This thread deserves a bumb since it is a really good fan-made supplement. I would not be suprised if I saw a majority of these species in the final product.

Well, instead of just a random bump, how about a well-deserved and informational one?

Cyril and I have been pretty hard at work on coming up with a bunch of new species for the updated version, as well as correcting a number of minor typos and tweaking a few of the previously created species.

As it stands, we're looking at about 50 species when things are all said and done, and we're hoping to have this set and ready to roll by the end of the month.

 I'm working on my final four as I type this. Expect to see some fan favorites get some love in this "special edition" of the Unofficial Species Menagerie. We've expanded our original scope from "the classic era" and into the future and the past. 

Just a heads-up, but the link to the PDF in the GSA article has been intentionally restricted, and will likely be disabled as well.

However, stay tuned as there should be some further news about this fan-created supplement in the very near future…

Alright Boils and Ghouls, fiends of all ages, just in time for Halloween, it's…

The Revised & Expanded Unofficial Species Menagerie
gsa.thegamernation.org/2012/10/31/star-wars-edge-of-the-empire-the-unofficial-species-menagerie-2-0/

Highlights include the correction of several errors, such as some species having 3's in more than on Characteristic, and 20 new species (bringing the total headcount to 52), including several fan requests from eras well outside the Rebellion Era.

While comments and feedback are welcome, either here or at the GSA website itself, I do ask that respect be given the particular authors in regards to their work, with the understanding that they chose to write-up certain species a certain way.

Hey Donovan,

would you be interested in ideas for some additional species?  The Talz, Blood Carver, Elomin, Felucian, Iktotchi, Kaminoan, Kushiban, Miraluka, Ranat, Trianii, Ubese, and or Umbaran are all species that tickle my fancy, and I'd be willing to throw some ideas at you, do the leg work.

PM or reply if any of those sound interesting.  :)

Moose 

Oh… and good work.  I like and very much agree with most all of them.  Not that my disagreement matters, more an aspect of taste I think than any true mechanical issue.

Bottom line, much appreciated.

Majesticmoose said:

Not speaking for Dono, but I don't know that we have plans to expand the guide anymore at the moment. This isn't to say that when the official book is released we may look at it again.

But of course I'd love to see your ideas on the boards. 

Yeah, I'm pretty satisfied with the number of species we've covered, and probably won't be doing any revisions until after the final version of EotE hits shelves.  Besides, my intent was never to try and do conversions for every single species presented.

However, though it might be buried back a few pages, there is a thread for folks to post up their own takes on different species, so you may want to consider posting your own versions tehre.

Majesticmoose said:

Thanks.  Though I am curious what the bits you disagree with are.  Not everyone is going to have the same vision for how a species should play out, and I generally tried to err on the side of caution in a lot of cases.

Thanks for your fantastic work on this.  My group is using at least two of the species and I am anxious to check out the changes.  However, I am unable to access the link.  Can you share the new link or grant me access?

Aside from the already existing (and settled) disagreement about one of the species, I like this supplement very much. At the moment though I'm making my players stay with the EotE species, but when/if someone dies or decides to retire their character, I'll let them have a look-see through this document.

Some observations and questions I do have:

I do wonder about the Chiss, at first glance I feel its a tad over-powered, but after giving it some thought it seems good - I'll just see through play-test at some point I guess.

I do also wonder about the "grant career skill" solution - is this a good mechanic for use in this system? I'm in doubt, but I won't assume anything until tested - the price difference is back to normal, which isn't much, therefore the difference isn't that important anymore/once more.

I do miss the gambling "addiction" of the Herglic, but that could easily be more party to role playing than stat wise build.

About the Gran: I wonder about the incidental for aim - basically it costs an (or two - which is no difference really) incidental to gain two boost dice?

I really like the Clawdite write-up! Very good mechanics solution.

Barabel: They basically have 2 higher soak when it comes to stun? Nice!

Arkanian Offshoot: I like it, I assume that the WT of 8 + brawn legitimates the 110 starting xp - I did twitch slightly, but I do see the big drawback this is.

