Star Wars Stand Alone - Staff Sought

AlexRaymond · Oct 9, 2018, 9:25 PM

I'm pondering a Star Wars place that is really stand alone and am seeking help to make it a collaboration.

/The/ story is happening out there in the background, but the focus is on a local system. Something more along the lines of the 'grittier' movies; Rogue One and Solo. During Imperial Era, an upstart system as the central focus. Not fully in revolt but enough of an Imperial presence due to resources that conflict does happen with regularity, including the planet's own native species in rebellion against human+ locals and Empire alike.

Really, just looking for others interested in joining the creative process. Can't do it alone. If I did, it would be a few years down the road until something came of it. A few other creative minds to explore the specific theme and work up something really interested would be great. Better coders than myself for the conservation of time wouldn't be turned away. Anyone willing to contribute.

Not looking to open it up for board development here so much, just seeking interested individuals willing to collaborate. I have some basic info as a start, would be glad to share with anyone interested.

Tinuviel · Oct 9, 2018, 9:42 PM

@alexraymond said in Star Wars Stand Alone - Staff Sought:

really stand alone

Define, please.

AlexRaymond · Oct 9, 2018, 9:52 PM

@tinuviel The major players, storylines, planets, ships (ie anything named/referenced in movie, book, comic) etc. are out there in the universe, but not part of the game.

Solo doesn't show up to work with the local smuggling group for a few months. Mon Mothma doesn't show up to start a splinter group of the rebellion. Younger Tarkin doesn't park his star destroyer over the planet to personally deal with the issues of the system. There isn't an interlude involving some component of the death star being built on the planet where players can interact with the main story. Its really stand alone with original characters (pc and NPC) in a its own fish bowl so to speak. The major story components are out there in the distant background with this focused locally.

Bad at Lurking · Oct 9, 2018, 10:06 PM

If I'm understanding correctly, you're looking for a kind of Star Wars themed suburb game? A nice quiet corner of the galaxy where nothing that means anything to the overall story of the Star Wars milieu actually happens?

I'm not entirely sure I understand the attraction, since Star Wars is, as a genre (and it is like Star Trek in being it's own genre at this point) kinda about change and revolution/evolution and such. But good luck with it!

faraday · Oct 9, 2018, 10:17 PM

@alexraymond Sounds neat. FYI, AresMUSH supports the FFG Star Wars system out of the box (along with lots of other stuff). The FFG system hasn't been field-tested on a real game yet, but I'd definitely offer what support I could for anyone trying it.

AlexRaymond · Oct 10, 2018, 12:57 AM

@bad-at-lurking That's jumping to conclusions a little. I said imperial era (between clone wars and bby 0). It involves an upstart system in revolt without enough imperial presence for conflict with full on planet bombardment. Based on Rogue One and Solo (Han as imperial trooper fighting upstarts in trench war fare). And syndicate presence for smuggler/pirate. Revoltion and change, whether white hats win or Empire dominates. Star Wars without using proper people places and things (which exist elsewhere just not on this part of the stage). Basically that fight between imperial oppression and potential rebellion but with is own heroes and villains for whatever change they fight for.

@faraday ... This is good to hear I may look into Ares as an option. That will cut down a lot of work.

Sunny · Oct 10, 2018, 1:02 AM

There is a TON of stuff you can do in Star Wars without Features being on-screen characters at all. I've run many a Star Wars tabletop that was LOTS of fun without any of the major players making an appearance.

Auspice · Oct 10, 2018, 1:42 AM

tbh, I kind of prefer the idea of a SW game without it revolving around the Big Names.

It was a war (it's in the name!). There were plenty of battles, things going on, etc. Rogue One was an example of that. Something major that happened, something that turned the tide in the war, and Big FC Hero Ass may have never known the people who pulled it off personally, but if they hadn't.....

FCs can and often are problematic. Both in getting and finding good players for them and getting other players to do shit that isn't just fawning over them / being convinced the only way to 'be involved' is to fishbowl 'em.

Sunny · Oct 10, 2018, 3:14 AM

If I had more energy, if I had any creative power right now, I'd offer some of it to you. It's a good concept, it's a great idea, and I really really really hope you can find a team to work with. Best of luck, and I hope I can someday play on this game.

skew · Oct 10, 2018, 1:50 PM

Idea sounds wonderful. I regularly think about playing in a Star Wars universe without any of the, uh, Star Wars? I really dig the tech level, the way the government works, the mood and feel of the worlds. It all really interests me, but I hate the idea of being beholden (entirely) to a story that's fixed, or even a story where the "heroes" and "villains" are so well defined.

