Which system for a Star Wars game?

[ValhallaGH]

Sullust, home of the Sullustans (Lando's co-pilot on the Falcon), is owned by Soro-Suub as weapon and vehicle making company near Tarkin's home world Eriadu.

Which should inspire several 'megacorporation' power blocks. Arms manufacturers make sense as leaders of a section of the galaxy; they want it orderly to supply them with raw materials and easy shipping within their areas, yet they want budding chaos to increase their sales. This proposed galaxy really helps them out on both fronts (and provides many different ways for the Rebellion to have inherited the X-Wing).

Hutt business and power should be booming in this political climate. Tense times fuel violence and vice, and these guys feed strippers to Rancors! I was expecting more influence from them in the prequel era.

Seconded. "Hutt-space" can be seen as one giant block when it is actually a dozen smaller blocks that cooperate against outsiders (while looking to stab each other, of course).

And thanks for the compliment.

 

[Diggus Rex]

Seconded. "Hutt-space" can be seen as one giant block when it is actually a dozen smaller blocks that cooperate against outsiders (while looking to stab each other, of course).

Thirded Jabba's business profile, style, and sadly ... general appearance mirror Tony Soprano. You know he's gotta have a hand in all those pirates and mercs going about. Leoco Actum (how is this pronounced?) should be itching to discover the Hutt connection and clear them out.

To balance out the corporate block, you could flesh out Bonadan, in what will become the Corporate Sector. Check out The Map. Sullust to the lower left down the Hydian Way (orange line), Corellia in the Core, Bonadan to the upper right on the Way too. Sets up a vicious galaxy-spanning triangle.

 

[Sunglar]

Thank you Diggus and Valhalla! You have me fired up.

Valhalla, I mean what I say! Thank you for your work. I’ll read more on the corporations of the SW universe.

Diggus, that arrangement sounds great. I will read up on this. Are the Han Solo Corporate Sector novels good? I know I have a paperback around I can dig up!

Leoco Actum, how to pronounce it… I really should have been more attentive in my linguistic class. My frist language is Spanish and I took one course in Latin in college (actually my ex-wife is a linguist!). Leoco, Leo NOT like the astrological sign but like… like what! I am drawing a blank. I’ll think it over and come back.

I’d love to discuss the structure of the adventure with you all and perhaps some character concepts but fear my players may be lurking about. I know at least one is reading.

Everybody enjoy your dinner, well depending on where you are, whatever food you are having.

 

[Sunglar]

Just finished doing midnight Laundry and I HAVE to go to sleep since I have two presentations to do tomorrow, but I have more Star Wars ideas I wanted to run by you.

First of all I’ve decided to include another character from the prequels, Asajj Ventress. But I am recasting her as a member of the religious sect, at least a supporter. Not a full fledged Jedi, but a force sensitive character with some training (as she is in the EU I believe!).

Dirge and Grievous I like but still see no place for them, at least as they were cast in the movie and the Clone Wars series, which I really liked by the way!

I’ve been thinking about the Jedi sects/groups/orders… I figured collectively they would be called Jedi Orders. There is no unified Jedi Order, instead these factions that eventually band together and form a council to act collectively in their conflict against the Sith.

I don’t see the Sith threat being as continuous and large as it is in the EU timeline, perhaps a big war some 2 to 3 thousand years ago, some battles before and after, not a major threat at least not for a long time.

The council is never completely effective, never unifying the orders into one cohesive force. If we imagine the Jedi as the religious orders of the early Catholic Church, the Council never becomes the Vatican, there is no standardized dogma.

So to the common man a Jedi is a Jedi, period! Those with a little more savvy and knowledge know they are divided into orders, called sects or groups more often than not. Originally there were more orders, but when the campaign starts there are only two large ones still influential enough to be players in a galactic scale.

There are less and less Jedi, mainly because the few force sensitive beings born see little motivation or prestige in joining the orders. There are less beings displaying force sensitivity also, maybe as life becomes less dangerous for many beings in civilized worlds and technology takes over many aspects of their lives, there are less chances for those few who have the gift to discover it. (Don’t know how this matches with the set up I’ve presented for the galaxy, feel free to tell me if I am not making any sense.)

Likewise, force sensitivity is commonly developed and manifests as a pre-teen this being the common age force sensitive beings begin training. There are some truly gifted beings that show their prowess in the force before, but it is rare. In the past some orders had seers that examined candidates and did begin to train them from childhood but the practice was abandoned as many did not live up to their potential and never became full fledged Jedi.

(A real world analogy may be the Castrati, some children were mutilated in hopes they would become famous Castrati, but they never made it, instead singing in local choirs to little glamour or success or even worse!)

The Leoco Actum, or the Military Order, is the largest tradition. They believe in organized structures of rank and respect, being proactive in the face of dangers, they have a very militaristic lifestyle and organization. While they have no decrees against marriage amongst its members, it is commonly encouraged for them to marry other Jedi in the hopes of strengthening bloodlines. The result has been the opposite as less and less Jedi are born of these unions. Some may take non-force sensitive concubines searching for a force sensitive heir (Does this sound too much non Jedi?). The concubines are treated with great respect and taken care off.

