fredrix
Master Douchebag
Posts: 2,142
Preferred Game Systems: Fate, L5R, Pendragon, Gumshoe, Feng Shui
Currently Playing: Pendragon, Song of Ice and Fire, L5R, Feng Shui, Traveller
Currently Running: Fate, Coriolis, Nights Black Agents
Favorite Species of Monkey: 1970's NTV, dubbed by the BBC (though The Water Margin beats it)
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Post by fredrix on Sept 6, 2015 5:23:24 GMT -8
I'd decided to buy my boy one of the beginner sets to be his first RPG, a system I don't know anything about so that he could step up to GMing and not look to me to be the arbiter of all things RPG. Talking it over with him, he prefers the Edge of Empire setting over the other two.
But I just missed as on a slew of copies that were on-line for just £16, a pretty big discount on the £25 list price. This has made me think a LOT about value for money. I can get Age of Rebellion begginger sets for £17, but that's not the flavour he really wants to play.
On the other other hand, as far as I can see, he'll get maybe two scenarios out of any beginner set before (hopefully) he starts asking for the core book. So maybe I should go for the cheapest beginner set, and then when the time comes, get his the Edge of Empire corebook. I'm assuming the systems are totally compatible?
Advice please from experienced players.
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Post by Kainguru on Sept 6, 2015 5:58:49 GMT -8
Yes . . . they have a different narrative mechanic though EotE - Obligation AoR - Duty FaD - Morality But AoR and FaD include advice on how to manage a game using all they rules. The beginners boxes don't introduce these bits til near the end of the first adventure and expend on them in the downloadable pdf follow up adventures. In my game we started AoR but use all three mechanics - all force users have a Morality and can choose to have a Duty or Obligation. Non-force users had either Duty or Obligation depending where they sourced their specialisation BUT these are very fluid. Eg: the Bounty Hunter started with an Obligation (Debt: Rescued by the Alliance) that he paid off and converted to a Duty (Military Superiority) now he's a signed in and committed member of the Alliance. For group resource I let the group decide and basically threw both Core Books and the FaD beta down in front of them and let them pick. Thus a group of Rebels started with a YT-1300 . . . Bit confused as you say AoR is his preferred 'flavour' but then that's the set you can get cut-price, but not the one he wants? . Anyway wait til FFG have shipped their newest printings and the price should come down again . . . Aaron
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fredrix
Master Douchebag
Posts: 2,142
Preferred Game Systems: Fate, L5R, Pendragon, Gumshoe, Feng Shui
Currently Playing: Pendragon, Song of Ice and Fire, L5R, Feng Shui, Traveller
Currently Running: Fate, Coriolis, Nights Black Agents
Favorite Species of Monkey: 1970's NTV, dubbed by the BBC (though The Water Margin beats it)
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Post by fredrix on Sept 6, 2015 6:22:44 GMT -8
Bit confused as you say AoR is his preferred 'flavour' but then that's the set you can get cut-price, but not the one he wants? . Anyway wait til FFG have shipped their newest printings and the price should come down again . . . Gah! You're confused?! I'm confused! I meant to say Edge of Empire is his favourite flavour. I'll edit my original post. But I'll take your advice and wait and see if the prices come down again.
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D.T. Pints
Instigator
JACKERCON 2018: WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY June 22-July 1st
Posts: 2,857
Currently Playing: D&D 5e, Pathfinder, DUNGEONWORLD, Star Wars Edge of the Empire
Currently Running: DUNGEONWORLD, PATHFINDER
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Post by D.T. Pints on Sept 6, 2015 6:51:53 GMT -8
How old is he ? Has he delved into RPG tomes before ? Because a 7-12 year old could get tons of mileage out of the Beginner Box (and then there's free downloadable content...characters and adventures). Plus all the tokens, maps etc and especially as set of the weird but lovely DICE! It just feels so user friendly. The corebooks are for people who know RPGs in my opinion.
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fredrix
Master Douchebag
Posts: 2,142
Preferred Game Systems: Fate, L5R, Pendragon, Gumshoe, Feng Shui
Currently Playing: Pendragon, Song of Ice and Fire, L5R, Feng Shui, Traveller
Currently Running: Fate, Coriolis, Nights Black Agents
Favorite Species of Monkey: 1970's NTV, dubbed by the BBC (though The Water Margin beats it)
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Post by fredrix on Sept 6, 2015 12:27:37 GMT -8
He's 10. If you think he'll get a decent amount of okay out if it, I'll wait until I can get a decent price on it...
