Comments on: Rebellion Era Campaign Guide Lets You Crush the Galactic Empire http://www.robotviking.com/2009/07/27/rebellion-era-campaign-guide-lets-you-crush-the-galactic-empire/ Gaming Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:59:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: ggodo http://www.robotviking.com/2009/07/27/rebellion-era-campaign-guide-lets-you-crush-the-galactic-empire/comment-page-1/#comment-1077 ggodo Thu, 30 Jul 2009 01:18:31 +0000 http://www.robotviking.com/?p=1424#comment-1077 See, I always loved being the guys in the background. Stackpole's X-wing books were my favorites. Sure, the protagonist turned out to be a Jedi, but he still was never a cosmic hero of godlike awesome. Something like Republic Commando or a squad of guys fighting it out in the middle of nowhere for an objective that is ultimately important to any war effort, but doesn't get movies about it is more my thing. Cosmic awesome is great, but you can't play the cosmic awesome heroes of the source material. The only one that I could see playing out well is the Firefly RPG, mostly because those guys never did anything cosmic awesome caliber, until the movie. See, I always loved being the guys in the background. Stackpole’s X-wing books were my favorites. Sure, the protagonist turned out to be a Jedi, but he still was never a cosmic hero of godlike awesome. Something like Republic Commando or a squad of guys fighting it out in the middle of nowhere for an objective that is ultimately important to any war effort, but doesn’t get movies about it is more my thing. Cosmic awesome is great, but you can’t play the cosmic awesome heroes of the source material. The only one that I could see playing out well is the Firefly RPG, mostly because those guys never did anything cosmic awesome caliber, until the movie.

]]> By: OStephens http://www.robotviking.com/2009/07/27/rebellion-era-campaign-guide-lets-you-crush-the-galactic-empire/comment-page-1/#comment-1065 OStephens Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:22:59 +0000 http://www.robotviking.com/?p=1424#comment-1065 Yeah, reprinting is not an easy idea. And just to rpvoe I can see both sides let mention I heard Starships is out-of-print now. We wrote all those wonderful ships, and now new people can't get them. Aaargh! And of course one of the -positive- things about no reprints is we get to plunder other sources. I was amazed how many starships were active in this era I had never seen game stats for, as an example. And it's not like there aren;t also things still flying along that got detailed in Force Unleashed and Clone Wars. But if the book made you want to play more, it has done it's job. I can't think of a better positive comment a reader or reviewer can make. Yeah, reprinting is not an easy idea. And just to rpvoe I can see both sides let mention I heard Starships is out-of-print now. We wrote all those wonderful ships, and now new people can’t get them. Aaargh!

And of course one of the -positive- things about no reprints is we get to plunder other sources. I was amazed how many starships were active in this era I had never seen game stats for, as an example. And it’s not like there aren;t also things still flying along that got detailed in Force Unleashed and Clone Wars.

But if the book made you want to play more, it has done it’s job. I can’t think of a better positive comment a reader or reviewer can make.

]]> By: Ed Grabianowski http://www.robotviking.com/2009/07/27/rebellion-era-campaign-guide-lets-you-crush-the-galactic-empire/comment-page-1/#comment-1060 Ed Grabianowski Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:14:50 +0000 http://www.robotviking.com/?p=1424#comment-1060 I love it when authors stop in to talk about their games with us. Thanks for dropping in, Mr. Stephens! The reprinting material issue was definitely one of those decisions where I think someone could make a valid argument for either choice. Maybe a few pages that presented some of the classic stuff in condensed form (stat blocks only) with a note explaining that they appear in other books might have been a workable compromise. But in any case, that was a minor quibble - this book has re-energized my desire to get a Star Wars campaign going. I only wish there were more days in the week to fit it in. I love it when authors stop in to talk about their games with us. Thanks for dropping in, Mr. Stephens! The reprinting material issue was definitely one of those decisions where I think someone could make a valid argument for either choice. Maybe a few pages that presented some of the classic stuff in condensed form (stat blocks only) with a note explaining that they appear in other books might have been a workable compromise. But in any case, that was a minor quibble – this book has re-energized my desire to get a Star Wars campaign going. I only wish there were more days in the week to fit it in.

