Star Wars Saga Edition
Core RulebookBest For
Groups who want a d20-based Star Wars campaign with deep character customization through talent trees and a tactical combat core built for miniatures.
Core Mechanic
Roll d20 + modifiers against a target number or a Defense score. Three static defenses (Reflex, Fortitude, and Will) replace saving throws. Trained skills grant a flat +5 bonus. A five-step condition track runs alongside hit points, so a single heavy hit can impose cumulative penalties before a character drops. Force Points and optional Destiny Points provide narrative and mechanical resources for critical moments.
The entry point is familiar d20: roll a d20, add modifiers, and beat a Defense or target number. The depth sits in the build chassis, where class talents, feats, and a separate Force power suite interlock and reward planning across levels. Combat adds a condition track, damage threshold, and a grid-based action economy on top of hit points. The vehicle and starship rules then switch to a second scale with their own actions and statistics, so the GM has several interlocking systems to hold.
- Free to tryNothing freeNo free rules or starter
- Get it nowOut of printNot sold new in print or PDF
- ✓IndexFind any rule by page number
- ✓GM guidanceA chapter on how to run the game
- ✓Examples of playRules shown in action at the table
- ✓Quick referenceCheat sheet or summary tables
- ✓Cross-referencesRules point to each other by page
5 of 5 book tools found in the core book
Highlights
Talent trees let two characters of the same class develop along different branches, so a Jedi built as a Guardian and one built as a Consular play differently from first level. The condition track turns a single heavy hit into a persistent penalty, making damage threshold matter alongside hit points. The Force subsystem runs on one Use the Force skill, so telekinesis, mind tricks, and combat enhancement all resolve through the same check.
Considerations
The game is out of print with no legal PDF, so acquiring the core book means the used market. The d20 chassis carries heavy per-character bookkeeping: talent and feat selections, a Force power suite, and a condition track that changes during combat. Vehicle and starship encounters switch to a second combat scale with its own actions and statistics, which is a lot to learn for a campaign that stays on foot.
No verified third-party publishing route found · Reviewed 2026-11-03 · Summary only, not legal advice. Check current terms before publishing. Rules license Proprietary The rulebook states that it contains no Open Game Content and that no portion may be reproduced without written permission. Wizards of the Coast's Star Wars RPG license ended in May 2010, and no current official Saga Edition publishing route was found.
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