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Author Topic: Star Wars - The Balance Shifts  (Read 390 times)

Werekoala

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Star Wars - The Balance Shifts
« on: June 09, 2009, 07:49:12 PM »
Well, having read the 1st Edition Star Wars rules from WEG over the last few days, and after watching the new cinematic trailer for Bioware's "The Old Republic" MMO, I got the Star Wars bug again. Here's what I wrote up today to get the next campaign started; my players decided they wanted to go a bit Dark Side this time out, so I came up with a semi-plausible sounding way to drag some Sith into the action just after the Clone Wars. See whatcha think...

Episode 3.5

The Balance Shifts

It is a time of growing tyranny in the Galaxy.

The new Empire, victorious against the Separatist Faction in the Clone Wars, moves quickly to consolidate its power. Vast Star Fleets and subtle manipulation spread out from the Imperial Core like oil on water.

Despite his outward trappings of power and authority, Emperor Palpatine knows that this is a fragile time for the growth of his Empire. He assigns close confidants and capable military men to the governorships of various sectors, while allowing the Imperial Senate to continue to meet and bicker as they always have, to little effect. It is important that those whom he rules still feel that they have some say in the running of the Empire - until he is ready to make his final move. Until then, his full attention is on the completion of the ultimate weapon, the Death Star, slowly taking shape far above a secret world.

Lord Darth Vader continues his campaign to locate and eliminate the last of the Jedi Order - personally dispatching survivors when he can, relying on military and mercenary forces when he must. He is driven by the desire to destroy Obi Wan Kenobi, his former friend and Master - the man he feels responsible for the death of his wife, Padme Amidala, and the children he never knew.

Meanwhile, in the depths of the Outer Rim, shadowy forces begin to emerge from their lair. The balance of the Force has shifted, and an ancient order prepares to act on a prophecy far older than the one that foretold Vader's coming...


The PCs will be members of...

The Council of Night - Secret Sith conclave tasked with preserving knowledge of Sith powers and history during the Long Night (the period from the fall of the last Sith Empire until the rise of the next one). Hidden on several worlds in the deep Outer Rim, the Council has remained isolated for almost three thousand years. Palpatine's mentor was one of their number, a scout who went into the inner worlds to research the status of current Republic politics and the Jedi Order's power. During his mission, something went wrong - he either went insane or had been harboring a plan all along to take a student and attempt to subtly establish himself as a Lord. The Order found out about his plan too late, after he had already trained Palpatine in the ways of the Dark Side, and been killed by him. Because of their remoteness, the Council was unable to react fast enough to locate and destroy Palpatine, and watched helplessly as the galaxy fell under his control. Since then, the Council has sent many scouts into the galaxy to renew their knowledge of current events and to try to mitigate the damage to the balance of the Force that Palpatine and Vader have caused. The Council knows that should they succeed in wiping out every last vestige of the Light Side, that the results would be catastrophic for all life in the Galaxy. They find themselves in the unlikely position of trying to save at least some of those whom they oppose on the most fundamental of levels, while also working to overthrow Palpatine - a powerful and dangerous Outsider who knows nothing of the true ways of the Sith.

The Council of Night is made up scores individuals from a variety of races, all devoted to the Sith ideals, who are masters of the Dark Side and all that it implies. They have lived a very monastic lifestyle in the Conclave, as their forbearers before them, isolated from the galaxy and outside influences. As such, they might seem a bit "aloof" or above the "worldly" concerns of most, while in many ways they are ignorant of most of the conventions and occurrences outside of the Conclave. They are very formal in speech and dress, unless on undercover scouting missions which are typically dispatched once per decade (although there are dozens of ongoing missions now, due to the rise of Palpatine). Scouting reports are eagerly studied in order to keep the membership of the Council as up-to-date as possible, should they find themselves chosen for the next wave of missions to the inner planets.

All members of the Council are formally known as either Brother or Sister, and their leader is the sleep-walking spirit of the last great Sith Master, Lord Saidess, his essence kept alive by advanced (and ancient) Sith machinery and the devoted efforts of the Conclave. Saidess has led the Order for the last 1,500 years, but his mind wanders and his powers are fading. He will soon pass beyond the veil, and a new Sith Master will be appointed.



Still haven't decided if I'm going with the d6 system or not, but I'm inclined to do so since I've been reading it. If not, likely go with the old GURPS standby.

What do you think, sirs?
Lan Astaslem


"It's rpg.net The population there would call the Second Coming of Jesus Christ a hate crime." - thedungeondelver

David R

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Star Wars - The Balance Shifts
« Reply #1 on: June 09, 2009, 08:19:11 PM »
Very interesting. I like some of themes swirling about here. If I ever catch the SW bug again, I'll use this idea.....of course my system of choice would be Feng Shui.

Regards,
David R

Ian Absentia

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Star Wars - The Balance Shifts
« Reply #2 on: June 09, 2009, 08:25:26 PM »
Quote from: Werekoala;307355
What do you think, sirs?
:p

!i!

Jamfke

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Star Wars - The Balance Shifts
« Reply #3 on: June 09, 2009, 10:07:58 PM »
Very nice.  Will you have Palpatine being aware of the Council, and subtly playing them against the rebellious factions throughout the galaxy?  Will the Emperor or Vader attempt to persuade the PCs to join their ranks as Hands or other dark side minions?

I'd love to play in this!
Thanks,
James F Keck
Keck Publishing
4C or Not 4C? The real question is why not 4C Expanded? PWYW now at DriveThruRPG

Werekoala

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Star Wars - The Balance Shifts
« Reply #4 on: June 09, 2009, 11:01:48 PM »
Well, no reason why I couldn't run it here. Of course, if I did I sure couldn't give anything away. ;)
Lan Astaslem


"It's rpg.net The population there would call the Second Coming of Jesus Christ a hate crime." - thedungeondelver

Jamfke

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Star Wars - The Balance Shifts
« Reply #5 on: June 09, 2009, 11:03:31 PM »
Ah, planning to run it as PBP?  Cool, I'd definitely like to get in on this.
Thanks,
James F Keck
Keck Publishing
4C or Not 4C? The real question is why not 4C Expanded? PWYW now at DriveThruRPG