The Star Wars Mega-thread

[SDLeary]

10 hours ago, seneschal said:

I don't know.  Should we take a vote?  Twi'leks get APP/CHA of 2d6+6.and/or a shot at having an extra set of arms hanging from the backs of their heads?  🥴

We've never seen them do anything but dangle in the movies.  I don't know about TV shows like Clone Wars.  But according to Wookiepedia, lekka are supposed to be fully functional manipulatory limbs.  Otherwise it is like having calamari for hair.   🤨 🤔

In Clone Wars, and Rebels, I think I remember things like pointing, or embracing someone (hugging), but nothing beyond that for the tentacles.

SDLeary

[seneschal]

Sounds like another GM call to add color to a scenario.

[Ian Absentia]

On 10/26/2019 at 7:35 AM, seneschal said:

Re:  Joseph McCarthy.  History and time have demonstrated that perhaps we've been unfair to poor, old Joe no matter what Hollywood, the news media and academia keep proclaiming about him.  It is the folks who tend to be sympathetic to Communism telling the story, after all.  

Or antithetical to authoritarianism.  Jesus fuck, dude.

!i!

[Qizilbashwoman]

On 10/26/2019 at 10:35 AM, seneschal said:

History and time have demonstrated that perhaps we've been unfair to poor, old Joe no matter what Hollywood, the news media and academia keep proclaiming about him.

I'm sorry what

mccarthy made literally all of it up, it was an antisemitic and homophobic witch hunt.

even the die-hard anti-communist groups - the FBI, etc. - thought he was a shithead loon and were aghast Hoover supported him

what alt-history nonsense is this

[seneschal]

1 hour ago, Ian Absentia said:

Or antithetical to authoritarianism.  Jesus fuck, dude.

!i!

Ian, Q-woman, this is the Star Wars thread.  Please take your political stuff to Skull Inn.  Joerg and I touched briefly on this while discussing the Empire's weaknesses then moved back on topic.  So far, it doesn't seem as if either of you are enthusiastic about Chaosium product or eager to talk about the joys of role-playing. I am here to discuss games and get away from all the real-world garbage.  And neither of you will restrict my free thought and free expression while talking about games.  That is Trif's job if it is anybody's.  Please contribute usefully or move on.

[Sir_Godspeed]

47 minutes ago, seneschal said:

And neither of you will restrict my free thought and free expression

No, that was the HUAC's goal after all, good riddance.

[seneschal]

https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2009/07/17/declassified-documents-reveal-kgb-spies-in-the-us

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blacklisted_by_History

 

Edited October 28, 2019 by seneschal

[Lloyd Dupont]

On a tangent topic....

And maybe not so relevant since I am mostly using homebrew campaign and adventures everywhere.. though I am not adverse on pulling maps, NPC, ideas, from other settings  

While SW is a great SciFi success.. what other SciFi setting is a great success, I wonder?

I, for one, is planning a Master of Orion campaign.... SW is too much good vs evil and emo Jedi (trying to suppress their feelings! 😮 ) for my taste, hahah

 

Also, I feel like pitching it, although I only read the last 5 posts on this particular page (so I totally lack context).
There is, it seems, a lot of historical and nerdish factual discussions going on the BRP/Gloranthata forums... so, in that spirit, I wouldn't think that Ian or Quizilbashwoman are really diluting the topic in anyway. In fact they are kind of enriching it, ain't they?

Edited October 28, 2019 by Lloyd Dupont

[Ian Absentia]

Let's put this simply.  Your freedom of speech and expression doesn't protect you from recrimination after dropping a bomb like strongly implying that journalists and academics are Communist sympathisers -- and the irony of employing both the tactics and language of the HUAC in doing so is not lost.  And neither does declaring that you've moved on when you know full well that it may be hours or days before others may read your comments.  Nor do you reserve the right to insert political commentary while directing that of others' to the editorial backwaters of the site.

And, at the end of the day, how does one expect to discuss Star Wars without descending into a discussion of authoritarianism and racism?  Really.

!i!

Edited October 28, 2019 by Ian Absentia

[Ian Absentia]

10 minutes ago, Lloyd Dupont said:

In fact they are kind of enriching it, ain't they?

By adding to the post count?  We're practically setting this house on fire.

You're too kind.

!i!

[Qizilbashwoman]

4 hours ago, seneschal said:

https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2009/07/17/declassified-documents-reveal-kgb-spies-in-the-us

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blacklisted_by_History

Blacklisted by History was written by infamous stooge. The Wikipedia article itself notes:

• Kirkus Reviews called the book "[a] revisionist biography", which, although a "detailed account", is "marred by ideological blinders" and fit "[f]or true believers only", Publishers Weekly described Evans as "given to conspiracy thinking" and Reason magazine described the book as "revisionist" and "a breathless defense of McCarthy."

