So I am wanting to run a scum and villainy style game set within 5 years after RotJ. The group will be the crew of a freighter, scrapping by in the galaxy. I have read a couple of the new novels, so have a somewhat idea of the galaxy's status. Just want to get an idea from everyone else, or even confirm the new canon.

At this point the New Republic has formed, is fledgling and trying to grow its numbers and secure its borders.

Imperial Moffs in control of their sectors shut down info getting in and out so some did not know the Emperor had died. There is infighting because of the power vacuum. At some point the First Order is formed?

In the chaos/cold war, the underworld flourishes. Hutts and crime syndicates do well for themselves .

Just what I have so far, correct me if I am wrong, as I want to stick close to the new cannon. Thanks!

The First Order comes much later, definitely not by the time you're planning to play. Read "Bloodlines", it gives you a lot of information about what has happened to the Galaxy up to The Force Awakens.

The First Order comes much later, definitely not by the time you're planning to play. Read "Bloodlines", it gives you a lot of information about what has happened to the Galaxy up to The Force Awakens.

Yeah I became bored with Bloodlines and didn't finish it. I need to find a timeline that breaks down key events or something.

I have the impression that the Battle of Jakku, which is the last gasp for the Empire, takes place six years after the Battle of Endor. I'll double-check that. The forthcoming novel Empire's End should go a long way toward cleaning up those details.

Jedifish, did you read Aftermath or Life Debt ? Those novels provide some interesting glimpses into what's going on in the galaxy.

-Nate

Jakku is a little over one year after Endor. Not six.

The Aftermath trilogy is ... quite short in time-span it seems, if it is correct that Jakku happens about a year after Endor. Lots of stuff happens in that short while. I guess it starts just about after the Shattered Empire comic book series?

Either way, while the the Aftermath books aren't great reading, particularly not the first one, it does introduce new characters and nice insight into the changes happening across the galaxy. So while you may not want to read those books for the experience of good literature, as updates on events and the shape of changes happening post-Endor they give a good picture - and some of the new characters are pretty cool (one "even" appears in Episode 7.) I do like Mr. Bones, even if he is a cliché

I read aftermath, haven't read Life debt yet. Will look into it.

Life Debt was fun.

Yeah, as others have said, there's barely a year between the end of RotJ and the Empire's final surrender and departure. So four years after THAT have to think smaller. More trafficking in black market military goods and salvaging old battlefields than dodging an Empire that simply ceases to exist.

The Empire doesn't cease to exist though. It borders are limited but it survives.

There was also a off hand referance to hutt space being anixed by the Allience in one of the leia books that happens not long after the war with the empire, but before Allience disarmament. So the underworld as we know it will likely be under serious danger at that point.

There was also a off hand referance to hutt space being anixed by the Allience in one of the leia books that happens not long after the war with the empire, but before Allience disarmament. So the underworld as we know it will likely be under serious danger at that point.

Maybe, maybe not.

I believe it's mentioned in Lords of Nal Hutta that Hutt Space is, on paper, a part of the Galactic Empire, complete with an Imperial governor. However, in reality the Hutts still run things and it's business as usual, even if most Hutt enterprises are in direct conflict with Imperial laws.

While the New Republic might not be quite as willing to let things slide as the Empire was, the reality is that the Hutts are very good at keeping their shadier business doings under wraps or burying it in bureaucratic legalese.

I definitely recall a reference in Bloodline about the New Republic making efforts to restrict the Hutts power (if I recall correctly, I think it's mentioned that they don't have any significant power by that time). That said, it might take some time for the New Republic to accomplish that, and Bloodline is set 5 years before The Force Awakens. Closer to Return of the Jedi, I'd expect Jabba's death to throw things into chaos for a little while as various factions compete to take control of whatever holdings he had (there's a passage in Life Debt that references the goings on on Tatooine and how people are reacting to Jabba's death there).

Regarding how it seems that an awful lot happens between Endor and Jakku for the space of the year, I think the sudden death of the Emperor is rather like a dam bursting. Suddenly it seems possible for the Rebellion to win, so they restructure themselves as the New Republic and start making headway. Meanwhile it's a rallying cry for resistance groups all across the Empire. So I can buy that there's a sudden rush to seize any opportunity that presents itself as the Empire seemingly starts crumbling without Palpatine.

Everyone's pointing out the insufferably terrible Aftermath series, but shame on you all for omitting the vastly super (and considerably more comprehensive, as far as an overview goes) Lost Stars. That's the resource you need to check out.