My copy finally arrived. I love it though I still find it odd having a recon frigate in this book rather then the spy book. I wish they would give us an Assault Frigate model already but I'm also hoping the Active class ships mentioned in the Surveyor class background show up soon.

Edit: oops wrong topic

I would think that basic training would be handled by the individual units. It would need to remain largely decentralized due to the threat of Imperial infiltration. If they had a single or even a handful of training installations that handled all their new recruits, a single spy could do a huge amount of damage to the Rebel Alliance.

Letting the individual units/cells handle it protects the larger organization. It also lets each unit focus on areas key to its area of operations. Rebels operating on Hoth can expect a lot more cold weather training than those on Tatooine. A scout unit will care more about surveillance and stealth than a group of rebel slicers tasked with distributing propaganda. This individualized approach also lets them tailor training to the individual. A defecting Imperial pilot might just get a quick rundown of the controls on an X-Wing and then thrown into the mix while a guy that's never flown anything higher than a basic landspeeder will need significantly more training. That way the rebels get their most talented recruits into the fight as quickly as possible.

Put me down for favoring a decentralized Alliance training program. I don't even have the Recruit specialization representing 'basic training' but instead it represents training obtained when joining Special Operations.

During a long and boring meeting at work today, I started banging out notes for Rebellion Boot Camp, since our players are just about to meet up and/or join up with them, and this will be a perfect justification for buying the recruit tree.

(and yes, I know that you dont necessarily need to justify buying a tree - but this is a narrative game after all. Why not work it into the system?)

But I figured, instead of reinventing the wheel, I thought I'd ask and see if anyone has some notes, if they did this to their players, something I could crib from?

Stanley Kubrik already did it for you. Just watch the first part Full Metal Jacket for boot camp.

Darn, you beat me to it! That was exactly what I was going to suggest. When I saw that movie the first time in the theater, my friend and I were the only ones in the audience just busting up laughing during that scene Everyone else was so serious.

Of course, I was also the only one in the theater laughing hysterically the first time I saw AOTC when Yoda and Dooku fought. Sorry, but a ridiculously acrobatic little green Muppet going after Christopher Lee was the funniest thing in any of the prequels. The only thing that would have been funnier is if Kermit the Frog had joined in

You were laughing, I was just agape in shock. What the hell happened to "The Force is my ally"?!

At least I can take comfort that the sequel trilogy is going back to the roots of the franchise.

Actually, the smaller, compartmentalized training makes sense. Smaller batches of recruits with a overview training ("The pointy end goes into the other man!") with some fine tuning towards the back half of the training session.

I still might go with an established facility on a remote planet - that way I have something for the Empire to stumble during the character's final exams.

Well Lead by Example says there are a few Rebel training schools and WEG had the Alliance have boot camps and a small ground forces officer candidate training school for their main force (Naval officer candidates get training in the age of sail style serving as midshipmen on active vessels while fighter pilot training appears to be based on the MC80A Independence.)

And the way the schools are described in Lead by Example they could cover single teachers with small groups of students so if you want the party on their own when the Empire arrives you could always have the teacher get hit firt if your party doesn't have an Instructor.

Part of me wants to say, "How do al Qaeda and ISIS do their training? How about the Viet Cong?" Because let's face it, the Rebel Alliance is a small paramilitary group, and despite being the good guys, is going to have to use methodology a lot more like these guys than what legitimate militaries use.

Then I remember that this is Star Wars. There are thousands of systems and planets out there that are uncharted or completely forgotten. You could set one up right out in the open as a military base and it would never be found. Obviously you want to limit traffic and communications as much as possible, but if it's say, Earth-like, it has all the resources it needs. I'm sure some company out there sells "Colonization Kits," that let you plop down some shelter and basic agriculture droids lickety-split. One heavy freighter's worth of the right materials and you're ready to set up shop and be completely autonomous.

True. ESB expressly states there are a large number of uncharted settlements after all.

Put me down for favoring a decentralized Alliance training program. I don't even have the Recruit specialization representing 'basic training' but instead it represents training obtained when joining Special Operations.

I'm on the opposite side since there are mentions in the lore that there are training camps outside of explored space, including the world that houses all of the families of Alliance members.

Put me down for favoring a decentralized Alliance training program. I don't even have the Recruit specialization representing 'basic training' but instead it represents training obtained when joining Special Operations.

I'm on the opposite side since there are mentions in the lore that there are training camps outside of explored space, including the world that houses all of the families of Alliance members.

Put me down for favoring a decentralized Alliance training program. I don't even have the Recruit specialization representing 'basic training' but instead it represents training obtained when joining Special Operations.

