Also, that FFG is making sector books - if this is a symptom of what is to come - is something I was hoping for. I didn't expect such a narrow focus, but it's still really cool! New planets, areas, species, gear and starships! It's awesome! How can I not be excited?!
It's going to be interesting to see what they put in each of the book types...
Wonder what 'Enter the Unknown' will have in it as regards species, if anything?
Also, that FFG is making sector books - if this is a symptom of what is to come - is something I was hoping for. I didn't expect such a narrow focus, but it's still really cool! New planets, areas, species, gear and starships! It's awesome! How can I not be excited?!
It's going to be interesting to see what they put in each of the book types...
Wonder what 'Enter the Unknown' will have in it as regards species, if anything?
Can't remember who in WotC said it, but they said "species sell books" so I'd expect to see something new species wise. If the cover is anything to go by, we will see the Chiss.
If they can put new species, starships and equipment in every book they will make me very very very happy.
New species sounds good to me - adds diversity but doesn't in itself ratchet up the rules-bloat. And this is SW, there are loads of different aliens.
I'd be really happy to see Chiss, they're pretty iconic.
Likewise new bits of gear or ships would be good, particularly if it ties in to the book (one imagines the Bounty Hunter book will have weapons and maybe Mandalorian alternate humans).
That said, nobody else likes my Feminist Space Weasels. 
One guy said: 'Like, this is better than the green rabbit guy, how?'
Bring on the Hoojibs and Lahsbees!!! *ducks for cover*
Jim
I want to see more adventures and less player option sourcebooks. I would rather see regions/planets fleshed out through adventures.
Can't remember who in WotC said it, but they said "species sell books" so I'd expect to see something new species wise. If the cover is anything to go by, we will see the Chiss.
If they can put new species, starships and equipment in every book they will make me very very very happy.
That would have been Rodney Thompson, former Lead Designer/Developer for WotC's Saga Edition line.
And he's right, as that seems to be the big thing folks wanted across all the various Star Wars product lines (at least with the d20 and now FFG version) is new species. The rather significant number of page hits that the GSA got when versions 1 and 2 of the Unofficial Species Menagerie bear that out, as even fan-generated content was a welcome addition.
That said, there were no mention of new species in the "look what's coming!" blurb for Exploring the Rim. Which does have me a bit concerned about there not being any new species in that book, especially as Suns of Fortune came right out and said "here's the new species this book will include!"
Ideally FFG would stop at the really, really good one.
If the licensing restrictions are the same as what WoTC had, and currently they are, we will never see a character building/generation tool. That's under the electronic Lucas Arts license, not under the Miniatures and Role-playing license.
So much like PDFs, it's a pipe dream until the licenses are relaxed.
Maybe an enterprising fan will take on something like it as an indie project.
Ideally FFG would stop at the really, really good one.
If the licensing restrictions are the same as what WoTC had, and currently they are, we will never see a character building/generation tool. That's under the electronic Lucas Arts license, not under the Miniatures and Role-playing license.
So much like PDFs, it's a pipe dream until the licenses are relaxed.
Maybe an enterprising fan will take on something like it as an indie project.
There is already an excellent excel based character builder in this very forum, it's worth looking at.
The problem with making any program as a fan is that you can't release the data with it. People would need to populate their own data sets which can be a frustrating exercise. The reason you can't just release with data is the copyright infringement implicit with it.
I could program something like the WoTC generator but it would be an exercise that would take a couple of weeks for no financial gain. Maybe there are more generous fans out there then me but I wouldn't hold your breath. At the moment the excel option seems best.
FFG is giving a lot of love to the expanded universe ; we are going really deeper in the flull in this edition than the previous saga (i own quite every starwars material since WEG's rpg).
That said, there were no mention of new species in the "look what's coming!" blurb for Exploring the Rim. Which does have me a bit concerned about there not being any new species in that book, especially as Suns of Fortune came right out and said "here's the new species this book will include!"
That occurred to me when Suns revealed the Space Weasels and Corellian Ewoks.
Most of us seem to be assuming we'll get to play that blue lady on the cover.
Probably an adversary type instead, exploring and coming upon the Chiss Ascendancy, some colony or whatnot. I'd love to have the species though, the human variant (that the Chiss is 
)...
We'll know soon enough.
That occurred to me when Suns revealed the Space Weasels and Corellian Ewoks.Most of us seem to be assuming we'll get to play that blue lady on the cover.
I'm looking forward to playing one!
Edited by schoonOWW... I just was kicked in the pocket book. Cannot... resist... every... single... book... must... BUY...
I'd be happy to lots and lots of Star Wars books and intend to buy all the EotE books that FFG release.
But can't help thinking it's an odd choice for an early book, game is called Edge of the Empire and Corellia is a Core World.
I'd be happy to lots and lots of Star Wars books and intend to buy all the EotE books that FFG release.
But can't help thinking it's an odd choice for an early book, game is called Edge of the Empire and Corellia is a Core World.
"Edge" may not only refer to the (outer) edges of the Galactic Empire. I may also be said to mean the razor's edge that various fringer types live on. If you catch my drift.
I have to say that whilst I love that FFG are big on producing new stuff, I'm not as enthused about the human variant options. Not that I'll boo-hoo them or exclude them at all, but I think that Corellian origins could have been covered by using the non-Career skill rank bonuses Species Ability to emulate their background - or it could have been just as key to their make-up if they'd chosen a pilot-focused career off the bat.