All that said, no idea how I can help. Compared to most everyone else here, I'm probably on the bottom end of the "Fan Knowledge" ladder. But I'll be happy to offer what I can?

AlexRaymond · Oct 10, 2018, 2:07 PM

@skew said in Star Wars Stand Alone - Staff Sought:

I hate the idea of being beholden (entirely) to a story that's fixed

This, this is the part that interests me most.

You have 3+ million habitable planets, Lucas has a Leia quote that there werre 32K systems in the Galactic Senate alone. Its a large canvas, as has been pointed out, why do we need to RP on Tatooine or Corellia, again even? Obi Luke and Chewie are skulking about the Death Star, how many PC teams do we need hanging round there leading up to the Battle of Yavin?

I'll keep you in the loop @skew, seriously going to look at Aresmush here to conserve some time and effort.

Auspice · Oct 10, 2018, 2:23 PM

@alexraymond said in Star Wars Stand Alone - Staff Sought:

I'll keep you in the loop @skew, seriously going to look at Aresmush here to conserve some time and effort.

Join us over on the Forum: https://forum.aresmush.com/
@faraday is very active in supporting Aresmush and can answer q's in setup and even developing for it.

skew · Oct 10, 2018, 4:26 PM

@auspice @faraday is there an Ares discord group and/or hang out location?

faraday · Oct 10, 2018, 4:31 PM

@skew The discord is in private beta right now while I get the hang of how it works and stuff. I'll PM an invite. Anyone who's using (or interested in using) Ares can message me for an invite as well. It'll be public eventually.

Auspice · Oct 10, 2018, 4:52 PM

@skew said in Star Wars Stand Alone - Staff Sought:

@auspice @faraday is there an Ares discord group and/or hang out location?

I didn't want to publicly advertise the Discord since, as Fara mentioned, it's a beta thing (and her site/server!). I've been giving her tips on managing a Discord here and there, but it's her deal to send out invites!

Seraphim73 · Oct 10, 2018, 5:18 PM

I have very little knowledge of the FFG Star Wars system, and no time to actually Staff a game, but I'm absolutely happy to help bounce ideas around. I think that you're going a good place by focusing on a very narrow slice of the universe, although it might be nice to look at a couple of very close systems (like a couple hours in hyperspace tops) rather than just a single planet because smugglers are a major theme in Star Wars, and people are going to want to have their own starships. I would also be very curious on what your thoughts about Force Users and lightsabers are, because that's another hot button issue for Star Wars players. The third hot button issue (as far as I can remember) is factions. Are you planning to have Imps, Rebels, and Indies? Or just focus on one side and Indies who are associated with that side (I like this style and think it saves a lot of headaches, no matter how much I enjoy playing Imps).

Ganymede · Oct 10, 2018, 7:52 PM

So, let's see here.

Faraday's involved? Check.

Star Wars? Check.

No features from the movies? Check.

Yeah, I'll be there.

Saturna · Oct 10, 2018, 8:12 PM

I'm pretty much in, too.

@Seraphim73 has a good point about neighbouring systems! Even if they aren't available for active play, having a few fleshed out for events/excursions/prps, etc, is a pretty great idea.

I also like the idea of focusing on Rebel/Indies, and leaving Imps completely antagonistic. It gives a bit more unity, and there's always the chance for defectors if someone wants a bit of Imperial style.

Jennkryst · Oct 10, 2018, 8:27 PM

A quick primer on FFG dice for those not in the know: https://www.uptofourplayers.com/comic/edge-empire-rulez-pt-1/

magee101 · Oct 10, 2018, 8:39 PM

The idea for setting and storytelling, like others have said, I think is a great way to play a Star Wars game. Admittedly however the only SW rpg system that appeals to me is d20 saga so unless that is the system you end up using I probably won't come check it out

ETA: In fact when I ran saga on roll20 I had my players pick a starting ship, then their first mission was to check out a planet that had sent a partial distress call in the Outer Rik before falling entirely silent and then as they enetered the system they were shot down onto the planet and the entire campaign was based around them fixing their ship and finding a way to destroy the droid fleet from the ground so they could restablish comms and launch