Stupid Source Matiral

By Zenoforce88, in Star Wars: Edge of the Empire RPG

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Because, Mr. Pirate, when I try to think of character ideas, or help others, for character ideas within a set universe. I like to try and draw from the source matiral as much as possible. As I feel it allows for a deeper connection between the setting and the character created.

Though to be quite honest I see no reason to give you the above explanation 2P51. I've read your other posts on the forum and you tend to come off as brash and that you seem rather eager to attack anything that you think is "stupid". It's what I want, that is all that should matter.

Nw don't get me wrong, I greatly appreciate all the advice everyone in this thread has given, and if anything proven that Star Wars is far to Force Focused for my taste, part of the draw for my group to EotE. So we will be forced to pull from other Sci-Fi series in order to formulate character ideas.

The thing with Star Wars (not a problem in my mind) is that it is a retelling of the classic fairy tale. Farm boy, on his journey to become a knight, to saved the princess from the evil overlord, etc.,etc.,etc. It is only 'original' in the fact Lucas put that story on the silver screen with a sci-fi flavoring. He borrows heavily from other concepts and examples in literary history.

Now, if you are only looking for 'in universe' examples, there is a plethora of source material to examine, most of the older of which is not very "jedi-ified' or force heavy. There are over a hundred novels, dozens of graphic novels/comic lines (the old Marvel line of the 70's-80's being my least favorite, personally), Essential guides to characters, etc. The universe took a heavy Jedi plunge with the addition of the "Tales of the Jedi" comic line and "Knights of the Old Republic" as well as the prequel trilogy.

You also have 3 previous editions of the game, d6 being, for the most part, not very force centered. It was around when the Tales comic line was big, so of course had a sourcebook, but had tonnes of other source material to pull from, including one book specifically geared for exactly what you asked about (of which I posted a link to where it could be found on page 1). Most of the WEG stuff can be found there.

If you are looking to just what FFG has put out, well, there you may have issues. With almost 40 years of Star Wars history, FFG presented a very versatile system to create almost anything you can think of, but did not give many pre-done examples, probably due to said history. I personally love pregen characters and templates. Always helps when you are at a loss for a character concept. With the current material it is EXTREMELY easy to just ignore the 'force element' to the universe. Both Edge of the Empire and Age of Rebellion both only offer 1 specialization option and a small section of the book in its own chapter. Not to mention Force and Destiny is one line you don't even have to open.

If you are strictly looking to what there is comics wise (pre-Disney), the early Marvel followed the heroes of the movie, Dark Empire again followed the movie heroes, Crimson Empire followed a former Imperial Guardsman, Rogue Squadron you seem to be aware of, etc. Most followed fan favorites as seen in the movies. If you want some examples from within what you have current access too, perhaps mention what comic/graphic novel story lines you now own? From there, it would be much easier to offer more focused advice.

Is there a glut of force heavy source material? Yes. Is there a glut of non-force heavy source material? Yes. Simply put, there is a glut of material, not all of which will be useful to you, but it is there.

If you still want further help, narrow the breadth of your inquiry and I will gladly try and help.

Happy gaming, peace.

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I would recomend the Han Solo trillogy of books - if your not looking to create a 'totaly not han' character, pay attention to the people he interacts with, rather than him. Tales from Mos Esly Cantina and Tales from [whatever that clone wars club was] are also great, as they're basicly all about taking a charcter that was on screen for a few seconds and turning them into a character consept.

Edit:

Actualy, now that I think about it more, that is really the secret to getting non-force, non-clone inspiration from Star Wars material. Read almost any book or comic, but don't pay attention to the main character (we already know what they're like) but pay attention to secondary and supporting characters. The ones that are just there for the book or the scene - thats where you find the 'rest of the world' for any IP material, not just Star Wars.

Edited by Quicksilver
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Yeah, just take something from pop culture and rethink it as an EotE character really

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Killjoys looks like it might take up the mantle of Firefly honorably...

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I like Dark Matter, by Killjoys seems too "jumpy" for my tastes--like it's written for/by someone with ADD.

