Wookiepedia is nice to look things up, so i have it in my favs-list on my desktop and my laptop.

But i do not have internet access everywhere i play. A book is something that i can lug around and all i need is enough light to read it. And if well designed it is especially helpful for those that are not that familiar with the EU. The sheer amount of data available on WP is IMO too much for newcomers, sometimes even for guys like me who read several books.

Not to mention the profiles for the toys ^^

Somebody shoot me.

Let's not go to those lengths!

@Col. Orange: Why should we shoot you for talking about a book with details about the Empire?

The other topic died for me with the other thread.

Nah, it's because I threw out some definitions based on the careers of friends and family and co-workers and it caused people to go to a crazy place. Such is my guilt.

(Yes, my dad is a smuggler.)

While I know that this topic might have already been talked to death, not to say it won't continue on for a bit more, this is my first opportunity to post my thoughts on the matter.

Sure, not all Imperials are bad. Some of nice guys, with loving families, doing what they believe in - being a source of order for the galaxy. Some were not given a choice but to serve. Yeah, it might be fun to play an Imperial game. The way that I look at is this. Imperials are not necessarily evil - the Empire is, due to the corruption of it's leadership. To use a historical reference, the Empire is the Nazi party before and during World War II. No, not all Nazi officers/soldiers were cruel and evil. A lot of them were idealistic youths that had been brainwashed by the Hitler Youth program. Many Nazi soldiers were quite kind. Yet, when you look back at the general view of the Nazi party, the only thing that people see are the images of the marching soldiers during Hitler's Mein Kampf speech or the atrocities that were carried out in the concentration camps or the horrors of kristallnacht.

Our first impression of the Empire is the boarding of the Tantive IV, the slaughtering of the crew, the order to shoot any trying to escape in escape pods, the slaughtering of a group of jawas and blaming someone else, and the murder of an entire farmstead just to get data that they were not even aware of. The Empire enslaves races, subjugates people under threat of imprisonment or death. We are presented by the universe's creator that the Empire is evil and that the heroes are those who stand up against it. This is why, I feel, that the game is focused on those who are not part of the great machine that is the Empire. Quite simply, when it comes down to it, it is in conflict with the theme that Lucas gave us to slide into that slippery quagmire of ethics and morality of the Star Wars universe. That is not to say that you can't go happily sloshing through that muddy ground. If that's what you like, then go for it, but it's why it will probably never get its own game focus.

I want names, dates, battles, heroic moments, atrocities, valiant upholders of order, evil abusers of power, corruption, betrayal, vehicles, guns, gear, ... everything. I want people ranging from raving lunatics to cold planers, xenophobs to honour-bound paladins,... The Empire during it's height controls up about 2/3s of the known galaxy, that is a lot of people, planets and adventure opportunities.

Wookiepedia?

Would you argue that Wookiepedia is an acceptable replacement for Age of Rebellion, too?

While I know that this topic might have already been talked to death, not to say it won't continue on for a bit more, this is my first opportunity to post my thoughts on the matter.

Sure, not all Imperials are bad. Some of nice guys, with loving families, doing what they believe in - being a source of order for the galaxy. Some were not given a choice but to serve. Yeah, it might be fun to play an Imperial game. The way that I look at is this. Imperials are not necessarily evil - the Empire is, due to the corruption of it's leadership. To use a historical reference, the Empire is the Nazi party before and during World War II. No, not all Nazi officers/soldiers were cruel and evil. A lot of them were idealistic youths that had been brainwashed by the Hitler Youth program. Many Nazi soldiers were quite kind. Yet, when you look back at the general view of the Nazi party, the only thing that people see are the images of the marching soldiers during Hitler's Mein Kampf speech or the atrocities that were carried out in the concentration camps or the horrors of kristallnacht.

