Although the careers and specializations in EotE are all from a "fringe" perspective, they're pretty comprehensive. Sure, there's room for more options, but I feel like FFG did a good job of giving us a good range of options.

So... What do folks think the future will bring? Will we see more spec trees for existing careers? Whole new careers? Should we expect the options on Age of Rebellion and the Jedi-based supplement to be as comprehensive as this, or will they build on EotE?

I'm curious about speculation, but I'd also be interested in hearing from people who are familiar with previous FFG products that might hint at their approach for future Star Wars expansions.

From what I understand, Age of Rebellion and Destiny of the Jedi (or whatever it is, I forget) are going to be stand-alone games, much like how WH40k's systems are from FFG happens. However, less like WH40ks games by FFG, I think the other books will be able to be seamlessly combined with EotE for a more solid Star Wars experience. So, I'm guessing they will be like Stand-alone Expansion Packs for video games, where you can play the game alone, but it is better if you have the original too!

I would imagine you'd see similar career paths, but with more oomph behind them. For instance, the rebel book should replace "gun for hire" with a soldier type. Probably find combat medics, replaceing Doctors, add in a special forces type, and a demolitions expert, etc...

Same with Force- figure other force users will be available, like the witches (just an example, I am referring to good ones), prob. the Rangers will make it in there.

As for classes for this EtoE, about the only one I can see as a whole new class itself, would be spys, but they may step on too many toes, if you get my drift. I'm sure they have some ideas going on this already, and my limited thought pattern is missing a few, here and there.

See, while the classes will probably share some similarities, I think they will be different enough to warrant a different tree. For example, a commando that uses heavy weapons is still different from a hired gun that uses heavy weapons. A doctor is different than a combat medic. Even having more options on how to do similar things will make the game even richer. For example, in DnD, you have wizards and sorcerors. They both essentially cast the same spells, but they run entirely differently.

How would using heavy weapons change? Point and pull the trigger, hope you're strong enough to hold the darn thing after that (actually, I don't think they recoil, at least not the "laser" ones). I'm sure there will be minor changes, probably beefer changes, like instead of +2 soak you'll see +4 soak, and some "lable changes", but the essence will remain the same.

How would using heavy weapons change? Point and pull the trigger, hope you're strong enough to hold the darn thing after that (actually, I don't think they recoil, at least not the "laser" ones). I'm sure there will be minor changes, probably beefer changes, like instead of +2 soak you'll see +4 soak, and some "lable changes", but the essence will remain the same.

It'd probably change in regards to the talents available to the heavy-weapons using commando and the heavy-weapons using hired gun.

The Bodyguard spec (the Hired Gun version) shares it's heavy weapons-related talents (Barrage and Brace for instance) with ones that lets the character be a bodyguard (Bodyguard, Hard-Headed & Toughened).

A prospective "heavy weapons commando" might have more talents devoted to being a badass with heavy weapons, so not only might he have things like Barrage and Brace, but perhaps talents that make it easier to hit a target at longer ranges or make more effective use of auto-fire, as well a things like True Aim or Deadly Accuracy.

So I'd say there's enough room for two "heavy weapons user" type of specializations.

I imagine the Age of Rebellion talents might bring in some focus on groups and working with allies. I can see an infantry career, focusing on different weapon types--maybe one using assault cannons, one using standard rifles, and one with explosives and heavy weapons (like the PLEX soldiers in Empire at War). An officer career; a new pilot career for cap ships, starfighters and military land vehicles like tanks and speeders; a new scout-type, with a sniper, LRRP and the like; SpecForce; and so on. And all of these with talents that reward more tactical play, even within the framework of the narrative combat.

There's room for some overlap, I think.

And I think there will be overlap. I figure certain talents will show up in specializations across the board. That's not a bad thing, but I hardly think that the different specializations will just be "reskinned." They will have a few different talents, maybe certain talents will be placed differently on the tree. Their career skills will be different, and overall it will just give more options to the players.

And I completely agree with you Lickintoad. I think all of those ideas would be really cool!

Thanks for the thoughts, folks. Keep 'em coming!

I was thinking a little about the gaps in EotE last night... If careers are what basically what you do, and specializations are how you do it, two potential fringe career gaps that I see are Pirate and Criminal. I could see specializations like Raider and Swashbuckler for Pirate, and Mastermind and Conman for Criminal. In addition, a gap that seems to be more at the specialization level might be Gunslinger (eg, Gallandro and Cad Bane), possibly as a tree under Hired Gun or Bounty Hunter.

