Who Should Make The Next Star Wars TTRPG, And What Should It Look Like?

[MGibster]

But those are huge elements of the movies? The scene showing the technical strategy of how to destroy the Death Star is not only iconic, but central to the plot. The introduction of Han and Chewie comes from a shopping scene. The upgrades to the Millennium Falcon are not only part of the history of the ship, but a major driving factor of ESB. Showing off better and different weapons is a major part of so many scenes, from the new ships in the battle of Endor, to Darth Maul and Kylo Ren showing of their custom lightsabers. Even getting new armor is a regular plot point of The Mandalorian.

At least from the original movies, I don't remember a drive for better equipment being an important element. I don't remember the Falcon getting any upgrades in ESB. On Hoth, we saw a Falcon that was poorly maintained and in desperate need of some serious repairs, but for whatever reason those repairs didn't happen until they got to Cloud City. Once those repairs were done, the Falcon wasn't any faster, the shields weren't more robust, nor were the weapons any stronger. It was just fully repaired and reliable again. I don't remember Han and Luke spending time to upgrade their weapons. Han stuck with his blaster and the only change to Luke's lightsaber was the color of the blade.

The obsession with equipment and upgrades to do more damage is something you find in RPGs not in most Star Wars movies or shows. It's just a byproduct of our expectations of getting experience points and better equipment.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

But those are huge elements of the movies? The scene showing the technical strategy of how to destroy the Death Star is not only iconic, but central to the plot. The introduction of Han and Chewie comes from a shopping scene. The upgrades to the Millennium Falcon are not only part of the history of the ship, but a major driving factor of ESB. Showing off better and different weapons is a major part of so many scenes, from the new ships in the battle of Endor, to Darth Maul and Kylo Ren showing of their custom lightsabers. Even getting new armor is a regular plot point of The Mandalorian.

Very much agree. Star Wars has amazing production design and it's a core part of the franchise's appeal. People want specific weapons, spaceships, etc. And since a core part of that production design is being a run down, lived in, and kind of beat up galaxy where a lot of the machines a jury-rigged and/or souped-up, some degree of modability for equipment is appropriate (and I would argue justifies the complexity it brings). And how fantastic for a group imagination game to have a vast host of evocative objects you can reference and all easily visualize.

Simplifying ttrpg mechanics is great, but variety in and shopping opportunities for gear is not where I would try to simplify and streamline for Star Wars. A lot of the character of the universe is in the vehicles and equipment. And if a Star Wars TTRPG isn't going to have a vast catalogue of things then I'd probably rather run the "Star Wars with the serial numbers filed off" mods for Outgunned or use some other rules light solution than buy an official tie-in product just because it had the licensing.

 

[John R Davis]

No one shops in star wars, except as a plot point. There is lots repairs,but no one in the trilogy buys armours, better blasters, droids, ship upgrades, etc. It is just not a feature