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I’m currently responsible for two Star Wars Roleplaying Game campaigns for my home group, my 515 Earned XP SW:TOR-era Sith campaign and an Edge of the Empire bounty hunters game that is on the back burner. It would be the height of irresponsibility as a GM to start yet another campaign. Despite this obvious fact, I am constantly inspired with ideas for campaigns I want to run or see run. Rather than tempt the wrath of my home group PCs, I’m going to share five of these ideas with you today.
Edge of the Empire
IOCI: Outer Rim
My first campaign idea is to turn Edge of the Empire on its head. Rather than playing an always-hungry crew of outlaws living on the fringes of society, the PCs are all part of an elite law enforcement organization tasked with investigating the most challenging cases. Look to police procedurals and crime dramas for your inspiration. Caught in my dragnet are titles like Bones, Criminal Minds, CSI, and Miami Vice.
While this type of game may seem like more of a natural fit to Age of Rebellion and its Duty mechanic, I think that Obligation fits perfectly in this genre to add potential twists and complications to what could otherwise be a very straightforward episodic offering. Obligation can represent complications. Dr. Brennan’s father (Bones), or David Rossi’s unfinished cases (Criminal Minds) are perfect examples of how drama can be built by stepping out of the by-the-numbers session-by-session model.
The Greatest Heist
The heist is a classic crime movie trope and one very suited to an Edge of the Empire campaign. This campaign concept takes the idea a step further. The entire campaign is focused on the theft of one particular item or items, with the preparation, planning, and conduct of the heist taking up the entire game.
The key here is to make the heist target something fantastic like the Emperor’s personal shuttle, Jabba’s pet rancor, Darth Vader’s spare helmet, or something equally insane. The target has to be something that cannot be taken in just a few sessions with some lucky narrative dice results, but instead should be something that can only be acquired through considerable preparation and the executive of a near flawless heist.
For maximum effect, resist any urge to start this campaign at Knight Level Play. The real fun of this game is to experience the journey from deadbeat scum in session one to the successful completion of the greatest heist ever perpetrated in the finale. The achievement will be so much sweeter if the PCs can remember their humble origins, calling in favors to scrape up enough credits to repair their ship.
Age of Rebellion
Culper Spy Ring
Those who are very familiar with US history are likely aware of the Culper Spy Ring, a Revolutionary War era network of agents providing intelligence on British forces to the Continental Army. The PCs are all agents in a secretive Rebel Alliance spy network operating in the Core Worlds. They have cover identities in local businesses and government organizations, and are tasked with collecting the top secret information required for the Rebel Alliance to stay one step ahead of the Empire.
Each arc would be inspired by a historical event surrounding the American Revolution, but with a coat of Star Wars paint splashed liberally as appropriate. For example, Benedict Arnold’s plans to provide West Point to the British would be converted to a bright, but out of favor Rebel General planning to defect to the Empire and reveal the location of a key hidden base. This period of history is a gold mine for interesting missions and events to adapt to your game. All that is really needed is to keep the tropes but replace the set dressing, and maybe throw in a twist or two should your PCs know their history.
Operation Valkyrie
The original Star Wars trilogy was heavily influenced by classic World War 2 movies. It doesn’t take a degree in literature to figure out the Empire is heavily inspired by Hollywood Nazis, with the Rebels playing the heroic Allies. While the more recent film Valkyrie, starring Tom Cruise as a Heer colonel part of a plot to kill Hitler, is most likely far from a classic this does not stop it from being a good inspiration for a different sort of campaign.
The PCs play Imperials from a variety of backgrounds and organizations who are part of a secret conspiracy to seize control of the Empire away from the Emperor and Darth Vader. I’d recommend GMs be prepared to take a left turn away from canon with this one. Notable NPCs to involve could include the more military focused Generals Tagge and Veers and of course the conscience-ridden General Crix Madine in similar roles to July 20 plotters Generals Oblricht and Beck. The coup plot could be led by the PCs or they could merely be one part of it, depending on how much agency you want to give them. Take a few pages from my advice on Imperial Games on how to proceed as well when it comes to the dark themes that could be explored in this campaign.
For be results, I recommend starting the PCs at least at Knight Level Play and with a higher Contribution Rank of commensurate value according to how influential you as the GM want them to initially be.
Force and Destiny
Forty-seven Sith
Just as the Galactic Civil War is heavily inspired by World War 2 movies, so too are the Jedi and Sith tropes linked to tales of the Samurai. The legendary revenge of the forty-seven ronin strikes me as perfect fodder for a Sith campaign. Setting this campaign in the era of Star Wars: The Old Republic allows the GM to set the stage within the honor focused Sith Empire and gives the Sith PCs opportunities to take a more nuanced approach to their characters.
The PCs, along with some NPCs, would be the survivors of a betrayal on their Sith Master’s noble house. With their master gone, the PCs would be responsible for exacting revenge and restoring their place within the Sith Empire. Without a mentor and without resources, the campaign would be about the PCs gaining strength, gathering allies, and plotting their vengeance.
Part of me wrote this article for a bit of catharsis. I won’t be able to run any of these campaigns for quite some time. But more importantly, I hope these ideas are of use to you. Whether you choose to run one of these campaigns, or merely take some inspiration of nugget of insight from them, I hope I’ve been able to offer you something useful today.
Christopher Hunt
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