Convinced it will be Engineer and then Spy . . . if only because my two current characters are a Bounty Hunter and a Spy . . . .

I guess the question for us non-playtesters to mull over is: what difference does it make anyway?

I'd be surprised if a 2nd edition did more than just streamline the rules, clear up a few areas that are generally regarded as being poor (the high-Soak issue and space combat mostly). By all accounts, most people feel the system is fine and the funny-shaped dice are great. Three years of playtesting and Beta games have ironed out most of the issues - FFG aren't stupid and they know they know they have no need to reinvent the wheel. I'd expect them to reduce the number of skills slightly, maybe spruce up or eliminate some Specs that are generally regarded as being poor, like Scout or Scholar. Maybe tweak a few species, address a few things like the Heavy Battle Rifle or Jury-Rigged that are seen as a bit broken.

In terms of the campaign setting, so little has changed. There's still Hutts, still 'scum and villainy'. There's the NotEmpire and NotRebellion still fighting the NotGalacticCivilWar. There's X-wings and TIE fighters but with a lick of new paint. There's still Space Wizards in hiding from when they were supposedly all wiped out during NotOrder66. There's droids and wookiees and hyperspace and laser-swords and the Kardashians and everything else we'd expect from a Star Wars game. Pretty much all previous adventures are still playable, seeing as the areas the Death Star 3.0 destroyed only existed in our consciousness moments before they were redshirted. The books will likely look and feel the same, only with more pictures of Daisy Ridley.

Also, remember the RPG is a bit of an afterthought compared to the real powerhouses of X-Wing, the Card Game and Imperial Assault - where we have already seen the new material start to be incorporated into these games. ('Hey, buy this new X-Wing with a black paint job instead of a white one! Buy the Millenium Falcon again only with Rey's pilot card!') Not to mention Star Wars Destiny, their 'collectible' game that they're pushing so hard (to the point I actually wish they'd just start selling bags of crack cocaine with the Force Awakens logo on it... that would be more honest...) The other SW products have long been designed to incorporate all the new stuff as seamlessly as possible. I may mock, but FFG have a pretty good idea about the IP, and seem to have no trouble rolling with Disney's punches. I trust they know what they are doing.

Sure, we'll be buying a lot of stuff we already have, but that's our culture in 2016, right? 'Selling us stuff we already own' is not limited to FFG, or even limited to Star Wars. Plenty of tasty white stuff in the Nostalgia Teat for everyone to milk. Shut Up And Take My Money, FFG!

We'll still have our 'can Batman beat Captain America' arguments, only now they'll be about how many hundreds of Force dice Rey has instead of Vader or Yoda.

The FailBoat will still be there, I'm sure. We'll have all the tired old memes we love so much!

And in all likelihood, we'll have one unified Forum! Yay! Bring it on!

So, to the important questions... what colour will the Core Book be? And who will get on the cover with Rey?

Because I am a Spy, naturally that will be the very last splatbook for AoR .

I feel the exact same way about the Mystic book. Plus the data back it up, so...

And while I might not be surprised about them doing a 2nd edition, I would be very...uncomfortable with it happening so soon.

They flat out said when they did The Force Awakens beginner game that they will not be following it up with a new CRB line.

I do see a line of ssetting sourcebooks down the track, once there is more setting material.

And also, Disney have in no way closed the book on Galactic Civil War era, they have a running TV show and 3 movies in the works set in and around that period

Finally, I do not see any need for a second edition, nothing is broken or OP, and with the narrative nature of the system, any GM worth their space salt can easily mitigate power gaming or munchkinism

They flat out said when they did The Force Awakens beginner game that they will not be following it up with a new CRB line.

And they won't be.

Which is why they will make it the focus of a 2nd edition that they won't actually call '2nd edition'.

They flat out said when they did The Force Awakens beginner game that they will not be following it up with a new CRB line.

They did say that. But a second edition and a new CRB are two separate beast. Also what Marcy and myself have stated is that it would be about the New Trilogy. You can do a new game line set in the New Trilogy era and their prior statement of no new CRB for TFA be true. Just means the new line wouldn't be just about TFA.

Finally, I do not see any need for a second edition, nothing is broken or OP, and with the narrative nature of the system, any GM worth their space salt can easily mitigate power gaming or munchkinism

There's always a need for a new edition at some point. While nothing is too broken (broken is a perspective issue for many after all) there are areas that people do feel could be improved (space combat for instance) and lessons that they've learned from developing this line that they could take to streamline the core set of rules. If FFG holds onto this IP for any length of time we will see a Second Edition.

It was five years between the first and second editions of WEG's Star Wars RPG, then four years until the 2nd edition revised and expanded. WotC had two years between their first edition and the revised edition, then five years between that and the Saga edition.

Five years from the actual release of Edge of the Empire would be 2018; there are two AoR and three F&D career books that haven't been announced. That doesn't seem crazy.

I'd be okay with it, if it were largely backwards compatible (e.g., wouldn't have to wait years for my players to convert their Mechanic/Modder PCs or the like), and didn't change the dice.

