So last session involved two separate trials for two of our party members. What for do you ask? Desertion.
There was a big land battle, and two of us (I was one of them) went for some explosives to help win the day. The other two party members said they were going for the shuttle. We assumed they were going to provide close air support. Turns out they crapped themselves at the sight of Star Destroyers and made the jump to hyperspace.
We survived and the deserters were later apprehended. One of them managed to convince the rebels that he should live (so his character is still around) but the other one wasn't so lucky. That one is going to die on some backwater planet.
This may sound harsh, but we did some research prior to the trial about the punishments for desertion. Every country was either death or life in prison. And since the rebellion can't spare the resources for life imprisonment...
Either way, I am going to change the launch codes and not share them.
Worst Party Members Ever
Just a suggestion. If you don't want to kill off or abandon these characters, send them on a series of suicide missions to win a reprieve. Watch the WWII movie The Dirty Dozen for inspiration.
How are all of the players handling this? Was it all good fun or are there hard feelings?
The Alliance doesn't strike me as the kind of organisation to kill deserters. The AoR book seems pretty clear that it doesn't support such activities as terrorism or murder; it's trying to take the moral high ground.
Have you asked the players if they really want to fight the Galactic Civil War? Sounds like they might be happier with Edge of the Empire.
I haven't read it yet, but the title reminds me if this song
Yeah, I don't think the Rebellion would execute deserters. That's more the Empire's style. The Rebel Alliance would court-martial deserters; maybe strip them of military rank and stick them at a desk somewhere, but not execute them for failing to do their duty.
Your player's really need to have a talk with progressions' over in EotE. He's got the opposite problem!
I agree that, more than likely, unless they actually turned to the Empire or actively tried to avoid being re-recruited, the Alliance would probably slap them with "conduct unbecoming" and call it a day - they need bodies more than anything right now. Paycut and crappy missions for a few months, then back to the grind (and reduce their duty by 20 each or something.)
At the worst I would think that the Alliance would chuck them on one of their prison planets, and certainly not strand them on some death world. Pretty sure the Rebellion conducts it's executions in a more humane manner anyway (Legends EU generally used firing squads). Execution might be warranted for war crimes or outright treason and espionage but that's probably it.
Give the two a suicide/high risk mission, as was mentioned above, to earn a reprieve and definitely strip them of rank and authority though.
this doesn't sound like desertion, it sounds like cowardice. charge them with dereliction, give them kp, lower thirteenth and move oh.this isn't with killing PCs. they got scared on a fight, it happens. also, where was the GM. there should have been a discipline.check or q.cool to see of they would be overwhelmed by their fear. truthfully, I think it was pretty good role playing. they took a human element in a moment that typically doesn't have one.
Sounds like the death penalty is already a done deal though...
Why not "Death by marooning on a primitive world."
Have the player reroll at the same XP level, and his old character (now an NPC) can return at a later date for his revenge....
Edited by GhostofmanBecause death by marooning seems pretty savage and out of character for an organization that is generally portrayed as morally good? If they were going to kill someone from running away from an ISD (which normally wouldn't be a crime if they hadn't left party members behind, if everyone escaped that would be called retreat. Unless the Alliance executes people for failure now.) they'd probably make it clean, just shoot him and be done with it.
Sounds like the death penalty is already a done deal though...
Why not "Death by marooning on a primitive world."
Have the player reroll at the same XP level, and his old character (now an NPC) can return at a later date for his revenge....
doest need to be. use a destiny point and edit the trials punishment or what they were charged for.
Because death by marooning seems pretty savage and out of character for an organization that is generally portrayed as morally good? If they were going to kill someone from running away from an ISD (which normally wouldn't be a crime if they hadn't left party members behind, if everyone escaped that would be called retreat. Unless the Alliance executes people for failure now.) they'd probably make it clean, just shoot him and be done with it.
The Alliance does essentially the same thing to it's POWs. They dump em on a world out in the middle of nowhere with only sufficient tools that they can survive if they work.
Being the good guys doesn't mean you have to forgive everything. Sometimes the right thing is unpleasant.
