Basically, this is a fun game. If you like Star Wars, and you like leveling up, you'll probably be happy with this game. If its tactical focus and structured character development don't jibe with your narrative style, you may want to skip it.
Post originally by SteelCaress at 2004-02-20 14:19:58
Converted from Phorums BB System
The Vitality/Wounds system was one of the strongest parts of Star Wars d20, and at times the most aggravating.
The good: Goons like stormtroopers *only* have Wounds, not Vitality. If you hurt 'em, there's a strong chance they will fall unconscious on the first hit. Which is very accurate according to Star Wars mythology.
The bad: Force Powers draw on Vitality, which bites if you're hurting.
The result: After a harrowing battle, Force users would form a chain; "You heal him, I'll heal you."
Vitality was pretty slow to heal, too, especially when stranded on planet light years from civilization and "roughing it." Which is odd, if Vitality is truly fatigue.
Post originally by Buzz at 2004-02-20 14:28:43
Converted from Phorums BB System
I concur; very well done.
My only beef would be the low Style rating. I'm neither a big fan of Star Wars, nor one of RPG books that feature lots of movie stills, but I think SWd20 has Style 5 written all over it. With the exception of the cover (I prefer the original edition's cover; I find the RCR's kind of cheesy), this is one of the best-looking RPG books I've ever seen.
Post originally by Yalaz Ozkanli at 2004-02-20 16:58:16
Converted from Phorums BB System
This book has the most horrible, horrible, horrible border art ever combined with totally eye straining background colors. Its stills and general layout would have gotten it a 5 with a normal border and white background but as it is, the layout is really just average if not worse.
Post originally by roforot at 2004-02-20 19:37:05
Converted from Phorums BB System
It's my bias, but I also thought the WEG star wars had a nicer look to it. The ads were a nice touch: wanted ad for Skywalker & Solo & Leia, the recruiting poster for the Empire, and the Remember Alderaan. Again, it may be the bias of youth, but I remember the WEG version as reading like a SW RPG should read; whereas the WEG seemed to have a D&D feel to its orientation. Still the book is quite good and well organized.
Post originally by Roy Morgan at 2004-02-20 22:54:25
Converted from Phorums BB System
Because of an irritating quirk in the original game (in which Force-Users could use a healing power on themselves and actually gain back not only the cost of the power, but more besides), I actually calculated a Force Power Pool for the Force-using classes, using a d10 for Consulars and Adepts, and a d8 for Guardians (shouldn't the introspective types who spend so much time /studying/ the Force be stronger at using it, I thought?). This was back when I still though this could be a working game, and I abandoned the effort after I got sick of trying to kitbash it to work as well as the original SWRPG. It worked well enough, though, and Force Power Points could be recovered at the same rate as Vitality.
I'm actually considering revamping the Force system for the WEG game to use similar skills to this game, as those skills reflect the movies a little better. If the rest of the game had done as well, I might still be playing it.
Post originally by JNG at 2004-02-21 12:05:06
Converted from Phorums BB System
"While Force skills are purchased like Class Skills, their maximum level is based only on your Force-user level, making them neither precisely Class nor cross-Class skill."
Hmm, where did you find that? I don't see that in either the Skill section nor the Force section of the rulebook.
Linear Mode