Back to the original topic of the thread, I don't have any clue on what's coming next, but I hope it's the Spy book because it could really use some fresh specs. Beyond that, I'd rather run Spy-focused adventures than Engineer-focused adventures most of the time.

Although I would like to see the spy book because I like sneaky nasty things to throw at my players. I too believe engineer book will be next. By the way I am a new poster but have been DMing since before Force & Destiny came out. I own all books but DM kits, Beginner boxes, and Endless Vigil. Would love to talk to other players and DMs specially if you are from CO.

They flat out said when they did The Force Awakens beginner game that they will not be following it up with a new CRB line.

I do see a line of ssetting sourcebooks down the track, once there is more setting material.

And also, Disney have in no way closed the book on Galactic Civil War era, they have a running TV show and 3 movies in the works set in and around that period

Finally, I do not see any need for a second edition, nothing is broken or OP, and with the narrative nature of the system, any GM worth their space salt can easily mitigate power gaming or munchkinism

I will say this: in my down time from GMing or playing a character I have been reviewing the various talent trees extensively, and I have noticed that the talent trees in EotE Core are noticeably less specialized than the ones printed in the later Core books (with a handful of exceptions). If a Second Edition were to come along that stays true to the game's original feel, I wouldn't mind them revisiting a few of the Specializations' talent trees and cleaning up some of the ambiguity in descriptions of core mechanics--so really more of a 1.5 kinda situation.

Weighing in on the main discussion topic, I don't play either Spy or Engineer so I don't have a whole lot of preference. I think for the sake of balance across the product line it would make more sense to do Spy next then Engineer (since we just got Special Modifications), but if Absol says the data suggests otherwise it is hard to argue. Plus it is probably marketing to end on a book that is a little more sexy. Here's to hopping for a cover art that is a Mon Cala in a tuxedo sipping the Star Wars equivalent of a martini. Jawa Juice, shaken not stirred.

I put in a suggestion for a spy agent/early career James Bond (talky shoot spy) spec about 2 years ago... if there was going to be time to include it or a spec similar to it, which is iffy but possible, then having the spy book last maximizes the chance for that, that is the only reason that I a hoping that the spy book is last. But the reason I am thinking it will be last is they want to end on a "sexy" book for marketing reasons. But personally I am thinking that spy is the spec in need of the most love right now so I wouldn't mind if spy was next

The logistical requirements for any kind of vehicle crafting outside of maybe a Hot Wheel makes me considerably skeptical about ever seeing a form of player usable vehicle crafting. A list of suggestions for GMs for building their own vehicles, maybe, but not a player mechanic.

This is Star Wars so why do you think the logistical requirements for vehicle crafting would be out of a party's reach? Look at the canon origin of the B-Wing. The prototype was built by a lone engineer on a world known for being a starship scrapyard. And I believe there were similar vehicle origin stories in Legends.

The logistical requirements for any kind of vehicle crafting outside of maybe a Hot Wheel makes me considerably skeptical about ever seeing a form of player usable vehicle crafting. A list of suggestions for GMs for building their own vehicles, maybe, but not a player mechanic.

I think they should introduce a system that separates ship resources from personal resources in some way. There is always a huge problem with roleplaying games where you have two equipment scales because you can't give players enough money to buy and build ships without giving them so much money that it breaks the game for personal items, and you can't keep the rewards appropriate for personal items without completely ruling out ever buying or building a starship.

What is needed to change that is a second scale of resources for these massive purchases, like being able to start a corporation, which grants you access to a ton of money, but also makes you beholden to your employees and investors, who will abandon you if you embezzle the money to buy implants. A rebel cell that's actually creating war ships would essentially be a corporation, since they have employees, resource flow, etc.

A rebel cell that's actually creating war ships would essentially be a corporation, since they have employees, resource flow, etc.

And a rebel cell that was doing that could have lots of expensive things provided for them by the chain of command (and supply), without giving them the money to buy those things. That would make it a lot more difficult to spend money meant for ships on personal items instead.

Yea, if your resource for building a starship is raw plasteel it will be pretty difficult to haul off a couple tons of it to trade for personal items.

My guess working up to a second edition tied to the New Trilogy and more in line with Disney's current world building. If they close out this edition without first completing the career books they'll anger a lot of fans. If they speed the process up a bit they can swing in a new edition to tie into the new movies.

That's pretty much my thinking. If they aim for this next year, then it will be 4 years since EoE came out, and they'll probably think that's enough time for a new edition.

I was half-expecting a new Core Rules Book with Force Awakens, and when they didn't do that, it was a pretty big indication that it will be a 2nd edition version instead.

I'm also betting that they don't market it as 2nd edition, but just as a 'Force Awakens Star Wars' game. I would also be very surprised if they went the 'three Core Books' version again. Everything will all be under one large cover, I think. I assume they'll expand it with career books and setting books as they do now.

I'd also assume they'll just quietly drop the old games, as they won't want to be in competition with themselves. They will push the new stuff as being 'backwards compatible' anyway, which it mostly will be. Frankly, the difference between the settings is extremely small in any event, as almost everything in the new film was taken from the originals, except we now have new names for the same things.

