Welcome to the Republic! Take off your helmet, set down your lightsaber, and have some blue milk. Here's a safe place to chat with your fellow travelers and spacehounds.

The two concepts I'm trying to learn to pull off are a Hutt Reformationist (believes his species lost their true path and was exiled because for reasons and plot they couldn't simply execute or cover him up) usually they eat their wayward children...
And a primitive culture hunter who was kidnapped and they intended to sell into slavery but has a creative knack and build simple weapons out of complex parts to free themselves and tries to make their way in the universe the same way they might have on their home world. Just with more plasma and explosions.

What are your concepts maybe some align well

It's good to see players here! As an update, I'm anticipating two more joining us. I've put together a character journal in the Roll20 table for everyone, labeled by your usernames. You'll have access to everyone else's sheets as well, but please don't edit anyone's except your own. We'll do our roleplaying here and our tactical battles there. As such, it would be wonderful if everyone could find or create some art to represent your heroes, so you can have a proper token set up for you in Roll20.

Gish, I can easily work with both of those ideas. The Hutt could certainly have a deeply concerned family looking out for his best interests trying to recover him before his confusion causes him any harm, for his own good of course. The hunter, meanwhile, could have some great perspectives on the fractal nature of the wider Galaxy compared to the smaller wilderness, and pissing off an entire slave trade operation would certainly provide some useful trouble for me to tap into.

One or the other might be easier for the other players to tap into, so I mentioned both here.

Link to Roll20 table please.

The link is in the Star Wars Saga Edition thread, along with the rulebooks.

This cantina is the only thread I see here

Gah. Here I thought I'd put it back into Group 0, but apparently it's been in Group 1 this whole time. Try checking now.

Hmm, Hutt seems like he'd be hard to fit in. I mean, not fit into the party, I mean it seems like the ship would have to have wide doors. *Giggles*.

You think slugs can't suck it in? We could have a ship with 2 foot doorways and they would just be lubricated for the next guy or gal to slip through!

The question is did someone else want to be the Face? If not maybe the family sees the odd venture as training to rule their own small army... Mostly ignoring the rhetoric as playing to a stupid crowd who generally doesn't like Hutts.

I imagine more people will want to play shooty types... So I'll plan the Hutt!

Hey there! I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone.

The idea of a Hutt as the face seems pretty entertaining to me. I'm on board.

I'm thinking I'd like to play a Padawan if we're starting from level 1 but I don't wanna crowd anyone out so I'm flexible. If I go the Padawan route I wanna play a really sheltered one, like totally drinking the Jedi Kool-Aid to the point where he'll eventually need to reconcile his world view when the game starts and he gets out into the real world.

On that note is Mirailan a playable race for Saga Edition?
This message was last edited by the player at 23:54, Sat 18 Sept 2021.

Mirialan? It isn't in any books... But Hutts being playable isn't in core or Old Republic. I'd get behind almost anyone from a peaceable race being a Sith youngling who saw their master killed by Jedi and decided REAL power comes from the light side so they are trying to figure it out.

Thank you, gish, for that lovely mental image. I will keep it close to me always, as I probably can't get rid of it at this point however hard I try. XD

Mirialans are definitely playable, though they don't have an official statblock in any of the published books. The Unknown Regions sourcebook does offer a way to create Near-Human species, which is basically to take a Human and replace either the free Trained Skill or free Feat with an item from a list of bonuses. After some more reading up on Mirialans, I'd say to replace the free Trained Skill with training in the Acrobatics skill. Mirialans have a natural flexibility that gives them an edge over baseline humans in that regard.

Meanwhile, game mechanics for creating a Hutt character are in the Allies & Opponents chapter, on page 284 of the core rulebook (page 292 in the pdf).

A sith Ewok who eats the bodies of his fallen enemies... Lightly cooked via lightsaber, trying to get in good with the light side because they defeated his master. People forget that they were like an hour from eating Luke and solo.

That's always been my biggest confusion about people's attitudes toward Return of the Jedi. People have historically hated the Ewoks for being too cute and cuddly, and they always conveniently forget that we have clear onscreen evidence that they've eaten humanoids before. They're terrifying, vicious, and cunning monsters far more than capable of punching well above their weight class. They had a trap prepared to kill an AT-ST-like monster!

Also, little bit of nerdy business here, but lightsabers can't cook things. They give off no heat, which is part of why a few hour charge can keep their power cells running for centuries: the magic part of the magic sword is 100% energy efficiency. The only time energy is lost is when the blade is actually cutting something, which completely chars things beyond edibility.

S'what you have Force Lightning for, though. :3

Rather than go by his Slaver Name, my character will go by Biggy Loe, to differentiate himself from the Hutts who are usually loosely opposed to the Republic because they have rules that ostensibly can't be ignored.

If you can also toss me the name or names of a family member or two, maybe also their business, that'd be very helpful.

Tagalo- considered an uncle, surprisingly an 80% legitimate arms dealer. He wishes he could step into the big time of illegitimate arms dealing but he can't quite get off the ground in it. Kind of a runt but has some skilled lackeys.

Esprinka- slaver of absolutely depraved sorts. Eats problem slaves alive, slowly.  Isn't above selling live ones piecemeal. One of few star traveling Hutts. 'Auntie Sprinka' speaks to younger Hutts that please her with, "I'm so glad I didn't eat you as a tadpole!" She has knowingly eaten Hutts as old as 60 years (loosely mid teen equivalent), also alive at first.

Cornico- parent. Proud and only 60‰ legitimate but doesn't care at all. He is a decadent Hutt that has hands in almost everything in Hutt Space. Usually is invited to Council. Hasn't been connected to anymore deaths than assassination attempts on his own life. He suffocated two in his own girth. At once. Refuses to give his own children any help until one of them proves more savvy than him. Hard to prove.

That's wonderful, thank you! I've also renamed you to Biggy Loe. Go ahead and get yourself a portrait! :D

In reply to Strata (msg # 11):

Oh... that was going to be my concept too. Jedi Healer.

