Edge of the Empire Book

99 for a starting group starship should determine
what starship the group has and, by extension, the
starship best suited to work as a base of operations.

CONTACTS

As the group participates in more adventures and travels
through the galaxy, they'll likely make contacts. Contacts
are NPCs who can provide information or resources to
the group, and while some may be specific to a certain
player character, others are general contacts who know
the entire group. These contacts can be tracked as part
of the group's base of operations. These contacts might
be established narratively (especially if they owe the
players) or may be purchased through group resources
or by undertaking group Obligation.

Contacts requiring greater initial Obligation should

be more powerful, have access to more resources,

and/or be better connected. A low Obligation contact

might be a lesser criminal boss, where a high Obliga-

tion contact could be Jabba the Hutt. The GM may

require that the party complete an adventure with the

contact. They might work with the contact or he may

bail them out in exchange for Obligation.

Contacts may incur additional Obligation as the ad-

venture or campaign proceeds. The source of any ad-

ditional owed Obligation should be noted with the

contacts and recorded with all other Obligation entries.

However, if the characters manage to fulfill their Obliga-

tion to the contract, they can still retain the contact (as

long as the GM decides it makes sense for the ongoing

narrative of the campaign). At that point, they may not

owe the contact anything but their history in working to-

gether ensures the contact is still willing to help them.

It's also very likely that some of the group's contacts

may owe the group something, whether favors, money,

or some other debt. In this case, the group should just

note the contact in their list and list them in their Ob-

ligations. It's also possible that the status of the con-

tact and Obligations owed changes over the course of

the campaign. The important thing for a GM to keep in

mind is that the status of a contact and any Obligation

owed to the contact can be two independent points.

Contacts can provide material aid to groups but

their most valuable role in an adventure is providing

information. GMs can use contacts to advance the

plot of an adventure by providing valuable informa-

tion to their player characters through an "in-game"

source. Likewise, if players know their characters have

contacts, they will likely feel it's well within the realm

of an adventure to ask their contacts for information.

ALTERNATE BASES

OF OPERATIONS

While EDGE OF THE EMPIRE focuses on ships as the par-

ty's base of operations, other types are possible, such

as hidden bases, cantinas, hideouts, strongholds,

academies, and more. The guidelines covering bases

of operations mentioned previously apply equally to

any type of base of operations.

Adjudicating Destiny Points

D

estiny Points represent the inherent connection be-

tween the characters, the villains, and the fate of the

galaxy—or at least their part in it. Destiny Points are

flexible and fickle, sometimes aiding the characters,

sometimes hindering them. They also represent the

influence of the light and dark sides of the Force on

the character's actions and lives. The characters typi-

cally use light side points to increase their chances to

achieve their goals, while the GM typically uses dark

side points to hinder and obstruct them. The flow of

points between the light and dark side pools are repre-

sentative of the shifting balance of power between the

light and dark side of the Force.

Generally speaking, the Player Characters are the

good guys of the game and thus may only spend light

side Destiny Points, and the GM may only spend dark

side Destiny Points. See page 27 for a complete

explanation of Destiny Point mechanics.

ENCOURAGING DESTINY

POINT USE

The flow of Destiny Points may vary greatly between dif-

ferent parties and GMs. Newcomers to the game may

be reluctant to spend Destiny Points for fear of having

them unavailable when a more important or critical situ-

ation arises. The GM should encourage Destiny Point

use throughout the game. He should spend points regu-

larly to replenish the light side pool, and to highlight the

integral role of destiny in the Star Wars setting.

The players may decide to ration Destiny Point

use, and it is within their rights to form a strategy for

Destiny Point expenditure. Beyond keeping points for

their own use, they might also hoard them to prevent

the GM from using them at critical moments. This is

a good occasional tactic, but if it becomes a regular

problem, the GM should balance things out by hold-

ing back a few points for his use.

THE GAME MASTER

IDGE OF THE EMPIRE