Star Wars: The Tide Turns (VOIP Game)

[Hotfoot]

Okay, now so far the push seems to be towards Star Wars Saga Edition, though I'll keep the option open for Rogue Trader, since in that game it's technically possible for the team to command small armies as the game goes on.

So, as of right now, there are two settings for the Rebellion Era Saga game, one is before A New Hope, so Luke and the rest wouldn't be a factor, but I can still call down the wrath of Vader if the players step too far out of line.

The other, and the more appealing right now, is just following the events of Return of the Jedi. This allows a fair degree of freedom, support, but still allows for dangerous enemies in the Imperium.

For Rogue Trader, suffice to say that the players would have something very interesting to do, oh yes indeed.

[rhoenix]

The other, and the more appealing right now, is just following the events of Return of the Jedi. This allows a fair degree of freedom, support, but still allows for dangerous enemies in the Imperium

This I'm down for. I'm going over character design now.

[Hotfoot]

Now, with regards to the game, I'd like it to be weekly if possible. If you're interested, post the times you'd be available in Eastern time zones.

Note that if you want to be a force user, that's fine, but figure out what tradition you are from and be ready to explain how you got that training. Force sensitive characters of any class are fine, but before you pick up force powers, you'll have to find someone to train you, just a little.

Characters will start at level one, books allowed right now will be the core book, Scum and Villainy, Starships of the Galaxy, and Rebellion Era Campaign Guide. Material from other books will have to be reviewed before it is allowed.

Sith characters are unlikely to be allowed, as the players will end up most likely involved in the Rebellion.

I may alter force points ever so slightly to allow for more frequent use, but without allowing for constant spam of them.

Any questions or comments?

[rhoenix]

None so far - I'm down.

I'd be available from 3:00am EST - 6:00am EST each late night / morning after I get off work (I get home about 11:30p Pacific, so that should be about right), and more or less late afternoon / evening on Wednesday and Thursday. I do have a single martial arts class on both days off, but presently they're from 10:30p - 11:30p Eastern time.

[Hotfoot]

As a quick note, I'm usually not one to try and force party balance per se, but I am noticing a strong trend towards mechanic-type characters. While there can be plenty of variation to bring to the table, everyone who is planning a character might want to talk to one another and sort things out.

[Cynical Cat]

I may alter force points ever so slightly to allow for more frequent use, but without allowing for constant spam of them.

DO NOT DO THIS. Having actually played the game and being the guy who burns through the most Force points, I have yet to run out before leveling and getting refreshed and I have to use them to burn off dark side points from Force Lightning as well.

[Hotfoot]

I was thinking of halving the number of Force Points allowable, while making any permanent effects "burn" the Force point, much like in Dark Heresy where you have the "spend/burn" distinction.

[LadyTevar]

Nit and I can't do it.

[Cynical Cat]

I was thinking of halving the number of Force Points allowable, while making any permanent effects "burn" the Force point, much like in Dark Heresy where you have the "spend/burn" distinction.

Sounds alright.

[Academia Nut]

So I've whipped up most of the mechanical bits for a Mon Cal scoundrel, I just need to know more about the campaign to make final tweaks and the like. As for availability, I should be good:

Tuesday and Thursday 8pm-2am EST
Wednesday 8pm-12am EST

I may also be able to add on say 3pm-7pm as an additional time period during those days, but its much more iffy.

Now I just need to figure out what is wrong with my mic... grumble grumble...

[Hotfoot]

Okay, I've got the bare minimum number of players, though I still need time availabilities. It's looking like Wednesday or Thursday evenings are what's in, so we'll go with that for now. I'll try and get it started this coming week.

The setting will be a few months after the Battle of Endor. If your characters know each other will be up to you, but I will be running the first adventure under the idea that most of you have not adventured together before. If you're interested and you haven't talked to me about a character or when you'd be free to play, now is the time to talk to me. As I said earlier, we will be using the point buy attribute generation method in the main book, and starting cash will be 8 x class starting value. That's 800 for Jedi, 3,200 for Nobles, and 2,000 for everyone else.

