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Okay, time for some lighter material.
I might return to the TROS thread tonight, but in the meantime something that I've been thinking about these past few days when not worrying about coups and tyrants...
The High Republic: The Campaign Setting
I might return to the TROS thread tonight, but in the meantime something that I've been thinking about these past few days when not worrying about coups and tyrants...
The High Republic: The Campaign Setting
First, what do I mean by "campaign setting" and is it different from an "era"?
Kind of! But it's catchier than "era sourcebook" or whatever SWRPG has used in the past. So yes, I'm just talking about how to run a game set 200 years before the Skywalker saga.
Kind of! But it's catchier than "era sourcebook" or whatever SWRPG has used in the past. So yes, I'm just talking about how to run a game set 200 years before the Skywalker saga.
First question is, why would you want to do that?
I have three favorite eras of play: the Rebellion (because duh), the Clone Wars (for more military games), and the TPM era (for more freeform games unbeholden by canonical events)
I have three favorite eras of play: the Rebellion (because duh), the Clone Wars (for more military games), and the TPM era (for more freeform games unbeholden by canonical events)
THR is absolutely going to replace TPM on my table. It's a very open setting (300 years of history!), close enough to the movies to feel "prequely", and (MOST IMPORTANTLY) it lets you mix and match Jedi and non-Jedi characters.
Because that's always been a problem with SWRPGs: in the movies, Jedi and non-Jedi don't really have adventures together on a regular basis. That's if Jedi are not wanted for treason, of course!
So you either "break from the setting" or Jedi end up being a weird addition.
So you either "break from the setting" or Jedi end up being a weird addition.
That's why FFG relegated them to their own game, Force and Destiny. That's why Galaxies had to give up and populate the galaxy with hundreds and random Jedi. That's why BioWare decided to go with the Old Republic.
So yes, it's a classic bugbear.
So yes, it's a classic bugbear.
But THR does away with this paradigm! I'm not spoiling anything, don't worry, but Jedi are expected to mix with the common people. They are not just an arm of the Republic: they have their outposts around the Outer Rim and they are expected to defeat evil there.
It's a perfect setting for a more low stakes game.
A planet under siege by pirates.
A crimelord trying to extend a new and dangerous drug.
An ancient Force sect kidnapping seven newborns.
Just pick your favorite archetype and it's time to play!
A planet under siege by pirates.
A crimelord trying to extend a new and dangerous drug.
An ancient Force sect kidnapping seven newborns.
Just pick your favorite archetype and it's time to play!
It's also close enough to the classic eras that you can easily play a prequel campaign or one-shot!
Here's something I wrote about playing prequels to existing games: http://eleven-thirtyeight.com/2017/06/lets-game-like-its-1999-running-a-prequel-to-your-rpg-campaign/
Here's something I wrote about playing prequels to existing games: http://eleven-thirtyeight.com/2017/06/lets-game-like-its-1999-running-a-prequel-to-your-rpg-campaign/
Once a decent spoiler period has passed, I will get into specifics based on this first phase of books and comics.
But let's see what we can do with the information that's publicly available!
But let's see what we can do with the information that's publicly available!
First, THR has often been described as an Arthurian setting. Like Camelot, both the Arthurian and the American one.
I originally took some offense at that, but now I'm sure it just means it's an IDEALIZED PAST, absolutely self-aware of this fact.
I originally took some offense at that, but now I'm sure it just means it's an IDEALIZED PAST, absolutely self-aware of this fact.
So let's do the same thing.
At this point we are going to have to create a lot of material by ourselves: ships, vehicles, weapons, and whatnot. Let's start with a hero ship!
Our origin point: the YT-1300.
At this point we are going to have to create a lot of material by ourselves: ships, vehicles, weapons, and whatnot. Let's start with a hero ship!
Our origin point: the YT-1300.
The YT-1300 is grungy, used, and pretty much looks like a flying garbage can. That's why we love it.
Yes, I'm sure flying trashcans also exist in THR, and we could just use the YT-1300 (perhaps reskinned as a, dunno, YH-2500).
But let's go one step further!
Yes, I'm sure flying trashcans also exist in THR, and we could just use the YT-1300 (perhaps reskinned as a, dunno, YH-2500).
But let's go one step further!
Let's read this TOS article. The LFL creatives took the approach of "getting a prequel era vehicle and idealizing it."
So how can we idealize the classic Corellian freighter? https://www.starwars.com/news/inside-star-wars-the-high-republic-meet-the-ships-and-vehicles
So how can we idealize the classic Corellian freighter? https://www.starwars.com/news/inside-star-wars-the-high-republic-meet-the-ships-and-vehicles
Well, the Platonic Falcon would probably have more harmonious lines, that "hand-crafted" non-industrial feeling that Lucas was looking for.
It would also be more reliable, of course, so we'd probably want to start with a completely unmodified ship, fresh off the shipyards.
It would also be more reliable, of course, so we'd probably want to start with a completely unmodified ship, fresh off the shipyards.
Smuggling in an ideal Galactic Republic?! Of course not! (I mean, of course yes, but remember this is just a starting point!) The Platonic Falcon could be something like a passenger ship, an equivalent to the StarTours shuttles. It sounds more dignified!
And then, there's why I've started calling "the quirk."
If you've read LotJ, you'll notice that the hero ships have a very in-character, very unique quirk that fits perfectly in our golden era (hint: key.) We might as well do the same thing with our hero ship!
If you've read LotJ, you'll notice that the hero ships have a very in-character, very unique quirk that fits perfectly in our golden era (hint: key.) We might as well do the same thing with our hero ship!
Let's say, for example, that the Platonic Falcon's turrets are retractile, and that they only come out of their hiding positions if the captain orders the ship to go into battle mode. We can't just have passenger shuttles armed to the teeth!
So here's our hero ship. Maybe #15 out of this collage of Solo concept art? It's a beautiful, slender ship for a peaceful time--one our heroes will soon turn into an absolute mess, as they should.
(I'm calling it Vaeron Dynamics PF-0110 Light Passenger Shuttle.)
(I'm calling it Vaeron Dynamics PF-0110 Light Passenger Shuttle.)
And what about the stats?
(We just copy the YT-1300. Stats are just numbers.)
(We just copy the YT-1300. Stats are just numbers.)
This is a good question. What do I mean by this? https://twitter.com/RefreshNinja/status/1348330274267013121?s=20