Hey, guys!  I'm a new player here.  I'm looking forward to playing. :-)

I want to put as much 'Star Wars' into two shoes as I can into a character.  And then I want to put as much KOTOR into the character after that.

First, I will commit to playing one of the species common to the KOTOR era (and less so to any other era).

Second, one thing I love about the SAGA system is a Force-user can actually be balanced with the rest of the party and still be useful.  If I don't make an actual Jedi, it is easy enough to make a character touched with the Force for very minor effects.  All it takes is the Force-sensitive Feat and the Use the Force skill (which can be used untrained).

It seems like Force users are much more common in this era so the trick is to stand out.  It is not just enough to be a Force user, you have to decide what kind of Force user to be.

KOTOR seems like myriad factions among a mysterious and yet unexplored Galaxy.  In the Rebellion Era, you had to choose the right side.  In KOTOR, you don't even know yet what the right side might be.

"You know, doing what is right is easy. The problem is knowing what is right." - LBJ

Welcome!

In reply to FPSMC (msg # 20):

I’m not planning on healing so mechanically we should be separate enough. If it’s pretty close personality-wise, I’d be willing to change it up a little. That being said two true believers working together would just reinforce the narrative that much more.

No worries, FPSMC, I allow and encourage multiple Jedi in the party. This era has a lot of focus on the Force and Force users are much more common than in later eras. With a party of five, three could be Jedi without hindering the two who aren't. And a healer-type is always welcome in D20 games! Healing is harder to come by here than in other renditions of the system, even healing from the Force tends to be give-and-take rather than just magically filling up that red bar. Someone skilled in Treat Injury and bearing a few medpacs is a great boon for a party of adventurers.

SteamDragon, I definitely appreciate that kind of Star Wars deep dive! Characters who could fit in Chalmun's cantina or the corridors of a starship are definitely what I'm after. This era is very much about militarism, mysticism, betrayal, and growth. There is constant war just on the other side of the next hyperspace jump, cults and religion and a million different philosophies about each of them, always another question of what line you'd cross to get what you want, and so many normal people who just want to get through the day without all of the above wrecking (or taking) their lives.

All that can fit into so many different character concepts. And as I mentioned, having a bunch of Jedi means all of them can hold very different philosophies and walk different paths towards their destinies.

Speaking of Destinies, now is a good time to talk about those, before we start play. I do want to incorporate the idea of Destinies and Destiny Points, and what those are is really up to each of you to decide for yourselves and to help each other think of. Maybe not explicitly detailing what your Destiny really means, but definitely some sort of goal for me to put in front of you with choices along the way that tell us who you are and who you become as you go.

I'm feeling like 2 square speed may just be a problem tactically. I'm likely spending much of my money on a small... Personal vehicle if it can be afforded.

Ah, a used landspeeder, it fits the budget and has enough room if we rip out some seats for it to work! My speed just became 12 squares.

A landspeeder? What kinda budget are we lookin' at? I mean I very much like it, but does it work? Alternatively, you might use a custom droid instead. I'm still a little iffy on how pricing for custom droids work, to be honest. Specifically locomotion costs.

Oh heck, everyone making your characters: start with max credits instead of random, because random credits suck and randomness in character creation gives me the bad feelings. Likewise with Ability Scores, use the standard array or point-buy system, they come out equal to each other.

That puts this noble at 4800 credits instead of my rolled 3200. I'll take em!

Anything new is beyond me even with a successful Haggling(reasonably likely).

Generally a droid capable of carrying me is military grade or construction. neither of which are cheap.

As is, it will take pilot rolls (maybe) to function tactically and mechanical rolls (to get running again, which I can't do well).

That said... May I use Haggle under an assumption of indifferent relationship to purchase starting gear as long as I put the item to purchase in the note of the roll?

A medium sized 5th degree droid with Str 10 can carry you around using wheeled locomotion at Speed 8 for 320 credits, plus the cost of the rest of the droid. That should be pretty cheap, since all it really needs is some wheels and a basic processor. Landspeeders might be too big to get around all over adventury places.

I am large and last I checked 10 str isn't enough to carry 1400 weight... And that's a shade light for a Hutt... But I'll look into it a bit more. Is there a table for that?

A RIC series general labor droid (type/class5) are common and should be cheap and ready to use as is. They are also known as RICshaws. Made for moving 3 people, one Hutt and gear should be okay but I can't find a price for it.

Well there's my problem. I was looking at info on Hutts from the wiki, not from the game. Wookieepedia suggests that an adult Hutt is the size of an adult human and weighs 500kg. Since you're Large, you'd need a Large droid to carry you.

A Large 5th Degree droid starts with 22 Str. If it's wheeled, it can carry 2420kg, which is more than enough. A Large droid can get 10 Speed wheeled locomotion for 1000 credits, or a slower 6 Speed wheeled locomotion for 360 credits. And you wouldn't be stuck in a Huge device like a landspeeder. :D

Oh heck, that RIC droid would be great. I'll call that whole deal (RIC and ricshaw) 1500 credits with a speed of 8.

Assuming an uncaring merchant, Haggle cut that in half(roll was done here). Silver Tongue is a fearsome racial feature when applied right.

Hm. I can't find any official errata or species update that gives Hutts the Silver Tongued feature. The only place that seems to have it is the Saga Edition wiki, which doesn't list a source either. Have you found where it comes from?

Well, I can remove it... That was the first place I'd seen the race playable info.

It is just the name the wiki gives for the ability listed under skills in the book's text though. To reroll Persuasion and take the better result.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:55, Thu 23 Sept 2021.

I'm torn. I kinda want to remove it because I don't want to go into homebrew unless absolutely necessary, but I kinda want you to keep it because Hutts have a reputation for being socially commanding. And then on the other hand again, they don't actually show any such aptitude onscreen, simply having the threat of force behind them to coerce people into things instead.

Gonna make a GM executive decision here and ask you to set that ability aside until such a time as we can find an official source for it. Having you actually take Noble levels, have a high Cha score, train in Persuasion, and take the appropriate Feats and Talents will be more than enough to put you in the position of being the only Hutt who actually has good people skills, rather than simply having an influential (read: rich) family.

