Living Star Wars Saga edition?

[Insight]

We can definitely take EU material from ROTJ up to say 15 ABY (that'd be around a decade after ROTJ) and just exclude what we don't want as part of the campaign. We absolutely need to list all of these exceptions on a wiki (as was mentioned) so that people familiar with (or researching) the EU won't get confused. It will also help those of us developing adventures to all be on the same page. The wiki will be a great boon to the development of this campaign. I have some ideas already.

 

[Insight]

Power Groups & Plot
Here are some basic ideas I have about starting the campaign and what might be going on in the Haon system and neighboring Yavin.

Note: These are just my ideas and are not to be taken as set in stone or anything.

*** The quoted information and links are courtesy of Wookiepedia ***

The New Republic
Link

One of the first major tests came in 9 ABY when Grand Admiral Thrawn assumed control of the remnants of the Empire and led a successful campaign against the New Republic. Political infighting hampered the Republic's response to the crisis early on, as ambitious councilors like Borsk Fey'lya sought to gain power at the expense of others. Despite numerous defeats and setbacks, the New Republic rallied again, finally achieving victory during the Battle of Bilbringi. Thrawn was dead and his forces in retreat. Sensing that the defeat of the Empire was in their grasp, the New Republic launched a series of operations into the remaining sections of the galaxy still held by the Empire. The victory was short lived.

A year after Thrawn's death, the resurrected Emperor Palpatine led a major Imperial offensive originating from the Deep Core. Faced with superior forces, including a number of superweapons, the New Republic was forced to fall back and operate in much the same way as the Rebel Alliance had. Ultimately the New Republic was saved by the death of the Emperor during a skirmish on Onderon, thanks to the efforts of Jedi Master Luke Skywalker.

Upon the successful recapture of Coruscant in 11 ABY, the New Republic Senate began the first of a series of government restructuring programs. Specialized councils were established, each with greater power than ordinary Senate committees and given the responsibility for a specific aspect of government. These included the Council on the Common Defense, the Council on Security and Intelligence, the Justice Council, the Ministry Council, the Council on Science and Technology, and the Commerce Council.

Following the defeat of the Galactic Empire in 4 ABY at the Battle of Endor, the New Republic presumably took back the jungle moon from the Empire. The small village of Vornez was established and the Senate Planetary Intelligence Network was headquartered on Yavin 4 though it would later be replaced by New Republic Intelligence.

In the time period we've discussed setting the campaign, the New Republic is still setting down its foundation, gathering allegiance from disparate worlds, and trying to deal with some extant threats (mainly the Imperial Remnant and various lawless worlds throughout the galaxy). The base on Yavin IV is mostly for New Republic Intelligence, which seems to me to be a good place to launch missions for the PCs.

The New Republic's interests in the Haon system are really what needs to be decided. I suggest that Haon is a fairly lawless system and the New Republic would like to settle it down. There are two Hutts in the Haon system and the Republic would like to either root them out of Haon or at least enter into some sort of power-sharing agreement with them. The New Republic is also investigating why the Imperial Remnant is moving into Haon and what they might be after.

Campaign:

• The Republic is currently seeking to unify its holdings in both the Mid and Outer Rim worlds. It has targeted the Haon system, rich in resources and located along a major hyperspace route, as suitable for its attention. Haon's proximity to Yavin is also cause for concern.
• Growing concerned over Imperial interest in the Haon system, the New Republic is drawing up plans to send spies into the system to learn exactly why the Empire has come to Haon.
• Republic settlers have set down on the giant water planet, En, building both surface and underwater colonies there.

The Jedi Praxeum
Link

Once the project was sanctioned by Chief of State Mon Mothma, Skywalker asked Leia Organa Solo to come up with a location to setup the academy. Mon Mothma suggested Yavin IV to Leia who in turn recommended it to Luke. Luke agreed that Yavin IV was the perfect location. He decided to set it up in the Great Temple that housed the earlier Alliance base.

Slow in developing, it existed for a number of years as a disparate group of Force-sensitives with various degrees of training. After a first attempt to train new Knights was foiled by the Reborn Emperor, Luke Skywalker initiated the first formal training school for Jedi in decades, the Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4. Starting with an initial group of 12 students, the Order slowly grew in numbers and stature, becoming a core part of the New Republic that sponsored it.

Regardless of the exact date we decide to start the campaign, Master Luke Skywalker has just formed his Jedi Praxeum. Whether he has literally just formed it and has no students or he has a few students, but not the full 12, that is up for debate. The New Republic very much respects Skywalker and the New Jedi Order and wishes them to return to prominence. The Republic, therefore, would not be opposed to having Jedi be sent on important Republic missions. The trick for Master Skywalker and any other Jedi teachers would be to get their apprentices ready for such deployment.

Campaign:

• Master Luke Skywalker has returned to Yavin IV from his mission to locate pupils suitable to form the first class of the New Jedi Order. During his travels, Luke came across the Ithorian, Thideer, strong in the Force, and has tasked Master Thideer with finding additional students. Master Thideer is likely the one who will be in constant contact with Jedi characters.
• Skywalker has just completed the transformation of the ancient Massassi temple on Yavin IV into the new "Jedi Praxeum".
• Experiencing visions, Master Skywalker has contacted New Republic Intelligence, requesting that they search the neighboring Haon system for some unknown object of great importance.

