Has anyone ever ran any of the beginner games at a game store before? So far I have only GM'ed for my group of friends for about 2 years, but since I am very familiar with the system, I want to branch out and share this game with more people!

I don't really know what to expect, but I am thinking about running the Edge of the Empire BG. Does anyone have any tips to get people started? Do you think the story could fit it into a 3 hour block of time? Anything else I may be missing?

Has anyone ever ran any of the beginner games at a game store before? So far I have only GM'ed for my group of friends for about 2 years, but since I am very familiar with the system, I want to branch out and share this game with more people!

I don't really know what to expect, but I am thinking about running the Edge of the Empire BG. Does anyone have any tips to get people started? Do you think the story could fit it into a 3 hour block of time? Anything else I may be missing?

I think the BG was made for this! I have played (but not run) in the scenario you suggest, with some kids aged 8-12, and they picked up the system just fine, as did the old timers like me.

As for tips, I'd say the box has nearly everything you need - but it might be advantageous to have an extra set of dice or two, as well as the standard paper and pencil and whatnot. The character folios don't seem like they'd hold up to much abuse, so it might be worth trying to laminate them or something.

I think that the Beginner Game could fill 3 hours, and I say this because you can pace it more slowly if you need, but if your players pick up on it quickly and burn through the opening "module", then there is the follow-up scenario on FFG's web site.

I really like the progressive disclosure that they use in all the begginers sets, and I think that's a great way to teach it. It starts off with simply role playing, no stats really needed, just a sense of each character. Then it leads the party into simple checks using common skills. It builds this way until, at the end of the boxed adventure, the players are rolling opposed checks, spending destiny points, receiving upgraded difficulty, and all the other "complex" mechanics of the system.

The starting characters are a good mix, both of species and careers, that everyone gets a taste of what the system has to offer, and those starting character sheets are very well laid out, only showing skills in which the character has training (similar to OggDude's compact sheet).

Familiarize yourself with the entire module of "Escape from Mos Shuuta" before hand and let your players run free. If they find a way off that rock quickly, you'll have "Long Arm of the Hutt" on deck just in case.

It's a great intro to the game for new players!

...it might be advantageous to have an extra set of dice or two...

This.

Also, if you own the dice app that would work as well, but if you're familiar with the "push the dice forward" method of GMing Star Wars, then physical dice are preferred.

The character folios don't seem like they'd hold up to much abuse, so it might be worth trying to laminate them or something.

Agreed. I printed out the PDFs from FFGs web site, and then laminated them using a cheap laminator*. These sheets have withstood several play-throughs with no problems. The added benefit here being that you can use dry-erase markers.

Also consider printing and laminating pages 4-7 of the "Under a Black Sun" PDF (also from FFGs site. They make great reference pages for everyone.

* - I bought the one from 3M , (Scotch brand) for under $20 and it works well.

...it might be advantageous to have an extra set of dice or two...

This.

Also, if you own the dice app that would work as well, but if you're familiar with the "push the dice forward" method of GMing Star Wars, then physical dice are preferred.

The character folios don't seem like they'd hold up to much abuse, so it might be worth trying to laminate them or something.

Agreed. I printed out the PDFs from FFGs web site, and then laminated them using a cheap laminator*. These sheets have withstood several play-throughs with no problems. The added benefit here being that you can use dry-erase markers.

Also consider printing and laminating pages 4-7 of the "Under a Black Sun" PDF (also from FFGs site. They make great reference pages for everyone.

* - I bought the one from 3M , (Scotch brand) for under $20 and it works well.

I'm about to propose running the BG's at my comic store, whose newest location is trying to build some gaming clientele. For the character folios, though, I've got some high quality scans of the ones that came in the boxes, plus downloads of the additional ones. My planned approach is not to laminate but to print and put them in cheap report covers; let the players mark them up to their hearts' content...then keep the pages (just not the covers) when we're done as something physical in hand to keep the game in mind, and ideally start buying the books from the store.

I ran AoR beginner game last month at my FLGS. I had 3 players, each had some previous gaming knowledge, though not FFG SWRPG.

Of the 4 BGs, its probably the best one to run. Its fairly on rails, has multiple action and social scenes, and has iconic elements (stormtroopers, AT-ST, Secret jungle base)

Allow for 4 hours to run a BG through. This allows for some banter and star wars chat, as well as sidebars about your adventures with the full game (which is what the FLGS wants, so that they all walk out dropping $100 on a core rulebook and dice). I also brought a Tablet with a Opening crawl video and my Star Wars music playlists for atmosphere. I had 3 sets of dice so that everyone had a pool in front of them. And some painted Rebellion miniatures to show how you can integrate other games resources

I have been asked back, and will be running The Force Awakens BG next sunday (12pm at Top Ryde Good Games, Ryde NSW, if anyone is keen to earn me some store credit ) I've read through the adventure and I think its the weakest, the game doesn't even have Vehicle rules.

I'm about to propose running the BG's at my comic store, whose newest location is trying to build some gaming clientele. For the character folios, though, I've got some high quality scans of the ones that came in the boxes, plus downloads of the additional ones. My planned approach is not to laminate but to print and put them in cheap report covers; let the players mark them up to their hearts' content...then keep the pages (just not the covers) when we're done as something physical in hand to keep the game in mind, and ideally start buying the books from the store.

I really like this idea, it gives them something physical to remember the game and allows them to reference it if needed. Would you be able to PM me about those scans so I can get them printed off for my players?

Thanks for the advice from everyone else so far! I hope I can do a decent job now that I've been at it for a couple of years...I ran the EotE BG over 2 years ago and my friends ended up liking it so much we played for about 10 hours during that first session...I had to come up with stuff on the fly and expand on what was in the game originally, so I hope sticking more to the script works out to be just as fun!

I'm about to propose running the BG's at my comic store, whose newest location is trying to build some gaming clientele. For the character folios, though, I've got some high quality scans of the ones that came in the boxes, plus downloads of the additional ones. My planned approach is not to laminate but to print and put them in cheap report covers; let the players mark them up to their hearts' content...then keep the pages (just not the covers) when we're done as something physical in hand to keep the game in mind, and ideally start buying the books from the store.

I really like this idea, it gives them something physical to remember the game and allows them to reference it if needed. Would you be able to PM me about those scans so I can get them printed off for my players?

Thanks for the advice from everyone else so far! I hope I can do a decent job now that I've been at it for a couple of years...I ran the EotE BG over 2 years ago and my friends ended up liking it so much we played for about 10 hours during that first session...I had to come up with stuff on the fly and expand on what was in the game originally, so I hope sticking more to the script works out to be just as fun!

Absolutely! Glad to help.