Edge of the Empire Book

TABLE 9-2: SPENDING EXPERIENCE

Cost Prerequisites

May spend experience to

purchase ranks in any skill,

up to rank 5

Career skills cost five times the purchased rank in

experience.

Non-Career skills cost five times the purchased rank

in experience, plus 5 additional experience.

Whether Career skills or non-Career skills,

each rank must be purchased sequentially

(so rank 2 must be purchased before rank

3, and so on).

May spend experience to

purchase talents within

specializations.

Depends on talent's position within

specialization tree.

Talents may only be purchased if they are

on the first level of a specialization, or if

they are connected with a bar to a Talent

already purchased.

May spend experience

to purchase new

specializations.

New specializations cost ten times the total number

of specializations the character will have. Non-Career

specializations cost 10 additional experience.

None.

Suggested success interpretations are:

• Success or multiple Successes: The charac-
  ter avoids any fear effects, except those trig-
  gered by <§).


• Advantage: Gain • on the character's first
  check. If spending multiple O. grant • to an ad-
  ditional player's first check.


• Triumph: Can be spent to cancel all previous pen-
  alties from fear checks, or spent to ensure the char-
  acter need not make any additional fear checks
  during the encounter, no matter the source.

CHARACTER DEATH

Character death is a part of the Star Wars universe, and

this game is no different. While death is unlikely to hap-

pen in most game sessions, the threat of death builds

tension into the game session. How a player reacts to his

character's demise depends largely on the player. Some

take it in stride, and are soon ready to create a new one.

Other players may be disappointed, upset, or angry, es-

pecially those who invested a good deal of time and effort

into the character. They may be particularly frustrated if

the character death is meaningless, cheap, or feels un-

fair. While the GM may try to prevent a character death

through subtle or obvious means, such aid should be

backed up by solid reasoning. Perceived favoritism in the

GM's handling of different deaths between different Play-

er Characters can lead to hurt feelings and angry players.

PLAYING THE ROLE

GMs should always remember that they are playing the

role of NPCs motivated by their own desires, fears, rela-

tionships, and orders. How far the GM goes in portraying

and performing the character depends on the GM's com-

fort level in acting out the role. It is perfectly acceptable

to speak in third person, such as "The crime lord tells you

to take your money and never come back." However, it

is more engaging and immersive to perform a voice or

accent and speak directly to the characters. The same

line might be delivered as "Here, scum, take your pre-

cious credits and get out. If you ever come back, I'll feed

you to the rancor." Most GMs use a mixture of these two

approaches. However, if the GM's performance elicits un-

intended laughter in a dramatic situation, it is probably

time to consider a different approach.

IMPROVISING

Becoming a good GM requires a number of improvisa-

tional skills, which are used throughout the game session.

Improvisational acting occurs when the GM plays the role

of NPCs reacting to character questions and actions. Im-

USING MUSIC AND PROPS

O

ne of the great advantages of running a game

in the Star Wars setting is the availability of

music. The movie soundtracks add instant atmo-

sphere to a game session. Beginning an adven-

ture with the opening fanfare and Main Title score

instantly sets an unmistakable tone. Running the

soundtracks at low volume in the background of

the game session can add ambience. A better

approach is to play selected tracks at the proper

moments to add to the situation at hand. Noth-

ing fills the players with a bit of apprehension and

says, "The Empire is here" like playing The Imperi-

al March just before announcing a Star Destroyer

has arrived to ruin their day.

With the multitude of Star Wars toys, mod-

els, replicas, and other products, it is also easy

to use props during the game. Starships models,

books with detailed pictures, and toy weapons

can be adapted for use at the table, or serve as

an example. However, not all toys set the appro-

priate mood. A highly accurate X-wing model can

add interesting details to an in-game discussion

about the craft. A preschooler's version of the

same X-wing won't have the same effect.

THE GAME MASTER

EDGE OF THE EMPIRE