Quote from: Omega;857042One of the other problems with FFGs SW:RPG is the cost. There have been a few tallies on the final cost of the RPG and depending on how completist you are or if you just want the stuff with mechanics and class/setting info. The game can get pretty expensive. Add in the cards and all that and it gets a bit more expensive.

I looked at Edge of the Empire on Amazon the other day and the cheapest one was $900.

The FFG core books should run about $60USD.   The Dice runs, typically $14, so at the very least you're looking at $74, depending on the type of game you want to run.  That said, that's all you really need for it

Quote from: CRKrueger;857035You mean I can shoot Han Solo in the Princess Leia? (meaning is there a way to turn physical damage into strain)

You can simply set your gun to Stun and yes, "shoot Han in his Princess Leia".

(not sure what the euphemism for that body part is supposed to represent, but I can imagine!)

So yeah - you can use Strain in lieu of blowing smoking holes in people. You can intimidate people and cause Strain. The GM can grant you strain just for being shot at. You can resist it, but the difficulty is set by the GM - and some classes are immune to situations that cause auto-strain simply because they're badasses. But still... Strain is a potent tool for keeping the PC's on their toes and setting the tone for the situation.

Strain also works on vehicles - it's representative of various systems that could get ionized etc. There's LOTS of badass random tables.

Quote from: Christopher Brady;857047The FFG core books should run about $60USD.

The most recent two books are still cheap.

Edge of the Empire seems rare as of right now (maybe they will print more?). It might be available on E-Bay or something, though.

Quote from: Omega;857042One of the other problems with FFGs SW:RPG is the cost. There have been a few tallies on the final cost of the RPG and depending on how completist you are or if you just want the stuff with mechanics and class/setting info. The game can get pretty expensive. Add in the cards and all that and it gets a bit more expensive.

Yeah. I skipped all the cards. They're unnecessary as all of that information is in the books, but they're handy for reference I guess.

The rules/gear-spreading I've griped about will require you to download one of the community-made indexes that will tell you where you can find certain rules. It's really not that big of a deal. But yeah, these books are pricey, and imo, if you're gonna GM - worth every penny.

If you're just an "rpg collector" - I'd say you're out of your mind, but hey, it's your money, right? Right.

I thought the Star Wars D20 version would make a good generic sci-fi or cyberpunk game. The Alien Anthology would be an awesome resource for a 3.5 or Pathfinder game if you want unusual races. My preference is the Saga edition. It just seems to hit the 'sweet spot' for me. I know nothing about the latest iteration and the D6 version left me cold.

Quote from: Omega;857042Check out FFGs attendant board game. Star Wars: Imperial Assault. It plays alot like Descent and uses modular boards. The minis and boards work great with the RPG.

One of the other problems with FFGs SW:RPG is the cost. There have been a few tallies on the final cost of the RPG and depending on how completist you are or if you just want the stuff with mechanics and class/setting info. The game can get pretty expensive. Add in the cards and all that and it gets a bit more expensive.

Hardly the first rpg to have a hefty price tag to have everything.

DnD (3, 3.5 and 4th obviously), WW etc aren't exactly cheap to complete.

Quote from: Warboss Squee;857054Hardly the first rpg to have a hefty price tag to have everything.

DnD (3, 3.5 and 4th obviously), WW etc aren't exactly cheap to complete.

A lot of the 3E era material was available online for free. Just as is Pathfinder. It's missing the 'fluff' but the core mechanics are all there. Has any iteration of Star Wars done that?

Quote from: tenbones;857048You can simply set your gun to Stun and yes, "shoot Han in his Princess Leia".

(not sure what the euphemism for that body part is supposed to represent, but I can imagine!)

So yeah - you can use Strain in lieu of blowing smoking holes in people. You can intimidate people and cause Strain. The GM can grant you strain just for being shot at. You can resist it, but the difficulty is set by the GM - and some classes are immune to situations that cause auto-strain simply because they're badasses. But still... Strain is a potent tool for keeping the PC's on their toes and setting the tone for the situation.

Strain also works on vehicles - it's representative of various systems that could get ionized etc. There's LOTS of badass random tables.

Strain (or Stress) is used in a lot of narrative games like MHRP.  The idea is an attack, like a punch, can cause stress that might not manifest immediately, but come out later as a complication or consequence.  I punch the hell out of Spidey, but it doesn't hurt him, but it allows me to get away.  Later that frustration comes out in an argument with Mary Jane which leads to the Stress finally becoming a Complication when MJ kicks his ass out.

