Would you rather see FFG do new content or EU content?

By Desslok, in Star Wars: Edge of the Empire RPG

Spun out into it's own thread as so not to clog the Statistic thread with side talk. . . .

I don't really blame FFG on the lack of original content. I think for the most part it's the fault of the fanbase. The things people are wanting the most (or at least the most vocal about wanting to get) are things that was covered in previous games and material. No one is creating 10 page long threads demanding that FFG make a planet book full of fresh new planets. They are however creating 10 pages long threads demanding Mandalorian material.

The greater bulk of what people seem to want is FFG stats on old EU/canon material. So FFG seems to be giving us that. They sprinkle in newish stuff. They explore things that were just footnotes before hand. But overall they are pretty much giving us what we demand, stats on stuff we already know about.

Okay Peanut Gallery, lets test this hypothesis (with our admittedly small sample to work from) - lets say that you have two announcements sitting on your desk. One is a Tatooine Sector sourcebook with Jawas and Tuskens and Ryloth and Geonosis and whatnot. (or if you prefer, a Mandalorian sourcebook, or a Corporate Sector Authority coursebook - something that details a facet of the EU)

The other announcement is something like Lords of the Expanse - Not necessarily a "Nobles In Space" game, but an all new region of space with new worlds, new races, new cultures, new politics and intrigues. A fully fleshed out region not featured elsewhere in the expanded universe.

Both are otherwise equal - same page counts, same quality of writing and art we've come to expect from FFG. Same price point - just the content is different. Which announcement makes you more excited?

Edited by Desslok

I don't think the two need to be exclusive of one another. It isn't like we've seen every square inch of Tatooine.

I don't for a single second think it's their call though, they may pitch ideas to the Mouse but the decisions are made outside as to what they develop. It's clear the new material will be in support of the new content. The X Wing expansion announcement right now for example with the Rogue 1 stuff.

I want to see new content but it's possible for that to be in familiar places I think.

Honestly? Although it sounds like a cop-out, I'd be good with either. Both add in "official" information (game-wise) that widens am already-broad landscape in which to play the game. There's a certain draw to the familiar, and getting "official" information on it so as not having to hand-wave or backtrack on whatever homebrew you've done for it. On the other hand, something wholly new to the setting gives you all-new toys to play with. (Your Lords of the Expanse example is perfect. I loved that frakkin' box set, even if I only ever really got around to using it to help a player in a short-lived side campaign come up with backstory when he picked one of the LotE templates for his character. Aaaand now you've got me wanting to do some conversion of LotE. Thanks. :P ) That same blank slate is why I'm plannin to cobble together a homebrew sourcebook for a region of space/theocratic government that I've brought in to bring a bit of the unknown to the campaign.

I would be good with either choice. Both would give interesting material, and I know my players and I would use them. With the EU books there is the fun of having something statted out that you know about, but with the new book you would have the fun of new and unexplored territory. I would be happy no matter what.

IMO, I would prefer the new content. I can come up with my own stuff for Tatooine, based on the EU.

That’s assuming that someone else in the community hasn’t already come up with their own stuff based on the EU, and which is a heck of a lot better than anything I can come up with.

IMO, I would prefer the new content. I can come up with my own stuff for Tatooine, based on the EU.

That’s assuming that someone else in the community hasn’t already come up with their own stuff based on the EU, and which is a heck of a lot better than anything I can come up with.

Right. That does it. We must put our GM heads together and compile all of our own resources. I bet we could make some pretty good stuff if we looked at what we've already got put together.

Option 2: New Content, but not as phrased/expressed above. I'm an Old Republic fan. I'd prefer to see a "Histories" book, rather than another Region book. Even if the History itself is new, it's something I'm far more interested in.

Generally with Option 2, and to get at Desslok's actual question: my feeling is that it'll never happen. Why would it? The IP is cherished and the canon is beloved, and the canon is still a pretty big tent. In 10 years, the kids who were 6 years old and whose first Star Wars film was The Force Awakens won't know about or care about the EU, because enough canon content will have emerged in the interim to fill the void left by the former materials. The IP licensees like FFG can struggle to get their original, "outside-the-box" ideas approved, or they can put out books and box sets with material that mostly checks off Canon Boxes. To date, they've done a pretty good job. It seems unlikely they will break the formula.

But I think we're lucky, in that the FFG system (unlike Saga, which like any good D20 system is very stat-specific) is so eminently flexible as to allow the transposition into different locales, situations, periods.