]]> By: OStephens http://www.robotviking.com/2009/07/27/rebellion-era-campaign-guide-lets-you-crush-the-galactic-empire/comment-page-1/#comment-1057 OStephens Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:11:42 +0000 http://www.robotviking.com/?p=1424#comment-1057 I'm glad you enjoyed the book overall. For both this and the previous edition, one of things we always had to tackle was how much to compile or reprint, and when it's best to provide new material even if it leaves you with material in multiple books. Of course a lot of Rebellion Era things (Vader, X-Wings, the Falcon) are in the core rulebook which is required to play the game anyway. I think most players would agree leaving them out of this book in favor of new material is a better use of thier gaming money. Things we have in other books is trickier. Starships of the Galaxy is on -my- must-have list for Saga, but not everyone is going to feel the same way. We made sure there were some starships for the era in the new book, but the decisions was made (and I agree with it) not to reprint anything. That gets the most gaming material out as we can, and prevents anyone from having to pay for the same thing twice. And that's a GREAT idea for a Rebellion campaign. We tried to focus on the kinds of things that might encourage adventures other than holding Luke's coat, and I'm glad to see we sparked some cool ideas! I’m glad you enjoyed the book overall. For both this and the previous edition, one of things we always had to tackle was how much to compile or reprint, and when it’s best to provide new material even if it leaves you with material in multiple books.

Of course a lot of Rebellion Era things (Vader, X-Wings, the Falcon) are in the core rulebook which is required to play the game anyway. I think most players would agree leaving them out of this book in favor of new material is a better use of thier gaming money.

Things we have in other books is trickier. Starships of the Galaxy is on -my- must-have list for Saga, but not everyone is going to feel the same way. We made sure there were some starships for the era in the new book, but the decisions was made (and I agree with it) not to reprint anything. That gets the most gaming material out as we can, and prevents anyone from having to pay for the same thing twice.

And that’s a GREAT idea for a Rebellion campaign. We tried to focus on the kinds of things that might encourage adventures other than holding Luke’s coat, and I’m glad to see we sparked some cool ideas!

]]> By: Nephelim http://www.robotviking.com/2009/07/27/rebellion-era-campaign-guide-lets-you-crush-the-galactic-empire/comment-page-1/#comment-1056 Nephelim Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:31:58 +0000 http://www.robotviking.com/?p=1424#comment-1056 One of the major issues I've always had with ANY game that is based on a book, movie, or other property is the problem with the PC's being "second stringers" behind a known plot-line. Its hard to get the players to feel like they are really making a diference in the world. Its the same phenomena as you find the the pre 4th-ed Forgotten Realms. If your PC's are more dangerous than Drizt or Elminster, then why are all the big issues handled by them? Everyone (player-wise) knows that ultimately, the Death-star will be destroyed, Vader will be redeemed, and the Empire will fall. Its hard for the PC's accomplishments to not pale in comparison to that, which I think is why the Old Republic era stuff seems to be so appealing. Having said that, the idea of having the players run what is effectively a Guerrilla News Service is a brilliant option... I wish I had thought of it years ago. One of the major issues I’ve always had with ANY game that is based on a book, movie, or other property is the problem with the PC’s being “second stringers” behind a known plot-line. Its hard to get the players to feel like they are really making a diference in the world.

Its the same phenomena as you find the the pre 4th-ed Forgotten Realms. If your PC’s are more dangerous than Drizt or Elminster, then why are all the big issues handled by them? Everyone (player-wise) knows that ultimately, the Death-star will be destroyed, Vader will be redeemed, and the Empire will fall. Its hard for the PC’s accomplishments to not pale in comparison to that, which I think is why the Old Republic era stuff seems to be so appealing.

Having said that, the idea of having the players run what is effectively a Guerrilla News Service is a brilliant option… I wish I had thought of it years ago.

]]> By: mordicai http://www.robotviking.com/2009/07/27/rebellion-era-campaign-guide-lets-you-crush-the-galactic-empire/comment-page-1/#comment-1054 mordicai Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:44:25 +0000 http://www.robotviking.com/?p=1424#comment-1054 I remember being 13 & being a slave to canon. Now all I can think is: give the PCs the One Ring. Make them all the "new hope" of the rebellion, possibly..."returning jedi." I remember being 13 & being a slave to canon. Now all I can think is: give the PCs the One Ring. Make them all the “new hope” of the rebellion, possibly…”returning jedi.”

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