I'm on the opposite side since there are mentions in the lore that there are training camps outside of explored space, including the world that houses all of the families of Alliance members.

I feel that if Recruit is meant to be 'basic training' then it should be the first specialization taken. One does not become a Commando, Saboteur, Pilot, or Commodore first and then go through basic training.

Depends upon if they are coming in with zero training or not. Most of those people, in the careers you mentioned, we see onscreen were already trained before they joined the Alliance. Crix Madine, Han Solo, etc... were already trained before joining. I view the specialization as someone brand new to the Alliance that doesn't have training in anything, so it's perfectly viable to disallow that spec for anyone that already has a career and make it only for characters that join the Rebellion or the Imperial militaries.

Also, the careers in AoR are those that have already passed basic training either as an Imperial or an Alliance military. Now I can see certain EoTE and FaD characters needing to go through boot to get them to understand how the military operates and prepares them for it.

How do make a character without a career in this game?

How do make a character without a career in this game?

You misunderstand me. For characters from AoR, there is no need for them to take the recruit spec. For the careers in the other two core books, I would say it would be required. It all depends on what you think is appropriate.

Another way to look at it would be that "Recruit" just represents general training, but if my Politico wanted to become an Analyst, that could simply represent training in that specific field.

I think recruit is basically combat training for those who don't have any combat skills from their training for their career. If they come into the Alliance with no training then they will receive training as part of their initial career though I suppose some might take recruit to show extra combat training in edition to that given by their career.

I always figured that Alliance military training would resemble the type of training that the Special Forces provide for indigenous insurgents rather than the standard military basic training. Provide just enough training to complete a given task. Your average rebel might not be up to the level of your basic military recruit. On the other hand maybe certain recruits are shipped off to hidden training centers for a more detailed training.

Leia is (for me) clearly a diplomat with (at least) the Recruit Training. Padme might have gone a little further and even bought another specialisation if you look at how much she does non-senatorial stuff. She even has a room for that.

Part of me wants to say, "How do al Qaeda and ISIS do their training? How about the Viet Cong?" Because let's face it, the Rebel Alliance is a small paramilitary group, and despite being the good guys, is going to have to use methodology a lot more like these guys than what legitimate militaries use.

Then I remember that this is Star Wars. There are thousands of systems and planets out there that are uncharted or completely forgotten. You could set one up right out in the open as a military base and it would never be found. Obviously you want to limit traffic and communications as much as possible, but if it's say, Earth-like, it has all the resources it needs. I'm sure some company out there sells "Colonization Kits," that let you plop down some shelter and basic agriculture droids lickety-split. One heavy freighter's worth of the right materials and you're ready to set up shop and be completely autonomous.

In the famous words of Doctor Zoidberg, "Why not both?"

I can see the rebels using a mixture of both. Sure, there are boot camps on worlds outside of explored space, or in unexplored parts of worlds in known space. Just like the Viet Cong had underground training facilities, or they did their training in Cambodia and Laos, or they crossed into North Vietnam for it. ISIS does similar, training in schools they've set up in the desert. Short term in the countries the US is bombing, longer-term in countries that they can be relatively safe from US/NATO strikes (air, spec ops, etc).

And because sending transport ships to these uncharted worlds is expensive, time consuming, and runs the risk of your boot camp being found out, I can also see the rebels giving new recruits a bare-bones rundown of which end of a blaster is the business end and "After the pin is pulled, Mr. Hand Grenade is no longer your friend", a brief overview of fire and movement/fire and maneuver, cover vs concealment, that kind of thing, and then sending them out on live-fire ops. Probably relatively simple stuff at first, blast a couple stormtroopers and then run, or plant an IED in this cantina that off-duty Imperials are known to frequent, that kind of thing.

The rebels are much more akin to the Viet Cong (or ISIS, though I really don't like making that comparison since the Alliance is supposed to be GOOD guys, and even comparing them to the Viet Cong is a bit distasteful) than to the US, British, German, or other first-world militaries. Their discipline is likely to be poor, their training sub-par, their equipment generally lower-tier than Imperial, and their supply lines are **** near non-existant. On the other hand, they are very motivated, and respect their leaders.

Hey Mercenary, I know how you feel. Just remember that the US used hit and run style raids that we learned from the Native Americans. I imagine that many of us are familiar with the history of people like Daniel Morgan, Frances Marion, and Robert Rogers. If you really want to go nuts you can read Mao and Che Guivara, you just have to sift out the communist propaganda. There's stI'll juicy stuff to be found.

My problem is I want to bring in all the cool history bits, but suddenly get so bogged down in details that I lose sight of "it's a space opera" game. For example I have an idea for having my players being involved with the covert manufacture of say an X-wing that they eventually get to fly out on missions or deliver to the Rebellion at large. My problem is having an idea how much goes into building a real life aircraft I think this can't realistically be done and get bogged down trying to Star Wars it.

