Star Wars RPG

What is it that gamers do when they regain their “light” vision, when they are forced to emerge from the darkness of their room, basement, or den because of cramped fingers, burned retinas, or because that part of your lip that you chew on when things get intense begins to bleed? Well, after food of course, there’s the will to put our imaginations and creativity to work. Some like to draw, others prefer writing poems to the girl they just met in a chat room (or perhaps even in the PTD forum). However, those are all boring to those of us who desire to create an epic hero. Three little words: Role Playing Game.

For over thirty years the dominant RPG has been, of course, Dungeons & Dragons. However, in the last few years Wizards of the Coast has recreated the game with a completely different theme: Star Wars. This new addition to the RPG genre has given a much-needed refresher for role playing gamers of this generation. Some skeptics of the game say that anyone can come out with a new RPG but, is it any good? Well… IS IT?

I’ve been sweeping the galaxy, accepting missions, fighting Yuuzhan Vong, and showing aliens of all types that the Jedi are not the only 1337 Force users in the galaxy, for about a year now. What I’ve decided is that Star Wars RPG is… well… better. Don’t get me wrong, there is a very small list of things that please me more than making my half-orc go berserk on a snarling troll. On the top of that list is lifting a massive storage bin and crushing 20 storm troopers using the Force. That’s right, The Force. The newest, and probably best, new feature to the RPG is the use of the Force. Using the Force is done exactly the same way that skills are done; however, you must have the force-sensitive feat. After you get this (some classes begin with it), you are able to choose from several different Force feats and skills. There are even light and dark side skills. However, using dark-side skills gives you dark points and getting too many of those may cause your Galaxy Master (GM) to declare you evil thus, banning you from the game… oh well. Another great new aspect is starship fighting. If your character is a pilot, you can generate a space ship, fighter, or speeder, got into space, and get into battles. You will have to roll for your ship’s initiative, attacks and damage. The game itself is very similar to D&D, making it easy for both old schooler and newbies to pick up and play.

My character, Psy-Cron, is a Cearean Force-adept who chose at a young age not to follow the ways of the Jedi but to discover the full powers of the force, both dark and light sides, on his own. His specialty lies in mind control. Moving objects, making decisions for other characters, and illusions are very entertaining powers. We all had a good laugh when our team infiltrated an enemy Yuuzhan Vong barracks and I made all thirty soldiers have a sudden urge to go outside into the poisonous atmosphere and play. Needless to say, the GM, anticipating an epic battle, was disappointed. Yet, with every strength, lies a weakness. My character wears no armor and fights melee with a quarterstaff equipped with a poisonous dagger on one end, which I’ve compensated for by keeping a very powerful Force Lightning skill in reserve.

This great new addition to “powerless” gaming is easy to get started. You can usually find the Basic Rulebook, Galaxy Masters guide, and all other books (averaging around $20 USD) anywhere that Dungeons & Dragons products are sold. You can also print off character sheets and helpful guides by going to www.wizards.com and clicking on the Star Wars link. Of course you will also have to buy a sweet set of dice to determine the fate of your character. So, if you develop 3rd-degree dyslexia from staring at your visual output device too much, pick up some dice, start an adventure, and create a story.

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