So I'm toying with running a campaign. I haven't actually played EotE yet and I'm going to kick off with a one-shot to gauge interest. But if I do a campaign, one of the ideas I have is the PCs will be involved in smuggling copies of an autobiography which has been supressed by the Empire as Seditious Material.

I think you can guess from the title what my idea for the autobiography will be. But I'm thinking it will make a nice touch when the work "My name is Rex. (subtl) Memoirs of Clone CT-7567".

I'm totally brainstorming ideas right now as all I have is the title and that it would be fun. But do people still use books in the Star Wars setting? If not, what's the common form a book would take?

Also, what would make it seditious? I'm thinking stories about Jedi would do it, but maybe that's okay. Any thoughts, anyone?

The Jedi angle is the obvious one, but one that explores the dehumanization of the clones could be a great story. After all, the clones were the first slaves of the Empire.

I'm totally brainstorming ideas right now as all I have is the title and that it would be fun. But do people still use books in the Star Wars setting? If not, what's the common form a book would take?

I believe there are book equivalents, such as the Holobook.

I'm totally brainstorming ideas right now as all I have is the title and that it would be fun. But do people still use books in the Star Wars setting? If not, what's the common form a book would take?

I believe there are book equivalents, such as the Holobook.

Yes, there's the holobook, but "real" books still exist. They are printed onto flimsiplast and then bound into books.

Granted, they aren't as common as holobooks and datacards (which is a much more common way of hauling books around, as you can load them into a datapad and have a whole mess of them in a single device or into a very small bag), but they do still exist.

If you are having a book written by a clone, I would highly believe that it was written on a datapad or a terminal, and would then probably be easily produced (even discreetly by a comrade in arms) for a digital form.

Just my two credits for you.

Perhaps the reason that the memoir is published onto a physical book is because if it were put in a digital form the empire would be able to slice it and erase/modify it. That would be hard for them to do in the rim but in the core worlds where everything is networked it would be easy to find a networked device. So a influential patron has asked for 1000 coppies of the memior to be printed on flimsiplast and smuggled into Coruscant.

Alternatively the memior has yet to be published and the players are hired to bring the material to a publisher willing to put the book out.

Perhaps the reason that the memoir is published onto a physical book is because if it were put in a digital form the empire would be able to slice it and erase/modify it. That would be hard for them to do in the rim but in the core worlds where everything is networked it would be easy to find a networked device. So a influential patron has asked for 1000 coppies of the memior to be printed on flimsiplast and smuggled into Coruscant.

Alternatively the memior has yet to be published and the players are hired to bring the material to a publisher willing to put the book out.

On the opposite side, some slicers may be posting it in certain areas of the HoloNet and keeping it alive. According to some books (namely the Galaxy of Fear series, which is a mixed bag), there are certain topics on the HoloNet that are shared but are well hidden and, if you aren't careful, a search for them will trace back to you.

So the Empire may know it is online, but may use it as a trace to find out whomever is looking for it. It also means that slicers may want to keep it going and be posting it themselves.

If the party wants to spread the word (or to lead some Imperials into a trap), there's an option for you if you have a Slicer that knows what they are doing.

The book details the events surrounding execution of Order 66 by Palpatine and subsequent oppression of aging clones heck out the Traviss novels. My faves of the EU

Ooh, Flimsiplast sounds great. And quite Star Wars-y. Datapads also sound a good fit.

I especially like the ideas from Ryoden and LibrarianNPC. I'd like to combine these somehow. I really like the idea of the Empire using it to trap people. I also really like the idea of some people trying to keep it alive in hidden places. And I REALLY like the idea of smuggling hardcopies of it into the Empire.

I have to find a way to tie all this together. I'm getting echos of both The Name of the Rose and The Ninth Gate (book was called the Dumas Club) from these ideas.

I think I'm going to need to come up with better reasons why the book is significant than merely subversive. I think subversive is good, but I think later they should find out there is more to it. Perhaps Rex's memoirs contain, or are rumoured to contain, references to some lost treasure or secret or something. Something learned or found during the Clone Wars, perhaps. Any suggestions what or how it could be hidden in something multiple people have read and still not found?

I must say, I wish I had discovered this approach to writing an adventure years ago.

Great thread and love the adventure concept. Outright theft is likely

Rex did find a deserter in one episode, and let him go. Maybe he made contact with that deserter after Order 66 and they formed an underground railroad for clone ex-troopers. The keys and contacts are hidden in the text somehow.

Great thread and love the adventure concept. Outright theft is likely

Rex did find a deserter in one episode, and let him go. Maybe he made contact with that deserter after Order 66 and they formed an underground railroad for clone ex-troopers. The keys and contacts are hidden in the text somehow.

