Episode 22 of the Order 66 Podcast is LIVE, with Jay Little!

By GM Chris, in Star Wars: Edge of the Empire RPG

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Prepare to get educated in the FACE on the most recent episode of the Order 66 Podcast, as we welcome back the man... the legend... the wielder of the painted thumbs – Jay Little! The lead designer of FFG’s Star Wars RPG joins us for a whirlwind talk about group dynamics, story construction and plot development, running games in the Star Wars universe, and keeping your players interested and engaged. A conversation worthwhile for any GM!

We also take a dip in the Bacta Tank with Watto, a dark look at cybernetics and a treasure-hunting hottie with Fragments and Transmissions from the Rim. Big thanks to Jay for giving us an epic talk for an exceptional episode!

You can find this episode on iTunes, or download it directly from the podcast feed (http://feeds.feedburner.com/Order66).

Direct Episode Download Link: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Order66/~5/kVSvN2hWDTc/Order66Podcast-Episode22.mp3

feedproxy.google.com/~r/Order66/~5/kVSvN2hWDTc/Order66Podcast-Episode22.mp3

Peace, Love, and Good Gaming!

GMC

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I just finished not listening to the previous episode — the first one I've not consumed — and can't wait to sink my ear holes into this one. Thanks for all the work you guys do on these.

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Just in time for my way-too-long flight to go see the in-laws.

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Was really only able to hang out for the "meat" of the show, but the discussion with Jay Little was excellent. I particularly enjoyed the discussion about the various "problem player archetypes and how to deal with them," especially as the advice was geared more towards working with them instead of just outright trying to shut them down.

Looking forward to listening to the rest of the show.

Edited by Donovan Morningfire
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Was really only able to hang out for the "meat" of the show, but the discussion with Jay Little was excellent. I particularly enjoyed the discussion about the various "problem player archetypes and how to deal with them," especially as the advice was geared more towards working with them instead of just outright trying to shut them down.

Looking forward to listening to the rest of the show.

Man... we kinda want to do a "series" with Jay. Y'know?

Just regular episodes with GMing tips and advice.

Thoughts?

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That would be very welcome! I have a great group of players, but I still got some good insight from the problem player show.

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Thoughts?

I'd be cool with that. Just having the chance to sit and talk game design/theory with Jay for a couple of hours at this past GenCon was both entertaining and enlightening, and probably one of the highlights of the convention for me. Though the hour plus that was spent changing Star Wars lines to include "drink vouchers" was also a major highlight :lol:

The man's crazy, but it's a fun/cool kind of crazy :D

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Man... we kinda want to do a "series" with Jay. Y'know?

Just regular episodes with GMing tips and advice.

Thoughts?

Personally I find that it is very easy to find solid advice on GMing on the net and would prefer if the show focused on stuff that it is hard to find "answers" to elsewhere (mainly Star Wars related naturally).

I fast forwarded through most of the episode and didn't really get much out of it. Fragments from the Rim was awesome though.

I am a relatively experienced GM but a noob when it comes to Star Wars.

Edited by bladerunner_35
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Man... we kinda want to do a "series" with Jay. Y'know?

Just regular episodes with GMing tips and advice.

Thoughts?

Personally I find that it is very easy to find solid advice on GMing on the net and would prefer if the show focused on stuff that it is hard to find "answers" to elsewhere (mainly Star Wars related naturally).

I fast forwarded through most of the episode and didn't really get much out of it. Fragments from the Rim was awesome though.

I am a relatively experienced GM but a noob when it comes to Star Wars.

I kind of have the opposite experience. I never listen, mind you... but I love listening to Jay Little and generally fast forward through Fragments. I'm sure it's great, but something about that segment's presentation doesn't grab me.

I'm also a relatively experienced GM, but Jay hits on areas that I'm either weak in, or have interest in. I always learn something from him. I don't think a small series, or set of occasional episodes with him would derail the goodness.

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Personally I find that it is very easy to find solid advice on GMing on the net and would prefer if the show focused on stuff that it is hard to find "answers" to elsewhere (mainly Star Wars related naturally).

Okay - such as?

"Star Wars Related"? What are we talking about here? History? EU content?

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I would love love love to never listen to a series of GM tips from Jay Little!

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Personally I find that it is very easy to find solid advice on GMing on the net and would prefer if the show focused on stuff that it is hard to find "answers" to elsewhere (mainly Star Wars related naturally).

Okay - such as?

"Star Wars Related"? What are we talking about here? History? EU content?

I already made a request in your topic request thread on your forum: http://www.d20radio.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=166&t=12777&start=15

Below is the post in it's entirety:

