FFG Star Wars Rules Clarifications - Thu 30/04/20 08:50 UTC
[We used FFG's Star Wars RPG ruleset as written as we played through The Force Awakens Beginner Game. We converted to FFG's The End of the World ruleset for the follow-up bonus adventure, A Call For Heroes, on 18/09/20.]
I would like you all to watch this 10 minute video, at your convenience.
The reason for this is that although you don't need to roll any dice in CFH, I want you to learn more about these games as a side benefit. Because they are interesting.
Why, you ask?
Well, one of the design choices was to use a proprietary dice system to obscure the probabilities. The problem these days is that we gamers are so experienced, we can see right through a dice mechanic to the probabilities underneath. So the thinking goes.
Personally I'm not like Han Solo, you can always tell me the odds, I don't mind! But the designers' point is, a player who can figure out the probabilities has an advantage over non-mathematical players at the table, and in their view, can lead to non-mathematical players being outshone.
The designers want to embrace mathematical and non-mathematic players---the role-players and the gamers, so to speak---so their system also allows players to creatively manipulate the scene with certain dice results.
Did you roll a Triumph, then maybe your attack activates an iris shutter on the door and cuts that Quarrian ripperganger in half. Looks like it's sushi for lunch.
It's a nice touch. Irl, you rarely have only one type of player in a gaming group. I like all aspects of RPGs, for example, but sometimes I'm in the mood for a lite system, sometimes I want crunch to get my teeth into. FFG's Star Wars RPGs go some way to appealing to all players.
It does make sacrifices along the way, imo. At the table, constructing your dice pool, determining the result and then resolving takes forever. We actually clocked a couple of ftf sessions and found we were spending about 8 minutes per turn!!
I highly recommend the Beginner Games though, if you want to playtest the game at your table. They come in three flavours and one movie tie-in.
Edge of the Empire Beginner Game
Age of Rebellion Beginner Game
Force & Destiny Beginner Game
The Force Awakens Beginner Game
For Rebellion Day, FFG have released two free introductory adventures in the past years.
My favourite is Rescue at Glare Peak, which I actually ran for a friend and his two primary school kids. I really enjoyed it and thought the adventure was excellent. I was tempted to run it here, but no, I never run the same thing twice!
Rescue at Glare Peak
Nominally for the Age of Rebellion line, this introductory adventure contains a remarkably thorough explanation of the system and contains everything you need to play.
I would like you all to watch this 10 minute video, at your convenience.
The reason for this is that although you don't need to roll any dice in CFH, I want you to learn more about these games as a side benefit. Because they are interesting.
Why, you ask?
Well, one of the design choices was to use a proprietary dice system to obscure the probabilities. The problem these days is that we gamers are so experienced, we can see right through a dice mechanic to the probabilities underneath. So the thinking goes.
Personally I'm not like Han Solo, you can always tell me the odds, I don't mind! But the designers' point is, a player who can figure out the probabilities has an advantage over non-mathematical players at the table, and in their view, can lead to non-mathematical players being outshone.
The designers want to embrace mathematical and non-mathematic players---the role-players and the gamers, so to speak---so their system also allows players to creatively manipulate the scene with certain dice results.
Did you roll a Triumph, then maybe your attack activates an iris shutter on the door and cuts that Quarrian ripperganger in half. Looks like it's sushi for lunch.
It's a nice touch. Irl, you rarely have only one type of player in a gaming group. I like all aspects of RPGs, for example, but sometimes I'm in the mood for a lite system, sometimes I want crunch to get my teeth into. FFG's Star Wars RPGs go some way to appealing to all players.
It does make sacrifices along the way, imo. At the table, constructing your dice pool, determining the result and then resolving takes forever. We actually clocked a couple of ftf sessions and found we were spending about 8 minutes per turn!!
I highly recommend the Beginner Games though, if you want to playtest the game at your table. They come in three flavours and one movie tie-in.
Edge of the Empire Beginner Game
Age of Rebellion Beginner Game
Force & Destiny Beginner Game
The Force Awakens Beginner Game
For Rebellion Day, FFG have released two free introductory adventures in the past years.
My favourite is Rescue at Glare Peak, which I actually ran for a friend and his two primary school kids. I really enjoyed it and thought the adventure was excellent. I was tempted to run it here, but no, I never run the same thing twice!
Rescue at Glare Peak
Nominally for the Age of Rebellion line, this introductory adventure contains a remarkably thorough explanation of the system and contains everything you need to play.