Or perhaps Rex wrote it as a collection of memoirs, hid a code that only a select few that knew him would have determined within certain dates, and viola!

Example: Perhaps in his memoirs, he notes each battle he's taken a part in. Take the first string of numbers from each date of a ground battle he took part in and now you have coordinates to a location.

Or you'd limit it even further to when he speaks about a certain place, like when he finds himself speaking or thinking about Kamino.

Or. . .well, you get the picture.

I was thinking how to introduce it to my players. It would have to be innocuous...oh, there's a book, whoopdidoo. It's history? Fine, give it to the scholar. Then a Perception roll to notice that the first letter of the first sentence in each chapter spelled out something odd, like "fooledbysith", or "imperialtreason", or "palpysux", or ... "hotforpadme"...

I was thinking how to introduce it to my players. It would have to be innocuous...oh, there's a book, whoopdidoo. It's history? Fine, give it to the scholar. Then a Perception roll to notice that the first letter of the first sentence in each chapter spelled out something odd, like "fooledbysith", or "imperialtreason", or "palpysux", or ... "hotforpadme"...

And let's not talk about chapters where hes "cleaning" his "gun," eh?

One way the book could hold a secret that everyone has read but only a select few understands is through outside knowledge. Maybe the "aged librarian" who is hiring the crew find the book and bring it to him is actually a clone deserter. He served with Rex and knew Rex was keeping a journal but only recently discovered, or decided, that it could contain the location of something important. Maybe his daughter has been showing a sensitivity to the Force and he remembers Rex talking about "this mission where he escorted General So-and-so to a secret temple. He wants to try and figure out which general it was and therefore where the temple is so his daughter can learn whet she needs.

or ... "hotforpadme"...

Heh. LOL! I can see why he'd want to keep that one secret given the general he was typically serving under. Not that he would have officially known but still, there's only so many times a night even a Jedi can pull the old "I sense a disturbance - I'd better just go and check on the senator."

So anyway - lots of great replies. Appreciate all of them!

I'd like a certain ambiguity about whether the message is even there or not. I'd like there to be rumours it contains a secret, but no-one quite knows whether it's true or not. I mentioned the Ninth Gate earlier. That's a very interesting film that gets a lot of mileage out of is it / isn't it with a book that a lot of rumours have built around. So I'm definitely going with that.

One thing missing is who the message is encoded for, and that's important. If you know where the treasure is and plan to go get it, you don't need to publish it in a book. He has to be trying to get the coordinates or secret to someone else. Maybe someone he can't contact directly, maybe can't even find, but someone who would hear about a book like this and read it. Someone from his past, maybe. And someone who might spot the message.

The could be someone who'd recognize the old codes they used in the Clone Wars to hide messages, perhaps. Which could be where the rumours come from - others who recognize parts of it or that it seems to be part of an old code but don't have the full story.

I like this. And it answers both why Rex would publish the memoirs (to get them to a lost contact who would undoubtedly notice such a book) and how the intended recipient might recognize the message but others wouldn't.

So what's it guarding and who is the recipient? Did we ever find out the final fate of Asoka? She wasn't technically a Jedi when Order #66 came through and as the justification for the executions was that the Jedi were staging a coup (is that right?) it's a double reason she might not fall under the order in Rex's eyes as she was no longer part of the Jedi command structure. Could that work?

One way the book could hold a secret that everyone has read but only a select few understands is through outside knowledge. Maybe the "aged librarian" who is hiring the crew find the book and bring it to him is actually a clone deserter.

I can roll this in with the idea about an old wartime code system. Another clone from the same era or battalion might recognize it. The old training never dies!

Logically there would be two reasons Rex would go through the trouble of publishing , and therefore disseminating, a book.

1 - The person he was trying to contact was lost to him so he spread his (secret) message as wide as possible.

or

2 - He wanted his (secret) message to go to as wide an audience as possible, but only be understandable by a specific viewer.

An obvious answer to the second option would be his brothers, the other clones. So what message did he want to send and why was it secret?

There are rumors of planets that are run by droids, where droid renegades can go and live their life out of servitude. Maybe Rex tried to, or succeeded at, setting up a world for his brothers to live out their lives peaceably.

Just had another very Star Wasian idea.

What if the librarian got his hands on a damaged first edition of the book and (in comparing it to his more recently published edition) noticed that the dates were different. When he contacted the publisher WALT co. they told him that the rights to the book had been bought from a Georgio Lucassa. Mr. Lucassa explained that he had made the changes to improve the accuracy and enjoyment of the book and was not willing to release any more coppies of the original release. Now the party needs to go out and track down a copy of the original release to see if there really is a hidden secret message.