Hello everyone. At the moment I am thinking about playing Bith scoundrel or a Trandoshan scout. Does anyone like or dislike either of these ideas? Anyone here trying to be the group's pilot?

I'm Face with a little melee right now and I don't see it changing. Good to meet you! More shooty guys means better chance of survival as far as I'm concerned.

In the back of the core rules you cited it has that ability listed under skills. They just don't call it Silver Tongue.

The 1st roll for any of the ones I passed is enough to make the haggle apply. I figure Biggy (trained in deception, gather info, and persuade) can make a decent lead on starting his own trading company and that would keep family from killing him. No one just leaves the Hutt life. What he does in his spare time would be his business but he may be called upon from time to time by family to function as a cover organization.

I'm debating using the 3,6,9 feats for combat but I kinda want a little soldier bank for some of those melee talents...

Oh my goodness, you're right. The renaming on the wiki had me super confused, and I just glossed over it in the core rules. Yes, keep it, keep it named that (as a few other species also have that same trait), and that should be excellent.

On further thinking, it does seem like having character sheets here on RPoL would be much more convenient for everyone. I've put a text character sheet in the system thread, which can be filled in and put into your Character Description here.

I'm also thinking of dropping Roll20 for maps, though that may be a bit much. Saga Edition can work without maps, but it wasn't intended to. What do you, the people who will be using the maps the most, think?

I'm good with imagination as long as we understand that "a large archway" means 10 foot wide as a default not "a tank could roll through without scraping paint".

I'm not so good with Roll20 anyhow.

Did you want to open sheets for us or create a thread where we post and edit? I mean each has benefits and drawbacks. I've been transferring mine from paper in front of me to the scratch pad until we get it sorted.

How did you want to start the story?

My usual preference is for everyone to put their sheets in their Character Description, below the actual description of their character. You can find it either under Character Details or by clicking your name here in the thread. That way everyone can see your sheet and the party knows what we're all capable of. Makes for better teamwork and planning than hiding the sheets in the Character Sheet section, where it's all private.

As for starting the story, I either want to start with the team arriving at the place for their initial investigation, or else figure out another in medias res opening based on the party's final composition that will end up leading there.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:12, Sat 25 Sept 2021.

I am torn as Biggy has barely any positive physical modifiers. He isn't going to be much use in a fight, aside from modifiers that help those near him.

I guess Soldier or Scoundrel might change that but I want it to grow organically. Only if others can't hold the line will he take to personal combat... Or assassins keep jumping out of shadows.

You could go Noble and pump points into Cha to beef up the combat Talents. :D Does things like giving your allies buffs and weakening enemies.

That's mostly where it's at but it isn't JUST a pretty face. Buffing others and USUALLY getting their way peaceably. The mastermind can't afford to let too many stats slide.

My goal is to go tanky rather than strengthy so feel free to hide behind me! Also I should say hello now that I've got my character name in. I'll be playing Namino Vaz, Mirialan Padawan and aspiring Jedi Sentinel.

I may forgo a portrait cause there aren't any that really speak to me.

The various Jabba portraits didn't feel right so I went with this one. Apparently the relatively friendly Hutt isn't really a common theme.

Nomino, are you going for Jedi Sentinel or Jedi Guardian? They're way different, and if you're training as a Sentinel, I have a few build suggestions to lean more towards that.

And Biggy, I have placed your family in the new NPC List and given your kajidic a name. Lemme know if it feels right.

Definitely more towards Sentinel.

Alright, Sentinels aren't so much the tanks and frontline combatants Guardians are. They're more like Jedi Rogues, skill monkeys and stealth experts who infiltrate the Dark Side to do a secret stab from the inside. I'd recommend a higher Int or the Skill Training feat to snag some more skills, and swapping Deflect for a Talent that lets you use Use The Force in place of another skill you can't get, like Deception or Stealth. Maybe also take Force Training for Mind Trick, which is basically gonna be your Charm Person to keep you out of trouble as often as possible.

I appreciate the kajidic name. It's place in lore (arguably with spelling difference) is ominous but I'll take it either way.

Alderaan is implicated as a destination to at least make a little renown. Not a bad character goal. Somewhat outside typical Hutt influence.

Oh, I do want tanking to be my priority so maybe I’d rather keep the tanks stuff and go Guardian. I just didn’t want Battle Meditation.

I will be joining you as Hassik the Trandoshan Scout and pilot.

And kingjawa has been renamed to Hassik! Congratulations!

Fortunately, Nomino, Battle Meditation is only one of many Jedi Guardian talents. :P But yes, going tankalicious, Deflect is a really good idea, as is any way you can convince people that you're a more important target than your friends. Also Lightsaber Defense, getting to bring up your Reflex Defense as a swift action is really handy. I'll keep your master as a Sentinel, but he's noticed your aptitudes lean more towards those of a warrior and is doing his best to guide you in that direction.

I'll try to figure out what Gauan's views on the Force are that he'd be passing along to his students.

Welcome ya big beautiful lizard... Or at least big lizard...

Hassik, do you have any thoughts about your past? How did the Mandalorian Wars affect you? Are you old enough to have lived through the Great Sith War 40 years ago?

I'm starting to put up character prologue threads, quick little snapshots of the past that inform the present. Hope you like them so far!

I love it! I saw Nom's and got a little jealous. Thank you!

No problem! I plan on putting one together for each of you, once I get enough of a handle on your backstories. The idea is to give you a reason for being on Telos while also connecting you to the larger galaxy and the events of the Mandalorian War not so long ago. For those wanting to do a little research into recent history, we're in 3959 BBY.

Exciting!!!

I'll be sure to get a response up tomorrow. I'm eager to get started.

The prologues, as yet, are non-interactive. Just snippets of your lives for all to see and better understand the party and its history.

