Homebrew: Making a Galaxy... Any Advice?

By Castlecruncher, in Star Wars: Edge of the Empire RPG

Posted at

Hello all! I haven't been on the forums for a looong time, since I haven't really been playing for a while. HOWEVER, I'm back and at it again! The catch (there's always a catch) is that I'm not exactly playing in the Star Wars universe. I'm using the system since I love it so much, and since I'm making a sci fi universe I luckily don't need to convert anything. However, I do have the issue I've probably always had: What do I throw at the players?

Here's some background on the game, if you need it:

Due to popular demand, we are playing a colonization game where the primary focus is to create and advance a colony. The planet they are on has three primary contenders nearby (native plant-based species): the peaceful Plants, the neutral Trees, and the violent Bushes. Their colony is based around a large research ship that went dormant and was reactivated for the purpose of the colony. So far, they have a family of Plants, a dozen members of an ex-slave species, seven guard droids, around twenty worker droids, and a couple of knights (both with orders to take over management of the colony, which doesn't fly well with the players). They easily outgun the natives with the ship's flak cannons, but the AI of the ship has a directive to not wage war with the natives (as the AI has real intelligence, it can be persuaded otherwise), which means they can't fight the Bushes yet (not to mention the Trees demand that they replant all of their trees they chop down).

In terms of space organizations, there are the Dragons and Tallans, two races that are at "war," but that don't openly fight one another; it's more behind the scenes and always far away from civilization. There is also a warlord named Maximus who is conquering all over the place, as well as several lesser nations (including the Skarilian Knights, who want to take over the colony, albeit peacefully).

The game includes fantasy elements and doesn't follow physics, since I find that much easier to work with in terms of how stuff works.

Now back to my original question: What do I throw at my players? I'm really pulling a blank here, so if anyone has any resources or ideas, they would be much appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

Posted at

Vines?

Posted at

How about a deadly typhoon or some sort of rain storm? That'll be sure to get your players' feet wet. Certain struggles to push with inclimate weather would be how to deal with drastic weather, sudden floods, a colony ship that is ill fitted for certain weathers not predicted, how the players deal with chaos, how they do against the bushes who are used to the weather, how they regulate safety, is anyone gone before the storm hits, do they lose resources they now need to hunt for when the storm is over, is anyone lost during the storm, technical malfunctions with the ship, all sorts of stuff.

Personally I see a good excuse for a bit of a horror/scary session to experiment with.

Think about it. Lightning hits the colony ship causing the power to go out. Back up generators go up and activate power conservation protocols. This is really bad because half the ship was in maintenance before the storm (possibly during the "reviving" period of getting the colony ship up and running again). That means half the ship no longer works. The lights are out, power's out, everything is all "ka-bloowie" for that particular side. That leaves only half the ship (which is on low energy and poorly lit lights) still semi-functional. Everyone cowers away into the same room to hold out until the storm ends.

Meanwhile, a local beast of the planet, prowling about, finds the ship during the storm and takes refuge. This big, clunky beast is yet a master of stealth and will take any chance he gets at finding food (even if it be walking machine colonists). Rather than confronting any group, he lures individuals out one by one and (guess what?) devours em.

Now that the scenario is all set up, here's the action starter; the storm is too hazardous for the low power conditions of the ship and the colonists wont last the night without turning back on the shield generator on the far side of the colony. In order to do this, a hand full of members (the players) have to go out and find the room without being eaten by the prowling hunter on the dark end of the ship.

I hope that's creates any new ideas of a story or kick starter for you, let me know