in EoE Core, Tactical Droid is in Lead by Example, I have an Inquisitor build for Droidikas, and I use Dark Trooper stats for B2 Super Battle Droids, replacing the weapons with an integrated HBR.

I must also point out many players don't want to be Scum and Villainy, they want to be Rebells fighting to save the Galaxy from evil oppression, others want to BE the evil oppressors. Either way there are groups entirely happy with only using the AoR line of books. This may be the key thing you haven't considered, every group... heck every idea for a campaign, is different. What's great for you isn't for others.

FFG has attempted to split the SWRPG into 3 core themes that flow throughout the Cannon and Legends material. This way they could provide a richer gaming experience to more people, with the ability to have anyone who buys a Core rule book get a very detailed system that's suitable to the preferences of their group.

If there was a single Core with lots of supplements then this conversation would be about "why do I not get a rich detailed experience with the core? Why are supplements a necessity?"

What I want to know is how has it worked in your experience? Was everyone at your table good with being skilled with the force? What did you decide would bring the group together? Did it feel natural, or was it glossed over in favor of "let's just get to some action"?

Again, the other themes from the two other core books speak to me in regards to group dynamics, this one has me puzzled, but more a curious puzzled than an outright dismissal.

Ok cool, so it's more the premise you don't have a good idea on:

Perhaps a Mentor, a force user of sorts, identifies individuals who unknowingly use The Force and brings them together to try and guide them.

An Archaeological dig unearths a Holocron, someone accidentally opens it and they discover their force sensitivity, the Holocron helps them find others who can group together for safety.

An Inquisitor has captured suspected Force Users, in transit someone or some people break them free, could be a mentor, the rebellion, or some other group.

The Force brings the group together at a certain place for some unknown purpose. Perhaps to cleanse a Vergence, slay a mighty beast, or protect the oppressed.

Some Dark Side force user brings the group together to train them. They are unaware it's an evil person, and ultimately they are betrayed with Mentor becoming Nemesis.

It could be a Rebellion campaign, but the Rebells have identified them as Force Users and brought them together for training.

A Clone Wars campaign of Padawans adventuring.

A Dith

Talk me down. Give me examples of groups that ALL wanted to play as force users. Show me this shouldn't have just been a simple sourcebook for the other two rpg core books

I'm not sure this is the best example. Knight level barely gets you Ahsoka-as-young-Padawan from the movie.

Am I wrong in this? Are there tables full of people that all wanted to play as force users banded together for various reasons?

Sure, but it depends how you approach it. Personally I'm not really a fan of their F&D setting either. It's very monolithic and focussed around "uncover lost knowledge", which can only take you so far. I still think it's a great book, but I view it as a collection of useful careers and specs applicable to any Force-heavy setting. Expect to grant a lot of XP if you want to run actual Jedi. Give experienced players 300XP each, and then maybe you can run a freshly-knighted Jedi-heavy campaign.

A campaign I'm running has everybody as a Force sensitive. But the PCs all have AoR or EotE careers. I didn't let anybody pick an F&D career to start with, but they're free to branch into one if they want.

Talk me down. Give me examples of groups that ALL wanted to play as force users. Show me this shouldn't have just been a simple sourcebook for the other two rpg core books

I'm not sure this is the best example. Knight level barely gets you Ahsoka-as-young-Padawan from the movie.

She joined the game after Obiwan and Anakin have gone through 2 movies worth of adventures- and they STARTED at Knight level in TPM. The entire party is much higher XP now.

Never wished there was a down-vote on this forum until now. Obvious troll post is obvious.

Yes, it would be nice to down-vote your post. Nothing wrong with the OP's question.

Why would anyone need to talk you down? This is fairly simple, did 4 people agree to play Force and Destiny? Then yes there are people interested in an all Force group game. Will this be every single player that plays Star Wars? No. But the same can be said of the other two lines. You're going to encounter people who are all for an all Force group. You're going to encounter people who are all for an all Rebels group. And you're gonna encounter people who are all for an fringes group.

Then you have folks that like to mix all three up.

But like dude .... there is nothing to talk you down from. Either people will play an all Force group or they won't.

Never wished there was a down-vote on this forum until now. Obvious troll post is obvious.

Yes, it would be nice to down-vote your post. Nothing wrong with the OP's question.

Obvious troll is obvious for accusing OP of being obvious troll for obviously good question.

TBH it all depends on your players.

I have run 2 groups now. Both times I have said play what you want any FFG RPG books allowed, however the game is going to focus on discovering lost force user knowledge. Both times I got a full F&D starter party.

Group 1 all students of a Mon Calamari Artisan.

Group 2 pulled themselves together around player 1 transporting them all to place x when BAM!!! Stuff happened. None of that group knew they were Force sensitive @ the start by player choice & they are fumbling through discovering it IC together.