And I don't think that article made the point you intended it to, because first of all nobody denies there were Soviet spies. The issue is "decades of FBI scrutiny, frenzied Red scares, blacklists, loyalty boards, and show trials" - which has borne out only a handful of actual evidence. Oppenheimer: not a spy. The Rosenbergs: actually spies, but largely convicted out of an anticommunist frenzy - accidentally convicted. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Americans lost their jobs, were jailed, and even killed themselves in decades of antisemitic and explicitly homophobic panic whipped up by grandstanding politicians.

To this day, the word "socialism" is a dirty word, despite the fact that some of the greatest programs in American history were socialist programs, including Medicare, the Great Works programs of the Depression, the building of the national infrastructure, and other things that lead to the incredible national wealth of the 1950s.

[Lloyd Dupont]

I feel like it's a good time to mention a character in some Robert Heinlein book (I forgot the book's name or character).
This guy was a commie (communist) hating psychopath, and he found out some people have, you guessed it, red blood!
I mean how obvious can it be? goddamn commies!

Edited October 28, 2019 by Lloyd Dupont

[seneschal]

The Star Wars and Master of Orion franchises are both well-done but they have different emphases and thus a different feel.  Morality in Star Wars is supposed to be black and white because Lucas was attempting to recapture the childhood joys of old Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers movie serials.  In fact., his initial plan wad to do a Flash Gordon remake but he couldn't get the rights.  He ended up having to come up with his own thing, and Star Wars is the better for it.  Ironically, the success of SW paved the way for a 1980 live action Flash Gordon film by Dino De Laurentis.  Flash was certainly fun but it didn't have the franchise power of Star Wars.

Master of Orion in contrast is a tale of interstellar competition among assorted sentient races, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.  It isn't necessarily Game of Thrones dark but the rivalry and desperation for survival is real.  It could make a good movie if each species  was given irs moment to express its goals and desires.  Maybe a Babylon 5 feel?

Edited October 28, 2019 by seneschal

[Lloyd Dupont]

14 hours ago, seneschal said:

The Star Wars and Master of Orion franchises are both well-done but they have different emphases and thus a different feel.  Morality in Star Wars is supposed to be black and white because Lucas was attempting to recapture the childhood joys of old Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers movie serials.  In fact., his initial plan wad to do a Flash Gordon remake but he couldn't get the rights.  He ended up having to come up with his own thing, and Srar Wars is the better for it.  Ironically, the success of SW paved the way for a 1980 live action Flash Gordon film by Dino De Laurentis.  Flash was certainly fun but it didn't have the franchise power of Star Wars.

Master of Orion in contrast is a tale of interstellar competition among assorted sentient races, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.  It isn't necessarily Game of Thrones dark but the rivalry and desperation for survival is real.  It could make a good movie if each species  was given irs moment to express its goals and desires.  Maybe a Babylon 5 feel?

Master of Orion (2) totally scratch my itch of psychological realism way more that SW does. Can't stand SW as a GM.
(As a player I go with whatever the GM wants,heck, I am even, shudder, playing (as a player) a D&D campaign right now! 😮 )

That said my Master of Orion campaign would be a bit different from the original settings.

It would be post win condition. And post apocalyptic sort of.

Bulrathi would have won. and conquered 2/3 of the galaxy (but not all).
They wouldn't wipe out races though, but keep the native, import other races anf do some heavy bulrathi cloning making each planet a melting pot with a majority of (socially inferior) Burathi clone. Which is good for multiracial party, most races are all mixed up
Bulrathi nobility would be, also, oblivious to the plight of its people with a very weak law and order and a power that is mostly, rightfully, hated by the people. Finally there was a coup, and a civil war, the previous Bulrathi emperor is dead and the empire is disintegrating into civil war. Which add opportunity for uncnquered perpherical powers...

And for good measure I added the Geth from Mass Effect that roam the galaxy with killing intent, and the Illitid / Mind Flyer from D&D as a "Master of Orion" minor race / native race, that has it use as spies...

Edited October 28, 2019 by Lloyd Dupont

[seneschal]

So ... when do we play?

Edited October 28, 2019 by seneschal

[Lloyd Dupont]

hahah!  

[Lloyd Dupont]

2 hours ago, seneschal said:

So ... when do we play?

Glad you like my campaign setting idea btw!

Right now we are on a fantasy campaign across the multiverse...
Give me some time to think of the scifi setting a bit more!