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Thank you everyone for your advice, though i was hoping to find ideas from within Star Wars, I suppose they have gotten to Jedi Focused to have anything other than force sensitives. Unless you want to copy the Fetts, or Rogue Squadron. I suppose I'll just have to look at, and send others, to other series for inspiration, sense the source matiral clearly doesn't have it.

That still seems exceptional limiting. Star Wars (the movie, not the franchise) is a huge potpourri of ideas. It's been turned into a screenwriting cliché in the last 45 years, but the original script is a checklist of the Heroes Journey, a story that's as old as Homer (the greek, not the cartoon). The Mentor, the Hero, the Sidekick, the Maiden, the Trickster, the Devil.

To say "You gotta pick a Boba Fett lookalike" is tying the hands of your players excessively. (Besides, as we've already proven Fett is just a Spaghetti Western gunslinger like Blondie or Django)

Edited by Desslok
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I think perhaps the topic got derailed right from the get-go, so that the OP question wasn't really answered, but I don't think it's correct to say that "the source material clearly doesn't have [inspiration for non Force-using characters]."

Looking at the movies alone, we have...

Han Solo is a Smuggler, easy. Lando fits that bill too.

Chewbacca could be (depending on your outlook) a Technician, or perhaps he's more of a "Hired Gun" due to his life debt.

Bounty Hunters and Hired Guns could be gleaned from the Fetts (sure), but also from any of the others in the "rogues' gallery" aboard the Executor during the scene in Episode V. Also The Clone Wars serial is replete with such beings.

C-3PO is likely to be a Colonist.

R2-D2 is a Technician.

The show Rebels has some Force users, but also some very impressive non-Force users: Hera, Zeb, Sabine, Chopper, all very capable "Edgy" heroes.

I'm pretty sure all those characters are in the comics, and those are just characters from the canon.

In the EU:

Talon Karrde and his organization feels pretty well close to the Edge of the Empire. A crew could easily be under the command of an individual like Karrde.

The Hand of Judgement (from Timothy Zahn) is a group of AWOL Stormtroopers that are on the run from the Empire, while at the same time trying to live up to their ideals and make the galaxy a better place. Not sure if they're in the comics, but it's a couple good novels anyway.

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Star Wars inspiration you say?

Look at the non-force sensies in the films, series, comics and books for inspiration:

Han Solo

Chewie

Leia

Ackbar

Mon Mothma

Crix Madine

Wedge Antilles

Boba Fett

Zam Wesell

Jango Fett

Jar Jar Binks

Capt./General Tarpals

Amidala

Her hand maidens and security

Embo

Hondo Ohnaka (and pirate crew)

Aurra Sing

Zeb

Sabine

Pre Vizla

Hera

Lando Calrissian

Admiral Thrawn

Soontir Fel

Jagged Fel

Bo-Katan

Bulduga

Cad Bane

There's a long list here and another list here.

Granted, most main characters are often forcies, but support characters are often at least as if not more interesting.

I second all the extra-franchise suggestions above, but if you prefer star wars only, scrounge the databank and wookiepedia for inspiration.

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If you have some spare time and access to YouTube, you can watch all of the companion conversations from Star Wars: The Old Republic - in particular, the Smuggler, Bounty Hunter and Imperial Agent companions. It's a pretty wide range of character types there. If you don't mind spoilers.

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Pull open a Shadowrun or Cyberpunk 2020 RPG core book. All of your "Edge of the Empire" archetypes are right there. All you have to do is dial back the cybernetics.

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Thank you everyone for your advice, though i was hoping to find ideas from within Star Wars, I suppose they have gotten to Jedi Focused to have anything other than force sensitives. Unless you want to copy the Fetts, or Rogue Squadron. I suppose I'll just have to look at, and send others, to other series for inspiration, sense the source matiral clearly doesn't have it.

I definitely see where you're coming from. I've been burned out on Force sensitives for a long time. That said, I never felt like Star Wars was lacking in non-jedi material. Just that it often didn't take front and center.

If you're looking for stories centered around non-Jedi, I recommend "Tales From the Mos Eisely Cantina". It basically takes all those weird aliens and one-line characters from the Cantina in Mos Eisely, and tells a short story around each of them. Not a Jedi in sight.