My main concern is if they start putting all their emphasis on box sets that focus on each movie that comes out. While I appreciate the need to capitalize on the momentum of these films, I'd much prefer a deeper approach, rather than a broader one.

I doubt we will see an all new material supplement. They will continue to add in material from canon, because that may entice new players who have seen the movies or shows and want to play what they have seen. They will add in Legends material to expand on the canon material, for more in-depth fans who demand the expanded material. New material will be limited to expansions on main material, with small additions.

IMO, I would prefer the new content. I can come up with my own stuff for Tatooine, based on the EU.

That’s assuming that someone else in the community hasn’t already come up with their own stuff based on the EU, and which is a heck of a lot better than anything I can come up with.

Right. That does it. We must put our GM heads together and compile all of our own resources. I bet we could make some pretty good stuff if we looked at what we've already got put together.

I'm brainstorming reviving my old SWRPG site to bring back my archival D6 homebrew info but also spotlight my current FFG campaign and homebrew info. Would we be interested in seeing if I can expand this into a more communitY-based pool of resources?

Edited by Nytwyng

I doubt we will see an all new material supplement. They will continue to add in material from canon, because that may entice new players who have seen the movies or shows and want to play what they have seen. They will add in Legends material to expand on the canon material, for more in-depth fans who demand the expanded material. New material will be limited to expansions on main material, with small additions.

While this is probably true, it doesn't mean that there aren't people who don't want to see a new material supplement.

I like the history idea. Maybe FFG could do a book like that, but with stat blocks sprinkled throughout. That way it would attract people who might not normally buy a "history" book, and will have some new material too.

Edited by Vestij Jai Galaar

IMO, I would prefer the new content. I can come up with my own stuff for Tatooine, based on the EU.

That’s assuming that someone else in the community hasn’t already come up with their own stuff based on the EU, and which is a heck of a lot better than anything I can come up with.

Right. That does it. We must put our GM heads together and compile all of our own resources. I bet we could make some pretty good stuff if we looked at what we've already got put together.
So, follow-up question for everyone. (Apologies to the penguin for potential threadjack.)

I'm brainstorming reviving my old SWRPG site to bring back my archival D6 homebrew info but also spotlight my current FFG campaign and homebrew info. Would we be interested in seeing if I can expand this into a more communitY-based pool of resources?

Yes!! I'm definitely interested!

My general take on this is that I'd love to see the original content. It'd probably excite me more overall (although as 2P51 says, it's not like they can't put original content into books focused on canon regions).

That said, I think original content probably fits easier into published adventures than it does a sector-style book (it'd have a more obvious hook, and I imagine it's probably easier to get approved with a purpose behind creating the region).

There is so much material from canon and the EU that FFG could publish for years without running out of stuff.

But not all of it is good. I remember a lot of garbage that came out between Episodes VI and I.

So I say, use all the good stuff that has been out there. Flesh it out with new details. Only when you find yourself resorting to the not-so-good stuff should you consider all new material.

But not all of it is good. I remember a lot of garbage that came out between Episodes VI and I.

There is a part of me that thinks the entire EU was shitcanned exclusively because of the Vong. And that part of me kind of understands and agrees.

I think it is a combination of edicts from the IP holder(Disney) and what will sale the best. If I'm wanting to push X number of units of an adventure/supplement/source book, and it being based off of established material rather than being new content within the IP will make it sell better than, then why wouldn't I go with the former?

As far as which would make me more excited, I believe I'd rather have established source material. If and when I want something new, I create the new content myself.

But hey, since we are talking about them covering some of the source material, I'd love them to do a book over the Old Republic time period, especially the KOTOR era. Probably fit better as a F&D source book, than EOTE honestly.

But hey, since we are talking about them covering some of the source material, I'd love them to do a book over the Old Republic time period, especially the KOTOR era. Probably fit better as a F&D source book, than EOTE honestly.

Well...yes and no. The Zayne Carrick story is about 75% EotE and 25% F&D, and he's a Jedi (kind of...mostly).

Why not both? I just want more books so both types are welcome. Oh and please stay to the good parts of the EU not the simply insane stuff out there like Abeloth.

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Abeloth

Mickey I'm looking at you give me the good stuff or make new good stuff but not something this badly written.

But hey, since we are talking about them covering some of the source material, I'd love them to do a book over the Old Republic time period, especially the KOTOR era. Probably fit better as a F&D source book, than EOTE honestly.

Well...yes and no. The Zayne Carrick story is about 75% EotE and 25% F&D, and he's a Jedi (kind of...mostly).

