Vibro Ax – > I picture these being used by wookies and gamorreans – the ‘big guys’ of star wars who, in theory, should deal ULTIMATE on STR rolls. Plus BLASTERS – star wars, to me, is a ranged game. I wanted a big close quarters weapon that mattered. And it’s a Vibro Ax – a big, hulking, humming ax. It is pretty darn obvious if you have one strapped to your back while trying to sneak into an Imperial base.
Effort – > if you take the vibroax, you have to decide if you want to put bonuses in ultimate. It is a tough choice because then what about the blast rifle you find that deals weapon? If you go ultimate and later don’t want to use the ax… Well you padded a stat you don’t need as much. Same for the lightsaber. A Jedi only really needs to put their bonus in one effort spot which makes the lightsaber more in tune with their force powers. It is cool that you already realized they can cut hulls and blast doors without any need to write it out. At one point I did and then was like – it’s Star Wars! Some of the stuff you just don’t have to write. People already know the lore.
Species – > Racism. Like for real. One day I started to look at RPGs and was like “who says all halfling have ‘x’?” It’s bogus. Inherit traits, to me, are a lie and I didn’t want to foster that. Plus if you break down a lot of systems, it comes down to like 10 points. I also made up several mock characters and realized 10 points isn’t really that many because of the 11 STATS and limited gear ICRPG encourages. It is a way healthy spread. Also COVID-19. Virtual gaming is a different beast. Having abilities just feels clunky to me. Like it is another THING we have to manage in a world where I can barely remember what day it is. I wanted to keep it super simple for new players who tend to look at the Pathfinder 2e character options and vomit 
I did something B often suggests – I started by making a character RAW and then built the game concepts around it. I really like the fantasy grounds star wars starter box adventures so I used their pre-made characters; a scoundrel, a gladiator, a bounty hunter, and a service droid. I created suitable gear for them and assigned stats where I thought they should be. I did this first as a straight up ICRPG clone with bio-form perks and a milestone. Then I did it as a core 2e quick start version. Then I did it how I felt it would flow better at the table and was like, “Yep – that’s how I want to play a game.”
At the end of the day – I ditched the race and classes because it just felt like I had to check my sheet more than I played the game. I wanted something where when another player is taking their turn, I am watching and listening; not planning my turn.
Good questions.