It's basically, "Edge of the Empire: A Primer."

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The focus of the films and the cartoons has always been the Jedi/Sith conflict. If you're looking for actual Star Wars material that covers other aspects of the EU, you're going to have to go into the Rogue Squadron books/comics and Agent of the Empire comics.

If you want a fresh take on the fringe, you'll have to either dive into the West End Games D6 game with titles like Fragments from the Rim or been open-minded enough to look outside of Star Wars for inspiration. There's plenty of published material in other game systems along with western, gangster, heist and samurai movies to rip off.

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Thank you everyone for your advice, though i was hoping to find ideas from within Star Wars, I suppose they have gotten to Jedi Focused to have anything other than force sensitives. Unless you want to copy the Fetts, or Rogue Squadron. I suppose I'll just have to look at, and send others, to other series for inspiration, sense the source matiral clearly doesn't have it.

Star Wars characters are themselves derivatives of earlier character design baselines. That's part of the entire reason Star Wars (especially ANH) holds up so well. It uses all the most iconic concepts of storytelling dating back to the earliest stories told around a nomadic tribes campfire. It's these concepts that had the Star Wars flavor applied to it. Any character works in star wars simply because any character worth developing likely fits into one of these categorical templates. Even if you look at some of the previous non-Star Wars examples given, you'll see they all still nail one of these classic Archetypes.
CHARACTER ARCHETYPES
1. The Hero – In its simplest form, this character is the one ultimately who may fulfill a necessary task and who will restore fertility, harmony, and/or justice to a community. The hero character is the one who typically experiences an initiation, who goes the community’s ritual (s), et cetera. Often he or she will embody characteristic s of YOUNG PERSON FROM THE PROVINCES, INITIATE, INNATE WISDOM, PUPIL, and SON.
2. Young Person from the Provinces – This hero is taken away as an infant or youth and raised by strangers. He or she later returns home as a stranger and able to recognize new problems and new solutions.
3. The Initiates – These are young heroes who, prior to the quest, must endure some training and ritual. They are usually innocent at this stage.
4. Mentors – These individuals serve as teachers or counselors to the initiates. Sometimes they work as role models and often serve as father or mother figure. They teach by example the skills necessary to survive the journey and quest.
5. Hunting Group of Companions – These loyal companions are willing to face any number of perils in order to be together.
6. Loyal Retainers – These individuals are like the noble sidekicks to the hero. Their duty is to protect the hero. Often the retainer reflects the hero’s nobility.
7. Friendly Beast –These animals assist the hero and reflect that nature is on the hero’s side.
8. The Devil Figure – This character represents evil incarnate. He or she may offer worldly goods, fame, or knowledge to the protagonist in exchange for possession of the soul or integrity. This figure’s main aim is to oppose the hero in his or her quest.
9. The Evil Figure with the Ultimately Good Heart – This redeemable devil figure (or servant to the devil figure) is saved by the hero’s nobility or good heart.
10. The Scapegoat – An animal or more usually a human whose death, often in a public ceremony, excuses some taint or sin that has been visited upon the community. This death often makes theme more powerful force to the hero.
11. The Outcast – This figure is banished from a community for some crime (real or imagined). The outcast is usually destined to become a wanderer.
12. The Earth Mother – This character is symbolic of fulfillment, abundance, and fertility; offers spiritual and emotional nourishment to those who she contacts; often depicted in earth colors, with large breasts and hips.
13.The Temptress – Characterized by sensuous beauty, she is one whose physical attraction may bring about the hero’s downfall.
14. The Platonic Ideal – This source of inspiration often is a physical and spiritual ideal for whom the hero has an intellectual rather than physical attraction.
15. The Unfaithful Wife – This woman, married to a man she sees as dull or distant, is attracted to a more virile or interesting man.
16. The Damsel in Distress – This vulnerable woman must be rescued by the hero. She also may be used as a trap, by an evil figure, to ensnare the hero.
17. The Star-Crossed Lovers – These two character are engaged in a love affair that is fated to end in tragedy for one or both due to the disapproval of society, friends, family, or the gods.
18. The Creature of Nightmare – This monster, physical or abstract, is summoned from the deepest, darkest parts of the human psyche to threaten the lives of the hero/heroine. Often it is a perversion or desecration of the human body.

