One thing I notice is that a lot of people seem to be drifting towards having the PC's help out the rebellion in one way or another. Why hasn't anyone really brought up the point that the Rebellion, if they seize power from the Empire its a devil they don't know. With the empire there is known corruption for things like getting copies of important paperwork to do forgeries, known protocol they do, etc. The Rebellion if they succeed is probably going to be more than willing to turn on them in the end. Its the old saying…better the devil you know then the one you don't.

I know this line of thinking is hard to take knowing the Rebellion wins eventually and the New Republic is set up. Sure its cool to say in a game "I helped out the good guys". Seems a lot of people I talk to in person and online seems to forget EotE we are pretty much playing the Scum and Villany of the universe. Sure we are not the main bad guys from the movies, but we are still basically playing bad/less then reputable people on the fringes of civilized society.

Pretty much I am wondering how many of you are going to play up the Rebellion as possible enemies? Are you going to have a Rebellion agent realize that one or multiple people in the group have a bounty on their head and try to collect it since those credits could help out the Rebellion in th end?

Technically you are playing characters that would be more likely or interested in the bounties than anyone in the Rebellion. Anyone in the Rebellion would actually be less likely to want to collect on any bounties posted by the Empire. Much like Han, even if they don't recruit you, the fact that you are a thorn in the Empire's side still benefits the Rebellion. Any authority is the bane of characters on the fringe. So whether the Empire or the New Republic, fringers will be at odds with them.

I thought in RPGs people played characters they wanted to and not necessarily what the designers want them to play. The PCs don't have to be scum and villainy type characters if the group doesn't want them to be.

Living on the fringe doesn't mean scum and villainy, at least not exclusively. Certainly criminals and deviants will gravite there, but so do people who are not interested in mainstream life. People who want to live simpler lives such as farmers or hunters live out there. Scientists, hermits, law enforcement, "rednecks", small town folk (which can encompass many types); some people just want to live where there isn't a lot of hustle and bustle. Or maybe what they do just keeps them there.

Now criminal types may have no interest in helping the Rebellion, but that is because they have their own selfish needs. Players can play characters like that, or they can play characters like Han who end up finding a reason to help the Rebellion. That is the nice thing about playing a role-playing game, you get to choose your role. The other thing is that stories don't have to center on the Empire being the bad guy all the time. Certainly you could find yourself at odds with them much of the time, but there also may come a time where there is a common threat. And you may also find yourself at odds with the Rebellion too. The nice thing about the fringe is that stories can go either way.

DeadInkPen said:

A) The Empire vs the Rebellion is a Core and Mid-rim issue, not a fringe issue.

B) Edge of the Empire isn't about the Wretched Hive of Scum & Villany. It is about those living outside the normal life of civilization. Scouts, Explorers, Colonists, Bounty Hunters, Smugglers, etc… Yes, there are criminals in the mix, but just because you're a smuggler or a bounty hunter doesn't make you a villain. Maybe you smuggle slaves out of bad places. Or smuggle in medicine or supplies to places that are under strict control. Or you are a bounty hunter trying to catch the various criminals that are wanted elsewhere. Or you're an arms dealer and the fight between the Rebellion and the Empire is a nice thing for making a profit.

C) Yes, the Rebellion will eventually become the New Republic, and guess what. Life on the fringe isn't changed by that at all. You're still living outside of Republic space in a lot of cases, or living somewhere that the New Republic doesn't or can't be bothered with actively patrolling. Which is why pirates can operate inside the Mid-rim and Core areas to some degree.

D) Making the Rebellion be the bad guys… That's simple. They are a group of terrorists who's presence causes problems for the people. Either that draws the Empire into places they wouldn't have gone because they are pursuing the terrorists or causes them to react by hurting people that aren't really involved. Such as arresting families. So, people turn against the terrorists because they don't like their lives being disrupted.

The Empire is not good for anyones business.

If you are anything other than a straight white human male, you will probably end up in a concentration camp. Likewise if you are a straight white male human who shows any kind of independent thought.

Female humans, while not quite the non-persons that non-humans are, are expected to take their proper roles in the New Order - Kinder, Kucher, Kirche. Obviously they will not be allowed to own property, drive speeders or appear in public without being escorted by a male relative and wearing appropriately modest clothing.

Most of the Empires vast security budget is used for extorting taxes out of the populace to fund the extravigant lifestyles of the Imperial elite. If left unchecked, this will soon destroy the economy.

Education in the Empire will naturally only be available to human males, and that will fall under the auspices of COMPNOR Sub Adult Group. All pupils will be required to wear the uniform of COMPNOR. Classes will begin with students declaring their willingness to die to a picture of the dear leader, and approximately 50% of the classes will involve moral instruction on how to be a good Imperial citizen.

I disagree with the the premise of this thread because of the latinum-plated wisdom found in the 34th Rule of Aquisition:

"War is good for business."

-WJL

I disagree about the Empire being bad for business. Because of the restrictions there is a ton of money to be made by one that is willing to bend the laws. Imperials putting a boot to your world? No problem, I have a nice ship that can take you out of the system but it's going to cost you. You're trying to start a militia group to try and get rid of the small imperial presence in your colony? I just happen to have an extra crate of blasters that I'm willing to let go for the right price.

Back to the original topic, I love the idea of being against the Rebellion. Most SW games I've played tend to be against the Empire or the Sith. The problem is that the SWU tends to be painted very black and white. Rebels and Jedi are the good guys while the Empire and Sith are the bad guys. I like a little more grey in my settings. It's fun to run games where a patriotic imperial officer and his team are trying to track down and retrieve vital medical supplies that the "terrorist" rebels stole from a poorly supplied outpost protecting a colony.

At the same time, it can be a lot of fun to paint Rebels in a darker color. You're a smuggler that has been helping get supplies to a small colony that rebels decided to use as their newest base. The colonists don't care one way or another about the war and they just want to be left alone. Unfortunately the rebel activity has drawn the attention of the Empire and they have been bombing the city to get at the rebel leaders. The rebels are short on supplies and have been taking what they need "for the good of the people/rebel" from the colonists by force. Now you must help your colonists friends get rid of these rebel scum that are the root of all of their problems.

Some of the best RPGs I've played are ones that went against the norm and offered something different.

TechnoGolem said:

I dunno man. I'm a bit burned out on shooting terrorists. To the point where I think playing as Heroic Freedom Fighters would be a pleasant change.

ErikB said:

Well you're in luck here then. You can play Heroic Freedom Fighter against the Evil Empire, he can play fringe smuggler going against the Rebellion, Joe Blow over there can play a con man playing the Empire against the Rebellion, and someone else can play a game where neither the Empire nor the Rebellion come into play. Awesome isn't it?