Recs.
Updated
Play in the popular Star Wars adventure setting, using a system that really drives improvisation and fast action.
Specs
Pros
Pro Drives improvisation through its die roll mechanics
The die roll mechanic leads to more than just a simple success and failure. The result often requires positive and negative side effects; sometimes dramatic ones! Very rewarding with a GM who's good at making stuff up on the spot.
Pro Easier to play online
Because the Star Wars RPG focuses more on story and role play and less on combat, maps and hard stats, it is easier to play online using Voice Software like Skype, Google Hangouts or Discord. There are also online platforms such as Roll20 that allow for digital dice rolls and resources.
Pro Super-customizable character creation system
The Star Wars RPG's point-buy system allows characters to easily gain skills outside their career while still making each build feel unique. Focused builds are rewarded, but, in the narrative system, min/maxed characters are no more overpowered than their (equally rewarded) all-around counterparts. Players can easily create a bounty hunter, ambassador, or mystic, or even all of them in one character. Rigid classes ("I am a cleric") are a thing of the past. Your character is no longer defined by such constraining borders—he is what you want him to be. The level-less system places literal millions of possibilities at your fingertips.
Pro Set in the Star Wars Universe
The Star Wars Universe is arguably one of the largest and most beloved in the world, and this RPG captures it's depth and diversity very well. Players can choose from hundred of class and specialization combinations for creating unique characters and stories set in classic Star Wars settings, or create entirely new worlds and stories.
Pro Story focused instead of combat focused
Rather than focus on combat encounters and character stats, Fantasy Flight Games system allows the group to focus on telling a great Star Wars story. The players and the GM alike are major contributors due to FFG's unique system and dice mechanics.
Cons
Con You need custom dice, and they take some getting used to
This game doesn't use the regular dice so common in most RPGs, but requires the use of a special set of dice that only Fantasy Flight sells. It's kinda pricey, and it takes some getting used to the weird symbols on the dice. There is a die roller app.
But it's worth mentioning that the dice comes with any of the Beginner Box Sets or Edge of the Empire/Age of Rebellion/Force and Destiny. Also, there are downloadable sticker sheets if you want to save the money but spend time putting them onto the correct sided die.
Con Three flavoured "separated" subvariants for smuggler theme, rebel stories and Jedi path
A lot of redundant text in the there "corebooks". The rest of the subgames lines are similar structured with in depth class type rule books. Patterns of the lines are very similar: Core book, beginner box, class types expansions and adventures books. You can mix the variants. Rules are compatible.
Con No Jedi or Sith
This version of the game does not include Jedi or Sith as player characters. You'll need Star Wars: Force and Destiny for that - which is a separate (but compatible) game.
Con Very little digitally distributed content
While Fantasy Flight has added a few digitally distributed (PDF) resources that are all free - such as character sheets, pre-generated characters and campaigns - there are no official digital versions available for any of their print materials.
Recommendations
Comments
Flagged Pros + Cons
Con It's OK, but not as loved as the original D6 version of the rules
Everybody knows Star Wars, and quite a lot of people really love it. However, the license has shifted hands several times over the years, and many people still prefer the classic ruleset which was largely flawless and meshed perfectly with the tone of the original movies. Even Fantasy Flight Games acknowledged this, by reissuing a 30th Anniversary slipcase of the original game.
Out of Date Pros + Cons
Con Beholden to the setting
You get the Star Wars setting which is awesome, but it can make it very difficult to branch out into other sci-fi tropes, ideas, etc.