I am sorely disappointed. Charging for a Beta is nonsense. Three core rulebooks is a waste of money and book space. Class-based (sorry, "career-based") systems are usually limiting and unimaginitive. Even worse that many desirable character options aren't available in the initial release (and require buying entirely new core rulebooks to get them). Requiring special dice is unattractive as a consumer.

I had really hoped for an interesting game, and maybe this one is. But FFG is doing everything wrong, in my opinion, and making certain I'll never get the chance to try it out. Because I'm sure as heck not paying THEM for the privilege of testing their game for them.

Bad move, FFG. Bad move.

I tend to think of it as FFG offering me the chance to play a full game early [i]if I want to[/i].  Glass half-full, I guess.

Manchu said:

Same here. And is not like the first time I do something like this.  Few years back I bought Chaosium Version 0 of their BRP book (a proofreading version of the book releases a few month earlier than the main release).  I still have and use that book.

For me too it's a little expensive. Not the book itself, after all, it's a real book, not just a PDF, but with the shipping bound for France …
We can still say that it is indeed a beta, but it is (normally) a playable state. In my opinion, it is "almost" as if Wizards had released its version of SW D20, then was released not long after the revised …
But because of the costs expdition, I will wait to be a "simple pdf" for $ 10 (for example) or that I find a way to order numbers to share the costs …

 As much whining as there has been, I have to ask:

I'm not very familiar with FFG, but I am familiar with the WEG and WOTC Star Wars RPGS, and in each case, they re-released the core rulebook multiple times for new "editions" that tweaked the rules. Does FFG tend to do that with their rulebooks? If not, then doesn't the idea of not having to deal with multiple retooled editions somewhat deaden the frustration of three core rulebooks and/or a pre-release beta purchase? Just sayin'.

Personally, I do not see what the issue is for paying for something you actually get to test and play ahead of time. The simple logic is if you do not want to pay for it, then dont and wait for the official release of the game is all. I for one bought it and cannot wait to play test it. I have been playing the star wars p&p ever since WEG. I already of my play group ready and im just waiting for the book to show up.  I love the lore and universe and this is my chance to give some really good feedback so we can all enjoy a really good and complete product upon release.

NathanPButler said:

FFG's Warhammer 40k RPG has a lot of fans. I've never liked percentile rules, but I love the 'verse.

They haven't rereleased a game with multiple printings and tweaks as far as I can tell, but every new addition to the line changes the rules a bit, but never seems to fix those ridiculous glaring errors here, or that little bit misspelling there. This wouldn't be nearly as frustrating if they hadn't but up errata addressing these very same and similar issues just about every time they release a game. And for so much of each corebook, well, it's just copy paste half way through it.

As soon as Only War comes out, where players can take on the role of the Imperial Guard, some completionists are going to have a total of five game lines on their shelves. All with VERY similar rules that each have some big differences, so cross-over can be awkward. None of them buy stuff the same, only one actually uses money, one of them spends XP to earn access to holy relics and "the good stuff," while the others roll d100 to see if they can acquire Batteships, reliquaries of the dark gods, or rations and basic las-rifles.

One has all their potency in really cheap (xp-wsie) skills and talents, another is powerful because of money, starships and being a pirate/privateer crew, then there's the Space Marines, followed by heretics who pay no heed to the dangers of chaos, and then there's the Imperial Guard. I guess they have a tank. One tank. Per group, rules as written.

So it's LIKE getting revisions, but whole new games attached to them, and there has never been a core setting book that you can purchase separate from the rules, or a core CORE rulebook, so many people (completionists) have 4 or 5 copies of the "same" rules.

Personally, I love their settings, and the focus and group cohesion that they bring. It really brings to light the mood, themes, and an appropriate tone, but I'd hate to buy the rules so many times. But there are a lot of people who don't use the setting, and just want the tools to make their own worlds and warzones. I'm guessing the full Star Wars book will cost 50 bucks, MSRP. Which means 20 dollars that these "anti-settings" guys will "have to pay." Again, completionists.

Yep, this pretty much makes me lose any interest in the play test. 

Admittedly, I'm not a fan of paying to play test something, but I'm not morally against it.

If I feel like it'd be useful. 

In this case though it looks like I'd be paying twice for a game: Once to "playtest" a system that seems to be pretty finalized, so not much will come out of it, and then once again for the "Final" version, which will look pretty much like the one I already bought.

FFG has done me no wrong (quite the contrary, the few times I've dealt directly with them, they've been great), so I'm not going to hypothesize about their motives for releasing it this way. I will say though that I don't like it, so I'll voice it once here and then vote with my wallet on the play test. Once it's been officially released I'll reevaluate, but honestly, this isn't a good first impression of the game for me. 

Though, If it ends up not to my liking I have WEG to scratch any Star Wars itches. So, sadly, I'll have no tears for you. 

Kaiohx said:

Peacekeeper_b said:

I couldnt agree more.Ive defended FFG from the beginging all the way up to the only war beta but this is just plain insulting to the fans that cared"past tense for myself" for the company.Yes;I know the old arguement that im not being forced to buy it…….I get it.Ive decided with the rest of my playing group(6 in all) that were done with FFG.Im done spending money on multiple corebooks with revisions after each series(40k).Im done trying to cope with ever increasing and confusing system at times.And Im certainly done trying to defend to the nay-sayers(Yes ive become one of them now) why paying for a beta game ($30?)is good buisness practice.FFG needs to look at companys that treat their fans good such as SJG or Paizo instead of trying to rip them off with this junk.No TEARS shedded here.Ive moved my 40k game to a more streamlined system that my group and I are all very happy with(And it only costed $10) .

As for their new starwars game?Best of luck to those that think its gonna be awesomesauce;Ill stick to the starwars WEG version that lets me play a jedi NOW and not have to wait 3 years or more and cost another $60.END OF RANT.

Signed,

                       A former FFG customer

 If the beta book is close to the final version, there might be no need to buy the final version. Just saying'.

Venthrac said:

Then what's the point of releasing it in the first place? 

If all "Beta Test" means is that for $30 I get to do FFG's proofreading for them… then the whole process has sunk to an all new low.  Where's the Beta test feedback forum? The scheduled tests? The "stress testing"? Maybe it's coming, but if they charged $30 for a Beta, and the final version is just a spell check away, then that's a low blow.

LOL how is it hard to understand that the beta is for people who want to spend 30 USD to play before the final draft?  I can't fathom why people are upset about this.  If you don't want to spend the money, that's fine.  It's not like you can't get the hardcover later on if you don't spend on the beta.

I don't care if you want to spend money twice for the same thing. 

I care that the company is possibly releasing a "pretty much done" product under the auspice of it being a Beta, and charging for it, when they know full well that consumers will also buy the complete version.

What you do with your own money is your own business.

I am with you on this 30 bucks for a non final product and then 12 bucks shipping … NO WAY.

I am a huge Starwars fan but this kinda kills it for me and my 6 players. We might look at it if we could get a retailer kit for the

right price but other than that good buy FFG Starwars .. Hello D6 Starwars.

If it is nearly done, then it is more of a waste of your money.  You could just wait till you get the final product.  Also those of you who are accusing people of whining should really stop.  Just because you don't agree with us doesn't give you the right to make false assumptions about us.  Especially when there is the Only War beta that is doing it far better than this beta.  Just because I like Fantasy Flight does not make me a hypocrite if I question things that they do as a company.  All it does is make me into a smart customer.

Which is why I bought the Only War beta cause I feel like that was a fair deal.  This star wars beta just doesn't seem fair to me and as a smart customer I just don't purchase it.  I will most likely buy the full finalize version of it later on.