Granted, this is just a hunch, but I've been in the hobby a while and you get a feel for when things are changing. Disney hasn't exactly been subtle about exerting pressure in the last year either.

Not sure what it will mean for me personally, as I'm not feeling the new movies, and came back specifically because of the original movie setting. But this stuff always happens, and four years isn't a bad time span for a modern RPG. A few players of mine have pointed out that our version feels more like the new stuff anyway (the returned Jedi, the Empire in ruins, twenty years after Alderaan, etc) so it's perfectly possible we just adapt the new stuff and keep going.

Marcy

P.S. The sky is falling!!!!

On one hand I wouldn't be surprised if Disney id cancel the license with FFG. Afterall, they would either like it be done by a business partner or try and wring more money from a deal.

That being said, FFG already has the groundwork laid out, a dedicated team, and a loyal fanbase. Heck, I can see Disney helping FFG get some of their properties published in videogame format. Not only would it help FFG in a "new market", but if EA did it then it could help them from the flack of Battlefront.

It does make you wonder what they are clearing the slate for. The Region and Adventure books all take time to produce, but I would think more of that can be farmed out to freelancers than the Career boks

Clearly they are trying to blow out the manuscripts before the licenses expires and the game line is shut down.

See comment above.

I guess the question for us non-playtesters to mull over is: what difference does it make anyway?

I'd be surprised if a 2nd edition did more than just streamline the rules, clear up a few areas that are generally regarded as being poor (the high-Soak issue and space combat mostly). By all accounts, most people feel the system is fine and the funny-shaped dice are great. Three years of playtesting and Beta games have ironed out most of the issues - FFG aren't stupid and they know they know they have no need to reinvent the wheel. I'd expect them to reduce the number of skills slightly, maybe spruce up or eliminate some Specs that are generally regarded as being poor, like Scout or Scholar. Maybe tweak a few species, address a few things like the Heavy Battle Rifle or Jury-Rigged that are seen as a bit broken.

In terms of the campaign setting, so little has changed. There's still Hutts, still 'scum and villainy'. There's the NotEmpire and NotRebellion still fighting the NotGalacticCivilWar. There's X-wings and TIE fighters but with a lick of new paint. There's still Space Wizards in hiding from when they were supposedly all wiped out during NotOrder66. There's droids and wookiees and hyperspace and laser-swords and the Kardashians and everything else we'd expect from a Star Wars game. Pretty much all previous adventures are still playable, seeing as the areas the Death Star 3.0 destroyed only existed in our consciousness moments before they were redshirted. The books will likely look and feel the same, only with more pictures of Daisy Ridley.

Also, remember the RPG is a bit of an afterthought compared to the real powerhouses of X-Wing, the Card Game and Imperial Assault - where we have already seen the new material start to be incorporated into these games. ('Hey, buy this new X-Wing with a black paint job instead of a white one! Buy the Millenium Falcon again only with Rey's pilot card!') Not to mention Star Wars Destiny, their 'collectible' game that they're pushing so hard (to the point I actually wish they'd just start selling bags of crack cocaine with the Force Awakens logo on it... that would be more honest...) The other SW products have long been designed to incorporate all the new stuff as seamlessly as possible. I may mock, but FFG have a pretty good idea about the IP, and seem to have no trouble rolling with Disney's punches. I trust they know what they are doing.

Sure, we'll be buying a lot of stuff we already have, but that's our culture in 2016, right? 'Selling us stuff we already own' is not limited to FFG, or even limited to Star Wars. Plenty of tasty white stuff in the Nostalgia Teat for everyone to milk. Shut Up And Take My Money, FFG!

We'll still have our 'can Batman beat Captain America' arguments, only now they'll be about how many hundreds of Force dice Rey has instead of Vader or Yoda.

The FailBoat will still be there, I'm sure. We'll have all the tired old memes we love so much!

And in all likelihood, we'll have one unified Forum! Yay! Bring it on!

So, to the important questions... what colour will the Core Book be? And who will get on the cover with Rey?

I would like to see "Movie/Film", where FFG goes over each film or trilogy individually. This way a person looking to setup for a post ESB campaign will have a better work around while a campaign that is post AotC can use their own sources.

As for color, blue and green are always options.

They flat out said when they did The Force Awakens beginner game that they will not be following it up with a new CRB line.

I do see a line of ssetting sourcebooks down the track, once there is more setting material.

And also, Disney have in no way closed the book on Galactic Civil War era, they have a running TV show and 3 movies in the works set in and around that period

Finally, I do not see any need for a second edition, nothing is broken or OP, and with the narrative nature of the system, any GM worth their space salt can easily mitigate power gaming or munchkinism

Who knows. Give it two more years and we will see.

On Topic: I would guess the Spy career would be next. The current Spy specs are at two new and one rehashed, with all three being lengthy in their talent trees. Heck, Infiltrator is the longest, unless I am mistaken. That would put a bit more emphasis for FFG roll out with that book.

Likewise, the Engineer will probably be game breaking in the creation rules.