The Military Order has their members give up their names when they become apprentices and choose new names representing how they leave behind their past lives and families and their commitment to the order. Thus young Ben Lars took the name Obi-Wan when he became an apprentice in the Military Order, taking the surname Kenobi from his teacher an adoptive family.

(I remember this and I’m running with it! From Wookie Pedia: “In the novelization of Return of the Jedi Owen Lars was said to actually be Obi-Wan's brother…”)

The Military Order has a long tradition of adoption and many of its members joined the family of their teachers. Mace is an adoptee, identified as a force sensitive as a baby by a seer. The Military Order has renewed the practice of taking force sensitive children identified by their seers. The problem is that not all of the selected have the potential or the drive to become full fledged Jedi. They remain in the order in a position similar to squires. If the Jedi are the elite in the order, the officers, then these force sensitive beings with some training are the sergeants and leaders to the regular troops the order maintains.

The Mystic Order, The Contemplatives, Gelamen Lie’Prospis, is a looser gathering of like minded Jedi. As a reaction to the military sect they follow a more democratic and open decision making process. Since each master has much liberty and may have very different opinions, consultations and decisions can take long and are often debated for long periods.

While it is up to each master, many adhere to the ideas of celibacy and vows of poverty as paths to enlightenment. They are opposed to the taking of young children for training, and will often turn away candidates for training many times as tests before agreeing to train them. I see them more like Buddhist monks thank medieval knights, which would be a closer approximation to the Military order.

There are those who begin in one order and eventually end up in the other. When the Council last met Yoda, the leader of the mystic order and his apprentice Dooku were close allies to Mace.

I am still undecided what conflict the Council faced, but it broke them apart… The practice of taking the young ones will play apart in this and probably the reason the Military order holds such a big protectorate, still giving it shape.

What I do know is that Ben Lars (the Future Obi-Wan) was briefly under the care and tutelage of Yoda and that Dooku abandoned his master and joined the Military Order and Mace’s cause. He eventually parted ways in no amicable terms with Windu and left the military order. As a result of this Dooku is called the Oath Breaker.

Running with the idea of the mega corporations, I am thinking Tarkin would have a big interest in this, I am tying him up wit this element.

One request before I end this VERY LONG post. What good sources of Star Wars art and images are out there? I know Wookie Pedia, the Force.net, Star Wars artist gallery (I think that’s what it was called they haven’t updated in ages!), any other source that you know of? Thank you in advance!

Signing off now…

 

[Diggus Rex]

Leoco (LAY-oh-koh) Actum (AHK-toom)?

Sith were behind the war that dissolved the Republic a thousand years ago by the EU. In your setting what conflict preceeded the rebirth of your Republic, the one the Jedi mediated?

Where is Jedi prestige suffering? It seems training to become a warrior with supernatural powers that is granted a large territory to govern would attract many. Was also wondering how the Republic democracy handles having feudally organized Jedi?

I am still undecided what conflict the Council faced, but it broke them apart… The practice of taking the young ones will play apart in this and probably the reason the Military order holds such a big protectorate, still giving it shape.

This is very important to decide I think. The reason for the schism should determine how the orders relate to one another and well the practices that define them.

 

[Sunglar]

Good questions…

Jedi are blamed for the disastrous arrangement that has broken down the Republic. The territory was not granted, originally they kept small systems. The extension of Military Order holdings is directly related o the schisms.

The Republic one thousand years ago, at least in my view, was not falling apart due to the Sith, but to other problems. The Sith treat was further back in the history.

I’ll elaborate later. I’m in a meeting and there is a big party all weekend long to celebrate the end of the holidays (yeah we do party for a long time!)

I’ll be back tomorrow hopefully.

 

[Sunglar]

I’m still alive and the campaign is coming along. I’ve just been too busy. Quick question, was the shipping on the Saga edition changed? I remember it being March but someone told me it was moved to May? I’ll look it up tomorrow. Going to bed now…

 

[Sunglar]

I’m alive… ALIVE!

Well I’m back and have to say I am sorry for simply having disappeared. I don’t know if you guys are still interested in this discussion, but I will answer the questions Diggus put forth and were left unanswered.

(The partying was too good this pas weekend, then work and some partying that spilled over into Tuesday, alas, but I digress…)

Where is Jedi prestige suffering? It seems training to become a warrior with supernatural powers that is granted a large territory to govern would attract many. Was also wondering how the Republic democracy handles having feudally organized Jedi?

This is all long before the campaign starts…

The Jedi prestige is suffering due to a few factors. First of all imagine the Jedi as more subdued, not over the top super warriors as they were portrayed in the prequels, but as robed or armored supernatural warriors that for a long time were the peace keepers in the unlawful regions of space as exploration expanded beyond the core worlds. I postulate that hyperspace travel took longer and the Jedi swooped down to solve a problem not always explaining their actions or rationale to the population.