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D.T. Pints
Instigator
JACKERCON 2018: WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY June 22-July 1st
Posts: 2,857
Currently Playing: D&D 5e, Pathfinder, DUNGEONWORLD, Star Wars Edge of the Empire
Currently Running: DUNGEONWORLD, PATHFINDER
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Post by D.T. Pints on Sept 6, 2015 16:43:28 GMT -8
Yep that thing reads like a "how to GM" flight manual. (mixed my metaphors a bit) Just like the Pathfinder Beginner Box. Kids gotta start somewhere and that somewhere probably shouldn't be a 442 page book.
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Post by Harlequin on Sept 19, 2015 19:05:10 GMT -8
Definitely go with the flavor that he likes best. All of the Beginner boxes are great value -- the FFG site has excellent support for each of them in the form of two additional PCs and an extension of the boxed adventure. The online support material for Edge is here, for example. "Long Arm of the Hutt" continues the adventure that starts in the box. Another thing that's not obvious from the get-go is that the beginner boxes introduce the party's shared resource. In the case of Edge, it's the stock light freighter, so they make great starting points for a generic campaign, as well.
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The GMs Table
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Posts: 9
Preferred Game Systems: Savage Worlds, D&D 5e, FF Star Wars
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Post by The GMs Table on Sept 21, 2015 6:31:05 GMT -8
I'd say go with EotE. I've actually collected all the beginner sets (I have a bit of a problem) and it has plenty to give mileage. IF he likes the favor of Edge it should be a no brainer, but on top of that it has extra ships and enemies that a 10 year old can get a lot of mileage out of. Most importantly though is it comes with a map of the ship the heroes get by the end of the beginning adventure. First of all that's a great hook for further adventures (including a free adventure you can download from FF that is a direct sequel to the beginner box. Second that is a map that while technically has the ship on a lading pad can be used so many times it will always be on your table. The other side of the map is great too as rather than a single big map its actually a collection of smaller maps including a cantina and a security office, both very reusable locations for further adventures.
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D.T. Pints
Instigator
JACKERCON 2018: WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY June 22-July 1st
Posts: 2,857
Currently Playing: D&D 5e, Pathfinder, DUNGEONWORLD, Star Wars Edge of the Empire
Currently Running: DUNGEONWORLD, PATHFINDER
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Post by D.T. Pints on Sept 21, 2015 7:43:27 GMT -8
Yep...we just had the FOURTH firefight aboard the PCs ship The Lady A Majora (4 ladies, 3 dudes playing) using that map from the Beginner Box. The pre-gen folios make such easy go to NPCs. Again best starter RPG I've seen in awhile.
One note I have as I attempt to run bits and pieces of the adventure included at the back of EotE core book. I haven't run a published adventure in years and it used to be my "go to" style of GMing. Take a published adventure and utilizing its framework create a "sandbox" around it. I now know that how I GM trying to reference little details (plot hooks, character names, connections, etc...) in a written scenario really slows the game down. I wonder how often I had my nose in the book as youngling GM ? Now I know that I will just make a quick one page of notes from a scenario and steal liberally and probably never glance at the book again during the game.
Aaaaand a second note...space ship combat in this game is so wonderfully fast and cinematic. Its terrifyingly easy to have your ship shot out from under you. The connection of this game to FFG's Warhammer Fantasy roleplay made sure to include its delightful "critical effects" table. So, damage to ships can be incredibly descriptive as well as game mechanically meaningful. Last night the PCs stolen Y-Wing and YT freighter took on a swarm of scrambling TIE fighters and nearly got shot down. But not before sending TIE fighters careening into city streets and setting the place on fire. This fight took 15 minutes of game time. PERFECT.
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The GMs Table
Initiate Douchebag
Posts: 9
Preferred Game Systems: Savage Worlds, D&D 5e, FF Star Wars
Currently Playing: I'm exclusively GMing right now
Currently Running: Savage Worlds, D&D 5e, FF Star Wars
Favorite Species of Monkey: Spider
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Post by The GMs Table on Sept 21, 2015 12:28:24 GMT -8
Also as another note on starship combat. This isn't really covered in the beginner box, but in the core game it's covered and that is just how many things there is to do during a firefight for people that aren't pilots or gunners. The beginner box gives some options and definitely covers something for every pre made in the kit, but in the core is an entire table of "Additional Starship & Vehicle Actions" that not only gives everyone something to do, but choices of multiple things that are all useful in different ways.