To be honest, the theme of our entire AOR campaign is about moral greys, about how hard it is to fight a 'just war' and keep the moral high ground when everyone around you and every other faction is ruthless and callous. It's hard to fight by honourable conventions of war when nobody else cares to.
That's why we have rogue (but highly successful) Special Forces groups as PC antagonists, and the moral quandaries of having to kill stormtroopers and clone troops because they're so fanatical and they can't really be taken as prisoners.
But all that said, I really don't think shooting recruits with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder sounds like something the Alliance would do either.
Because death by marooning seems pretty savage and out of character for an organization that is generally portrayed as morally good? If they were going to kill someone from running away from an ISD (which normally wouldn't be a crime if they hadn't left party members behind, if everyone escaped that would be called retreat. Unless the Alliance executes people for failure now.) they'd probably make it clean, just shoot him and be done with it.
The Alliance does essentially the same thing to it's POWs. They dump em on a world out in the middle of nowhere with only sufficient tools that they can survive if they work.
Being the good guys doesn't mean you have to forgive everything. Sometimes the right thing is unpleasant.
The PoWs are put on unpleasant but habitable worlds, in significant numbers so they can work together, and are given regular supply drops. Not the same as putting someone alone on a world that will most likely kill them. Retreat in a hopeless situation (and ISDs are that unless you have a Mon Cal on speed dial) are to be expected in guerrilla groups, the Alliance should should count themselves lucky that anyone got away at all up against that kind of firepower. After all, what sort of Shuttle can stop a ISD and it's fighter complement? Hardly what I call a death penalty offense at any rate, certainly not warranting a brutal and slow death by marooning. As a comparison, the guy who designed the Death Star (and all the other post Endor super weapons) got death by firing squad in the Legends canon.
you're arguing the best way to kill people because they got scared, while calling them the good guys. . I see a problem here.
Also this could be/have been excellent fodder for a rescue arc. The two PCs that escaped go back in to try and break out those they left behind. Meanwhile manufacture a reason for those captured to break out of their cells. Can they stay free on board the ISD until help arrives? What mischief can they get upto? Meanwhile how are the others gonna get em out?
Edited for autocorrect shenanigans.
Edited by Vixen IcazaIn fact I may even manufacture this situation for my F&D game. Thanks for the idea.
Also this could be/have been excellent fodder for a rescue arc. The two PCs that escaped go back in to try and break out those they left behind. Meanwhile manufacture a reason for those captured to break out of their cells. Can they stay free on board the ISD until help arrives? What mischief can they get upto? Meanwhile how are the others gonna get em out?
Edited for autocorrect shenanigans.
And the deserters learn a good lesson in not leaving comrades behind. You are on to something.
Imagine being such a coward that you flee a fight... In an RPG!
It sounds like an awesome prelude to an Edge of the Empire campaign. Think about how Firefly began - veterans from the losing side of a war now trying to make their way in the galaxy.
I guessing the players where Roleplaying their PC's? If so then that's great. What did they want out of the situation? Are they looking to ditch these characters and make new ones? I would suggest making the story fit the needs and wants of the party?
Do you want the group to go explore an unknown world? Drop them on a primitive planet and have the others come rescue.
Does the party want to be on the run from the rebellion?
Do you want to end the campaign? End it and start a new?
Want to keep the party together and continue being part of the rebellion? Then change the ruling that was passed down and say the court marshal was an over zealous ex imp and when his commander heard of the decision he immediately over turned it. The zealot could become an antagonist within the rebellion, angry at the party because they represent his failures and remind him of his embarrassment.
Yes, the Alliance is the good guys.
But even the fledgling United States executed deserters. Abandoning your comrades is unforgivable. Put these cowards down.
Not in my game.
a shuttle vs star destroyer. a shuttle vs. a star destroyer. a shuttle vs a star destroyer. a shuttle,in all its under powered weaponry and 15 hull glory, vs. a star destroyer.
what did they do to piss off the GM? he sends them in asuicide run, and then when they retreat in the face of an overwhelming enemy, he pulls a Hitler eastern front, and has them shot. or marooned (but that has the same result, so im not going to argue symantics) , I can't allow myself to forget the big argument of this thread. he might as well have sent them. charging into a machine gunners nest armed only with a plastic soup spoon wearing a halter top and Spandex.