My only gripe with this is that the slot taken up by the variant could have been allocated to another, not-yet-covered species. But again, I'm not dismissing the character option - who knows, perhaps I'll change my tune and be all for it, after actually reading the book.
I have to say that whilst I love that FFG are big on producing new stuff, I'm not as enthused about the human variant options. Not that I'll boo-hoo them or exclude them at all, but I think that Corellian origins could have been covered by using the non-Career skill rank bonuses Species Ability to emulate their background - or it could have been just as key to their make-up if they'd chosen a pilot-focused career off the bat.
My only gripe with this is that the slot taken up by the variant could have been allocated to another, not-yet-covered species. But again, I'm not dismissing the character option - who knows, perhaps I'll change my tune and be all for it, after actually reading the book.
The main advantage to giving a corellian a free rank in piloting (space) or Piloting (Planetary) is that it is completely independent of your career or specialization, meaning you will be able to double up on skill ranks if your career or your specialization gives you a free rank in that skill as well.
Of course this is all just speculation. Who knows what the variation will really look like.
My only gripe with this is that the slot taken up by the variant could have been allocated to another, not-yet-covered species. But again, I'm not dismissing the character option - who knows, perhaps I'll change my tune and be all for it, after actually reading the book.
Well, there's really only three major species in the Corellian sector: Humans, Drall, and Selonians.
As I said earlier in the thread, I'm curious from a design perspective to see how FFG handles "variant Humans" as it could provide some insight in how they might adapt other "near-human" species, such as the Chiss or Zeltrons or possibly even Zabraks to the system.
I'm strongly playing with the concept of making 'Corellians' near-humans now. Some unique variant with slight biological differences, compatible enough to breed with baseline humans. Possibly with some kind of 'bloodline' birthmarks or skin markings?
No new PC/NPC species in Beyond the Rim...
My only gripe with this is that the slot taken up by the variant could have been allocated to another, not-yet-covered species. But again, I'm not dismissing the character option - who knows, perhaps I'll change my tune and be all for it, after actually reading the book.
Well, there's really only three major species in the Corellian sector: Humans, Drall, and Selonians.
As I said earlier in the thread, I'm curious from a design perspective to see how FFG handles "variant Humans" as it could provide some insight in how they might adapt other "near-human" species, such as the Chiss or Zeltrons or possibly even Zabraks to the system.
According to Wookieepedia, during the time of Edge of the Empire, Duro (and thus the Duros) are part of the Corellian Sector thanks to the way the Empire reworked map boundaries for political reasons.
I'm strongly playing with the concept of making 'Corellians' near-humans now. Some unique variant with slight biological differences, compatible enough to breed with baseline humans. Possibly with some kind of 'bloodline' birthmarks or skin markings?
This isnt Star Trek, Han Solo was a human from Corellia, which makes him a Corellian, end of story. Many, many, many more Species to pick from in the Star Wars universe, FFG please pick a "species".
I don't know that I would call Corellians actual near-humans, but I think there is enough of a cultural separation from other humans that the separate stat block is justified. I don't think there are any real appreciable genetic advantages, but I think there is a cultural focus on being independent to the point of anti-authoritarian, and piloting. Really I look at Corellia as the Texas of the Star Wars galaxy.
Yes Duros could have been a great inclusion, but I think FFG staff already knew that Duros were going to be in the Age of Rebellion Beta book. They have said in interviews that species distribution has been planned out very early, so that they don't blow all the popular species 4 books into the game line, and have nothing left for the other core books. I think that is a smart approach.
As for the nay-sayers, I can absolutely relate to having some aprehension about the precedent that near-human species stats might set. I can also relate to the desire for a different, much-desired species. That said, I think the best thing to do is withhold too much judgement until you can swing into your FLGS and thumb through a copy and see how things are handled. And besides, if there are any group of humans in the Star Wars Galaxy that would WANT to be statted separately from the rest of the cattle, it'd be the Corellians, right?
All that said, despite the fact that I was a writer on this book, that is not a section I have actually seen or read yet. I'm absolutely as curious to see how it was handled as you all are.
My only gripe with this is that the slot taken up by the variant could have been allocated to another, not-yet-covered species. But again, I'm not dismissing the character option - who knows, perhaps I'll change my tune and be all for it, after actually reading the book.
Well, there's really only three major species in the Corellian sector: Humans, Drall, and Selonians.
As I said earlier in the thread, I'm curious from a design perspective to see how FFG handles "variant Humans" as it could provide some insight in how they might adapt other "near-human" species, such as the Chiss or Zeltrons or possibly even Zabraks to the system.
A very good point. I suppose adding non-sector species would have seemed a little... unfitting.
Now Zeltrons is a race I am looking forward to. 
Regarding the varying human stat lines, it does make perfect sense. Maybe the people on this forum are different but if your looking at general statistics more people in RPGs will play a Human then anything else. This is prevalent whether your playing SWTOR or a tabletop RPG game.
Giving unique human statistics for Corellians versus say the run of the mill human allows one human player to differentiate themselves from another. One is a Corellian, he's a damned good pilot, hates authority and owes a Hutt a lot of money, the other is from Tatooine, he's a fair shot and a decent mechanics, he also has a famous dad, but doesn't know it yet. Differences are good and must be embraced.
Not to say you can't make both types of humans from the single stat block, but then they are only different by your numbers allocation, this way they are different natively. Finally just by saying your playing a Corellian versus a Human I can make certain assumptions about your character.