I am curious to see how releasing 3 separate core games, utilizing the same mechanics, and being fully compatible works out. White Wolf did this with Vampire, Werewolf, Mage, Hunter, Changling, etc. and it worked out ok (except Mages were too over powered) and it made for this great pervasive world and story that stretched through several different games over different periods of time. I think Fantasy Flight can pull it off but the third book that introduces Jedi is probably going to be their version of Mage

Going back to the newest iteration of SW:RPG, I like the non-binary dice system that Fantasy Flight is using (I know the main grip about the dice is that they are proprietary and cost $15 for a set but I will say this it is a great investment) It allows PC's to be more active in the way game mechanics effect the narrative. Spending the advantage and threats became as fun as succeed or failing in any given task. I enjoyed the mechanical representation of luck, ability and the Force that is presented in this system. I know I am talking Edge of he Empire up a lot and some of that is due the novelty and the "ZOMG! NEW SYSTEM!" but I think they are taking a fresh approach to mainstream gaming with what are basically radical ideas for a SW RPG. I am a HUGE fan of the no Jedi rules as well as the emphasis on the more grimmy noir elements of the Fringe

I just don't think a tactical combat system is the right fit for Star Wars. Part of what made D6 SW:RPG so great was that all you needed for combat was a sketched map on 8x11 paper and your imagination. I think tactical combat was a bad fit for this specific IP and Wizards of the Coast was just lazy by tacking SW onto a hastily constructed combo of D&D 3.5 and D&D 4th edition. I will take some of the blame for not being as familiar with the system as my PCs were. My RPG background is rooted more in D6 SW, Shadowrun and Pallidium Conversely a game like Shadowrun would benefit from have a more tactical style of combat. Ask anyone who has played Shadowrun 4th edition how broken the game gets with multiple initiative passes while using a tactical map and minis. My gaming group still brings up the days long argument we had up and it has turned into something of a meme between us.

Agreed on the Marvel point. Disney seems to know when the should back off and let creative people do their thing. They know Star Wars is basically a license to print money so I would assume they would be okay with being hands off so long as they get their substantial cut.

First off I feel the need to tout my own qualifications before I weigh in on this subject. I have played every iteration of Star Wars RPGs since West End Games second edition D6 (for those keeping score at home that is West End Games D6 second and revised edition, Star Wars d20, Star Wars d20 revised, Saga Edition, and I have played both the the beta and beginner game of Fantasy Flight's new Fringe based RPG called Edge of the Empire) That being said, of all the d20 systems Saga does the best job of achieving some sort of balance. Jedi are way more powerful out the gate (I hate skill focus: use the force) but the official errata did a good job of nerfing some of the force powers (changing the rules for move object was HUGE) Soldiers actually got pretty good towards the mid game levels and scoundrels with the right build could do some damage as well. My biggest issue with Saga is that it still felt like D&D with a palette swap. I ran Saga for a group of friends who are massive D&D 3.5/Pathfinder fans and they of course loved the game. They knew the basics of the rules and knew how to min/max. I do not have the D&D background and have no nostalgic attachment to the d20 rules (in fact the first 2 SW RPGs made under the d20 license turned me off so much I almost passed on Saga) so I was able to be a bit more critical of the game. Number 1, i found the combat to be too tactical. It felt like a mini's combat game with an RPG tacked on. Secondly, even though the balance was better there was still a power gap between Jedi and non-Jedi. Finally i feel the game didnt really capture the swashbuckling feel of the Star Wars films. We ran the game from levels 1 to 8 and dropped when I heard there was a new SW RPG in the works. My recommendation is to try out the Fantasy Flight Edge of the Empire Beginner Game, it strives to capture the feel of the original trilogy and returns Force Users to their pre-EU power levels.

Yes they are real, and they are spectacular!

Sidiious totally had a son, his name was Triclops (on account of the third eye and all) but he was usurped by another three eyed mutant named Trioculous. I wiash I was making this up. http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Triclops

Consider: One, probability is a factor which operates *within* natural forces. Two, probability is *not* operating as a factor. Three, we are now held within un-, sub- or super-natural forces. Discuss.

You know I think they used Force Speed at the beginning of the movie, when they were trying to escape from the droid army. Anyone else remember that part?

Boba Fett is by far the toughest Bounty Hunter to ever live, he only has one weakness - a blind guy with a stick

I am a HUGE LOTR fan and this scene had me rolling on the floor. The first Clerks movie made me realize I wasn't alone in obsessing over the minutiae of Star Wars. I was born in '81 so Star Wars was a staple of my early childhood whereas I discovered LOTR in late middle school/early high school and the two had profoundly different effects on me. Star Wars kick started my life long love affair with Sci-fi and even though Space Opera is not my preferred sci-fi subset (Cyperpunk - William Gibson FTW) I still buy an inordinate amount of sci-fi games, films and novels. LOTR kin of ruined fantasy for me. Nothing ever stacks up to the high bar it set and most the stuff in the fantasy section of your local book store is horribly derivative. Besides a few exceptions (Brent Weeks, George Martin and Joe Abercrombie whose most recent novel Heroes is fantastic) I skip most fantasy stuff unless it comes super highly recommended. Where do Bond and Indy rate in people's favorite franchises?

Each of the three books in the series were divided into two books. Fellowship Book 1 follows Frodo from Hobbiton to Rivendell Fellowship Book 2 chronicles the group's travels through Moria and ends with the breaking of the Fellowship Two Towers Book 1 is the story of Aragon, Legalos and Gimli tracking Merru and Pippin through Rohan Two Towers Book 2 is Sam and Frodo's journey to Mordor Return Book 1 is the Second War of the Ring Return Book 2 is Frodo's further adventures in Mordor and the conclusion of the series The films are great because they jump back and forth between Frodo's tale and Aragon's tale. The books do not go back and forth between POV characters. Hope that helped clear things up. Now get off the damn computer and read LOTR!