Our first impression of the Empire is the boarding of the Tantive IV, the slaughtering of the crew, the order to shoot any trying to escape in escape pods, the slaughtering of a group of jawas and blaming someone else, and the murder of an entire farmstead just to get data that they were not even aware of. The Empire enslaves races, subjugates people under threat of imprisonment or death. We are presented by the universe's creator that the Empire is evil and that the heroes are those who stand up against it. This is why, I feel, that the game is focused on those who are not part of the great machine that is the Empire. Quite simply, when it comes down to it, it is in conflict with the theme that Lucas gave us to slide into that slippery quagmire of ethics and morality of the Star Wars universe. That is not to say that you can't go happily sloshing through that muddy ground. If that's what you like, then go for it, but it's why it will probably never get its own game focus.

Sums up my feelings. And that's the reason I still want a sourcebook.

Using Han Solo as an example of being a part of an empire that is revealed to him as ugly/evil. I mean a group of former imperial agents/troopers could make for a fun fringe EoTE group. The rebels won't trust them, bounty hunters everywhere and the imperials will make their lives miserable everywhere...an imperial book doesn't have to mean I roll imperial. Sourcebooks could include difficulties of travel in imperial space when your wanted, adventures around escaping bounty hunters, contacts within the imperial spy agency, helping the rebellion...I mean the list goes on.

There is a difference between a source book and a core book. I have no doubt we will see a source book. It is pretty much a gimme. A core book is not. A source book could also include some words on running an Imperial game.

There is a difference between a source book and a core book. I have no doubt we will see a source book. It is pretty much a gimme. A core book is not. A source book could also include some words on running an Imperial game.

Which is why it's important that we get a Core Rulebook at some point, and not just a Sourcebook. I believe a AoR supplement dealing with the Empire (and playing Imperial characters) would be ill fitting with the rest of the game, with no doubt an adventure that would only apply to scarce few groups, since all others are likely to assume the AoR baseline.

There is a difference between a source book and a core book. I have no doubt we will see a source book. It is pretty much a gimme. A core book is not. A source book could also include some words on running an Imperial game.

Yeah, a CB I highly doubt. But, the source book may possibly have rules for converting certain aspects of the game to play Imperials. With the EotE, AoR, and F&D, the rules are there. Putting out an Imperial CB would be like making a CB for each of the Hired Gun Specializations. If that happened, then the game is worse off than we think and so is the company.

Putting out an Imperial CB would be like making a CB for each of the Hired Gun Specializations

I don't think I could disagree more...

There is a difference between a source book and a core book. I have no doubt we will see a source book. It is pretty much a gimme. A core book is not. A source book could also include some words on running an Imperial game.

Yeah, a CB I highly doubt. But, the source book may possibly have rules for converting certain aspects of the game to play Imperials. With the EotE, AoR, and F&D, the rules are there. Putting out an Imperial CB would be like making a CB for each of the Hired Gun Specializations. If that happened, then the game is worse off than we think and so is the company.

The rules were already there with EotE , by that argument, and how do you figure ?

In the end, FFG has to have the motivation to publish the book. Either sales or creativity will drive the book...I think they have some great ideas and we'll see something that lines up with Deathwatch/Black Crusade. It's obvious people want to experience something a little different, FFG recognizes that and if they feel risk oriented..I think they'll go for it, assuming it is within the scope of said license.

In the end, FFG has to have the motivation to publish the book. Either sales or creativity will drive the book...I think they have some great ideas and we'll see something that lines up with Deathwatch/Black Crusade. It's obvious people want to experience something a little different, FFG recognizes that and if they feel risk oriented..I think they'll go for it, assuming it is within the scope of said license.

I think that the license might be the issue to begin with, along with insecurities when writing about potentially loaded issues without making it pants-on-head-kick-the-puppy-eat-the-kitten-retarded, as "evil" uninterestingly is often made out to be.

Putting out an Imperial CB would be like making a CB for each of the Hired Gun Specializations

I don't think I could disagree more...

