[Star Wars] What if the Empire Won?

[wingsandsword]

The Emperor now needs a new Sith Apprentice... Mara Jade, perhaps? Or that nameless TIE Fighter pilot that had defeated the traitors Harkov and Zaarin?

For the record, that pilots name is Maarek Stele, and (OCR version) SWRPG stats for him were in Star Wars Gamer #5.

Canonically Vader had a few dozen force-using servants that weren't Sith (Inquisitors, Emperor's Hands, Prophets of the Dark Side, Sovereign Protectors). He interpreted the "Rule of Two" to mean he could have lots of force-using servants, but the actual secrets of Sith lore were to be handed down to only one apprentice, so if he really needed it he did have a pool of possible apprentices.

He wanted Luke specifically because the power of the Skywalker Bloodline, a Skywalker not crippled and hobbled by near-fatal wounds and cybernetics, not just because he wanted just another new apprentice.

 

[Pbartender]

He wanted Luke specifically because the power of the Skywalker Bloodline, a Skywalker not crippled and hobbled by near-fatal wounds and cybernetics, not just because he wanted just another new apprentice.

Consider...

The Death Star Survives, and Princess Leia is not rescued.

Remember, the idea to destroy Alderaan and execute Leia was Tarkin's plan. Vader has nothing to with it.

In light of this, Vader somehow discovers her true identity (or just senses her strength in the Force) and saves her from extermination. He convinces her that Tarkin, under the tutelage of the Emperor, is the true villain and that they could work together to defeat them. Leia turns to the Dark Side, and Vader instructs her in Sith techniques.

 

[fireinthedust]

So: any updates on the party composition?

That could help think up plot ideas.

 

[Orius]

Canonically Vader had a few dozen force-using servants that weren't Sith (Inquisitors, Emperor's Hands, Prophets of the Dark Side, Sovereign Protectors). He interpreted the "Rule of Two" to mean he could have lots of force-using servants, but the actual secrets of Sith lore were to be handed down to only one apprentice, so if he really needed it he did have a pool of possible apprentices.

And there's the whole storyline for The Force Unleashed.

Consider...

The Death Star Survives, and Princess Leia is not rescued.

Remember, the idea to destroy Alderaan and execute Leia was Tarkin's plan. Vader has nothing to with it.

In light of this, Vader somehow discovers her true identity (or just senses her strength in the Force) and saves her from extermination. He convinces her that Tarkin, under the tutelage of the Emperor, is the true villain and that they could work together to defeat them. Leia turns to the Dark Side, and Vader instructs her in Sith techniques.

"'She may yet be of some use to us."

This rocks too.

 

[Ghostwind]

I don't have a party composition yet because the game is still in the planning stages.

I like the idea of Leia turning to the dark side and becoming a sith. What if we throw Mara Jade into the mix and have her train Leia to be an assassin for the Emperor while Vader trains her in the way of the Sith. What kind of story could that lead to?

 

[MarkB]

I don't have a party composition yet because the game is still in the planning stages.

I like the idea of Leia turning to the dark side and becoming a sith. What if we throw Mara Jade into the mix and have her train Leia to be an assassin for the Emperor while Vader trains her in the way of the Sith. What kind of story could that lead to?

Quite possibly a quicker redemption for Vader than in the original trilogy. His original fall to the dark side was propelled largely by his love and concern for Padme, and being around a daughter nearly the same age Padme was when she died is going to bring all that back. Add the fact that Leia won't go to the dark side without a fight, and Vader's going to be constantly conflicted as he watches his daughter pushed further and further into the dark, her proud spirit - so much like her mother's - twisted and corrupted.

It shouldn't take too much to eventually bring things to a head and turn Vader against his master. Maybe have Obi-Wan haunt him as a Force Spirit if he dies in this version, or if not Obi-Wan, perhaps Qui-Gonn.

 

[fireinthedust]

I don't have a party composition yet because the game is still in the planning stages.

I like the idea of Leia turning to the dark side and becoming a sith. What if we throw Mara Jade into the mix and have her train Leia to be an assassin for the Emperor while Vader trains her in the way of the Sith. What kind of story could that lead to?

Frankly, nowhere. You're not writing a novel, you're designing a game session. Unless one of the players is Leia, or they've already met her, there is no reason their characters should care about her the way the players might.

You need to set the stage. You need to create a reason the PCs care about the villains. Leia wouldn't go dark simply from capture. She would need some serious life-changing events. She would also need to fail and become disillusioned. This option IMHO is useless for your players, as you are suddenly not giving them Leia. You're giving them a facade of a character they've never interacted with, and making her act in a way Leia never would.
You might as well ask what events would cause He-man to fall in love with Skeletor and start a band. It's a wierd question, and unless your PCs are He-Man and Skeletor, it has nothing to do with your game.

Start with something you're going to actually use in the first session, based on the Empire winning during "a new hope". I like Tarkin, I like Thrawn, I like Vader, I like Jabba.

I'd start with the basic setting, and an encounter or two. Get the PCs, as this will change *everything* in your campaign planning. What if one of them wants to be a bounty hunter? Or a Jedi? Or a Wookie?
Or none of these things?

I'd say, if they're rebels, have them running from the law. Maybe a mission to steal some capital ships to use as the hidden rebel fleet-on-the-go. Maybe just trying to get the 4-6 of them onto a cargo vessel so they can run.
Their ship could be impounded. Maybe stormtroopers, maybe Jabba the Hutt is collecting on a debt. Both are evil.
Then go from there.

I bet the story will involve running until they stop, or find places that will harbor them, and then they can grow the resistance.

but it's not a book (unless it *is* a book). It's an RPG session.

 

[fireinthedust]

Quite possibly a quicker redemption for Vader than in the original trilogy. His original fall to the dark side was propelled largely by his love and concern for Padme, and being around a daughter nearly the same age Padme was when she died is going to bring all that back. Add the fact that Leia won't go to the dark side without a fight, and Vader's going to be constantly conflicted as he watches his daughter pushed further and further into the dark, her proud spirit - so much like her mother's - twisted and corrupted.

Also consider that the twins are supposed to be a balance to his evil. I doubt she'd go down. Too stubborn.


Ghostwind: sorry if I sounded harsh last post. Nothing personal, but trying to be frank about an important point. I've been burned by GMs " writing novels", and I admit it's a pet peeve of mine.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

What if the Empire never discovered Interdiction technology and it was a Rebel invention?

Interdiction technology was discovered/invented in the middle of the Galactic Civil War after the Battle of Yavin, as the result of analyzing the bizarre alien growth known as the "Golden Sun", from the old d6 adventure "Battle for the Golden Sun". What if the Rebellion got the technology but not the Empire? Interdiction technology would make for a powerful force equalizer, being able to set up interdiction fields at distance to make it harder to move fleets, or Death Stars to protected planets and give them more time to flee, or provide unparalleled commerce-raiding ability.

They probably wouldn't have much ability to make use of it, once Mon Calamar gets blow'd up by the Death Star. Remember, the Imperial interdictors are based on the Star Destroyer design and have significantly less firepower, so the ones they mount seem to take up a crapload of resources.

Without the Mon Calamari shipyards, they're limited to making a few on what capital ships they can scrounge up.

Brad

 

[Orius]

What if we throw Mara Jade into the mix and have her train Leia to be an assassin for the Emperor while Vader trains her in the way of the Sith. What kind of story could that lead to?

Something kinky, one would hope.