There are rumors of planets that are run by droids, where droid renegades can go and live their life out of servitude. Maybe Rex tried to, or succeeded at, setting up a world for his brothers to live out their lives peaceably.

Wow. That's a phenomenal idea. A secret call going out to the surviving clones "come to X". Naturally most clones would be interested in buying and reading an autobiography of a famous captain and one of them, filled with stories they'd recognize. And naturally they'd be the ones to recognize the code. I'm not sure how I could tie this in with an adventure goal for the PCs, but I really like the idea.

How long before EotE were the clone wars? The clones would be pretty old by now. That's one reason I wanted to know about Asoka. She was young at the time and the fact that she was no longer a Jedi could have saved her from Order #66. I kind of like the more intimate touch of Rex trying to reach one person. If she were still alive somewhere in the galaxy, that could work really well for me.

Just had another very Star Wasian idea.

What if the librarian got his hands on a damaged first edition of the book and (in comparing it to his more recently published edition) noticed that the dates were different. When he contacted the publisher WALT co. they told him that the rights to the book had been bought from a Georgio Lucassa. Mr. Lucassa explained that he had made the changes to improve the accuracy and enjoyment of the book and was not willing to release any more coppies of the original release. Now the party needs to go out and track down a copy of the original release to see if there really is a hidden secret message.

You are a bad, bad, bad person. :D

The clone wars started about 25 years before the Battle of Yavin (the official start of the EotE game.) and ended about 20 years prior. I would assume most clones to be functionally 40-45 by this date, maybe older because of SPACE SCIENCE.

Adventure goal? Stop/help the empire find it and destroy/commandeer them, Stop/help the Rebellion find/recruit them. Or split the difference and simply help them stay hidden from all parties.

Regarding Ahsoka: she could very easily have been safe from the initial effects of Order 66. To my knowledge there is no official story for her beyond when she left the order as a Padawan. There is a good amount to suggest that order 66 was not the end of the purge. The Emperor sent out specialists to hunt down anyone with even an smidgen of force sensitivity. The only reason for us to assume she has survived to today is the fact that she is a main character.

In the game I am playing in Ahsoka is teaching my character to hone and also hide his sensitivity to the force. (so cool)

Regarding Ahsoka: she could very easily have been safe from the initial effects of Order 66. To my knowledge there is no official story for her beyond when she left the order as a Padawan. There is a good amount to suggest that order 66 was not the end of the purge. The Emperor sent out specialists to hunt down anyone with even an smidgen of force sensitivity. The only reason for us to assume she has survived to today is the fact that she is a main character.

In the game I am playing in Ahsoka is teaching my character to hone and also hide his sensitivity to the force. (so cool)

To elaborate on the Jedi Purge:

You can argue that it started off with Order 66. Afterward, Darth Vader and his troops, usually the 501st, would go out and hunt Jedi, whether they were rumors or real.

Of course, Vader couldn't be everywhere, so Palpatine put a bounty on the head of every Jedi he couldn't account for after Order 66. A Jedi Hunter was one who specialized in hunting Jedi, whether they be a Bounty Hunter, a Dark Jedi, or an Emperor's Hand.

We should also note that there were other military troops created for this purpose. The Darktrooper Program was one such project that was designated to help defeat Jedi.

By the time 1 BBY rolled around, it was believed that the majority of the Jedi were killed off, and the few that were in hiding were either assumed to be dead or simply no longer a threat. Palpatine called off the purge at that point.

We could dig around for more details, but I think people are growing bored with my tendency for long-winded answers ^^;

We could dig around for more details, but I think people are growing bored with my tendency for long-winded answers ^^;

Oh not at all. I like reading them! And keep in mind I'm quite new to the setting.

So it sounds like I actually have good reasons for Asoka to have survived. Not reasons why she would have survived, but good reasons why she could. Consider the Emperor probably gets hold of a list of Jedi when the temple is raided. Asoka wont be on that list. The Emperor's agents pursue all the rumours and eyewitness accounts about Jedi. Asoka wont have been travelling as or calling herself a Jedi for some time by the time of Order #66. The clones were ordered to kill Jedi and on the pretext that the Jedi order was staging a coup. Asoka wouldn't fall under this order and they also wouldn't think she should because she was an exile from the order. The greatest threat to the Jedi was Vader who was motivated by the belief the Jedi order needed to be destroyed. Asoka wasn't part of that and additionally as a former good friend and student of Anakin's who he both cared for and who had been sympathetic to his troubles with being part of the order, walking away as he had often wanted to, he could well have chosen not to hunt her down. Maybe he would have but I think he may not. Yes, he was twisted and evil, but I feel there was good in him for some reason.

