Hi guys

I am running a modified (but not off rails..?) Onslaught at Arda I, and nearing the end of Episode 2.

My plan is to capture the parties Force sensitive Pilot by the BBEG I've added (an Inquisitor) when Setana Hase gets captured too at the end of the next session. This is partly to introduce another PC in the session after, as the Inquisitors apprentice (1st Daughter?)

So in the next the main group will be doing the first part of Episode 3 whilst the force sensitive meets the apprentice PC on the inquisitors ship. I do not see them meeting up with the main group for at least the end of the session or later.

So I am after some advice on running this session to keep both groups active throughout, and not cause me a migrane keeping track

Sex in advance

If the two groups are clearly separated you could run two sessions, one with the group, second with the separated part of the group. There will be no possibility to interact between them, obviously.

Second option, if you don't mind the players are present, when the other part of the group is "active", you could split the session into short, timeboxed scenes, alternating between the two locations. You could support that with a page of paper, split vertically into two columns, with a timeline, or scenes running from top to bottom. Left side is for group A notes, right for group B notes.. if you get what I mean

I ran several sessions in a row this way, with 3 PCs, each doing their own thing. I basically ran it like combat, taking turns between them and making sure to switch at least every few minutes (or every couple of rolls of dice). Sometimes the timelines overlapped, and some communication via comlink could be assumed. Sometimes the timelines didn't even overlap, but it didn't matter too much.

Really it's about distilling the important events in each arc and making sure each has an end goal. So one PC was spending a couple days developing a propaganda speech, calling in political favours, researching information, etc. Another was spending a couple hours sneaking into a hangar to disable and sabotage some TIE fighters. We could run these simultaneously and still generate tension as to whether each PC's end goal (delivering a compelling speech and rallying alliances, making sure the TIEs wouldn't function properly on Empire Day, etc) would be successful.

I have at my table a 2 minutes hourglass for such moment. If the group split I offer the active group a 2min per PC and the other one plays either hin-ta-ro a SW dice game in the fly casual book (made a box with the rules inside ) or they play Dejarik Wich I made a board of wood with different Warhammer minis for the pieces of the game. So the ones who's not playing are still in a star wars mind set.

Hope it helps

Cut between the action, lean into the cinematic nature of Star Wars and throw in a few screen wipe transitions between the locations.

Also if you can manage it have combats and action scenes take place at the same time. Look to Return of the Jedi, Han, Luke, and Leia down on Endor assaulting the bunker while Lando's up in a space battle.

You can just roll initiative and then use it to cut back and forth between the two locations.