So...I punched Spidey in the Mary Jane.  
Defining Physical and Emotional Stress differently isn't the issue, it's when I can translate one type of damage into another that I can Shoot Han Solo in the Princess Leia or I can beat Darth Vader through laughing at him, striking at his inner pussboy Haden Christiansen.

It's an extreme form of Conflict Resolution taken to ridiculous narrative extremes in an attempt at genre emulation.

Or, to Jay Little, Tuesday.

Strain in FFG's RPG doesn't operate like that though. Its far removed from MHR and PDQ style effects that you raise. Its more in line with VP, subdual damage or fatigue, and has little or no narrative weight. It heals quickly, so has no lingering narrative effect.

I think your observations are better aimed at the Advantage and Threat results on the dice, but even then the narrative potential of these is extremely limited. At best, they provide a bonus dice on someone's next action which is essentially an assist and not really a narrative effect.

So, as per the RAW, you can't shoot Han Solo in the Princess Leia. You can simply give him a penalty to his next action in seeing Princess Leia being hurt, which isn't that far fetched an idea (see when Leia is shot in front of the bunker door in RotJ).

There are some limited abilities to cause strain to people without causing harm, but they are limited in scope and certainly nowhere near as good as having a good blaster by your side.

Quote from: tenbones;856986Yeah Rat, that's been my impression too. I honestly do not understand the "Yuck" factor to people's reaction.

Common one I've seen for dislike is the dice. Some players just do not, or occasionally can not grock to icons. It puts up a barrier against getting into the game. See that in board games too.

Some are ok with the dice. But not with the way they are used for resolutions.

Quote from: Christopher Brady;857047The FFG core books should run about $60USD.   The Dice runs, typically $14, so at the very least you're looking at $74, depending on the type of game you want to run.  That said, that's all you really need for it

Absolutely.

But.

If you want the rest of the game then thats going to add up

Starter: 30$ or Core book 60$ or 75$ for the core and one pack of dice.
Dice 15$ (Required if you just got the core book. Optional if you got the starter or dont mind stickering regular RPG dice.)
GM Kit 20$ (Pretty sure this is totally optional unless you want the pack in module?)
6 Rules supplements 200$ (Some of these are optional if you dont need setting info. Some have new classes/races, equipment or mechanics though)
3 modules 90$ (Totally optional if you never use modules)
3 Adversary decks 21$ (Pretty sure these are totally optional)
35 Spec Decks 245$ (Pretty sure these are totally optional and players would be buying these for themselves individually as needed.)

Quote from: Omega;857072Starter: 30$ or Core book 60$ or 75$ for the core and one pack of dice.
Dice 15$ (Required if you just got the core book. Optional if you got the starter or dont mind stickering regular RPG dice.)
GM Kit 20$ (Pretty sure this is totally optional unless you want the pack in module?)
6 Rules supplements 200$ (Some of these are optional if you dont need setting info. Some have new classes/races, equipment or mechanics though)
3 modules 90$ (Totally optional if you never use modules)
3 Adversary decks 21$ (Pretty sure these are totally optional)
35 Spec Decks 245$ (Pretty sure these are totally optional and players would be buying these for themselves individually as needed.)

IME your choices for "buy in" are:

1. rulebook and dice app ($65) (for players with mobile devices);
2. rulebook and dice ($75); or
3. rulebook and starter set ($90).

There is enough material in each corebook to make all supplements optional, and everything is optional.

Quote from: Skywalker;857074IME your choices for "buy in" are:

1. rulebook and dice app ($65) (for players with mobile devices);
2. rulebook and dice ($75); or
3. rulebook and starter set ($90).

There is enough material in each corebook to make all supplements optional, and everything is optional.

Pretty much this.  Compared to D&D's 100 to 120, without dice?  Pretty reasonable.

Quote from: Christopher Brady;857075Pretty much this.  Compared to D&D's 100 to 120, without dice?  Pretty reasonable.

I got the 5e books for around 75-80$ with the early purchase so it was comprable. Right now you can get all three for about 90 off Amazon. And technically the DMG and MM are optional. Retail though 5e is 150$. Dice arent even an issue at this point for D&D.You either have some allready or can buy some for as little as 2$
Still. 5e retails total more than FFGs SW core+dice is going retail.