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walbournI've picked up the new Star Wars Roleplaying Game SAGA core rulebook. Basically it's a D20 Modern take on a Star Wars RPG. It is not really compatible with the older Star Wars D20 (Original or Revised).
Here is a summary of the major changes:
- Using the D20 Modern 'talent tree' idea, the classes are simplified: Jedi is a single class that has Guardian, Counselor, Sentinel, and Lightsaber talent trees. Scoundrels have a Luck, Misfortune, Splicer, and Spacer talent trees. You get bonus class feats every even level and class talent selections each odd level.
- Skill 'ranks' are gone. You get a basic set of skills as 'trained' influenced by your class choice and Int score, and you don't get new skills unless you take a feat for it. All skills (trained and untrained) are linked to your level so they go up automatically when you level. Skills have also been simplified.
- No more vitality/wounds. Instead it uses the standard hit point system with your first hit-die tripled and they use the Massive Damage Threshold rules from some D20 Modern variants to make the big guns scary. Basically if you take more damage that your MDT in a single hit, you get debilitated on a 'condition track' or if it takes you to 0 hit points you are dead (unless you have a Treat Injury trained character standing next to you who can hit the DC 25 to revivify you within 1 round). Otherwise hitting 0 hit points just drops your condition a lot and you fall unconscious. Means getting nicked-and-dimed probably won't kill you, but big boom is dangerous.
- The Force rules have changed a lot. There is a single skill Use The Force (linked to Cha). Your Wisdom score determines the number of Force Powers you know (you can take a feat to add more and more of them). Any force sensitive character can take Force talents instead of their standard class talents as they level. Force classes get additional Force Techniques and eventually Force Secrets.
- Fringer is gone. It is now a talent tree for Scout
- Tech Specialist is gone. I wouldn't be surprised to see it show up again as a Prestige Class in some add-on though. Mechanics have to start life as a Scoundrel, Scout, or Soldier. A Computer Wiz has to start life as a Noble, Scoundrel, or Soldier.
- Force Adept is gone as a base class. It is now a Prestige Class (called 'Advanced' class in D20 modern). This is actually fine because basically ANY class can be a Force User by taking Force Sensitive, which gives them access to the Force talent tree, Use The Force skill, and Force Powers.
- Scientist characters are basically stuck with starting as Noble. A medical-type must start as either a Noble or a Soldier.
- You get two attribute bumps every 4 levels instead of one. The core rules assume you start with a 25-point attribute buy. Everything is retroactive, so if you boost your Int you get another class skill selection. If you boost your Wisdom, you add Force Powers.
- Reputation, Defense/AC, and Saves are gone. Instead you have three Defense scores: Fortitude Defense, Reflex Defense, and Will Defense. It's computed kinda like Defense/AC is computed and includes heroic-class levels so it cranks up pretty high without any equipment. Armor is again used in place of 'class defense' which means it mostly useful for low-level noobs, but it also helps assist other kinds of bonuses and Soldiers have talents to make armor more useful.
In summary, a lot of changes compared to previous versions, and clearly heavily influenced by some of the miniatures simplification concepts. Still, I'm interested to see how it really plays.
Here is a summary of the major changes:
- Using the D20 Modern 'talent tree' idea, the classes are simplified: Jedi is a single class that has Guardian, Counselor, Sentinel, and Lightsaber talent trees. Scoundrels have a Luck, Misfortune, Splicer, and Spacer talent trees. You get bonus class feats every even level and class talent selections each odd level.
- Skill 'ranks' are gone. You get a basic set of skills as 'trained' influenced by your class choice and Int score, and you don't get new skills unless you take a feat for it. All skills (trained and untrained) are linked to your level so they go up automatically when you level. Skills have also been simplified.
- No more vitality/wounds. Instead it uses the standard hit point system with your first hit-die tripled and they use the Massive Damage Threshold rules from some D20 Modern variants to make the big guns scary. Basically if you take more damage that your MDT in a single hit, you get debilitated on a 'condition track' or if it takes you to 0 hit points you are dead (unless you have a Treat Injury trained character standing next to you who can hit the DC 25 to revivify you within 1 round). Otherwise hitting 0 hit points just drops your condition a lot and you fall unconscious. Means getting nicked-and-dimed probably won't kill you, but big boom is dangerous.
- The Force rules have changed a lot. There is a single skill Use The Force (linked to Cha). Your Wisdom score determines the number of Force Powers you know (you can take a feat to add more and more of them). Any force sensitive character can take Force talents instead of their standard class talents as they level. Force classes get additional Force Techniques and eventually Force Secrets.
- Fringer is gone. It is now a talent tree for Scout
- Tech Specialist is gone. I wouldn't be surprised to see it show up again as a Prestige Class in some add-on though. Mechanics have to start life as a Scoundrel, Scout, or Soldier. A Computer Wiz has to start life as a Noble, Scoundrel, or Soldier.
- Force Adept is gone as a base class. It is now a Prestige Class (called 'Advanced' class in D20 modern). This is actually fine because basically ANY class can be a Force User by taking Force Sensitive, which gives them access to the Force talent tree, Use The Force skill, and Force Powers.
- Scientist characters are basically stuck with starting as Noble. A medical-type must start as either a Noble or a Soldier.
- You get two attribute bumps every 4 levels instead of one. The core rules assume you start with a 25-point attribute buy. Everything is retroactive, so if you boost your Int you get another class skill selection. If you boost your Wisdom, you add Force Powers.
- Reputation, Defense/AC, and Saves are gone. Instead you have three Defense scores: Fortitude Defense, Reflex Defense, and Will Defense. It's computed kinda like Defense/AC is computed and includes heroic-class levels so it cranks up pretty high without any equipment. Armor is again used in place of 'class defense' which means it mostly useful for low-level noobs, but it also helps assist other kinds of bonuses and Soldiers have talents to make armor more useful.
In summary, a lot of changes compared to previous versions, and clearly heavily influenced by some of the miniatures simplification concepts. Still, I'm interested to see how it really plays.