But you can write up some good stuff regardless, since you're in control of your characters! Nomino, what lessons have you been taught by Gauan and Master Volsh over the years that now guide you? What was your relationship with your fellow Mirialan Padawan Edor? How do you feel about Gauan and Edor leaving for the War? If you're interested in this sort of question, what Lightsaber forms have Gauan and Volsh each focused your combat training in? And how do you feel about "Form 0", the skill at not having to draw your lightsaber in the first place?

Loe! You haven't managed to make contact with Jorek yet. That'll be later, I promise. In the meantime, what have you established on Telos for yourself? What lessons have you learned from your family that have helped you make it on your own so far? How difficult has it been to network as a young Hutt on a Republic world? How do you feel about your uncle's situation with Auntie Sprinka? Do you think you might manage to get your father's approval, even with your name change, or is that not something you're interested in at all? What effect has the War had on your outlook, and how do you feel about the Republic?

Lots of good questions! I'm gonna need to do some research before I get back to you!

Sure! If you have any questions, please let me know. I've already done a ton of research on this era and various Jedi and non-Jedi views on the Force, so I can help speed things along if you're looking into those areas.

I should get my background written up today or tomorrow. Would you prefer that I am an official part of the Republic or more independent?

Either is good for me, really. You're going to end up working with the Republic, even if you're a more independent agent, so as long as that can be arranged (like, not having your main character goal be its destruction or something like that), being either career military, mercenary, or just a citizen who wants your skills put to use all lead to the same road. :D

I've been excited about it so I have almost all the answers fleshed out a little...

Rule number one whatever situation you find yourself in is good for business.

Rule two, lies are needed to start business sometimes and sometimes violence to conclude it but that's poor form.

A non-Hutt name allows one to do business a little more freely with people who would prefer to avoid the general stygma that is so frequently associated with the hutts. It opens more doors than it closes though sometimes people are shocked getting that first meeting puts the door open and from there diplomacy can get a job done.

Loe figures that his father would approve of the name change as it opens more business further away from the hutt control. That is a small consequence however when compared to the fact that Auntie Spika is possibly the most terrifying being that he could possibly imagine. She is a living Boogeyman the likes of which humans don't tell in their stories to scare small naughty kids. Loe can't be sure the grace of it's parent would stave off Spika's wrath... Loe doesn't want to see anyone eaten... Not again anyhow. Loe feels a little pressure to take the start up funds his uncle gave him and do well.

It hasn't been easy on Telos as a Hutt. Everyone double checks everything for dirty money or trade goods for a year and a half. He has barely managed to stay afloat busting his tail. A few times he has had people attack him on bias... so another cut to overhead to invest in personal defense but many regulars are getting used to him as an honest dealer if good at embellishments. Loe is minimizing overhead and dealing directly as a merchant middle man. Buy low and hope to sell high. Biggie is small time. If he can't conduct it himself he doesn't sign on for it.

A few sweet deals from now, Loe hopes to send double the start up to Uncle so Loe can be a good investment mark on his Uncle. He feels he owes his Uncle something and so, not planning to remain on Telos (the last place Auntie could certainly track him to) it would be nice to broker a holding here and establish some longer standing trade. Preferably black market to REALLY make Uncle happy though Biggy has no interest in that work himself. A good present to Uncle might just get Auntie to ease off but Loe doesn't know the specifics of their arrangement. Which leads to Rule number three, keep it about numbers.

Anything with positive accrual for Uncle is enough. He's trying to angle in on some armor deals and the Republic is a great place for commerce. Fair or not. Loe doesn't have a corporation or holdings to speak of but does keep a decent suite with almost no frills that also functions as an office when one is needed. People get bad feelings about massive weapons deals but armor... A scaling armor deal in plating would never go out of style. Ships, vehicles, even personal armor... If Loe could identify some shippers and figure out how to buy them out or recommend a hostile takeover to Uncle that might just do the trick.

And Rule 0, only meet Auntie on your turf or someplace neutral where gaining slaves is illegal and there is a decent military.

Rule 4, plagiarism is the sincerest form of flattery. :D

https://memory-alpha.fandom.co...Rules_of_Acquisition

I imagine most of these will come in very handy. And I like what you've got!

Do what you gotta do. You are the boss, I'm just enjoying the game already!

*briefly pours over some timelines before clapping the book closed*

That's it... We are crashing the Ord Mantell depot and causing it to become a trade center and then I'm founding the Heaven-Earth corporation.

Yup.

Wait, Ord Mantell is already a trade post. Sorry.

My internet is back up, and with it I am excited to bring in an updated opening crawl (new second paragraph added) and include more books to the game by default, in case our specialists want to specialize a little more!

If there's any particular ship design the party would prefer over others, let me know and I'll see about making it happen. The group won't have access to a ship just yet, even if we decide someone already owns one (because of the starting adventures being on Telos, you see), so we have time to pick something out. Or you could leave it to me to surprise you, if you so choose!

How about a 578-R Space Transport, nothing's more 'KOTOR' than the ship in the KOTOR rulebook?

Or a Kuat Wayfarer, one of my favorite Star Wars ship because of the magnificent asymmetry it possesses, a hallmark of Star Wars.

https://swse.fandom.com/wiki/W...ass_Medium_Transport

My main issue with the 578 is that it's just a really boring design. The Wayfarer has a lot more character to it, and I feel like we could find some art for a ship that's similar in style and apply the Wayfarer's stats to it, if we want to. But there are also a bunch of other options, too, like the Lethisk-class, or a modified KT-400 droid carrier (especially if I can finally find some deck plans to explain where the crazy amount of storage comes from in that scrawny design!). Lots of ways to go.

Speaking of, any thoughts on character concepts, SteamDragon? Figured I'd ask while I've got you here. :P

Something with a cargo hold or vehicle bay, and a large bathroom or you are NOT going like long flights with a Hutt.

I'll spring for some or most alterations if we can make it viable. I expect to have the most money, if only because I can buy low and sell high.

Are there any KOTOR ships that have deckplans?  Or better yet walkthroughs?