So - long-winded post if my own. But anyway, I've decided the message is for Asoka. If she is alive, I think Rex would believe she'd find out about and read the autobiography of a long-lost friend from long ago.

We could dig around for more details, but I think people are growing bored with my tendency for long-winded answers ^^;

Oh not at all. I like reading them! And keep in mind I'm quite new to the setting.

So it sounds like I actually have good reasons for Asoka to have survived. Not reasons why she would have survived, but good reasons why she could. Consider the Emperor probably gets hold of a list of Jedi when the temple is raided. Asoka wont be on that list. The Emperor's agents pursue all the rumours and eyewitness accounts about Jedi. Asoka wont have been travelling as or calling herself a Jedi for some time by the time of Order #66. The clones were ordered to kill Jedi and on the pretext that the Jedi order was staging a coup. Asoka wouldn't fall under this order and they also wouldn't think she should because she was an exile from the order. The greatest threat to the Jedi was Vader who was motivated by the belief the Jedi order needed to be destroyed. Asoka wasn't part of that and additionally as a former good friend and student of Anakin's who he both cared for and who had been sympathetic to his troubles with being part of the order, walking away as he had often wanted to, he could well have chosen not to hunt her down. Maybe he would have but I think he may not. Yes, he was twisted and evil, but I feel there was good in him for some reason.

So - long-winded post if my own. But anyway, I've decided the message is for Asoka. If she is alive, I think Rex would believe she'd find out about and read the autobiography of a long-lost friend from long ago.

How well-known was Vader's true Identity? For all my exposure to the EU (which is minimal in comparison), that secret was well kept. Rex, being captain of the 501st, would have been part of Operation Knightfall, he would have known who Darth Vader was, perhaps hidden within his memoirs was Vader's true identity. Ahsoka definitely would have interest in knowing who killed all her friends.

Let me know when you connect all the dots, I would be very interested in "borrowing" your idea.

We could dig around for more details, but I think people are growing bored with my tendency for long-winded answers ^^;

Oh not at all. I like reading them! And keep in mind I'm quite new to the setting.

So it sounds like I actually have good reasons for Asoka to have survived. Not reasons why she would have survived, but good reasons why she could. Consider the Emperor probably gets hold of a list of Jedi when the temple is raided. Asoka wont be on that list. The Emperor's agents pursue all the rumours and eyewitness accounts about Jedi. Asoka wont have been travelling as or calling herself a Jedi for some time by the time of Order #66. The clones were ordered to kill Jedi and on the pretext that the Jedi order was staging a coup. Asoka wouldn't fall under this order and they also wouldn't think she should because she was an exile from the order. The greatest threat to the Jedi was Vader who was motivated by the belief the Jedi order needed to be destroyed. Asoka wasn't part of that and additionally as a former good friend and student of Anakin's who he both cared for and who had been sympathetic to his troubles with being part of the order, walking away as he had often wanted to, he could well have chosen not to hunt her down. Maybe he would have but I think he may not. Yes, he was twisted and evil, but I feel there was good in him for some reason.

So - long-winded post if my own. But anyway, I've decided the message is for Asoka. If she is alive, I think Rex would believe she'd find out about and read the autobiography of a long-lost friend from long ago.

So if the message if intended for Ahsoka, what is the message? How do the players get involved? Are they hired to find a copy of the book? Is Ahsoka the one who hires them?

Maybe;

Ahsoka never left Coruscant. She's been living in the under-city for the last two decades evading the empire under an assumed name. (Possibly with the help of Ventress) The book is published and distributed but only available in the outer rim because closer to the core the Empire has labeled it seditious. A friend of hers reads the book and suspects that there is a message for Ahsoka in it and hires the group to smuggle a copy into Coruscant, track down Ahsoka, help her decrypt the message and follow through with whatever it is that the message says.

So what does the message say?

I just thought of something... I hesitate to rain on the Rex parade because it's a great idea, but...

In the TCW episode where Ahsoka is accused of treason, and it looks like she's killed a bunch of clones escaping, while in Anakin's presence Rex tells another clone that "he's worked with her before, she would never do this." But the minute Anakin is gone, he reiterates over the comm that she's killed several clones and is dangerous. It's fast and subtle, but it's there.

Is that the chip talking? Does he harbour ill-feelings towards most Jedi? Is he solely loyal to Anakin?