The Rebel Legion (RL), founded in 2000, is the premier international costuming club for Star Wars hero characters of Canon and Legends. It is the sister organization of the 501st Legion and there are many dual members. The RL is very grateful to those many people, on- and off-screen, who have worked over the past 39 (and counting!) years to create the Galaxy Far, Far Away. One of the ways members show their appreciation is our Honorary Members (HMs), who are nominated and sponsored by full members, with approval of the current Legion Commanding Officer (elected head). All HMs receive the plaque and a membership badge, handcrafted by Damien, a talented RL member, for cost, which is borne by the sponsoring RL member(s).
Categories are actors (including voice such as Vanessa Marshall of Star Wars Rebels), behind-the-scenes LucasFilm employees, and Star Wars/LucasFilm sanctioned artists. This last includes roleplaying game developers and writers. As of GamerNation Con 3 (aka 4DoGG), the RL numbers five current or past Star Wars RPG developers among their Honorary Members, for contributions to Star Wars roleplaying games–West End Games (D6), Wizards of the Coast/WotC’s Saga Edition (SWSE), and/or Fantasy Flight Games’ Edge of the Empire/Age of Rebellion/Force & Destiny trio.
The latest of these is Rodney Thompson (GamerNationCon 2016), Lead Developer, Star Wars Saga Edition line (WotC). Nominated and sponsored by RL Honorary Member Jon Stevens and me. Rodney was the co-owner of the Star Wars gaming fan site SWRPGNetwork and Holonet Forums, which got me involved in the online aspects of RPG and Star Wars fandoms. After many years and three rulesets from two different publishers (Wow!) of running this great site–which still exists–for SWRPGs, Rodney was tapped by WotC to spearhead the fourth, SWSE, which had 14 books, plus a complete free campaign, “Dawn of Defiance.” Jon, Chris Bradshaw, Darkrider, Order 66 Co-Host Phil “DarthGM” Maiewski and several other HMs were among the presenters for Rodney’s HM induction.
The other gaming RL HMs are:
Jay Little (Inaugural GamerNationCon 2014), Designer, Edge of the Empire and Age of Rebellion Lines. In addition to these popular SW RPGs, Jay has worked on FFG’s X-Wing Miniatures game, as well non-SW games as diverse as Major League Baseball SportsClix and Warhammer Fantasy Third Edition. He also teaches Game Design courses at the University of Wisconsin – Stout, passing on his years of experience. I got a kick out of nominating and presenting Jay’s honorary membership in my guise as a highstrung Rebel pilot interrupting his panel, which had been set up for purposes of the induction by Order 66 co-hosts GM Chris and GM Dave, themselves Friends of the Rebellion (RL honor for those who support Star Wars and its fandom).
Jon Stevens (GenCon 2014), Freelance Developer, Galaxy at War and The Unknown Regions (SWSE). Sponsored & nominated by me and Phil Maiewski. Jon is a longtime family friend and we won’t soon forget that excited voice on the phone, telling us he couldn’t talk about it but he would be working on an official project for one of our favorite franchises that he must not name! It turned out to be a SWSE book, Galaxy at War. And then it happened again with The Unknown Regions! Jon is also a credited playtester for Stay on Target, Desperate Allies, Lead by Example, Keeping the Peace and Nexus of Power sourcebooks for the FFG’s Age of Rebellion and Force & Destiny Star Wars RPG lines. Jon also helped on some of the RL and 501st Legion’s charitable activities, such as a children’s hospital visit and Make-A-Wish support.
Sam Stewart (GamerNationCon 2015), Sponsored & nominated by Chris Bradshaw and Phil Maiewski. FFG, Lead developer/designer of Edge of the Empire and Force & Destiny core books, a designer/writer for Age of Rebellion core book and is credited on most, if not all, sourcebooks for all three lines. Sam is currently FFG’s RPG Manager. His other gaming credits include Warhammer Fantasy’s Dark Heresy, Black Crusade and Rogue Trader lines. He is a popular guest on the Order 66 podcast, answering player and GM questions about FFG SWRPGs.
Sterling Hershey (GenCon 2014), Freelance Developer and/or Cartographer on SWRPG lines by all three (Amazing!) gaming companies. Sponsored and nominated by Phil Maiewski. He worked on a half dozen titles apiece for the golden oldies D6 and SWSE lines, and the “Attack on Endor” Scenario Pack for WotC’s SW Miniatures game line. As of this writing, he is credited on ten titles covering all 3 FFG SWRPG lines. The latest of these are Keeping the Peace and Nexus of Power for F&D, Special Modifications for EotE and the upcoming Savage Spirits for F&D. I hope to see many more FFG SW titles with his name on the title page. He has guested on both the SWSE and FFG iterations of Order 66.
Shortly after his induction, Rodney tweeted, “Ok, this was totally unexpected and a huge honor. Inducted into the Rebel Legion!” Rodney, Jay, Jon, Sam & Sterling–the honor was mine and the Rebel Legion’s. You all are “Member[s] of the Rebel Alliance [and traitors]!” Just like a certain tough and well-loved Princess-turned-General.
Credits: Featured image photo courtesy of Rodney Thompson. Rodney’s induction photo courtesy of Sterling Hershey.
Disclosure: I am the Rebel Legion’s Arkansas Regional Captain, of Kessel Base, and was very much involved in the inductions of Jay, Jon and Rodney.
Linda Whitson
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