Edge of the Empire Book

LET THE PLAYERS SHINE

G

Ms must remember that the Player Char-

acters are the stars of the show. No matter

how complex or exciting the plot, the Player

Characters should always feel that they are the

center of attention. Following this notion, each

individual player should also enjoy moments of

glory within an adventure. It is common for play-

ers to create characters focused on roles they

enjoy playing, often with an effort to diversify

the group and make sure all potential bases are

covered. When crafting an adventure, the CM

should build in moments for each of those char-

acter types, or specific characters, to signifi-

cantly contribute to the story. In short, give the

players a chance to shine both in game and out.

THE STORY ARC

Much like a novel or other story, an adventure story
arc should contain a beginning, middle, and climac-
tic end. The beginning introduces the situation and
the antagonists. The middle develops the events and
the character actions. The end ties up the major plot
points in a dramatic finish.

BUILDING ENCOUNTERS

Once the overall plot line and major characters are out-
lined, the GM should divide the major plot points into
encounters. Adventures usually handle encounters in
one of two ways. They can be highly linear in nature,
with one encounter leading directly into the next, or
they can be more free-form, with the next encounter
dependent on the exact outcome of the one before it.
Of the two types, the free-form variety allows for the
most flexibility during the session. Highly linear adven-
tures run the risk of making the players feel like they've
been railroaded into specific situations with no control
over their own actions. Giving the players at least the
illusion of free will is critical to maintaining the fun.

PACING

Star Wars adventures should be fast-paced. While there

is a place for investigation, political intrigue^^sJowe^

events, they should be interspersed

among chases, skirmishes, dra-

matic confrontation, and

outright battle scenes

The GM should keep the

action moving along at

all times. Action doesn't

always mean outright

combat. The GM should

dispense with any en-

counter or scene that £

feels overly mundane,

especially if it can be

explained in a narrative.

Star Wars adventures are

often at their best if the G

keeps the action fast-paced

quick-moving. If the players are at a loss "as tcW

how to proceed, the GM should feel free to give them

just enough additional information to move them along

to the next scene. If the players spend too long mulling

over a certain situation or stalling out over a specific

plot point, the GM can introduce something new to re-

act to. This could be as subtle as an intercepted mes-

sage from an adversary, or as blatant as thugs kicking

down their door (metaphorically or literally). The other

benefit of this is it makes the players feel like they are

part of a larger world that moves forward even when

they do not.

DRAMATIC ACTION

Not every scene or encounter must involve high dra-

ma. However, major events should have a dramatic

focus. The GM should create major moments that sig-

nificantly impact the overall storyline. The outcome

of these encounters should have real consequences

to the plot. The crime lord really will take their ship if

tt]e Player Characters don't pay him back. The Empire

really will throw the Player Characters

n detention for a while if they're

h caught smuggling. Most dra-

matically, their characters

might not make it through

this encounter alive. If the

players are truly con-

cerned about the out-

come of the encounter

and its effects on their

characters, it quickly

raises the level of dra-

ma in the scene.

CONTROLLING

ENCOUNTER

DIFFICULTY

Building a balanced and fair encounter is an exercise in

controlling combat and environmental difficulties. While

not every encounter needs to be a fair fight, most of the

time, the Player Characters should have a decent chance

of winning or escaping. Adversaries in combat encoun-

ters consist of minions, rivals, and nemeses (see Chap-

ter XII: Adversaries). When selecting adversaries, the

GM must compare their attack skills and defenses with

those of the Player Characters. If they use comparable

dice, they are an appropriate individual opponent. If the

Player Characters are outnumbered, their opponents

should include more minions and rivals that are less of

THE GAME MASTER

EDCE OF THE EMPIRE