I would argue that Jedi-ness / Sith-y-ness (Lightsaber skill, cutting off arms, doing significant things with the force SHOULD be a prerequisite for ANY Star Wars RPG system).
Let’s just take a look at the movies, disregarding the EU.
A New Hope:
1) Obi-Wan uses vital transfer / force heal on Luke after sand people attack
2) Obi-Wan cuts off arm of thug in cantina with lightsaber
3) Obi-Wan teaches Luke to deflect with the lightsaber against a training remote (without sight using the Force)
4) Obi-Wan mind tricks stormtroopers
5) Vader Force chokes someone
6) Obi-Wan senses the destruction of Alderean
7) Vader senses Obi-Wans presence on the Death Star
8) Obi-Wan / Vader lightsaber duel
9) Obi-Wan talks to Luke as a Force Spirit
10) Luke uses the Force to aim proton torpedo blowing up Death Star
**How many of the items 1 thru 10 can the current beta EotE rules reproduce? (with RAW)
Empire Strikes Back:
1) Luke pulls the lightsaber to him with the Force
2) Luke cuts off arm off Wompa with lightsaber
3) Luke tries; Yoda succeeds using the Force to move a X-wing starfighter (big object)
4) Luke lifts multiple objects, including R2 with the Force while training
5) Vader Force chokes someone
6) Luke sees the future (cloud city) with the Force
7) Vader uses negate energy
8) Vader uses the Force to disarm Han Solo in cloud city
9) Vader / Luke lightsaber duel
10) Luke uses surge / Force jump in fight against Vader
11) Vader moves multiple objects, some quite large in fight against Luke
12) Vader cuts Luke’s hand off with lightsaber
13) Luke calls to Leia with Force
**How many of the items 1 thru 13 can the current beta EotE rules reproduce? (with RAW)
I’d say by this movie, Luke is demonstrating some true Jedi knight like abilities
Return of the Jedi:
1) Luke Force chokes Gammorian
2) Luke grabs / disarms pistol from enemy in Jabba’s palace
3) Luke uses surge / Force jump in fight over Sarlacc pit
4) Luke deflects / redirects attacks in fight over Sarlacc pit
5) Luke deflects speeder bike blaster bolts and cuts speeder bike front off with lightsaber
6) Vader comments that Luke built his own lightsaber (requiring the Force to do)
7) Vader / Luke lightsaber duel
8) Vader and Emperor read Luke’s surface thoughts
9) Emperor uses Dun Moch technique to taunt Luke to call upon the dark side
10) Luke calls upon dark side and defeats Vader (cuts off hand off with lightsaber)
11) Emperor uses Force lightning
**How many of the items 1 thru 11 can the current beta EotE rules reproduce? (with RAW)
This movie highlights the Jedi / Sith conflict as it comes to resolution.
I’d say
any
Star Wars RPG, in the Dark Times (per EotE), should be able to re-create these above listed scenes, at a minimum, with the core book in hand. And guess what; the SAGA Edition can, and so could the West End games (d6) version (with RAW alone and the core book).
This is why I’ve stated, not being able to accomplish this, is an oversight for EotE, if that is how the final publication is printed.
I sincerely hope they decide to include more things in the base book (Lightsaber skill, more Force powers, a more advanced Force talent tree, etc.) and build off of that. Then in later supplements we add things for things like the KOTOR and Legacy Era time periods.
Hence this is a major “Con” against EotE in my mind until they do so.
YIDM