The Imperial Remnant
Link

The Imperial Remnant, sometimes called the New Order with a Personal Face, was the faction comprising what remained of the Galactic Empire following the collapse of the functioning government after the Battle of Endor, but more specifically following the reunification of the Deep Core warlords by Admiral Natasi Daala and the subsequent campaigns of expansion and stability under Gilad Pellaeon between 12–13 ABY.

4 ABY—following the first death of Palpatine at the Battle of Endor.
11 ABY—following the final death of Palpatine.
11 ABY—several months after that, following the death of the last Galactic Emperor, Xandel Carivus.
12 ABY—following the unification of the Deep Core warlords by Admiral Daala and the subsequent campaigns of expansion and unification undertaken by Gilad Pellaeon.

In terms of the EU, I suggest anything related to Thrawn be kept intact. The page I linked describes the Thrawn stuff pretty well. If we want to set the campaign during or just before Thrawn returns, that is a definite possibility. The salient point that needs to be decided is whether or not Thrawn would be a part of the campaign. If so, the campaign has to start after 8 ABY. This page describes what happens with Thrawn, the circumstances of his return to the "known galaxy", and his ultimate demise.

If we don't use Thrawn, the campaign can start at any time after around 5 ABY or so.

Campaign:

• The Empire has established several mining colonies on Surrom 6, a rocky moon of the gas giant, Surrom. Imperial forces are spending a great deal of effort protecting the colonies and keeping secret their activities.
• Grand Moff Bel'Janeer, an admiral prior to the fall of the Empire, has been sent from Bastion to establish a base of operations on Llessur, a tiny ice planet at the far end of the Haon system.
• Rumors abound of a "Grand Admiral" returning from deep space to bolster the Empire's forces. -- Obviously, ignore this unless we plan to use Thrawn in the campaign.

The Hutts
Link

During the rule of the Galactic Empire, Hutt Space was reduced in size to what was called the Hutt Sector; it was governed by Moff Sarn Shild, and later by Moff Yref Orgege, though their authority was weak at best. The heart of the region contained the Bootana Hutta, the "Garden of Hutts", an area containing the various kajidic throneworlds. Even in the Empire's days, this area remained secretive to outsiders, who knew it only through rumors.

From the fragmentation of the Empire to the Yuuzhan Vong War, Hutt Space seemed to have remain largely autonomous, and was sometimes still referred to as the Hutt Empire even during this period.

My thoughts here are that there are one or more Hutts setting up shop (or have already done so) in the Haon system. The Hutts could be in Haon for a number of reasons. It might have been one of those systems the Empire never really controlled (and was thus lawless for a long time). It might be that Haon is strategically located along an important hyperspace route. It might attract bounty hunters for one reason or another.

Campaign:

• Young Jordi the Hutt moved into the Haon system around 3 BBY and has held power on the largest world in the Haon system, the water planet, En. From his great floating palace, Jordi rules not only En, but also neighboring Midrag and Surrom.
• Ezmelda the Hutt runs the system's only grand casino, located on her huge luxury liner, the Excelsior. The ship also features a hotel, a cantina, a shopping district, and even a mini spaceport.

 

[fireinthedust]

I would prefer that, instead of stating what we're going to change, we stated explicitly what we're going to keep. The reason being that not all the material is worth keeping, and rather than going over all of it with a fine-toothed comb, we could pick out the seeds we like and grow the campaign we want, leaving the chaffe behind.


Thrawn: I really liked the guy, and I think we should keep him in the campaign. He would be a fantastic Empire leader. In fact, his rise in power would be a great kick-off point for the campaign.

The other empire stuff, like the reappearance of Palpatine, the other emperors, and suchnot: I don't want to wade through piles of less-well-written books just so I can GM or keep up with the discussion here.

I'd see the timeline like this: After the battle of Endor, the rebels pressed their advantage. The Empire held its own for a while, but the leadership buckled without Vader and the Emperor keeping the strong-willed admirals and moffs in line. Slowly the Remnant lost ground over the decade, until it finally held its place in about a quarter of the galaxy. Rumour has it a new leader is rising through the ranks, a brilliant strategist known as Grand Admiral Thrawn...

Haon could then serve as a port of call between the various sectors of the galaxy. Launching a Rebel group into their space, or taking in refugees smuggled across their boardersn is one thing. Meeting Hutts and working for them is another.

I say we keep it simple. Then we can add to it what we want.

 

[Insight]

If we're going to keep Thrawn, he should be in his proper chronology. It would just be easier for people to understand without changing the circumstances of the Zahn books, which are fairly well known to SW fans.

Thrawn first appears around 9 ABY, which is about 5 years after ROTJ. If we want to start the campaign at that point, I think that could work.