<a href="https://swtor-archive.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Starships">https://swtor-archive.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Starships</a>

In the link above are a list of different starships.  I don't know if there are stats for SAGA out there on the interwebs but some of the ship entries do have great deck plan pictures.

Disney+ has a starship fly through for a few different ships I think.

How 'bout a Dynamic-class Freighter, like the Ebon Hawk, the iconic starship of the KOTOR series of games?

<a href="https://swse.fandom.com/wiki/The_Ebon_Hawk">https://swse.fandom.com/wiki/The_Ebon_Hawk</a>

The kind of ship that we end up cruising around in is of little consequence to Loe at least in the beginning. He's got business on the world and if you can't find this guy then certainly not going to be able to make enough money help his uncle out of the situation. That'll also mean that he needs to get off world without taking much concern other than having a few grand worth of trade goods with him after ticket prices.

Of course I'll want more if I can have more... goods wealth is the goal of this world. Preferably buying out a small time merchant who is usually leaving the area to cover his tail.

Unfortunately, SteamDragon, you can't create links like that. [a href] only works for GMs. :P

But yes, I do indeed have a love of deckplans. Since my plan already hits several KotOR beats, I'm worried that using another Dynamic freighter will feel like we're just rehashing the game, which isn't the feel I'm after. It is a good suggestion, however, because it's very iconic for the time period. I did find a list of ships active in this era, organized by type and affiliation. Many are from the Star Wars: The Old Republic era in about 300 years, but a huge chunk are appropriate.

https://malgus-rp.enjin.com/mo...d-republic-starships

I'm narrowing down my thoughts from there, and this list will keep being useful for a good long while. Ships that I, personally, like for the group include:

Quartermaster-class Supply Carrier
Lethisk-class Armed Freighter
Class VI bulk freighter
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 02:12, Thu 14 Oct 2021.

All good choices.  And I do love my deck plans ever since I found a set of the original Enterprise deck plans from Franz Joseph.  Did you know the original Enterprise had a bowling alley?

So that's why my links wouldn't work.  I shall now be drunk with power in my game. ;-)

A bowling alley? Why don't my starships have bowling alleys? :o

Also, still looking for a character concept from you, SD. Need info so I can prep our opening, y'know?

I'm so sorry, my friend.  I thought I had posted the character.  OK, I have now posted the character stats and chosen the portrait.  I will get the character backstory up in a day or two (and I apologize for such a delay) but, in essence, my character is a Miralukese Level 1 Jedi (the human variants without eyes but with Force sight).

The species advantage of a Miralukese are such that you can make a Jedi that punches above their weight class even at 1st level and they are very KOTOR.  She is a 'self-taught' padawan but now she has 'peaked' at Level 1 and needs a teacher or at least a path.  She 'fell' slightly and now has learned Force Lightning.  Now and then, she has a temptation to fry someone and that comes with corruption and a Dark Side point...

Very cool! Also, Miraluka are the people, Miralukese is their language. :P

How did she become self-taught? Any thoughts about having her associated with Nomino and the Mirialan Jedi Enclave? How do others react to your willingness to form your hatred into pure torture? And, of course, what's your name?

What role do you see her filling, in terms of combat, social, other skills, all that? Nomino is leaning towards a straight up frontline tank, Biggy Loe is our businessman and diplomat, and Hassik is a miracle pilot. (Looking at her, my first guess is "Force Wizard". Six powers, that's a lot of juice.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:52, Sat 16 Oct 2021.

Lesson number seven: lie with consistency keeps you in practice in case you need it later.

Lesson number nine: tell the truth more often than not 1) people will never suspect it and 2) when you look someone in the eye and tell them that if they don't take the deal you're going to pull their lungs out of their chest through their sinuses they might just believe you and take the deal.

Lesson Ten: A little mystery keeps everyone interested. (See Lesson Eight.)

As I learn more about our party, I'm working to integrate each other's backstories a little. Here's hoping it's enough to get ideas going.

I see a pilot (aka a way away from being owned by the Hutt Life), a tank (what businessman doesn't have someone to absorb damage from rivals or opportunists?) and possibly a killer (useful for those times I see opportunity to make a move. If she follows Jedi traditions then I just have to prove it is for a greater good and I don't have to pay money).

I'd probably try to persuade everyone to my cause although that is a little fiscally irresponsible with just a starting character's money.

Just posting to hope each of y'all is well.

My sincere apologies for taking so long to reply.  Real-life is strong with the Dark Side this week.  I will try to get you details of Anja (working name, deliberate misspelling of Ajna after Ajna Chakra, the mythical third eye) as soon as I can.  If the game has to start without her, go ahead.  I will catch up later (if there is still room aboard).

So what role does this cocky little Miraluka play within the group?  Well, that depends.  Amongst other things, she is a decent backup pilot (I mention this as Piloting is an exclusive and thus not universal skill) that shouldn't overshadow our hotshot pilot.  To be honest, Anja would consider herself to be the team Jedi (please, no need to thank her) whether this title is deserved or not, a ship position as valid as gunner or medic.   IMO, a Jedi is not just a useful 'career' but a necessary plot element of Star Wars.  If you don't have a self-doubting, flirting-with-the-Dark-Side Jedi somewhere in the party, you aren't really playing Star Wars.

It occurs to me that such a concept can steal the thunder of other Jedi characters and I don't want that.  But Anja can be the 'one that falls' or the 'one that saves the other one that falls' as needed.  This young and quite arrogant padawan can go down any number of paths for that is the nature of youth.

There are two very interesting aspects of Miraluka that intrigue me besides being very KOTOR.
1.  All of them use the Force at least to see if for no other purpose.  And Force Training comes very naturally to them.  The Force isn't a gift to the average Miraluka, it is simply a major at university, one of many.
2. The Miraluka largely follow a Force philosophy which sees the Force as a purely scientific (although not completely understood) phenomenon with no spiritual elements at all.  This is a terrible mistake that I believe costs the Miraluka greatly as time marches on.  There are no Miraluka mentioned during the Era of Rebellion as proof.  I doubt the Emperor would allow a naturally Force-sensitive people alone.