Source: http://msvolta.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/1/5/23159310/archetypesandsymbols.pdf

Sooooo take that (just like Big G did himself) and apply the materials given...

The Unfaithful Wife – This woman, married to a man she sees as dull or distant, is attracted to a more virile or interesting man.

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Shadow - Individuals who are able to operate outside the constraints of a governmental system can sometimes achieve practical resolutions by making use of resources and techniques that step outside of what might be legally permissible. Characters who willingly engage in such actions— acknowledging that the best solution may not always be the most acceptable one—follow the Shadow specialization.

=

Born to a life of coreworld luxury Cramma Valrani was the daughter of a respected nobleman, who never really took to the noble ideal and was always far more interested in tales of adventure in the outer rim. Despite the protests of her mother, Cramma's father believed the girl was unlikely to remain in "civilized" galactic society and reluctantly agreed to allow her trained in skills more likely to help her outside the polished marble of high society by an old clone war vet in the house's employ (secretly a surviving Jedi). Recently called an an important mission to Coruscant by the Emperor himself, Lord Valrani brought his family along, suspectign the mission will take longer then expected... of course thing eventually go wrong.

Now... as I said.... It's your star wars character option, your classic Archetype (with a slight PG-13 adjustment) and .... it's not so original of a concept because at the end of the day your character is just going to....

STICK EM WITH THE GLOWING END!

arya-stark.png

Image- Arya Stark from Game of Thrones

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I used to work for the Physical Plant of a major metropolitan University. Inside the Physical Plant, there were many divisions.

1. Custodian

2. General Maintenance

3. Electricians

4. Plumbers

5. Shipping and Receiving

6. Work Control

7. Management

8. Planning and Design

9. Landscape

11. Heating and Air Conditioning.

12. Housing and Rental Property Management

None of this even included the teachers, student teachers, work assistants, student workers, library personnel, Greek house personnel, residence, cafeteria/eatery, sports stuff... the list just goes on and on.

I was officially a Custodian - which is basically a janitor. But, my primary job was to deliver supplies FOR the other Custodians - there were approximately 200 in total spread across about 90 different buildings, not to mention satellite campuses. So, I drove a truck all day, and delivered stuff to storage rooms. I was the only person in the whole shabang that carried keys to every single door the university owned. I could get into anywhere at any time. This is a lot of power. And the best part was, no one ever hassled me or asked if I belonged in an area. No one messes with the guy who controls the toilet paper.

No one.

My point to this is that even though my official title was Custodian, everything I actually did and was responsible for... in Star Wars lingo... it literally translates into either Smuggler: Scoundrel or Explorer: Trader... minus the blasters and stuff.

I realize that Star Wars is... like... fantasy and stuff. But the day-to-day operation of the minutia is what a life as a non-force sensitive is all about. The galaxy has to operate. People have jobs. They could be a hair-dresser who gets caught up in the mob. Maybe they are a clerk at some corporate owned store and they get caught up in some money laundering scheme. Maybe they work at McSpacer's, cleaning space lettuce, and the franchise owner needs them to be part of a commercial, except during the shoot in the studio, a murder takes place and it is somehow pinned on the McSpacer.

It doesn't take much to get things going. What you start out as is not nearly as important as where you want to go.

Jim Hawkins was a kid whose mother ran a restaurant out of their home. That didn't stop him from finding Treasure Island with old John Silver and his grubby band of pirates - did it?

Indiana Jones was a history teacher.

Vin Diesel was a mechanic.

Jack Burton drove the Pork Chop Express. He delivered PORK to Chinese restaurantuers! Did that stop him from beating the crap out of David Lo Pan? David "Mother-****ing" LO PAN!? NO!

:P

Edited by Raice
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Look to the crew of the Uhumele from the Dark Times comics.

Or Jahan Cross from Agent of the Empire comics.