If there is a specific piece of equipment you think you should start with that is outside of your character's starting cash, talk to me and I will see what is likely and what is not. Small droids might be allowed, for example, but don't ask for IG-88.

The thread has been updated to the current game title.

[Hotfoot]

Looks good so far. I still need to talk to a few players, but starting this week works for me.

[Stofsk]

Thursday works for me because that's when my internet usage meter gets reset for the next month.

Who else is playing and what are their character concepts? If I can still join I'd like to make a character that complements the team.

Will we be freelancers, merchies, Rebels, smugglers, what?

EDIT: Also, out of curiosity, what events of the EU can we assume will happen, or can we rather assume anything post-ROTJ is a blank canvas?

EDIT 2: Actually, IIRC the time difference means my thursday is your wednesday, so your thursday might be either my late thursday or early friday... obviously depending on when exactly the game is slated to start.

[Hotfoot]

So far, I've got Marcao looking at playing a Noble, ACNut playing a Mon Cal Tech, B4 playing some sort of merc, and of course the above Kilian Ranger.

You will be working on the side of the Rebel Alliance, but if you're specifically Rebels or well paid mercs with an axe to grind is up to you. Whatever concept you choose, just be sure to talk with me to establish your history with regards to the game.

As far as the EU, I may make references to parts of it that I like, but other than that, don't assume anything. This is taking place a few months after ROTJ ends, specifically because the EU doesn't cover this era much. Since the game is unlikely to continue long enough to get to the Thrawn Trilogy, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[Stofsk]

So far, I've got Marcao looking at playing a Noble, ACNut playing a Mon Cal Tech, B4 playing some sort of merc, and of course the above Kilian Ranger.

So a Noble, a Tech guy, a bruiser, and a pseudo-Jedi-but-not-really-Jedi guy.

I'm gonna go in to the city later today and see if I can't buy the core rulebook and maybe some of the other sourcebooks. I'm gonna think up a character, and post later.

You will be working on the side of the Rebel Alliance, but if you're specifically Rebels or well paid mercs with an axe to grind is up to you. Whatever concept you choose, just be sure to talk with me to establish your history with regards to the game.

Cool.

As far as the EU, I may make references to parts of it that I like, but other than that, don't assume anything. This is taking place a few months after ROTJ ends, specifically because the EU doesn't cover this era much. Since the game is unlikely to continue long enough to get to the Thrawn Trilogy, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Alright... Like I think I said above, I'd prefer a blank canvas re the EU. Other than Zahn, the Han Solo books and some of the X-wing books, I think most of the EU is shit. To put it politely. :)

[Hotfoot]

So a Noble, a Tech guy, a bruiser, and a pseudo-Jedi-but-not-really-Jedi guy.

Well, I don't know about bruiser, I think he was looking at Scout or Scoundrel last I remember, but we'll see where it goes.

I'm gonna go in to the city later today and see if I can't buy the core rulebook and maybe some of the other sourcebooks. I'm gonna think up a character, and post later.

Cool.

Alright... Like I think I said above, I'd prefer a blank canvas re the EU. Other than Zahn, the Han Solo books and some of the X-wing books, I think most of the EU is shit. To put it politely. :)

Why, I don't know what you mean....*coughvongcough*

I've already outright stated that Legacy is out (story-wise) as is Force Unleashed. I'm even going to ignore large swaths of the Clone Wars as I see fit. As far as I'm concerned, Stormtroopers are not clones, the Force has nothing to do with a STD, and, well, we don't have to worry about Vader's fall, since he's dead right now.

However, the future is certainly not written. This period is a pivotal time in the Rebellion, and the group's actions may determine if the Empire falls, or if it recovers.