I owe you more than this but I'm pressed for time.  Anja is an arrogant child prodigy who believes that, being a scientific phenomenon, the Force simply can not have a 'Dark Side'.  Such a thing could only be psychological weakness on the part of the young student.  And thus, Anja tried to learn the Dark Side powers, knowing that she at least would be strong enough to resist.  She Fell.  Just a little, mind you, and was saved by others.  But the seed of corruption is now within her and the Dark Side made sure she learned how to cast Force Lightning.  That power is addictive and whispers to her at night.  Will she fall again.  I guess it depends on her friends.

More just as soon as I can get to it.

There actually IS a famous Miraluka during the Galactic Civil War: Jerec, a former Imperial Inquisitor who abandoned the Empire in order to continue his obsessive archeology work in search of the Valley of the Jedi during the events of Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II.

Part of why I've been pushing so hard (well, "pushing", just kinda vaguely hinting at every opportunity) that I want at least two Jedi in the party is specifically to do what you're doing now. Anja can't "steal the thunder" of other Jedi because she isn't doing the same thing as them. The other Jedi in the party is a totally straight-laced, upstanding hardcore do-gooder who has foregone learning Force Powers to instead focus on being a better shield between his friends and evil. The two of you couldn't be more different, and I'm very pleased with this. Definitely going to try and figure out how Anja became a Jedi in the first place, who trained her ("self-taught" sounds super weird, but we also haven't expanded on that yet), and how we can connect her to Nomino or the others.

Also I very much dig how you're approaching her perspective on the Force. I'm gonna wring a lot of interesting times out of this.

All that said, I think we may need to start up without FPSMC just yet, as they haven't logged on in almost a month. I'm also still technically waiting for one other player, but I know he's had a ton of RL taking his focus away from RPoL, and will be happy to bring him in later if he gets the time. We just need Hassik and Nomino to transfer their sheets to their Descriptions and I think we'll get started with the four of you.

Maybe she'll develop 'force tazer' to meet the urge to fry and the desire to not always kill people half way.

Ooo, I like it! ;-)

Because I am strapped  for time, here are some more comments without the polish I would like to add...

1.  While Miraluka by birth, Anja's extended 'family' is actually Arkanain, the species that designs its next generation as living robots rather than births beloved children.

2. A few generations ago, Anja's co-op (what some what call a clan) ran a failed marketing campaign and were forced to relocate the corporate headquarters.  Almost every other species would call what happened a failed coup and rapid exile out of Arkanian space.

3. The exiles were surprised to learn that designing offspring as genetic castes to serve was considered an atrocity outside of Arkanian space.  To continue down such a path meant ostracism if not worse.  The exiles decided to come as close as they could to a humanoid anthill legally.  And there was a way.  Sort of.

4. The Arkanians obtained/took over a very minor planet just enough to qualify for a standing as a noble house, a very minor noble house.

5.  And with that, a new society was born with nobles and lowborn.  Nobility was an option for those who foreswore any other allegiance or income (Star Wars seems to have a rather singular view of aristocracy, nobility seems to be elected).  All others were raised something like Brave New World, conditioned rather than geneered, and conditioned to love being what they were conditioned to be.  Children of different species, usually humanoid, were adopted and raised for their inborn gifts.  Marriages to cultivate more gifted children became the norm.  Aristocratic 'breeding' is literally true in House Exile.

6.  Miraluka children were prized for their innate skill with the Force.  Some were naturally Force-Sensitive beyond Force Sight and almost any Miraluka could cultivate the talent, miraculous to other species.  To the Miraluka, the Force is simply science yet fully explained.

Gotta go, pressed for time.  More later...

Hopefully that works well for folks. I AM eager to play though I will of course not make any demands. I hope things are going smoothly for everyone!

That's a lot to work with, so I'm gonna drill down to more specific questions.

How old was Anja when she was adopted into this clan? How much had she already studied the Force as the Miraluka teach it, and how much did she learn from the Arkanians? Were the Jedi involved at any point?

How did she become a Jedi student, and at what age? How much of her old teachings conflict with the new ones? What sorts of things did she do for the Arkanians, and what sorts of things does she do now?

How did the Mandalorian War affect her and her upbringing?

Some of us have simple adventuring motivation like "does everything so as to avoid being eaten by their aunt for not having enough money the past few years and does a lot to avoid simply being taken back to her home to be brought up in the ways of business, because her business is dirty in every sense of the word and I'm just not feeling it."

True, it doesn't get much more simple than "don't get eaten". :P

People make life complicated then they die.

I'm assuming that anything Biggy was sent out with as starter funds from his uncle and it's profits are going BACK to his uncle to try to save the Hutt so anything else you want to say he has option for I am not counting as his own. He may have half of a warehouse that is a delivery and drop off point in his name that has other goods he has traded while my sheet is only tracking my personal fair share of profits.

Rule 10)You may have to kill family and take everything they have but you don't cheat family.

So sorry it has taken me so long to get back to this.  I've been wanted to answer all these questions for days. :-)

Continued from above...

7.  Anja was the result of an arranged marriage and she is half-Arkanain (Offshoot Pilot) and half-Miraluka.  Apart from her milk-white skin, she takes almost completely after her Miraluka side and shouldn't need any change from those stats.  If it suits, she can have a set of real, but dead, eyes.

8.  Among the Miraluka, the Force is merely a branch of science and sensitivity is just a natural bent towards it.  Anja scored high on Force Aptitude and was trained from childhood to develop that skill.  After all, it was what she was bred for.  Like most Miraluka, Anja follows the Luka Sene tradition (p. 61, KOTOR) which she would call a science.

9.  From the beginning, Anja was a child prodigy which meant she had adult levels of skill in the Force while young.  But eventually Anja and her peers aged into an expected average of Force skill.  She was becoming less wonder and more average with every passing year.

10.  At some point, the young interns had progressed about a far as they could without a mentor.  The Luka Sene Academy was on good terms with training centers based on other Force-using traditions.  Sometimes, a young Miraluka would find a better path among the other traditions than the Luka Sene.  But as many 'exchange students' found their new calling among the Luka Sene so the exchange was mutual.

