SW:FR Faq and Rule Changes

[Derek Raines]

It is obvious from our discussions that the SW Saga edition is a power gamer's dream. Everything stacks, there are tons of options and bonuses for the PCs and it is so accessible that you can literally pick and choose all of the very best and avoid the good, average and terrible.

I started considering what I'd really have to do to make this game fun and cinematic without having to worry about the nature of the beast. The idea of going through every combination of talent trees, classes, skills, destinies, feats, items and powers in order to find what was busted was a task I wasn't willing to go through. Damage output and the ability to hit often can be quite powerful- but can still be managed as a GM by playing with the numbers some. No, the duel nail-in-the-coffins for this system come with:

A. The Ability to make yourself near untouchable by stacking defenses.

B. Chumping tough opponents with cheesy status effects (IE. Spamming powers such as disarm, trip and grab- draining people's condition tracks in a round or two- or locking down their actions)

The defense problem comes down to being a responsible player. Stacking a series of powers, feats, talents and gear just to be untouchable is a choice- don't do it. You don't have to be made of paper, but if you are missed 9 out of 10 times by trained droid assassins or a Sith Lord- we got a problem.

The second problem was a little trickier, but I came up with a simple system for me to use as a GM to combat it. These two options will come in to effect when I consider them needed, but may never hit the table if the party has some balance to it.

1. Diminishing Returns: This is a system used to prevent characters from simply spamming the same powers on their opponents. Basically, the more an opponent is manipulated by a status altering ability the less effective that power is the next time it is used on that foe. (Example: Han Solo attempts to disarm his opponent by shooting the vibro blade from his hand. The shot connects and the thug goes scrambling for his weapon. Pleased with his success, Solo attempts to do the very same thing, but finds his opponent has learned from his carelessness! The Thug now receives a bonus to his defense against being disarmed) Yes, Han Shot First. These returns will be based on who the opponent is (mooks aren't fast learners and may not be swift enough to benefit from diminishing returns) and just how much cheesy goodness may be coming his way. The beneficial part of this for the PCs is that I will allow diminishing returns to the Heroes if they find themselves the victim of an opponent spamming the same cheddar flavored status effects.

2. Scum and Villainy: Many adventures are based around memorable villains and powerful foes. These bad guys offer plot, purpose and struggle that is essential for an epic Star Wars campaign! However, there are certain mechanics of the game that can be exploited to turn even the most powerful villains into little girls. It is with this in mind that I have decided to simply make certain prominent or especially tough opponents immune to certain status effects. This could be a powerful Sith relic that prevents the act of being severed from the force or a pair of magnetic locking gauntlets for the master duelist who does not want to be disarmed from his blade.

Lasting, access to classes and talent trees must reflect your character concept. There must be an in-game reason for selecting these options other than the powers and abilities they grant.

[Derek Raines]

Update: Feb 16 2010

Levels will be given out in a story based chapter form instead of by bit xp. At the end of a "Chapter" a level (possibly more if it is a climactic chapter) will be granted to a character for completion of that chapter's goals and progression of the story. Bonus items, upgrades, destiny points and force points may be awarded for exceptional RPing and acts of notable heroism.

[Derek Raines]

Force Points can now be used to heal for 1d6 + Level once per round. This is a free action.

[Moose Jockey]

p. 144 – Free Actions and Reactions
Add the following sentence to the end of the Reaction paragraph: “You may only take a single reaction to any one action or effect. A reaction is always resolved after the action that triggered it, though some reactions (such as the negate energy Force power, or the Block and Deflect talents) can affect the outcomes of the action that triggers a reaction.”

p. 153 – Draw or Holster a Weapon
Add the following sentence to the end of the first sentence under this header: “If you are proficient in a weapon’s use, drawing the weapon always includes any action necessary to activate the weapon (thus, a lightsaber can be drawn and activated as a single move action if you are proficient in the weapon).”

Official errata, though it would solve the issue we had. It seemed to me the -5 penalty for every reaction was a bit steep, since attacks of opportunity work in a similar fashion, but have no such restrictions.

[Moose Jockey]

More stuff that i thought might come up

p. 93 – Using Force Points
Spending a Force Point to return a power to your Force suite is a reaction, not a swift action.

p. 96 – Using Force Powers
Change the second method under Regaining Force Powers to say the following “–If you roll a natural 20 on a Use the Force check to activate a Force power, you regain all spent Force powers at the end of your turn.”

p. 96 – Force Power Descriptors
Add the following entry after the Mind-Affecting paragraph:
Telekinetic: A Force power with the [telekinetic] descriptor uses telekinesis to accomplish its ends. Many telekinetic powers interact with the world physically in similar ways, and are covered as a group by some talents. If a target of a [telekinetic] Force power has cover, it gains a cover bonus to its relevant Defense score or on its opposed check to resist the power. If the target of a [telekinetic] Force power has concealment, you take a penalty on your Use the Force check to activate the power unless you have used the Sense Surroundings application of the Use the Force skill this turn. Use the standard bonuses and penalties for cover and concealment provided on pages 156-157.
Add the telekinetic descriptor to the following Force powers: Force disarm, Force grip, Force slam, Force thrust, move object.