 

[fireinthedust]

I loved the Zahn books. I don't know that we have to keep the timeline or novel info straight per se; I think we can get away with nerfing it for the sake of the setting. Imagine movies fans show up and hear about Thrawn for the first time! Also, we can ignore the way he went down like a chump... kinda like how everyone looks the other way when Boba Fett went down in ROTJ. Look, he's back, it's magical!

Granted, what specific events do we like about the interim period? Do we care that Palpatine came back in a clone body? Would we want to have that as an event that happens in the Setting the our PCs get to deal with?

How good were the books, and can we pick specifically the awesome ones and say "yeah, those are ok" and the rest say "they never happened" (like how I watch Revenge of the Sith and Attack of the Clones, but pretend Phantom Menace never happened)?

 

[OnlytheStrong]

The only problem I am having with what you all are talking about... is that it seems to be a ton of personal preference. No offence, but not everyone is going to agree with you about who/what they want in the game. The less we actually have to mess with, the better.

The advantage L4W has over us is that their isn't as much material. I would think that we should leave most of the stuff alone. Not do a bunch of adding and subtracting. My fear is that if you pick and choose parts and invent things... we will lose people.

I'm afraid we are getting too... creative for lack of a more fitting word. People will invent plenty of adventures/scenarios. Adventures need to be approved, so we can head off anything that doesn't seem to mesh.

I don't mean to be a killjoy, I just really want to see this happen. If we go messing with alot of things... then I think more people will be turned off than turned on to the game.

 

[Insight]

The only problem I am having with what you all are talking about... is that it seems to be a ton of personal preference. No offence, but not everyone is going to agree with you about who/what they want in the game. The less we actually have to mess with, the better.

The advantage L4W has over us is that their isn't as much material. I would think that we should leave most of the stuff alone. Not do a bunch of adding and subtracting. My fear is that if you pick and choose parts and invent things... we will lose people.

I'm afraid we are getting too... creative for lack of a more fitting word. People will invent plenty of adventures/scenarios. Adventures need to be approved, so we can head off anything that doesn't seem to mesh.

I don't mean to be a killjoy, I just really want to see this happen. If we go messing with alot of things... then I think more people will be turned off than turned on to the game.

This is why I suggested we spend the majority of our efforts on the campaign and not the setting. We have Haon as our own campaign sandbox and I think we should leave external EU stuff alone.

I propose we just pick a date to start the campaign and just accept that the EU stuff (aside from something that might directly invalidate something in our campaign) is unchanged. The closer we start the game to ROTJ, the less EU stuff we need to worry about. Starting the game prior to the Zahn books would actually help in this regard; there isn't a whole lot between ROTJ and the first Zahn book.

 

[Insight]

I have updated my "thoughts on power sources" post, above, with "rumors" and little tidbits we can use to get the campaign started.

 

[Insight]

In terms of the hyperspace route passing through the Haon system (and thus attracting attention to the system), the Hydian Way seems to fit the bill. It bisects the space between Yavin and the Imperial Remnant and that's about where I've proposed Haon be located.

 

[fireinthedust]

The only problem I am having with what you all are talking about... is that it seems to be a ton of personal preference. No offence, but not everyone is going to agree with you about who/what they want in the game. The less we actually have to mess with, the better.

The advantage L4W has over us is that their isn't as much material. I would think that we should leave most of the stuff alone. Not do a bunch of adding and subtracting. My fear is that if you pick and choose parts and invent things... we will lose people.

I'm afraid we are getting too... creative for lack of a more fitting word. People will invent plenty of adventures/scenarios. Adventures need to be approved, so we can head off anything that doesn't seem to mesh.

I don't mean to be a killjoy, I just really want to see this happen. If we go messing with alot of things... then I think more people will be turned off than turned on to the game.

L4W has less material in the setting because it's homebrew. I think we'd get the same thing if we ignored the EU after the movies. All we need is to say that 10 years (or so) have passed.

The big issue with a SW game is picking the timeline. It means accepting things we might not want, and that complicates everything. Suddenly adventures have to be judged based on what's happening in source material everyone doesn't have easy access to.

Imagine this: you're trying to run an FR game. You want to set it in Anauroch, and you only have the FRCS. Suddenly you discover that in a novel series you've never heard of someone placed a band of evil fey vampires right where your village is.
Or, worse, we've invented the Haon system. Lucasfilm decides a year or two in that the Hylian Way has a massive gap of systems that don't have life in them, or just no stars in the way. Suddenly we realize that we're nowhere near any of our neighbours, and it invalidates *everything* we've been assuming.

Not only that, but the book was set between other books that were out when we were designing this setting. Suddenly there's this massively-popular trilogy that's set between ROTJ and Zahn, and "you just don't have Star Wars without it, because it ties up all these loose ends".

That's why I propose a scorched Earth policy for events between the movies and the start of our setting. We tell people going in that this is the case. They can have mandalorian armor if they want, and styled just like the wicked-cool villain they love; it's just not his in the same way as it would have been if said novel series (which we haven't read) had happened.
Like, I'm not just saying don't work with the EU: I'm saying ignore the EU unless it's worked into an adventure. If it isn't the movies/tv shows, it's a problem. One either has to ignore it or include it.