11.  And with that, Anja gained at least a conversational understanding of other Force traditions.  She was sweetly condescending thinking herself a true astronomer among backwards astrologers.  It was then that she met the Sith Master.  Player note:  At the time of KOTOR, the Sith were as much a galactic polity as dark Force lords.  The effect, I suppose, would be like meeting a Russian Chess Master in the US during the Cold War.  There might be a war between the superpowers one day but not today.

12. The Sith Master showed Anja that rage and fear were the most primal emotions and thus the most powerful conduits to the Dark Side.  Thinking this merely a psychological technique rather than mystical 'corruption', Anja let herself fall to the worst angels of her nature.

13.  Soon enough, the Sith Master let Anja know that the truest test of devotion to the darkness was to kill what you loved.  And then the Master attacked.  If the student survived, she could consider herself graduated.  Anja fought and won, just barely, against a Sith Master.  The Sith Lord was barely able to escape but Anja knew just how powerful she must be to have won such a battle.

14.  As most people besides Anja eventually realized, there was no way even the most talented padawan could defeat a Sith Master.  Anja had been played.  The seeds of the Dark Side were planted in the fertile soil of her arrogance and insecurity.   There was no need to kill the young viper now, she would cause destruction and death on her own.  The Master merely had to make his escape convincing.

15.  Now believing herself to be among the best of Jedi, Anja began to challenge the leadership of the Luka Sene.  She intended to train new cadets herself no longer needing training of her own.  Attempting to defeat the Luka Sene elders to show how powerful she in fact was, Anja was soundly defeated.

16.  Telepathic interrogation from the Board of Trustees revealed an arrogant and defensive padawan but not YET a fallen one.  She was expelled with the admonition that she should not persue Force training any further.

17.  The spiteful young woman left happily, she would discover the mysteries of the Force on her own.  But several years of trying bore no fruit.  She had simply progressed as far as she might on her own.  She now finally realized what a pathetic fool she had been and how easily manipulated.  Now longer allowed to learn from the Luka Sene, at least on Miraluka, Anja left her homeworld taking piloting jobs where she could.

Gotta stop here again, will finish next time...

Hm. The bit that gives me pause here is that, as of the time we're starting this game, the Sith have been "extinct" (secretly existing in the Unknown Regions) for the last 40 years, and won't be heard from again until Darths Revan and Malak make their return to Republic space. Perhaps a Dark Jedi could have trained her in the secret ways of the "Jedi", but a Sith Master would be extremely unlikely, unless she'd somehow ended up on Dromund Kaas. But that would be well away from existing hyperspace routes, and no one would know to even go there.

Just checking in. I would really love to get this game started before the holidays. If I missed something I need to do, please let me know.

I think I can get us started with what we have, even while working out the specifics of Anja's Dark Side training. Just gotta put together a li'l prologue for Anja and then we can kick things off for realsies!

I believe that calls for a woot.

Apologies.  I have obviously misread.  I will amend Anja when I have time.

No worries. Honestly you'd just need to swap "Sith Master" for "Dark Jedi" and it works perfectly.

Okay, I'm pre-paying a woot to celebrate getting started.

Woot!

OK, fantastic, I had thought I would have to do a major revision of Anja.  Dark Jedi works for me.

Anja was almost finished anyway.  To finish up...

18.  Now Anja is travelling the Galaxy looking for anything close to a Jedi Master.  So far it has been mostly odd jobs with odder crew in the hind end of space on wild bantha chases for mythical masters.  She has met some friends, or at least people who can stand her for a longer time than most.

And that's it.  Close enough for government work.

Think of Anja as the Quarterback or Homecoming Queen who peaked in High School and was taught from birth/decanting that you don't win the Silver, you lose the Gold.  At her best, she wants to be a true hero and save those who cannot save themselves.  But at her worst, she NEEDS to be that hero or see herself or be seen as that hero no matter what.

Alright, folks, our first IC thread is up and running! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask, whether it's about the setting, game rules, anything like that. I'm here to help, after all!

Time to have some fun! :D

So I'm going to state a few things and I need a little more info:

GM
We are all already a team here.

We are tasked with finding a person and/or testing water at this facility that has had the issue of said overseer going missing.

How much are we supposed to be getting paid?

Who is supposed to pay us?

Do they have any easily exploited collateral in case of non-payment?

What are the specific things they asked us to do or not do?

PCs
What do you want to be called or known as/for?

Given time constraints how long do you want to have been a part of Loe's Lucre LTD?
This message was last edited by the player at 12:45, Sun 07 Nov 2021.

Very fine questions!

You aren't trained to perform a proper inspection of the facility yourselves, so your primary goal is investigation: you're to locate Pato Bata and return her safely to the Jedi Agricultural Corps headquarters in Thani, the nearby capital city of Telos.

You'll be getting paid 4000 credits for the job from the Telos Security Force.

You'll have to explain what you're looking for in terms of collateral. Government jobs don't usually come with that sort of consideration.

You'll be provided with speeder transportation there and back, and are expected to use it to bring back the inspector. You're also expected to not damage the facility or Czerka employees, in the unlikely event things turn violent. Deaths are strongly frowned upon, as you're working for the police. No disintegrations.

Since they are a government agency the question becomes, rather than exploitable collateral, does Loe already know who to contact above the TSF in case of non-payment and has the job verified with them or are they unaware and someone is trying to keep it under wraps? Loe would still take the job but would demand more money. Unless it is a 2k kind of job and he already talked them up to the 4k.

Loe has a small charging station, office, and personnel to care for now, apparently...

Also let me know if you want to have used Loe to represent you in trades. With a 3 month employee benefit, Loe will negotiate any purchase for you for a 1/10 margin (If I make a successful roll to save you half, you pay 1/2 for purchase and 1/10 to me). Company purchases are exempt the 1/10 margin.

