While I have sadly not been able to play, I have enjoyed reading the new RPG book's rules. Only I have found a couple of things that bother me enough to post about.

First: Characteristics being the same max of 6 no matter what size of being you are is flawed. An Ewok should not have the same Brawn as a Space Slug for example. I am thinking of implementing a house rule that changes max Characteristics based on size of character/creature. Something like:

Silhouette 0: Max 4 Brawn, 7 Agility

Silhouette 1: Standard Maximums

Silhouette 2: Max 8 Brawn, 5 Agility

Silhouette 3: Max 10 Brawn, 4 Agility

Silhouette 4+: Max 12 Brawn, 3 Agility

This leads to my second issue. Encumberance Thresholds calculations should not be the same for each size catagory. A Dewback in this system would be Encumbered by a Sandtrooper with full gear riding it. That doesn't seem right. I was thinking of a House rule like this: (ET = Encumberance Threshold)

Silhouette 0: ET = Brawn + (5 x .5) (Round Up)

Silhouette 1: ET = Brawn + 5

Silhouette 2: ET = Brawn + (5 x 2)

Silhouette 3: ET = Brawn + (5 x 3)

Silhouette 4+: ET = Brawn + (5 x 4)

My final problem is really only minor. The rules for enemy construction are a little too vage. I have guessed that constructing an enemy is just spend XPs to improve them, but do Minions get to choose talents? and if they do, are they resticted by Specialization Trees? If they can't choose Talents then the only thing they can improve is characteristics. Also, the rules state that minions have lower wound thresholds than heroes yet it fails to say by how much. There are too many variences between the listed minions, but it seems to be Brawn +2 or +3.

I hope that a suppliment comes out to further define these problems, or may be Age of Rebellion is to be the Advanced set of rules or an Expanded rule set?

Any thoughts or opinions are very welcome.

I thought that the max 6 for characteristics was just for the PC-able races. I didn't see anything in the book about animals/monsters/beasts.

Then why does the Rancor in the book only have 6 Brawn Characteristic? Doesn't make sense.

So your PCs don't end up on the receiving end of a 12 dice attack. And I'm not even factoring damage and soak. I don't personally think we need the level of detail you're expecting. It's not in the design philosophy of this game. (Cinematic and fast) Feel free to house-rule as much as you like though.

First: Characteristics being the same max of 6 no matter what size of being you are is flawed. An Ewok should not have the same Brawn as a Space Slug for example. I am thinking of implementing a house rule that changes max Characteristics based on size of character/creature. Something like:

Silhouette 0: Max 4 Brawn, 7 Agility

Silhouette 1: Standard Maximums

Silhouette 2: Max 8 Brawn, 5 Agility

Silhouette 3: Max 10 Brawn, 4 Agility

Silhouette 4+: Max 12 Brawn, 3 Agility

Since Brawn encompasses both Strength and Endurance, there should be no real limits except those you want to impose. The max 6 is, as already noted, is for characters. NPCs and creatures have no such limits. Although i think it will be rare to see higher than 6 stats if only because that would be a lot of dice to roll.

This leads to my second issue. Encumberance Thresholds calculations should not be the same for each size catagory. A Dewback in this system would be Encumbered by a Sandtrooper with full gear riding it. That doesn't seem right. I was thinking of a House rule like this: (ET = Encumberance Threshold)

Silhouette 0: ET = Brawn + (5 x .5) (Round Up)

Silhouette 1: ET = Brawn + 5

Silhouette 2: ET = Brawn + (5 x 2)

Silhouette 3: ET = Brawn + (5 x 3)

Silhouette 4+: ET = Brawn + (5 x 4)

Nothing wrong with that. If you need to know it. For the most part I think anything larger than silhouette 1 is going to be a creature or somesuch so really doesn't need to be hard numbered with an encumberance rating.

My final problem is really only minor. The rules for enemy construction are a little too vage. I have guessed that constructing an enemy is just spend XPs to improve them, but do Minions get to choose talents? and if they do, are they resticted by Specialization Trees? If they can't choose Talents then the only thing they can improve is characteristics. Also, the rules state that minions have lower wound thresholds than heroes yet it fails to say by how much. There are too many variences between the listed minions, but it seems to be Brawn +2 or +3.

NPCs do not follow character creation rules. If you need them to have some talent or a higher or lower wound threshold, then do it. Whatever works best is what you should do.

There's a rancor in the book? Where, I missed that. A rancor with a brawn of 6 sounds really weird.

There's a rancor in the book? Where, I missed that. A rancor with a brawn of 6 sounds really weird.

Captive rancor page 415.

There's a rancor in the book? Where, I missed that. A rancor with a brawn of 6 sounds really weird.

Captive rancor page 415.

Thanks I missed that. Glad to see the Rancor included.

I guess brawn must be relative to creature size (sort of like character and planetary range bands).

Lets also not forget that NPCs don't really need to make checks all that often. So the Rancor's Brawn is pretty much just for combat, in which case, the sluggishness of a Rancor gives a good reason for their lower Brawn, as their attempts to swing and hit are easily dodged. Then weapon damage covers the strength of when you do get hit.

If it is just for combat then I would just assign a default dice pool instead of using brawn.

If it is just for combat then I would just assign a default dice pool instead of using brawn.

But why complicate it when you can just use Brawn as said default dice pool? I mean, melee attacks are already against a standard defense, so the Rancor fully retains its badassery with those 6 dice. Why call it something else when there's already a statistic that serves the purpose?