[Stofsk]

Another question: are we level 1 characters?

[Hotfoot]

Yes. Trust me when I say that 1st level in Saga Edition doesn't suck though.

[Hotfoot]

License is fine if you're starting out as a part of the Rebel Alliance or a standard merc.

I have to ask though, why such a high Wisdom bonus?

Also, it seems that you are 2 points over the limit, given a base of 12, 13, 11, 13, 15, 10.

[Stofsk]

Just got back from the city and I bought the core rulebook. Read a bit of it on the train, but I was feeling tired so napped a little on the ride home. Anyway, the differences I've noticed are good - more HP at first level, and defence seems to have merged with saving throws, which is an interesting idea. Armour appears to not be as useful on first glance, unless it provides damage reduction as well as adding to defence.

I am currently thinking of a Soldier class, although a Jedi class would be great but it doesn't fit the timeline (only Luke's a real Jedi, and he may not have started his New Jedi Order at this point yet). So, more than likely a Soldier class.

Don't know what details to add. Basically he's joined the Rebel Alliance and is either a fighter pilot or some kind of trooper, whichever fits the game more. What kind of missions will we get up to?

[Hotfoot]

Armor is actually good early on, it gives you more of a bonus than your levels will. Some armor will also increase your fortitude defense, and thus your damage threshold, which will help you with avoiding negatives in combat.

With the soldier armor training perks, well, it just gets better and better.

Jedi is technically possible. There are other force traditions than just Jedi and Sith in the galaxy, and a few are mentioned in the main rulebook. That said, Soldier is a solid class (as are all of them, really). You're not just a dumb killing machine. Fighter pilots are definitely doable and you can make a pretty good fighter pilot that is still very good at ground combat through a careful selection of feats.

There are ways to be actual Jedi in the timeline, as in trained at the temple on Coruscant and everything. Basically it involves being an older character who hid very carefully and chose this moment to come out of hiding. You wouldn't be a Jedi Knight, maybe a padawan who was hidden by his master, or a child who was force sensitive and found by one of the masters in exile and given basic training.

[Stofsk]

I'd want to be one of the new jedi that Luke trains if I want to be a Jedi. It's up to you and your idea on Luke's NJO if/when he decides to start training other Force Senstives. That may well not be a factor in your intended story arc, which is why I was asking for clues as to what the game's focus will be.

At the moment, I am thinking he was present at the Battle of Endor, maybe as a fighter pilot or something. He was green when he went into battle, but survived when a lot of Rebels didn't. Still need to think about who he is, where he came from, what he wants to do, etc.

[Hotfoot]

Given how soon it is after Endor, I wouldn't count on Luke training anyone right now. That said, possibilities for serious training can occur, but that would be more down the line.

Many of the missions will be against the Empire in some way, or trying to get more support for the Rebellion. They will range from combat, to sabotage, to infiltration, to a few missions which will almost certainly result in space combat.

As for your backstory, I'd rather you handled that with me personally, since I have a few interesting twists I'd like to throw you.

[Academia Nut]

Mon Cal stat adjustments are +2 Wisdom, +2 Intelligence, -2 Constitution with no adjustment to Strength, thus my base is 10, 13, 11, 13, 15, 10, unless there is some sort of errata that no one bothered to tell me about.

As to why I have such a high Wisdom, it will become a little more clear once I get my backstory up, but to tell the truth its because I wanted to abuse a probably under utilized RPG mechanic that may never come up in game (it should be obvious from a quick peek over the character). Once I get back from my 800km round trip (and possibly subsequent exhaustion related mini-coma) I'll fill things in a bit.

[Hotfoot]

Ah, my bad, must have been late when I looked at the numbers and I messed up on the strength. It's all good.

And we'll see if you get to abuse it or not, but I do have to warn you that overspecializing for one niche that may or may not happen often may end up with bad results. Remember that hand didn't need that much specialization to win the Falcon from Lando.