The company gets an equal share of profits from which things like a ship, fuel, food, board and funeral expensing will be drawn as needed, availability limited.

Do we have species, quirks, and habits of Pato Bata? I mean we need them to do the job.

Yes! To answer your earlier questions, you do have the information you need to navigate being a troubleshooter mercenary team with the Republic, including the channels to go through in case of non-payment. You'd basically be suing the government, which is pretty doable. The job is definitely an official one with the local planetary security forces.

As for the reward, new mercenary teams get paid appropriately for their skill level, so this is pretty much the posting offered. You might get more depending on how you perform during the mission.

Pato Bata is an ithorian woman, usually wearing the uniform of the Jedi Agricultural Corps when on official business. You've got a holo of her in case you need it.

Are there payment options regarding finding her crushed in machinery or drowned in a filter, thus prohibiting us from returning her safely?

Would it be too much to say Loe's RIC has a com imbedded so it can look out, evade potential thieves, and otherwise get to him when he calls, it also notifies him if he leaves the range or signal with a deadman switch protocol. After all it is his transport and local shipping platform.

Hm. Yes, an extra 2000c for her safe return, should it turn out she's in some sort of danger.

And yes, I'll treat RIC like any other droid in terms of self-preservation and loyalty, including a standard integrated comlink.

So, we waiting for other players to go in or can we move forward as just us? Maybe RIC takes the keys/energy core to stop people from taking the sled... If we need someone else around.

I mean, I was certainly attempting to wait for the others, but, uh... it doesn't look like there are any others at this point. o.o

I have concerns.

Hm, seems valid.

Maybe another recruitment thread..?

Maybe? I'm kinda counting on the idea that our friends are just having RL issues and they'll be back sometime soon. I know that's the case for at least a couple of them. Feeling kind of discouraged, and like maybe I shouldn't keep pushing in case I cause a train wreck.

Anja has also been abducted by RL. I don't know if she'll have the time for this game, but she's set her own on indefinite hiatus, which isn't a good sign. I think since it seems we've lost Hassisk and Nomino already, this game might just not be destined to succeed.

It happens sometimes I guess. I really liked Biggy Loe too. I hadn't gotten to meet the others.

You certainly gave me a run for my money in terms of business and accounting details. :P I was eager to see how the group would mesh into a proper crew with everyone having such interesting characters. Ah, well. I'll be deleting this game in a few weeks, to give everyone time to grab what they need of their characters for later.

Next Star Wars game character I make is gonna be a Jedi Escort who uses the force to make people think they had the most amazing time ever in the most secretive establishment to ever exist!

That sounds like a lotta Dark Side Points for a Jedi. XD

Why? Because he's saving people from making long-term self-destructive choices and wasting their money?

Using the Force to make a profit, regardless of whatever secondary good that may come from it, is absolutely Dark Side shenanigans.

What if that ISNT the primary goal but a perk?

That's what you call the Dark Side's dream mark. Someone who doesn't even realize that they're endangering themselves, and can rationalize away their own subtle corruption. Like the proverbial frog in a slowly heating pot.

So application of Force for gain is darkside trait? I mean profit is a vague term and surely money can't be the only application. In a broader sense ANY use of the force falls into that.

For personal gain, yes. Also unnecessary use of the Force is considered a Dark Side trait, and I say that casting eyebrows at Obi-Wan and his casual misuse of the Force.

Virtually everyone who has the force in any canon. You're not going to convince me that at 784 years old Yoda is doing all that on muscle power... And one could just die rather than use the force to save or be saved. All use of the force is arguably unnecessary.

Yoda doing all what on muscle power? His fighting? That wasn't a selfish or unnecessary. He was fighting to protect people from being murdered, saving and preserving life that would otherwise be snuffed out.

NOT using the Force to save someone when you could use it to save them would also be a Dark Side transgression, since you didn't use a tool at your disposal to protect the Force and instead let it be damaged.

Verbally lawyering a cosmic entity doesn't really work so well unless you know what it is, what it's for, and what it wants.

Well, it seems to 'want' whatever is convenient for plot. We don't know how many dark side points Yoda or Luke or any of the 'good guys' really had. We also don't know how many light side points the 'bad guys' had.

You profit if you save your teammates from a huge monster. Or stop a conduit from collapsing on them.

Maybe part of the point is that everyone is going to have at least a little of each. People make a lot of fuss over sticking to the light side like we should be purists but the only prophecies I'm aware of speak of balance being what the force seeks.

I'm sorry to leave you in the lurch, guys.  My spare time has decreased lately due to family health issues and a related need to make more money by spending more time in the 'salt mines'.

I can try to improve my posting intervals but there is always a chance that my free time might decrease even further.  I wouldn't want a game to depend on my efforts alone.

I don't think this is anyone's fault.  It has just been a cruel decade in general.

"Profit" is financial. You don't get cash from saving your friends. Also, "balance" in the Force explicitly means the entire removal of the Dark Side.

The deal with the Force is that there is no Light Side/Dark Side dichotomy. There is the Force, and a corruption of it called the Dark Side. Twisting the Force to selfish means or to senseless destruction expands the corruption and allows it to start twisting you into further expanding it, like a cancer. And yes, we don't know how many Dark Side Points the heroes had, but we do know that Luke has a ton of them. His near-fall was the point of his scenes in Return of the Jedi AND in Ben Solo's own fall as told in the Last Jedi.

I find it very likely that a lot of the times that Jedi have been forced into positions where they had to do something that would gain them a DSP for the greater good, they then spent the necessary time and effort atoning for that crime against the Force and cleansing themselves of the corruption.

And Anja, with just the two of you, there isn't really much I can do. The others have vanished, so I'll be deleting this game once I've given folks time to collect their stuff for future use.

I mean I got all I need except perhaps some more perspective from another GM on the fundamentals of the force.

Happy Holidays to All!   I'm sorry to say that I likely have even less free time than I thought I might.  Still I will look forward to this game when I have more free time and when (if?) it returns.

Thanks for offering it, 'Force, and to all the players who added their efforts. :-)