Hey Mercenary, I know how you feel. Just remember that the US used hit and run style raids that we learned from the Native Americans. I imagine that many of us are familiar with the history of people like Daniel Morgan, Frances Marion, and Robert Rogers. If you really want to go nuts you can read Mao and Che Guivara, you just have to sift out the communist propaganda. There's stI'll juicy stuff to be found.

My problem is I want to bring in all the cool history bits, but suddenly get so bogged down in details that I lose sight of "it's a space opera" game. For example I have an idea for having my players being involved with the covert manufacture of say an X-wing that they eventually get to fly out on missions or deliver to the Rebellion at large. My problem is having an idea how much goes into building a real life aircraft I think this can't realistically be done and get bogged down trying to Star Wars it.

The US had some guerrilla ops in Vietnam, too. Green Berets, SEALs, what-have-you, that went into the jungle to out-Cong the VC. Then there are also the LRRPs. Adapting a LRRP or Green Beret team into an Imperial group and having them be the player group's opposition could be rather interesting and difficult, if done right.

There's all kinds of things in .mil history that would make excellent sources to mine for inspiration. If I get stuck GMing Star Wars rather than playing, I may just have to do some more research on Merrill's Marauders and the Black Sheep Squadron and Flying Tigers from WWII.

OK, that's enough derail, I'll shut up now.

The main problem with comparing Alliance training with that of the Viet Cong and similar groups is that such groups rarely have much if any airpower to say nothing of having navies. Flying fighters and operating and commanding ships effectively virtually requires training of some form. And while the Alliance could recruit some personnel who were trained before they joined the rebellion could they recruit enough such individuals to man all of their ships and fighters or did they have a means of training new recruits for such roles?Was Luke being shoved into a fighter cockpit within hours of joining the Alliance with no prior training an exception or a rule?

Actually, the most representative of comparison has to be made with the American Revolutionary Army. Let's face it, Star Wars is very much analogous to this conflict; most of the Rebel Officers, leaders, and soldiers are actually ex-Imperials themselves. This is directly analogous to the fact that most of the Revolutionary Officers and soldiers were themselves former Redcoats. The "boot camps" they created were hastily prepared versions of the same training that they went through themselves. This means that its reasonable to assume that the ex-Imperials that make up the Rebel Officers would themselves recreate the same training concepts. While there is little doubt that the facilities would be of significant lower quality (being raised on the run and with little financial support) they would be designed with the same concept of purpose. The disparity between programs would lessen the longer the Galactic Civil War went on, as the Rebellion would gain resources more appropriate as they gain strength.

The main problem with comparing Alliance training with that of the Viet Cong and similar groups is that such groups rarely have much if any airpower to say nothing of having navies. Flying fighters and operating and commanding ships effectively virtually requires training of some form. And while the Alliance could recruit some personnel who were trained before they joined the rebellion could they recruit enough such individuals to man all of their ships and fighters or did they have a means of training new recruits for such roles?Was Luke being shoved into a fighter cockpit within hours of joining the Alliance with no prior training an exception or a rule?

Flying a starfighter in Star Wars takes about as much training as driving a car IRL. Just about anyone can do a fair job at it, but only some are experts.

a

On 4/1/2016 at 11:07 PM, HappyDaze said:

On 4/1/2016 at 12:34 PM, RogueCorona said:

The main problem with comparing Alliance training with that of the Viet Cong and similar groups is that such groups rarely have much if any airpower to say nothing of having navies. Flying fighters and operating and commanding ships effectively virtually requires training of some form. And while the Alliance could recruit some personnel who were trained before they joined the rebellion could they recruit enough such individuals to man all of their ships and fighters or did they have a means of training new recruits for such roles?Was Luke being shoved into a fighter cockpit within hours of joining the Alliance with no prior training an exception or a rule?

Flying a starfighter in Star Wars takes about as much training as driving a car IRL. Just about anyone can do a fair job at it, but only some are experts.

What makes you think that? Even in Legends it is very, very rare to see someone flying a fighter with no training, and most of those that do so and don't get killed have the Force as a crutch or the time they flew before receiving training was against a sitting duck or something similar.

And Alliance Naval training is vastly different then Imperial naval training. Ironically Alliance Naval officer training is much close to British Revolutionary War Naval officer training then Imperial training is.

Alliance naval officer trainees are promoted to Midshipmen and posted to active vessels with their advanced training either on the job or classes taught by the ship's officers.

Imperial naval officer training has a lot more classroom and sim time though there are also training cruises and active duty rotations.