I was talking more about the video games, but the comic had it's moments. Gryph was awesome!

I wouldn't MIND seeing more throwback material, but I would prefer new material- you can only go so far on re-treads. No personal interest in Manadloreans or a dedicated source book, and I feel like the Rebels/Clone Wars cartoon has given us enough to play with. Five pages or so in an upcoming book with a few plot seeds would be neat, though. Tatooine Sector book would be interesting, but unnecessary. Corporate Sector or a Lords of the Expanse-sort of thing is or much more interest, though. Something like that could provide a wealth of material for starting campaigns or a long-running series of stories out in the backwater. Makes it easier to give things a little more Shadowrun flavour, too.

As for the whole Eu thing, got some mixed feelings on this. It was a great relief to hear that the EU wasn't going to be a factor in the new Star Wars. Even though there plenty of things in there that I liked, the whole thing had turned into a big mess- best to start with a clean slate and some real quality control. They've done a good job with the EU stuff that's returned, but there sure is a lot of it, and I'm ready for more brand-new material. If there's anything from the old days that I miss, it's not like the entire EU has completely disappeared forever and Disney is policing what I do in my own tabletop games.

Order of Revan

I'd obviously love new stuff, but I think our chances of seeing a whole book of new things are about as high as our chances of seeing zeltrons or miraluka, ie. zero.

I guess the odd bits of the EU might return as Thrawn did, but it's clear at this point that Disney is dictating things to FFG, a very clear emphasis on the new 'canon'.

While I hate the cartoons and am supremely indifferent to the new movies, I guess the post-OT stuff will be much easier for me to convert for our game, so from a selfish perspective, I'm okay with that.

But as a grizzled old 'grognard' gamer, I miss the years of creativity and risk-taking. Too many RPG products are safe and formulaic for my liking, or retread things we've endlessly seen before in every edition. Even things like D&D seem more intent on reliving the past over and over than looking forward.

Edited by Maelora

Order of Revan as a FaD sourcebook would be awesome. I think it'd sell like crazy. And you have lots of material from two KotOR games, the MMO, and related materials (novels, comics) to draw from. Sprinkle in themes, history, NPCs, and equipment from the Old Republic days. You could use it for campaigns searching for ancient treasures, or maybe a springboard for an Old Republic era game, or have the Order revived somewhere during the "modern" era (which would probably conflict with both Jedi- and Sith-minded folks in the galaxy).

I'm pretty sure our chances of seeing anything Old Republic related are exactly zero. I agree it would be awesome but Disney seems to want to forget it ever existed.

Order of Revan as a FaD sourcebook would be awesome. I think it'd sell like crazy. And you have lots of material from two KotOR games, the MMO, and related materials (novels, comics) to draw from. Sprinkle in themes, history, NPCs, and equipment from the Old Republic days. You could use it for campaigns searching for ancient treasures, or maybe a springboard for an Old Republic era game, or have the Order revived somewhere during the "modern" era (which would probably conflict with both Jedi- and Sith-minded folks in the galaxy).

I'm pretty sure our chances of seeing anything Old Republic related are exactly zero. I agree it would be awesome but Disney seems to want to forget it ever existed.

But why!?!? Besides the fact that the mouse has no imagination.....

Order of Revan as a FaD sourcebook would be awesome. I think it'd sell like crazy. And you have lots of material from two KotOR games, the MMO, and related materials (novels, comics) to draw from. Sprinkle in themes, history, NPCs, and equipment from the Old Republic days. You could use it for campaigns searching for ancient treasures, or maybe a springboard for an Old Republic era game, or have the Order revived somewhere during the "modern" era (which would probably conflict with both Jedi- and Sith-minded folks in the galaxy).

I'm pretty sure our chances of seeing anything Old Republic related are exactly zero. I agree it would be awesome but Disney seems to want to forget it ever existed.

But why!?!? Besides the fact that the mouse has no imagination.....

It's just too wrapped up in the rest of the EU. If you greenlight Revan, you greenlight The Old Republic, and that means KOTOR, and then SWTOR, and then all of a sudden people are asking why the Emperor's Palace isn't on Dromund Kaas, and...etc. etc. etc. It's a snowball effect from an IP perspective.

Hey, I love all that stuff. KotOR was the only time I actually ever felt like I was actually 'in' a Star Wars game.

But as GreyMatter says, Disney has not interest in that, quite the opposite. That was the whole point of creating their own new canon. I think it's vastly inferior, but it's clearly working well for them.

Every new religion needs to kill off and supplant the old one.