Arkanian: The Lore bonus I do like, although I wonder how usable it is - its not the knowledge skill I feel is being used the most - nor the most useful. Not that this is a good argument for changing it. I did wonder if perhaps a more "common" knowledge - like education (if thats what its called) - would make more sense, but I'm not going to press this point.

I like the Neimoidian solution, Nikto as well. Ryn might become a favourite in my group.

Sluissi: This manoeuvre cost is basically for use in structured play - ie when rounds are in use - otherwise they always gain an upgrade on mechanics?

Those are my questions/observations of this revised and expanded edition.

dingwog said:

The link to the new file should be accessible through the GSA website article that I linked a few posts above, down at the bottom of the article's page.

Jegergryte said:

The Gran can get the benefit of one Aim maneuver as an incidental once per encounter. If they want to get the second boost die, they will need to spend a maneuver to aim. Basically, they can get two maneuver's worth of aiming without having to spend the strain to get the second maneuver once an encounter. 

I'm glad you like the Clawdite. I struggled a bit with how to work their shapeshifting ability into the existing mechanics, and finally hit on this as a solution. Glad it reads well. Also glad you enjoy the Neimoidian and Ryn. 

That's a fair point on the Sluissi. I would handle this ability in "narrative play" as the Sluissi taking more time to perform the check to get the upgrade. Or maybe he can't spend advantage to speed up the repairs. Something that would inform that he is taking his sweet time with the check to get the best possible result. 

JegerGryte,

Thanks for the feedback, and If you don't mind, I'll tackle your questions about some of these one by one.

Chiss
These were a bit tricky, as I didn't want them being totally sub-par to other species.  They've got the same starting XP, but the lack of choice in bonus skills that Humans get makes up for the minor boost to Brawn & Willpower I think.

Gran
At best, it'd cost you an incidental and a manuever to get the two boost dice, rather than the two maneuvers it'd normally take.  It may not be 100% clear, but the way I read it (and Cyril, feel free to correct me if I'm off base) is that the player triggers Swift Aim and then spends an incidental action to get the benefit of Aim.  They can't spend two incidentals (which is what it sounds like you're suggesting), since that would require activating Swift Aim twice in the same encounter.

Barabel
In an earlier draft, I gave them Enduring to reflect their armored hide, but changed it as per Cyril's suggestions to an increased Wound Threshold and settled on the Stun Resistance, making they very tough, but also skirting the concern of them being too tough against all attacks.

Arkanian Offshoot
You'd be correct, since it puts them at a significant drawback, and as nice as the free boost die can be, that and the two bonus ranks in career skills (which is a good deal more limited than the Human skill rank bonus) didn't quite feel like it was enough.

Arkanian
This one I had a lot of internal debates on, and an earlier version simply give them a boost die on all Knowledge checks, which was ultimately decided to be a bit too good and too broad, especially as they've got a base pool of 3 Ability Dice in any Knowledge skill to start with.  Education was a consideration, but I felt Lore was the better choice because it's broader nature than just academia.

Sluissi
That'd be my assumption as well, as from talking with Cyril about them, the species does have a reputation of "it might take a while, but you're going to get quality results."  So as written, if not in structured play, then they would always get the upgrade, though a GM could say that said task takes a bit longer than normal to reflect the extra time the Sluissi spends on the task.  Or as Cyril suggested, they simply can't speed up the task.  Either way, it'd be something to keep in mind if/when we go back and do any revisions to the document.

As for the Noghri (the species previously under contention), I'm hoping the clarification of Scent (in short, ignore any and all level of Concealment within a certain distance) would have been sufficient.  Making them any better would, in my opinion, require a hit on their starting XP, and 90 XP really is about as low as they should go barring some truly extraordinary circumstances.  But ultimately, agree to disagree.

Regarding the "grant career skill" option, I really don't think it's a good fit for this system, especially with non-career skills being all that more expensive in this game as of the latest update.  It worked for Saga Edition due to the way the skill system worked (if you didn't have levels in the right class, you couldn't ever be trained in that skill), but with EotE being a great deal more open, such a thing isn't really needed, or at least I don't think so.

Edit: Looks like I got a bit long-winded and Cyril beat to the punch on Gran

Donovan Morningfire said:

Strike first, strike hard, no mercy.