What I mean by this is, in addition to the career books they're putting out, having a CB with all the same information in it that we've seen from AoR beta and undoubtly will see in F&D, in all their 400+ pages of rules and etc and at roughly $60 a book, the trimmed down stuff from the career books suits the Imperials just fine. For me as well, I would've been happy with a source book for the Alliance and even F&D. Skill checks, ground combat steps, space combat steps, healing checks and all that sort of information doesn't change between games. For anyone who plans on picking up most or all of the SW books that come out, it is a bit much to reprint the rules each time put in a new set of careers and specializations and Obligation/Duty/(who knows), then slap a ~$60 price on that book. For roughly the same amount of a CB, I could roughly buy 2 career books or source books. That personally is my biggest problem with FFG's approach with each of the lines. Each of the "new" content in each of the corebook is enough to fill a source book just fine.

Myself, I would have made one CB, then source book each of the lines they wished to portray, EotE/AoR/F&D, the rules don't change between systems.

Why spend another $60 for the most of same content?

Which is why it's important that we get a Core Rulebook at some point, and not just a Sourcebook. I believe a AoR supplement dealing with the Empire (and playing Imperial characters) would be ill fitting with the rest of the game, with no doubt an adventure that would only apply to scarce few groups, since all others are likely to assume the AoR baseline.

A core book would be a waste of resources. A source book would be much more in keeping with what is needed. A majority of games will be run from the Rebel side. People want more info on the Empire, but usually only for fleshing out their opponents more than anything else. Imperial characters that have switched to the Rebels can be done now. As I said, FFG has no problem with you running Imperial characters or games, they're just not going to devote an entire book to it.

And they are definitely not going to do a source book only to turn around later to do core book. Again, a waste of resources and would most definitely be deemed a money grab even more so than has been attributed to them already.

I, personally, wouldn’t mind either.

I think if it came down to it the source material between an Imperial game and a rebel game would be a lot different than the difference between AoR and EotE…

I think there is a 40k game where you can play Chaos Marines and I think that one was added as somewhat as an afterthought as well, however my knowledge of these games is marginal at best so I could well be wrong.

Oh and you're right, there is a lot of different material between AoR and EotE, but paying the roughly $60 for material I alreay have for the 40 some odd pages of stuff I don't already have that will be printed a total of 3 times. It's a bit shady in my opinion.

Having to pay the car dealer the price of your car every time you want to fill the tank.

You are talking about a game predicated on a miniature wargame. I would daresay that there is a great many more fans looking to play the Chaos side having played them in the miniature game than there are Star Wars fans looking to play the Imperial side. As I said, I think there is a need for an Imperial source book, but not a core book, hence why we will, in all likelihood not see one.

And there is the license factor. FFG may not be able to do such a book as Disney/Lucas may not wish to promote such an aspect. The Empire are the bad guys, so a source book promoting that is fine, but a core book may not be.

Wow there is only a 40 page difference between EotE and AoR? What have you seen that I haven't?

Oh and you're right, there is a lot of different material between AoR and EotE, but paying the roughly $60 for material I alreay have for the 40 some odd pages of stuff I don't already have that will be printed a total of 3 times. It's a bit shady in my opinion.

Having to pay the car dealer the price of your car every time you want to fill the tank.

And again we disagree. So basically I think we will never see eye to eye on this. Not even close.

Wow there is only a 40 page difference between EotE and AoR? What have you seen that I haven't?

The actual page count isn't exact, but Obligation Rules plus charts, New Talents, Careers, Specialization Trees, and Starting Group Resources, plus a starting Adventure, would be more than 40 pages. I personally don't need a the other half of the book that covers what the definitions for what skills do, how to make a dice pool and all the additional reprint of how to play. That was already presented. If the rules were significantly different then sure another CB would be appropriate.

Wow there is only a 40 page difference between EotE and AoR? What have you seen that I haven't?

The actual page count isn't exact, but Obligation Rules plus charts, New Talents, Careers, Specialization Trees, and Starting Group Resources, plus a starting Adventure, would be more than 40 pages. I personally don't need a the other half of the book that covers what the definitions for what skills do, how to make a dice pool and all the additional reprint of how to play. That was already presented. If the rules were significantly different then sure another CB would be appropriate.

There was a whole chapter over the break down of different criminal organizations and other affiliations that we wont's see in AoR, so that willl be filled with something.