Star Wars Saga: Want to run Stormtrooper Campaign

[DontEatRawHagis]

So my friend managed to lend me some of his Star Wars Saga books, but he has never played. So I am going in blind.

I was thinking of running my players through the game, but the story I want to do is them as a specialist team for the Empire. Sort of like how Republic Commando video games are.

What book might have rules/advice for that?

[LibraryOgre]

The core book will actually be pretty good for that. I'd look more at what kind of restrictions you're going to put on character creation.

[Mando Knight]

Galaxy At War adds additional advice for running a military-themed campaign, but most of its mechanical offerings are more esoteric because the basic stuff is in the core book. It does have the Republic Commandos' DC-17m ICWS, though.

Basic outline for squad characters (assume core book unless otherwise noted):

General: levels are primarily in Soldier for the weapon/armor proficiencies, base attack bonus, and hit die. Main equipment is the E-11 (that is, the game's generic blaster rifle), stormtrooper armor with utility belt and helmet package, and a few frag grenades. If stealth missions are called for, then the armor can be fitted with a shadowskin coating (Scum & Villainy). The DC-17m (Galaxy At War) isn't common in Imperial units, but it's not entirely out of reason that an elite commando squad that needs a multirole weapon could be equipped with it.

Scout: First level in Scout (obviously) for Stealth and Improved Stealth, but the character is still a Stormtrooper, so most of the levels should still be in Soldier. Can be combined with the Designated Marksman/Sniper role.

Designated Marksman/Sniper: Careful Shot and Deadeye feats. Devastating Attack is useful, and Galaxy At War adds the Steadying Position feat, which makes dipping into Scoundrel for Sneak Attack or similar talents viable as long as you can get prone frequently. Add a targeting scope to the character's loadout. Scum & Villainy's sniper rifle and bipod and/or Clone Wars' DLT-40A rifle are good alternate weapons.

Heavy Weapons/Fire Support: Heavy Weapon proficiency. Penetrating Attack is handy for defeating vehicles. Add a heavy weapon to the character's equipment. If the character is encumbered by adding a heavy weapon, swap out the E-11 for a heavy pistol or other sidearm. If the character is given a blaster heavy weapon rather than an explosive one, Burst Fire is a good feat to have for raw damage output. Could be combined with the Demolitionist role.

Demolitionist: Mechanics proficiency and Demolitionist talent, along with a package of explosives to play with. Saboteur (The Force Unleashed, requires Deception and Use Computer as well as Mechanics) is a relevant Prestige Class to work toward.

Technician: Mechanics and Use Computer, consider multiclassing into Scoundrel for Slicer and Outlaw Tech (Starships of the Galaxy) trees.

Team Leader: Potentially multiclass into Noble for Inspiration and Leadership talents, but the main class should still be Soldier. Focus on prerequisites for the Officer Prestige Class, for the team buffs like Assault Tactics.

[Eisenheim]

I once had an idea for a stormtrooper game, but I was planning to use paranoia. Imagine a bunch of PCs who are all secretly force-sensitive rebel agents (for different rebel factions of course) soldiers in Vader's personal legion. Lots of backstabbing plus the ever present risk of force choke from on high.

[LibraryOgre]

I once had an idea for a stormtrooper game, but I was planning to use paranoia. Imagine a bunch of PCs who are all secretly force-sensitive rebel agents (for different rebel factions of course) soldiers in Vader's personal legion. Lots of backstabbing plus the ever present risk of force choke from on high.

...that's BRILLIANT.

[DontEatRawHagis]

I once had an idea for a stormtrooper game, but I was planning to use paranoia. Imagine a bunch of PCs who are all secretly force-sensitive rebel agents (for different rebel factions of course) soldiers in Vader's personal legion. Lots of backstabbing plus the ever present risk of force choke from on high.

My current plan is to have them as the only competent Stormtroopers and to place them in the start of New Hope and see if they can stop the plot of the films from happening.

Two things I want to see:

• Them being the guys that say set phasers to stun on Leia during the opening sequence.
• Them looking for droids when Obiwan and Luke drive by.

From there Vader or the Emperor will reward them for recovering the stolen plans. And they will become Imperial Commandos or Intelligence Officers.

[Scowling Dragon]

My current plan is to have them as the only competent Stormtroopers and to place them in the start of New Hope and see if they can stop the plot of the films from happening.

Two things I want to see:

• Them being the guys that say set phasers to stun on Leia during the opening sequence.
• Them looking for droids when Obiwan and Luke drive by.

From there Vader or the Emperor will reward them for recovering the stolen plans. And they will become Imperial Commandos or Intelligence Officers.

In all honesty I don't think its particularly hard. Stormtroopers are alright, and their rep of being idiots I would say is unfarily misplaced. They are no B1 Battle droid.

The entire point of the first movie is how unlikely it was to happen. Its destiny and junk. And with OOC pre-cognizant information not particularly challenging or hard to stop.

I recommend a different plot.

[Jayngfet]

In all honesty I don't think its particularly hard. Stormtroopers are alright, and their rep of being idiots I would say is unfarily misplaced. They are no B1 Battle droid.

The entire point of the first movie is how unlikely it was to happen. Its destiny and junk. And with OOC pre-cognizant information not particularly challenging or hard to stop.

I recommend a different plot.

Agreed. I mean yeah, if the players know OOC that this random old dude has the exact droids they need it's not really a stretch for them to somehow figure it out, but they'd only do it via OOC knowledge or somehow building their entire characters around passing will saves for mind tricks they'd otherwise have no chance of passing, simply because Obi Wan is so high level by comparison so early on.

Not to mention that, speaking as both a GM and player, you're just asking for trouble. If they set guns to stun then they'd obviously roll nat 1's or else miss her reflex save somehow and she'd run off and buy the droids even more time. Or else, just as likely, they'd wind up coming up with some hair brained scheme that'd never work in an attempt to look even cooler.

That's to say nothing of them trying to track down a sand crawler or any other big task without their boss looking over their shoulder right there. They'd somehow waste so much time Luke and Ben would be long gone by the time they arrived at the check point or got the info.

[Nerd-o-rama]

My general policy with running Star Wars games is put the player characters on the opposite side of the galaxy from anyone important to the setting, barring minor exceptions (like politicians who are wearing expensive personal shields and covered by high-level heroic snipers). Mostly this is so people don't derail the game in a hare-brained OOC attempt to derail canon, but generally speaking putting players near a plot that is "supposed" to have a certain outcome is a bad idea, whether you want them to circumvent that outcome or not.

[Beleriphon]

I'd personally have the player stormtrooper doing all the stuff the movies talk about but never show. For example they attack the Jawa sandcrawler that sold C-3PO and R2-D2 to Uncle Ben. By Endor I'd have them fighting a bunch of Ewoks, on the ground, and treating the whole experience like a fully, cute, teddy bear zombie horde.