Jedi Wes discusses what makes a good Star Wars party.

Download or listen to the show at http://misdirectedmark.com/threats-from-gallifrey-star-wars-party/

Garrett

Actually, if there's ever a game that was the opposite of 4E D&D where you have to have characters in certain 'roles', this is it. (And to be fair, the podcast seems to recognise that).

Between the various core books, you don't even have to include 'Jedi' or the Force if you'd rather not. I think this game balances them better than any other, but thematically some groups won't want to have that baggage.

This isn't Pathfinder or World of Warcraft, and you don't need a 'tank' or 'DPS' or a healer or whatever.

The most important thing is that the GM plays to the strengths of the characters; adventures for a tough merc company behind enemy lines will have very different challenges to a game where the PCs run a cantina with in-house dancers and musical band. Providing the PCs and GM agree, you can play an entire campaign with a party consisting only of Hutt Diplomats if you wish.

The game really does try to defy standard gaming conventions of character 'roles' and min-maxing and binary pass/fail dice rolls.

I think one of the reasons 4E failed so hard is that many players didn't want to play in a 'fantasy SWAT team' or have to be 'good' at min-maxing.

If there was ever a game that lets you play the character you really want, this one is it.