Rogue Squadron - Obligometer - Debt

Normally in this series we primarily explore X-wing. But every so often we’ll take a small detour into areas of gaming. Today we’re going to look back at the Obligation system in FFG’s Star Wars RPG.

We all have obligations. To family, friends, work or even just ourselves. Big or small, we all owe someone something, even if that someone is ourselves or our own desires. Obligation is a part of life.

Fantasy Flight made this concept a core feature of the Star Wars Edge of the Empire RPG for good reason. Every character has a certain amount of obligation right from the get go. It is a core mechanic in the game and an important part of developing the games narrative. Obligation exists to help establish your character as a member of the fringe. You’re obligation is so high, it has a numerical value. It’s part of the reason you’re out there, fending for your life on the edge of the Empire, instead of working a cushy middle class job in the Core.

Designed by the esteemed Sterling Hershey (whose real life is the inspiration for the character Sterling Archer of the show Archer. True story. Look it up.), Obligation is one of the best mechanics for EoE, right after the narrative die system itself. Sterling has delved into the mechanic some on his blog, providing some examples of different type of obligation levels and clarifying some questions. I suggest you head over there for some good details straight from the horse’s mouth.

For us, we’re going to begin a tour of the different types of Obligation that EoE offers and take a look at how these might work in your game and what the consequences might be for accumulating a lot of it. Strap in and power up your Obligometers…

We’re going to start with the easiest Obligation, Debt. Our PC, Han Solo, begins the game with 5 Debt Obligation. He works with the GM and decides he’s indebted to the crime lord Jabba the Hutt. Han decides to take a few extra points of Obligation at character creation so that he can afford to buy a badass DL-44 Heavy Blaster Pistol. Now with a Obligation Debt of 10, Han begins his adventure.

Starting out on the world of Tatooine, the GM makes a roll with the PC’s obligation and as luck would have it, Han comes up. After the party meets, in a cantina of course, the GM decides that a 10 Obligation warrants a visit from a bounty hunter. But only a low level one sent to take him alive.

With the rest of the party distracted, they should know better than to split up so early, Han is confronted by a Rodian bounty hunter. The Rodian begins talking to Han and the GM wants to give him an out by agreeing to go speak to his debtor, Jabba. Not having time for this BS, Han decides to just shoot him. Scoring a Triumph, he drops the Rodian in one shot.

Having bested the bounty hunter before speaking to Jabba, the GM decides he still wants that meeting to occur so he has Jabba show up at Han’s ship. Now some roleplaying begins as Han is outnumbered. The player gets a chance to flesh out why he owes Jabba such a debt and his character’s backstory begins to take form.

Before ending the encounter, Han attempts a Negotiate check to buy himself more time on his debt. While he rolls a success, he generates a significant amount of threat. The GM elects to give Han more time to repay the debt in exchange for increasing his Obligation.

Several sessions later, Han again comes up on the Obligation roll. Having not thought about this encounter since the first session, his Obligation is a dangerous 15. The GM raises the stakes and sends a nemesis level bounty hunter after Han. They run into each other on Bespin and this time, no Triumphs to save the day, only Despair.

Captured and frozen in carbonite, the rest of the party is forced to put their main quest aside to go rescue Han. They succeed in freeing him and killing Jabba, eliminating Han’s debt. Now Han has no Obligation. His reputation with the underworld is shot, having repaid his debt through murder. Good luck getting a loan now, Han.

This is just one example of how Obligation can play into your games. Next time, we’ll tackle some of the more abstract obligations and how they can enhance your characters and your game.