There's a rancor in the book? Where, I missed that. A rancor with a brawn of 6 sounds really weird.

Captive rancor page 415.

Thanks I missed that. Glad to see the Rancor included.

I guess brawn must be relative to creature size (sort of like character and planetary range bands).

Considering the Rancor is silhouette 3 I guess you are right.

There's a rancor in the book? Where, I missed that. A rancor with a brawn of 6 sounds really weird.

Captive rancor page 415.

Protip: Don't throw that Rancor against freshly made characters. Most of them won't even have enough dice to hurt it, and none of them can survive two hits from it.

If it is just for combat then I would just assign a default dice pool instead of using brawn.

But why complicate it when you can just use Brawn as said default dice pool? I mean, melee attacks are already against a standard defense, so the Rancor fully retains its badassery with those 6 dice. Why call it something else when there's already a statistic that serves the purpose?

It's not a big deal either way, at least to me. It's just brawn has a specific meaning that doesn't make sense for the rancor, unless there is something I have missed in the rules. But lie I said not a big deal either way.

I guess I am still hard wired to systems that are more detailed.

So, I would like to ask a question. In a situation where a Wookie character, who has a Brawn of 6 and Athletics 5 after spending XPs, is trapped with a Rancor with no immediate help. Because the character prizes himself as a champion wrestler, he thinks he can out wrestle a rancor. What are some suggestions to forming a dice pool to reflect the size and strength difference?

If you need encumbrance rules for the likely event of a Rancor being ridden by a PC Rancor while hauling a gold filled treasure chest the size of a Prius around, then either apply vehicle encumbrance to it or multiply its 6 Brawn encumbrance by 3 (its silhouette).

I don't think the issue is so much related to "too many dice", but that statistically, each extra die adds less and less. Combat has a fixed Average difficulty, with 6 dice the odds of success are very high, with extras and plenty of advantages to boot.

So, I would like to ask a question. In a situation where a Wookie character, who has a Brawn of 6 and Athletics 5 after spending XPs, is trapped with a Rancor with no immediate help. Because the character prizes himself as a champion wrestler, he thinks he can out wrestle a rancor. What are some suggestions to forming a dice pool to reflect the size and strength difference?

Add Silhouette to the dice pool? Or add the difference as setback dice to the smaller opponent?

I guess I am still hard wired to systems that are more detailed.

So, I would like to ask a question. In a situation where a Wookie character, who has a Brawn of 6 and Athletics 5 after spending XPs, is trapped with a Rancor with no immediate help. Because the character prizes himself as a champion wrestler, he thinks he can out wrestle a rancor. What are some suggestions to forming a dice pool to reflect the size and strength difference?

A raised eyebrow and, "come on Gary, I mean an ACTUAL plan..."

Gary...the Wookiee? How about Garuraur...

So, I would like to ask a question. In a situation where a Wookie character, who has a Brawn of 6 and Athletics 5 after spending XPs, is trapped with a Rancor with no immediate help. Because the character prizes himself as a champion wrestler, he thinks he can out wrestle a rancor. What are some suggestions to forming a dice pool to reflect the size and strength difference?

Add Silhouette to the dice pool? Or add the difference as setback dice to the smaller opponent?

This is what I would do. There is already some use of boost and setback dice when there is a difference of 2 or more in silhouettes. I doubt the fight would last long though or that any other modification would be needed. Even the strongest wookie would have a tough time damaging a rancor, while the rancor would make mincemeat of the wookie pretty quick.

So, I would like to ask a question. In a situation where a Wookie character, who has a Brawn of 6 and Athletics 5 after spending XPs, is trapped with a Rancor with no immediate help. Because the character prizes himself as a champion wrestler, he thinks he can out wrestle a rancor. What are some suggestions to forming a dice pool to reflect the size and strength difference?

Add Silhouette to the dice pool? Or add the difference as setback dice to the smaller opponent?

This is what I would do. There is already some use of boost and setback dice when there is a difference of 2 or more in silhouettes. I doubt the fight would last long though or that any other modification would be needed. Even the strongest wookie would have a tough time damaging a rancor, while the rancor would make mincemeat of the wookie pretty quick.

I'd make the dice pool an opposed check (brawl vs brawl), ya it would be alot of dice but a fight with a rancor should be big.

I guess I am still hard wired to systems that are more detailed.

So, I would like to ask a question. In a situation where a Wookie character, who has a Brawn of 6 and Athletics 5 after spending XPs, is trapped with a Rancor with no immediate help. Because the character prizes himself as a champion wrestler, he thinks he can out wrestle a rancor. What are some suggestions to forming a dice pool to reflect the size and strength difference?

Handle it the same way you'd respond to a wookie PC thinking of wrestling a Silhouette 3 Y-Wing. A raised eyebrow and, "come on Gary, I mean an ACTUAL plan..."

This. A Racor is huge, not something a Wookie can wrestle ever.

-EF

I like the idea of adding setback dice based on the size of the rancor. That's what setback dice are for, afterall...to account for environmental or other disadvantages.

I like the idea of adding setback dice based on the size of the rancor. That's what setback dice are for, afterall...to account for environmental or other disadvantages.

Is this about a wookie wrestling a Rancor? Adding setback dices assumes that the wookie still has a chance to succeed.

I'm with EldritchFire on this. This should simply fall under the rule "Automatic failure/success".

Well, Luke beat one lol.

Not hand-to-hand, of course, but there are narrative ways to make it happen I suppose. Maybe the wookiee rips out a toe nail, who knows.