I would assume that FFG won't want to re-use names, so we won't see a Pilot Career or Spec, although *Mercenary* Soldier keeps "Soldier" open. I agree with the comments about what future trees might look like (although I hope they don't get TOO specific, or so powerful that the initial trees can't keep pace.

Based on the little that I know about Age of Rebellion so far, I would start speculating with something like this:

Soldier: Specs = Officer, Commando, Ace Pilot

Noble: Specs = ???

Spy: Specs = slicer/tech type, infiltrator/stealth type, agent/operative/James Bond type

Guerilla: recruiter/leader, scout, brawler/martial artist

With respect to the Force, the preview video implies that Force use will be more robust in Age of Rebellion, so I suspect we may see at least one talent tree made up almost exclusively of Force powers, maybe a Fallen Jedi or Hunted Force Renegade or something. I doubt we'll see a full-fledged force career until the last supplement (where I wouldn't be surprised if we get a Jedi Career, with Guardian, Consular, and Sentinel Specs).

I could almost see a "Pilot" career is possible, with the specializations focusing on starships, capital ships, and ground vehicles respectively.

Going off of that, the Ace Pilot would move from Soldier to this newer "Pilot" career. I know it won't be called Pilot, but I can't think of an apt name right now. I think the Soldier could, instead, get a combat medic, who got a nice balance between combat talents and medicine buffs. That would make for a good compliment to the Doctor tree that we already have.

As for the "Noble" career, which I think they would probably name "Official," since it doesn't have the implications of a high birth, I could see one of them being something like an elected official, like the senators, and be focused on the lighter side of what the Politico does. I could also see there being a non-combatant leader, like Mon Mothma or the Moffs. For the other one, I could see something like a requisitions officer, or something like that.

For the Spy, I am thinking they would form them around the idea of the SIS and the Imperial Intelligence. They would probably have non-combatant spies (as in their talents wouldn't help them in combat and they wouldn't get extra career skills that make them good with guns or melee weapons) that would be able to act as diplomats, informants, Watchers, and the like. Like Ula Vii in The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance. Then, I could see the next one being an operative that combines the stealthy approach with the James Bond one you mentioned, since they are much the same, like Cipher agents or SIS operatives. The last one, I think, should be a sniper, focused on hiding far away and taking people out with one shot and getting the hell out of there.

I like your ideas for the guerilla, but I don't think the brawler fits. I think that, rather than that one, they would do a militant style guerilla that specializes in slapping together weapons from salvage and good at using resources he "aqcuisitions." He could maybe get bonuses to stealing vehicles, and could get the much-sought-after Jury-Rigged talent, among other things.

And I think they will add one more Force specialization, like you said. Instead of the full-fledged Jedi or Sith, though, I think it will be something akin to Luke Skywalker or Kyle Katarn. Instead of a runaway force user trying to hide their true self, it will be a self-taught, self-proclaimed Jedi or Sith that stands up and fights for a cause. They won't be as strong as the full-fledged Jedi and Sith in the last book, but it will be another step in the right direction. We'll probably also see more powers, like maybe physical/skill enhancements, healing, and others.

Either way, I'm very excited.

As for the holes you mentioned, I agree that there aren't precise things that fit exactly what those niches would require. However, by combining specializations, I think you can get the feel you are looking for. A pirate would likely have some points in Thief, maybe some in Pilot, and some in either Mercenary Soldier, Maurader, or Scoundrel, depending on his weapons of choice and his mode of operation. Smugglers and Pirates are only so different. The only real difference is that Pirates take their hauls, instead of buying them at the lowest price they can get. Thief can also very easily cover the Criminal Conman, and adding some points in Politico can make the Mastermind idea come to life. And the gunslinger would probably be a combination of the Scoundrel and either the Mercenary Soldier or the Assassin.

In the release video, FFG mention (at least - there may have been others) spies and diplomats when talking about the second expansion. I'd be willing to bet they're careers, or at least specialisations.

If they hold to the same format as the 40k lines, and they seem to be. After the adventure "Beyond the Rim" comes out, some sort of book containing enhanced players options should come out. I would bet that we will some additional careers in that, or at least additional specializations.

Yea, the Force-Sensitive Exile is called a "Universal Specialization," which means that anyone can purchase it for the same price as a career specialization. I'm willing to bet that we'll see more of those as we go through the other books and extra supplements.

