Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Rule Book

SELECTING LOCATIONS

The Star Wars galaxy is filled with fantastic locations
and exotic environments. GMs should select spectacu-
lar locations when creating their adventures and cam-
paigns. For example, Cloud City floating above a gas
giant planet, the city-sinkholes of Utapau, and the city-
planets of Coruscant (Imperial Center) and Nar Shaddaa
all offer very different and unique urban environments.
While some adventure types may be run at any of these
locations, others will be enhanced by selecting one that
complements the NPCs and envisioned plot. EDCE OF THE
EMPIRE locations tend to be seedy, rough, and distant. If
the location itself isn't somewhat intimidating, the char-
acters inhabiting it or the situation itself should be.

Selecting individual encounter locations is also im-

portant. They should be interesting in some fashion-

location, layout, environmental effects or hazards, or

even the characters or creatures they encounter. Avoid

setting final battles or encounters in mundane locales

or hallways. These should the epic locations that should

add greatly to the atmosphere and actual gameplay.

ADVENTURES & ENCOUNTERS INSPIRED

BY OBLIGATION AND MOTIVATION

The flexible nature of the campaign format allows

GMs to insert adventures or encounters prompted

by sudden character actions, which are motivated

by their Obligation or Motivation. When planning the

campaign, the GM should outline several encounters

and a couple of adventures appropriate to the Player

Character's Obligation and Motivation incentives. Pre-

pared encounters make these spontaneous actions

easier for the GM to deal with on the fly.

EXAMPLE OBLIGATION ENCOUNTERS:

Addiction: A dealer, pusher, or fellow addict un-

expectedly arrives and tries to sell his goods or

tempt the Player Character into giving in to his

addiction. He interrupts the Player Characters

in a public space and make a scene. The law

isn't far behind.

Betrayal or Blackmail: The Player Character

suddenly realizes that the person the party has

to deal with knows something about his betray-

al or blackmail. The Player Character may have

to avoid the situation or confront the individual.

Either might tip off his teammates, potentially

damaging their relationship.

Family, Favor, or Responsibility: A message or

individual arrives, demanding the Player Char-

acter's immediate help. Doing so disrupts the

Player Character's or party's plans. Refusal or

delay makes the situation much worse, and the

demands keep coming.

EXAMPLE MOTIVATION ENCOUNTERS:

Ambition (Fame): The Player Character is of-

fered the opportunity to fly in a famous, but

illegal, swoop race. Winning the race grants a

big reputation boost across the Outer Rim, but

merely participating draws unwanted Imperial

or bounty hunter attention to the party.

Cause (Non-Human rights): The Player Charac-

ter sees a group of ISB agents arresting only

non-Human refugees disembarking from a pas-

senger ship. The opportunity presents itself to

stop the agents and free the refugees, but will

completely disrupt the party's plans.

Relationship (Clan): A Rodian Player Character's

clan is engaged in a not-so-secret war with an-

other clan. The Player Character sees the op-

portunity to ambush a member of the clan while

working with the party on a different mission.

Doing so will draw unwanted attention to the

operation but will raise the Player Character's

status among his clan.

If the GM prefers a style of campaign that relies

much more on player decisions than GM plotting,

he should regularly mine the Player Character's

Obligation and Motivation for encounter ideas.

Entire adventures and campaigns may be con-

structed around these two mechanics and the situ-

ations they produce. The base of operations also

provides regular inspiration for adventure ideas,

as the Player Characters try to improve their ves-

sel and their situation.

PLANNING REWARDS

Every adventure in the campaign should have built-in

rewards. Rewards may be money, equipment, vehicles,

influence, or something less tangible but equally valu-

able to the Player Characters. Having a debt forgiven,

receiving a favor, or being introduced to an influential

figure are examples of intangible but valuable rewards.

Story rewards are also a must for adventures. Not every

encounter needs this, but the completion of an adventure

should alter the amount of Obligation the characters and

party carries forward. Rewarding players for adhering to

their Motivations also keeps the party happy.

Rewards at the end of the campaign should tie di-

rectly to the overall plot and be impressive enough

to satisfy or impress the players. If the Player Char-

acters continue in a follow-up campaign, be careful

when doling out the rewards and be ready for them to

come into play in the next campaign.

THE GAME MASTER

EDGE OF THE EMPIRE