Starwars D20 Variations/House Rules?

[kenobi65]

Wow! All this time I thought you *had* to take Force-Sensitive at first level. But you do have to take it before picking up Force-User levels, which still leaves you a feat behind.

Yeah, IIRC, if you don't start out, as a 1st-level character, in a Force-using class (which get Force-Sensitive for free), you have to take the feat before you're allowed to multiclass into those classes.

 

[kenobi65]

Yeah... if ever a game needed an action point mechanic, its StarWars. So... Action points for non-force users and Force points (action points with more Umph!) for force users?

You do realize that non-Force users get Force points in SW already? (They just don't have as much Umph! when used by a non-Force-sensitive.)

But, if you feel like adding Action Points, as well, I don't see why you couldn't. It's even sort of reminiscent of the old West End Games d6 system, which had Character Points (small effect when spent in-game, are also used for character advancement) and Force Points (bigger effect, but can only be spent in-game).

 

[LostSoul]

The only trouble is, after rewatching the entire 6-movie series, I find the D20 Star Wars rules just a little boring. A character in the game will never really even come close to doing any of the cool stuff the characters (even the non-Jedi) in the movies can.

For what it's worth, I've always found that d6 Star Wars characters, even beginning ones, could do tons of really cool stuff.

I'm going to see if my group will switch from d20 to d6. Doubt it though.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Obi-Wan could have easily spent a Force Point to get the necessary bonus to make that jump. It WAS a Force jump, so it makes perfect sense he was using that, and probably Move Object.

Force Point + Move Object = Jedi Jumping

 

[DnDChick]

There is also the optional rule of Force Jump that is in the Hero's Guide.

Spend 4 vitality, and you can add your Move Object ranks to your Jump skill.

 

[Plane Sailing]

You know... I've been planning on a Star Wars campaign for a long time. The only trouble is, after rewatching the entire 6-movie series, I find the D20 Star Wars rules just a little boring. A character in the game will never really even come close to doing any of the cool stuff the characters (even the non-Jedi) in the movies can.

This is my big beef with the SWd20 rules too. I've never read any of the novels and couldn't really care less about them, I want to role-play in the films. Always have That said:

As you've already mentioned there is humongous jumping ability seen in original series and prequels, but isn't at all clear in the d20 rules that has already been talked about. IIRC there is some optional rule involving Move Object to boost jumps significantly, but I don't know whether it is in the RCR or a Jedi Counselling article on the WotC site.

The biggest issue for me is the 'seeing using the force'. It is the first thing that Luke learns (defending against the remote with the blast visor down) and is fundamental to the blowing up of the death star ('trust your feelings, Luke'). We see it in prequel 2 most clearly when anakin and kenobi sense trouble in padmes bedchamber and hurtle in to dispatch the little assassin bugs. It is one of the most fundamental aspects of the force from the earliest point in the film and yet... doesn't seem to exist as far as the d20 rules go.

There are others too. It just seems so strange when there is a whole bunch of stuff that I've never seen in the movies (knight mind to enhance all your allies? magic healing powers? FLIGHT?) in the d20 rules.

Cheers

 

[AmorphousBlob]

The biggest issue for me is the 'seeing using the force'. It is the first thing that Luke learns (defending against the remote with the blast visor down) and is fundamental to the blowing up of the death star ('trust your feelings, Luke'). We see it in prequel 2 most clearly when anakin and kenobi sense trouble in padmes bedchamber and hurtle in to dispatch the little assassin bugs. It is one of the most fundamental aspects of the force from the earliest point in the film and yet... doesn't seem to exist as far as the d20 rules go.

Apparently you haven't read through the description of the Sense feat, which all Force classes get for free at some point

Sense Force: A character with this feat sometimes receives vague impressions of the Force. The character might feel uneasy due to an unseen situation or sense the presence of powerful emanations of the dark side. For example, a character might feel a sense of cold from a place that is strong in the dark side of the Force, or he might experience foreboding when an entire planet is destroyed and all the life forms on it are extinguished. If two characters with this feat have a close relationship (they are siblings, lovers, or lifelong friends, for example), one of them can sense if the other one is injured or in distress. These sensations are not felt through conscious effort; the GM provides the impressions when appropriate.

That easily explains how Anakin and Obi-Wan managed to sense the kouhuns (sp?) in Episode II.

Furthermore, to almost make this funny, there is a See Force skill that allows for one to sense the presence or relative power level of a Force-user.

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

There's also an addendum in the Power of the Jedi book that a Jedi can use a Move Action and spend 2vp if he has Sense to "Compensate" for a sense that is currently non-functional.

This is the mechanic I had my padawans use for fighting remotes with the visor down. Literally. That was our opening to the game. Once they got the hang of it, they quite liked it.

--fje

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Apparently you haven't read through the description of the Sense feat, which all Force classes get for free at some point

Not only that, but the Force Sensitive Feat has the ability to do the same thing in a similar way.

I think that many people's problem with the rules may be not actually knowing them well enough. You CAN do the movies just fine with the books. I've proved that many times in my games. My players in the multiple games I run do tons of things just like in the movies. Its half the fun!

 

[Lobo Lurker]

You do realize that non-Force users get Force points in SW already? (They just don't have as much Umph! when used by a non-Force-sensitive.)

But, if you feel like adding Action Points, as well, I don't see why you couldn't. It's even sort of reminiscent of the old West End Games d6 system, which had Character Points (small effect when spent in-game, are also used for character advancement) and Force Points (bigger effect, but can only be spent in-game).

Yup, I realize that. I just didn't clairfy the idea enough I guess. They're basically the same things... it just doens't make sense that a non-user would tap the force (ie, force point) to do something cool or cinematic. Action points, however, as defined in the majority of D20 products are very usefule for maintaining a cinematic feel (in my experience... especially when you get more than the standard amount).

I've heard of people using Mutants & Masterminds to run SW d20 as well. Supposedly that worked well but I can understand that a lot of people wouldn't like that solution.