If they hold to the same format as the 40k lines, and they seem to be. After the adventure "Beyond the Rim" comes out, some sort of book containing enhanced players options should come out. I would bet that we will some additional careers in that, or at least additional specializations.

From what I've read on here about how FFG may be releasing supplements similar to the way they did their 40k line I would almost assume that the Age of Rebellion and the Force and Destiny books will be the "enhanced player options" books that many people are speaking of. Thoughts?

I think calling them "Enhanced Player Options" books is selling it short. I'm pretty sure they fully intend to make Age of Rebellion and Force and Destiny as massively gigantic as Edge of the Empire. The Enhanced Player Option books would be MUCH smaller and introduced with less time between them then the stand-alone-yet-combinable core systems.

I agree with Endrik, I think AoR and F&D will be fully stand alone games, while being compatible and usable with EotE, not "mere" enhanced player options. I think (by which I mean hope and dream!) after Beyond the Rim we will see some more area books by which I mean sector books with small adventures and campaign ideas - I hope for a revisit to the Minos Cluster, but also new areas and already established sectors and areas of space.

I'm actually really keen on a wild space and unknown regions book, or books, two or three would be ace, about 200 pages long each. A book for explorations, being scouts for hire. These could flesh out more specialisations for the explorer career, but also add universal specialisations available from certain areas/cultures/whatnot. Perhaps even a new force specialisation of some sort, universal and requiring a FR of 1. Built around a campaign idea such books would be awesome. I think.

A book on Hutt space would be nice, this could easily be many books, enhancing the smuggler, bounty hunter and hired gun careers, at the very least.

The options are endless and mind boggling. I want it all now. Even the stuff I haven't thought of yet, particularly the stuff I haven't thought of yet.

I was not refering to AoR and FaD. Each individual 40K line has had the 5th product supplement devoted to character development.

I don't know anything about the 40k line,

I was just thinking that because the AoR and FaD books will most likely have loads of character upgrades, specializations, customization options, etc would we get an "enhanced player options" book also. Just speculating because I don't know.

I'm actually really keen on a wild space and unknown regions book, or books, two or three would be ace, about 200 pages long each. A book for explorations, being scouts for hire. These could flesh out more specialisations for the explorer career, but also add universal specialisations available from certain areas/cultures/whatnot.

You called the **** out of that.

I'm wondering if there won't be "elite" specialization trees, that have other trees, stats, or skills as pre-reqs. Otherwise, I'm not sure how they would scale a Jedi Knight or Master...

I'm wondering that too, but I almost hope they don't do "Elite" or "Prestige" specializations. I like that everyone can be anything, without worrying too much about prerequisites. It keeps combonations more open. Though, I'll likely change my tune if they come out with Elite Specs that are super duper awesome and well made XD.

And, on that note, I would consider a Jedi Master to have basically all of the talents on the currently-nonexistent Jedi Guardian/Sentinel/Consular/whatever it will be tree, plus they would have 3-5 in all of their relevant skills, with a large number of highly-developed powers unlocked and upgraded, and a decently high Force Rating of at least 6 or so. They also might have another specialization, like Pilot, in special case of Plo Koon or Anakin. I don't think they would necessarily need a special "Master" specialization to do that.

I'm wondering if there won't be "elite" specialization trees, that have other trees, stats, or skills as pre-reqs. Otherwise, I'm not sure how they would scale a Jedi Knight or Master...

Been wondering that myself.

Personally, I could see that approach working, having them be "universal" specializations that anyone can take once they've met the requirements. Jedi Knights and Jedi Masters are two prime examples, but I could think of a few other prestige classes from Saga Edition that could be reworked as advanced/elite specializations.

I'm actually really keen on a wild space and unknown regions book, or books, two or three would be ace, about 200 pages long each. A book for explorations, being scouts for hire. These could flesh out more specialisations for the explorer career, but also add universal specialisations available from certain areas/cultures/whatnot.

You called the **** out of that.

Apparently so... power and responsibility and all that, I should shut up now.

Suffice to say, I'm real happy about that book

I don't think they want to restrict players by giving prerequisites for some Elite career specs... I believe they want to give lots of freedom to their players for character creation and advancement. But we'll see for sure in a few months when the Explorer book gets out if they implement Elite specs.

I also think that the jedi classes won't be overpowered but at the same range has the other careers... Jedi masters just have more "experience" and thus more points in their powers, talents and skills. Just think of Luke Skywalker in the Thrawn trilogy when he was cut out from the force, he still mowed down the storm troopers squads easily...

Can't wait to see