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Post by joecrak on Sept 21, 2015 12:52:34 GMT -8
Yep...we just had the FOURTH firefight aboard the PCs ship The Lady A Majora (4 ladies, 3 dudes playing) using that map from the Beginner Box. The pre-gen folios make such easy go to NPCs. Again best starter RPG I've seen in awhile. One note I have as I attempt to run bits and pieces of the adventure included at the back of EotE core book. I haven't run a published adventure in years and it used to be my "go to" style of GMing. Take a published adventure and utilizing its framework create a "sandbox" around it. I now know that how I GM trying to reference little details (plot hooks, character names, connections, etc...) in a written scenario really slows the game down. I wonder how often I had my nose in the book as youngling GM ? Now I know that I will just make a quick one page of notes from a scenario and steal liberally and probably never glance at the book again during the game. Aaaaand a second note...space ship combat in this game is so wonderfully fast and cinematic. Its terrifyingly easy to have your ship shot out from under you. The connection of this game to FFG's Warhammer Fantasy roleplay made sure to include its delightful "critical effects" table. So, damage to ships can be incredibly descriptive as well as game mechanically meaningful. Last night the PCs stolen Y-Wing and YT freighter took on a swarm of scrambling TIE fighters and nearly got shot down. But not before sending TIE fighters careening into city streets and setting the place on fire. This fight took 15 minutes of game time. PERFECT. More details on your game! What careers and Specializations and races are being played! Personally my favorite Career is from Age of Rebellion, as the Ace: Hotshot. And I used to think being a Pilot was boring as crap in Edge of the Empire.
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fredrix
Master Douchebag
Posts: 2,142
Preferred Game Systems: Fate, L5R, Pendragon, Gumshoe, Feng Shui
Currently Playing: Pendragon, Song of Ice and Fire, L5R, Feng Shui, Traveller
Currently Running: Fate, Coriolis, Nights Black Agents
Favorite Species of Monkey: 1970's NTV, dubbed by the BBC (though The Water Margin beats it)
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Post by fredrix on Sept 21, 2015 14:32:49 GMT -8
Excellent advice, all. Thank you.
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Post by ericfromnj on Sept 29, 2015 14:32:25 GMT -8
So EotE the best beginner box to get? I know it was the first and I wonder if it is the friendliest.
GMing three ten year olds and one brother in law. Their only experience before this is playing Faery Tales RPG.
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Post by Kainguru on Sept 30, 2015 2:44:12 GMT -8
So EotE the best beginner box to get? I know it was the first and I wonder if it is the friendliest. GMing three ten year olds and one brother in law. Their only experience before this is playing Faery Tales RPG. They are all equally as good and well designed. Just depends on the flavour of Star Wars you want to start with: Grim, gritty and living on the fringes of the Law and the Galaxy: EotE Rebels fighting for a cause against the military might of The Empire: AoR Jedi, jedi, jedi or Sith: FaD Aaron
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The GMs Table
Initiate Douchebag
Posts: 9
Preferred Game Systems: Savage Worlds, D&D 5e, FF Star Wars
Currently Playing: I'm exclusively GMing right now
Currently Running: Savage Worlds, D&D 5e, FF Star Wars
Favorite Species of Monkey: Spider
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Post by The GMs Table on Sept 30, 2015 4:26:09 GMT -8
They are all equally as good and well designed. Just depends on the flavour of Star Wars you want to start with: Grim, gritty and living on the fringes of the Law and the Galaxy: EotE Rebels fighting for a cause against the military might of The Empire: AoR Jedi, jedi, jedi or Sith: FaD Aaron I agree they're all amazing. The only reason I give EotE any edge is my personal prefrence of finding the maps that set comes up with being more often reused for later games. EotE: You get a map of your ship, a canteena, spaceport control room, and a town map AoR: You get a military base, a launchpad, a comm tower, and a jungle area map FaD: You get a "Jedi" Temple, some ruins, a bridge, and an area map In reality its that ship map and canteena that sets it over the edge for me as my players tend to prefer flying planet to planet and bar fights.
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