p. 96 – Battle Strike
Change the DC 15 text to: “Gain a +1 Force bonus on your next attack roll made before the end of your next turn and deal an additional 1d6 points of damage if the attack hits.”

p. 97 – Force Grip
Change the Target text to "One target within 12 squares and within line of sight."
Replace the DC 15 text with the following:
DC 15: If your Use the Force check equals or exceeds the target’s Fortitude Defense, the target takes 2d6 points of damage and can only take a single swift action on his next turn. Otherwise, the target takes half damage and may act normally, and you may not maintain the power. Targets larger than Medium add a size modifier to Fortitude Defense against this power: Colossal +50, Gargantuan +20, Huge +10, Large +5.
Replace the second sentence under Special with the following: “Maintaining the Force grip power is a standard action, and you must make a new Use the Force check each round. If you suffer damage while maintaining a Force grip, you must succeed on a Use the Force check (DC = 15 + damage taken) to continue concentrating.”

p. 98 – Force Stun
The Use the Force check should be compared to the target’s Fortitude Defense instead of Will Defense. Add the following sentence to the end of the Make a Use the Force Check paragraph: “Targets larger than Medium add a size modifier to Fortitude Defense against this power: Colossal +50, Gargantuan +20, Huge +10, Large +5.”

p. 98 – Move Object
Change the Target text to "One target within 12 squares and within line of sight." Replace the second sentence under Special with the following: “Maintaining the move object power is a standard action, and you must make a new Use the Force check each round. If you suffer damage while maintaining move object, you must succeed on a Use the Force check (DC = 15 + damage taken) to continue concentrating. If you deal damage with the move object power, you cease to be able to maintain it.”

p. 100 – Surge
The surge power should be a free action, not a swift action. Add the following sentences under Special: “Using the surge power counts as a running start for determining a Jump DC. You may spend a Destiny Point to gain an additional 4 squares of movement; when you do so, you may also use any and all movement for the round as a part of a jump (no Jump check required).”

p. 102 – Force Point Recovery
Remove the second paragraph.

p. 113 – Spending Destiny Points
Change the third bullet point to say, “Act out of turn (thus changing your position in the initiative order) once per encounter.”

p. 152 – Charge
Replace the text of the Charge action with the following:
“As a standard action you can move your speed (minimum 2 squares) in a straight line and then make a melee attack at the end of your movement. You gain a +2 competence bonus on your attack roll and take a –2 penalty to your Reflex Defense until the start of your next turn. You cannot charge through low objects or squares occupied by enemies (allies do not hinder your charge), and charging through Difficult Terrain costs twice as much per square as normal. You cannot tumble (as per the application of the Acrobatics skill) during your movement as a part of a charge. After you resolve a charge attack you can take no further actions this turn.”

p. 41 – New Sidebar
Use the following sidebar to explain talents and abilities that rely on the target’s Dark Side Score:

Sensing the Dark Side

You must be aware that your target has a Dark Side Score of 1+ to use talents, feats, or other abilities that depend on your target having a Dark Side Score. Witnessing a target performing an action that would earn an increase to one’s Dark Side Score (such as using a Force power with the [dark side] descriptor) satisfies this requirement. Gamemasters may also waive this requirement when you encounter an opponent that you know to have a Dark Side Score due to previous encounters (such as having past experience with stormtroopers or Sith Lords) or for opponents taking no particular precautions to conceal the presence of a Dark Side Score (such as thugs, bounty hunters, crime lords, etc.).

p. 77 – Use the Force Skill
Add the following sentence to the end of the second paragraph under the Sense Force application of the skill:
“You can also specify that you are attempting to sense only Force-users with a Dark Side Score of 1 or higher; success reveals only those Force-users with dark side scores, and not any other Force-users.”
Under the Sense Surrounding application of the skill, add the phrase “until the start of your next turn” to the end of the first sentence.
Under the Telepathy application of the skill, change the first part of the last sentence to say, “Against an unwilling target, you must make a Use the Force check against the target’s Will Defense or the base skill DC, whichever is higher;”
Under the Move Light Object application of the skill, add the following sentence to the end of the paragraph: “Using an object as a projectile weapon is otherwise treated as a ranged attack for the purposes of talents and feats that interact with ranged attacks.”

p. 100 – Rebuke
Change the end of the second paragraph to say, “…who suffers the effect based on the creator’s original Use the Force check.”
Under the Special section, change the end of the first sentence to say, “..may attempt to rebuke the power as well, expending a use of the rebuke power and using your rebuke Use the Force check result as its target DC.”