Transitioning from Beta to Release version

[ShiKage 282]

Is anyone out there running a Force and Destiny game that they expect to continue past the release of the official core book? If so, what are your plans for transitioning?

 

Will you just continue using the Beta rules until the conclusion of the game or will you have any changes in the released version superseded those of the Beta? As there is every possibility there will be talent name and mechanical changes, potentially completely replacing one talent with a different one, will you have your players re-tool their characters to take these changes into account?

 

If a GM were considering starting up a new, lengthy campaign, would you recommend waiting for the official release or to start with Beta and either just stick with it even if it goes well past the official release or do some kind of transition from the Beta to official rules once they are released?

[Gigerstreak 234]

I'm just retconning whatever changes. Updates all around.

[Ghostofman 8,319]

The core mechanics won't change, only minor adjustments to talent and force trees and some other odds and ends. So easy solution, you allow the players to adjust as well. A few XP refunded here, and respent there won't change the universe.

[ShiKage 282]

The core mechanics won't change, only minor adjustments to talent and force trees and some other odds and ends. So easy solution, you allow the players to adjust as well. A few XP refunded here, and respent there won't change the universe.

 

This is what I would be inclined towards as well, I am just also curious to see if others have other ideas on how they might handle this. There are some very creative contributors on these forums so you never know, there might be an interesting idea out there worth trying too.

[Josep Maria 685]

Generally, about mechanics, changes between Beta+Errata/Update and the final Core use to be minimal?

 

Thanks people!

[ShiKage 282]

Yeah, most the core mechanics have remained the same. I haven't closely looked at talent tree changes between final beta updates and core releases that closely but I know in some of the beta updates they will do some fairly significant changes to talents, like removing some talents and replacing them with something completely different or significantly changing the way a talent functions. These could have significant impacts on an existing character. It's things like that which I was curious how people handled.

 

Seems like the most common way is to let people do some degree of character rebuilding.

[mouthymerc 4,483]

Any characters made with any of the betas are done so knowing that there may need to some adjustments or retonning done after the CRB drops in my group.

[Donovan Morningfire 10,200]

Any characters made with any of the betas are done so knowing that there may need to some adjustments or retonning done after the CRB drops in my group.

Pretty much this.

 

I'm not anticipating there being any major changes to the specs or talents, but when I pick my Force and Destiny game back up to finish it (not sure when that will be as we're rotating games and it might be a while before I'm back in the GM's seat) I will have my PCs make the necessary tweaks to their characters, just as I did with any changes that came about from the Beta Updates, sans XP cost increases such as the Heal/Harm power or that the Mentor benefit only applied after chargen.

[ShiKage 282]

Seems most people are in agreement and following with what I'd expect myself. So that is definitely good news.

[Kilcannon 177]

I would make needed chsnges or if preferring beta veto the new version If my group agrees. Always run it by 1st

[Atraangelis 301]

I would make needed chsnges or if preferring beta veto the new version If my group agrees. Always run it by 1st

I would not give the players an option to keep broken mechanic because is uber-munchkin rather than play the legal rules. Edited April 14, 2015 by Atraangelis

[Kilcannon 177]

rules would only stay when I prefer it. Only seen that happen with the Zabrek racial traits. I give a choice because I prefer pre errata zabreks for example

[MuttonchopMac 381]

 

I would make needed chsnges or if preferring beta veto the new version If my group agrees. Always run it by 1st

I would not give the players an option to keep broken mechanic because is uber-munchkin rather than play the legal rules.

 

 

Suppose all the players and the GM are munchkins at heart... If everyone liked the beta better, why shouldn't they use that? Even if they're not all munchkins, if no one is clearly abusing a rule that got changed, they may just like the beta rules better...

 

You can't just generalize anyone who likes the beta better as an uber-munchkin.

[Lorne 2,021]

Switch them over, but give them a "free respec" within reason.