[seneschal]

I have the original MS:  DOS version of Master of Orion but actually played more of a Windows game, Ascendancy,  which covered the same territory.

[Lloyd Dupont]

Now I feel like I must check it out!

BTW the best version was 2, i.e. Master of Orion 2, that was the best one!

[seneschal]

Droids

You are a sentient machine created to serve humanity.  The bad news:  You are a virtual slave, can have your memory wiped, and must have any damage you suffer repaired by a qualified technician.  The good news:  As long as your memory core remains intact your consciousness and memories can be installed in a new body.  Your mechanical strength is often greater than that of your fleshly masters.  Your metal skin resists wear and damage, and you are immune to poisons and disease.  Whether you can suffocate or drown depends on your specific design.

Stats -- STR 5d6 (17-18), CON 2d6+6 (13), AC -- 5 (metal skin, vs. kinetic and heat)

Skills:  Language (Machine Language) INTx5.  Other skills per profession.

[Questbird]

On 10/25/2019 at 1:40 PM, Qizilbashwoman said:

i like this. i also like how the Force works in the game. A lot.

 

Could you explain how the Force works in the Edge of Empire game and why you like it so much? Could such a system be adapted to BRP?

[Questbird]

18 hours ago, seneschal said:

Master of Orion in contrast is a tale of interstellar competition among assorted sentient races, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.  It isn't necessarily Game of Thrones dark but the rivalry and desperation for survival is real.  It could make a good movie if each species  was given irs moment to express its goals and desires.  Maybe a Babylon 5 feel?

 

There is an online game called Pardus which has been going for years (I still play it) which was inspired by of Master of Orion and Elite. It has gradually evolved into three parallel universes. Each contains the factions Empire, Federation and the Union, as well as many player alliances who may owe allegiance to one of these, or be neutral, or a mixture. A 'Neutral' Zone lies between the territories of the three. There are also two 'Syndicates' which operate between and outside the factions: the Esteemed Pilot's Syndicate (EPS) of supposed 'goodies' who are opposed to slavery and the drug trade; and The Shadow Syndicate (TSS), an intergalactic criminal organisation devoted to all that is sinister yet profitable. There are four player races spread across the galaxy. Sectors are connected by wormholes; sixteen or so sectors make a cluster. It wouldn't be a bad setting for a Star Wars like RPG.

Map of Pardus universe

[Qizilbashwoman]

2 hours ago, Questbird said:

Could you explain how the Force works in the Edge of Empire game and why you like it so much? Could such a system be adapted to BRP?

oof well I don't have my books, I moved

it has to do with the way skills work in the game system

first, force users choose a force tree in place of a third talent "tree", so you can be a Pilot or a Stormtrooper who awakens to the Force. it means that force powers are awesome but also that non-force users aren't like mooks facing Superman; there's structural balance.

Second, there's this whole thing with the dark and light dice. you always have the option of tapping the dark dice for fast strong power... at a price. mechanically seductive! you, the player, are tempted - and everyone rolls these dice, although they are of much greater import for force users. After all, the force flows through all things... Similarly, you can be a Dathomiri Witch and tap that white die. It's a struggle to be good, to mend your ways. Oh lord to give up that power!.

Also, there's a massive diversity in force users. First, some force users are gonna be really spectacular at murdering people, while others are gonna be better at manipulation and negotiation. Second, different force users have different fighting styles because they benefit their style: this is a long conceit of the series and it's a fantastic use of fiction as mechanic. There's also different powers taught by different cabals and movements; a Dathomiri Witch (I love themmmmm) is a heavily Dark-Sided cult with specific powers but you can learn new ones if, say, a Sith Lord takes you on as a follower.

They also put a lot of emphasis on Right Time Right Force, so their first books were about a period when there were no Jedi, no teachers, just Vader and the Emperor. All the light-side force users are self-taught weirdos or turned dark-siders. The next force-focused book is after the Rebellion gets moving and Luke has returned. People are reopening Jedi temples. There's not formal Jedi training, but there's actual temples and books. Light-side users are stronger and have formed little training groups on their own.

Edited October 29, 2019 by Qizilbashwoman

[seneschal]

I will have to check that out.

The presence of non-human aliens and the existence of a giant star empire don't necessarily have to go together.  Asimov's Galactic Empire was humans only.  Traveller's Third Imperium began as humans only, mixed in human variants such as the Solomoni (Soviet style Earthers) and Zhodani (psychics who know what's best for you), and finally introduced full aliens such as the Hivers.  Star Wars always had both, though those ambitious, aggressive humans seem to dominate politics.

[Lloyd Dupont]

Just for fun...

 

Neil deGrasse Tyson talking about colonizing space