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Having never been much interested in the Star Wars EU and never having played a Star Wars RPG until I picked up EotE I am lacking a lot of meat to add to the bones.
Therefore, while I like a good rules discussion as much as the next guy, I would love if you guys considered to focus an episode on the Star Wars setting itself - as it would be relevant to games of EotE (leaving Jedi out of it).
I am talking about basic stuff like:
  • How hard is it to (illegally) change a transponder, where would you go and how much would you pay?
  • How do you communicate between planets and solarsystems?
  • How do you communicate between planets and solarsystems if you don't want the Empire to listen in?
  • What's the normal way of identifying a person? Do you need a passport and travel visa to visit Coruscant legally?
  • Does the Empire keep a galaxy wide register of known criminals?
  • What sort of resources can I expect "normal police" to have? And what sort of resources do the ISB and other elite organisations have in comparision?
  • Does the local authorities look for DNA or fingerprints at a murder scene and send their findings to some register hub?
  • What sort of fees, tolls and other red tape stands in the way of the successfull scoundrel?
  • Can a captain just land where he pleases on a planet? What's the point of using a proper landing bay (just to help repairs?)?
  • How do the general populace view cybernetics?
These are just a few questions but they touch on some broad topics: general ship management and associated costs, communication over vast distances and the juridical system's resources.
I realise that not everyone is interested in these sort of questions that goes well beyond chasing down the next bounty or adventure but I find that it adds a lot of versimilitude to occasionall drop some red tape or police procedures at the players.
I am in the process of digesting a lot of info about these issues. Besides the core book there's of course Wookiepedia but it would be good to hear what you guys think about this stuff (especially since Wookiepedia for all its awesome leaves a lot of holes).
Coming from Warhammer 40,000 I know that the answer to many of these questions is - it depends (which world, core or outer rim etc.) and that it very much is "up to the GM" but there's still a lot that can be said for this. One thing I try to keep in mind is that Star Wars (the real Star Wars if I dare be so bold) is a child of the seventies, for instance.
Anyways, I'm rambling. I hope you'll consider my request.
As an attachment I'll link to a few threads that ask many of these same questions without providing much in the way of answers:
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I have recently found a hidden stash with all the old WEG books so little by little I am digging up the answers (as much as there are any definite answer anyways) myself but I would still like to hear the thoughts of more experienced Star Wars roleplayers.
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Interesting questions, Bladerunner. A small sampling of probably hundreds. My EU knowledge is pretty extensive, but I've also spent 35 years putting it together. It's a huge rabbit hole that I wouldn't necessarily expect the O66 guys to tackle in a segment or two. Maybe they will, but Jesus where would you start, man? It sounds like you've perhaps played some Shadowrun? :) I know you don't want to hear it, but Wookieepedia has been my go-to for stuff like that, followed closely by novels. The Han Solo and Lando trilogies, especially, sort of got me in the mode to run Edge. You've got a lot of hard sci-fi and simulator questions about a space fantasy setting that glazes over anything that can't keep up with the opera pace. I'm not saying that stuff isn't out there in one way, shape, or form, but it's the kind of stuff that's pretty backseat, most of the time.

Edited by Keeop
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Interesting questions, Bladerunner.

Why thank you.

A small sampling of probably hundreds. My EU knowledge is pretty extensive, but I've also spent 35 years putting it together. It's a huge rabbit hole that I wouldn't necessarily expect the O66 guys to tackle in a segment or two. Maybe they will, but Jesus where would you start, man?

Well, I'd like to think that the focus of the questions would narrow down the discussion quite a bit. We're talking about Edge of the Empire, scum and villiany, the running of a ship and criminal activities. That's not a huge rabbit hole even though I realise it's no easy feat either simply by the nature of the setting - an enormously bloated space opera that do not always bother about the gritty details.

It sounds like you've perhaps played some Shadowrun? :)

Nope, not my style. I did play Dark Heresy and know my way around 40,000 lore and enjoy the grittier aspects of cyberpunk. Why do you ask?

I know you don't want to hear it, but Wookieepedia has been my go-to for stuff like that,

You are right.

followed closely by novels. The Han Solo and Lando trilogies, especially, sort of got me in the mode to run Edge.

I'll look into reading those novels, thanks for the tip.

You've got a lot of hard sci-fi and simulator questions about a space fantasy setting that glazes over anything that can't keep up with the opera pace. I'm not saying that stuff isn't out there in one way, shape, or form, but it's the kind of stuff that's pretty backseat, most of the time.

Sure. I generally agree with you. Me and my crew has talked about it and have agreed that we want Imperial bureaucracy, shipping tariffs, custom officials, hypermatter bills and transponders to colour the our game - not rule it. They nor I want to play "Edge of the Bureaucracy".

Personally however, I lean towards grit and I enjoy reading up on and researching my roleplaying games. I do also feel that versimilitude and immersion is greatly helped by consistence, which in turn is greatly helped by some sort of frame work other than "seat of your pants".

But, I realise I am a minority here but as they say, it never hurts to ask. Unless you ask Jabba the Hutt. Regardless I've found Platt's Starport Guide, Platt's Smuggler's Guide, Galaxy Guide 6 Tramp Freighters and all the other excellent resources on the Holonet.

I shall prevail.

Incidentally, is there an easy way to divide a block quote? I find the formatting here to be very jitterish.

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Hey bladerunner. I think some of those may have been answered by fellow GMs on the d20Radio FFG Star Wars RPG thread. There were some really insightful answers. They moved it to a different forum, so you may not have seen it.

http://www.d20radio.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=149&t=12915

I learned a lot for this thread. Thanks for asking these questions.

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Hey bladerunner. I think some of those may have been answered by fellow GMs on the d20Radio FFG Star Wars RPG thread. There were some really insightful answers. They moved it to a different forum, so you may not have seen it.

http://www.d20radio.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=149&t=12915

I learned a lot for this thread. Thanks for asking these questions.

Oh wow! I keep an eye on those forums from time to time but completely missed this! That's excellent! We're finally continuing with Long Arm of the Hutt this evening so I won't really have time to sit down and dig into the thread but it looks really very promising!

Thank you so much for pointing this out kaosoe!