As these worlds became civilized and traditional forms of law enforcement took over the Jedi’s role was less and less important. At the same time hyperspace travel became more and more efficient. The need for the lone or small pack of powerful protectors in the wilderness lessened. The Outer Rim was explored and colonized in a time when ships could arrive in a matter of hours in case of trouble, communication in the vastness of space in nearly instantaneous. Local governments and power structures came to distrusts the Jedi who in effect answered to no one but themselves and their moral code.

I realize in the SW universe the Jedi had arrangements with the Republic leadership, but in my vision it was less clear, nor set in stone, and even if it was there, the officials that followed did not necessarily agree with the idea.

To make a real world analogy, (sorry for simplifying history like this!) the Catholic Church’s role was lessened as the Middle Ages ended, the reformation occurred and there was a shift on the intellectual and economic European landscape. The prestige, indeed the importance or priesthood (here as an analogy to the Jedi) lessened. To the point where the role the Catholic Church plays today, and the number of priests, the ease of recruitment of new priests, has changed dramatically. (I don’t intend to lessen or offend anyone by this, I am merely using the historical reality of the faith to illustrate a point, o slight or disrespect is meant!)

Add to that the fact that they arranged the peace 1 thousand years before the campaign starts, which to all effects, splintered the Republic, while the measure was originally viewed positively for a very brief period of time, it caused more grief and strife for the common man. The perception of the masses is the Jedi arranged the peace only to benefit them, as many claimed small protectorates over systems in which they had influence. These protectorates were not large, when compared to other blocks and alliances, but were protected by powerful Jedi.

The Republic, splintered as it is has no say over the Jedi protectorates. They do not take over the day to day rule of the planets over their care; they simply act as law keepers. Depending on the order their influence in the day to day rules of system is greater or lesser, more or less subtle.

As for the reason the Jedi Council split and no longer lets I’ve decided on the why!

The Jedi Council never was the all powerful ruling body seen in the movies. It was emerged out of the necessity of fighting the Sith well over a thousand years ago. It was a meeting of the leaders of the different orders to plan and coordinate their tactics, but never took over as a hegemonic body to rule all Jedi, the leaders of the orders kept their power and protected in zealously.

After the defeat of the Sith its importance was lessened. The Council finally stopped meeting over 25 years ago over two matters. First (and I’m running and integrating some of the ideas you all have put forth) the other orders decided to take action against the religious sect and the perceived taint of the dark side in their beliefs. The Military Order moved in and destroyed their power base and eradicated their influence in the core worlds. The religious sect only survives in the outer rim.

The Meditative Order opposed the actions of the Military sect as they used the attack on the religious sect as an excuse to grab more territory and annex it into their protectorate, making them players in the larger politics of the splintered Republic. The practice of taking children as infants was also a point of contention, but to a lesser degree.

How does that sound?

I have more plans and I’d be happy to keep discussing them if you are interested, here or in another thread.

Just a teaser, two of the main NPCs in the first adventures of the campaign will be a young Bail Organa, and Tungurahua the Hutt, an albino tattooed member of the hutt species.

 

[Diggus Rex]

Number #1: Never ... ever apologize for choosing to party over message board discussions of Star Wars!!! The only thing better is parties were Star Wars is discussed, but try getting ladies to stick around for that ... wait, strike that ... try getting attractive ladies to stick around for that.

This is a very different take on Jedi than what I'm used to, but that's what your looking for so good job. Catholic Jedi, as opposed to traditional Buddhist Jedi, makes new possibilities to explore. I'm a purist in many ways and have usually held with Jedi being equivalent to Federal marshals in the wild west legally (Lucas' concept, but nuts to him).

This medieval knight portrayl makes them so close to sith I gladly make a PC that would aid in their eradication. Someone with super powers that uses it to lord authority over me, can I volunteer for Order 66?

I see alot of the Zahn influence in there and I like it.

 

[Sunglar]

Thanks Diggus… I realize SW is Space Opera and one of the staples of the genre is very clear and defined Black and White, the good guys are good the bad guys bad. It even says so in the Revised D20 rulebook. I think adding a little bit of gray in there may make it interesting. Still I will talk this more in depth with the players and see if it meets their expectations.

The Meditative Order does not lord over so much over their protectorate, they are benevolent and more in line with traditional Jedi. The Military Order is another matter, and it is ironic that they will be the ones taking action against the religious order, with them being so close to the dark side by their actions.

There IS a campaign reason for this, but I don’t want to give too much away here just in case… (There are lurkers about!)

The partying was GOOD! In all honesty I know some attractive ladies willing to discuss Star Wars. After my first two girlfriends, back in high school, who had never seen Star Wars, I swore I would not date another woman who had not seen the movies. I’ve tried to stick by my rule, I’ve broken it in a few occasions but I try!