Edge of the Empire Book

Running a Full Campaign

C

ampaigns are to adventures what the Star Wars saga

is to individual movies. A campaign is a long term

story arc in which the action that occurs within the story

of each adventure adds to the arc. Campaigns give the

players time to play, develop, and advance their charac-

ters. Running a highly detailed campaign is not neces-

sary; a CM might opt to run largely unconnected adven-

tures with the Player Characters as the only constant.

However, developing a larger story arc gives the players

the chance to attain a greater goal that is not logically

attainable in a single adventure.

WHAT IS AN EDGE OF THE

EMPIRE CAMPAIGN?

As with EDGE OF THE EMPIRE adventures, the campaigns

highlighted in this book emphasize the rougher and

darker aspects of the galaxy. The Player Characters

are more likely to spend their time at the fringes

of space and society than the height of Core World

splendor. They likely know more about the criminal

underworld than the protocols of high government.

That's not to say that the Core Worlds or government

intrigue can't be part of the story, but if they are, it

is more likely to be in the darker, more corrupt, and

more sinister edges of seemingly high society.

The characters' personal connections are typically

shady at best, and often downright crooked, manipu-

lative, and dangerous. Even when the characters try to

follow a lawful or honorable path, their situations and

associates keep corrupting their choices. This is not to

say the characters can never escape a bad situation, but

it doesn't take very long for new problems to crop up.

EDGE OF THE EMPIRE campaigns typically focus on the

fringes of society. Run-ins with Imperials are common in

most regions of the galaxy, while Rebel Alliance-focused

stories are not common. The Player Characters may

encounter Rebel sympathizers or agents from time to

time, and even work for them, but the struggle between

the Rebellion and the Empire is not the focus of these

campaigns. Unless the campaign is truly in an isolated

backwater, the fringes of the galaxy, or a self-centered

region like the Corporate Sector, the Player Characters

should at least hear about Rebel activities from time to

time, and might experience them directly or indirectly.

OUTLINING THE CAMPAIGN

Campaigns are made of multiple adventures, usually

three or more, that require multiple game sessions to

complete. Some campaigns may last weeks, months,

or even years in real time. When creating a new cam-

paign, the GM should outline the major events, loca-

tions, and characters of the story arc. It isn't necessary

to understand every connection to every story idea

from the beginning. A loose, logical progression of ma-

jor events will form a skeletal plot that can be detailed

as play proceeds, especially when creating individual

adventures. Much like adventures, campaigns usually

have a beginning, middle, and end, though it may use

multiple adventures within each act.

LINEAR AND

NON-LINEAR CAMPAIGNS

Like adventures, campaigns may use a linear or non-

linear progression of stories. Linear progressions allow

one story to build directly on the events of the previous

adventure. However, they tend to restrict Player Charac-

ter freedom to take the story in unexpected directions.

The GM must spend time and resources to keep the

Player Characters on track and the players might feel

railroaded if it disrupts their illusion of choice too much.

A non-linear campaign takes more planning, but allows

for a lot more flexibility in play. In a non-linear campaign,

the results of an adventure dictate which adventure

comes next. When outlining the campaign, the GM cre-

ates a flowchart or tree of adventures, where a positive

or negative (or other) outcome links up with an adven-

ture that is based on that result. Some adventures may

be skipped by the Player Characters, depending on the

exact layout of the chart. GMs that like to give the players

a lot of leeway in the direction of the campaign may find

that the non-linear approach allows the story arc to pro-

ceed easily, even if the circumstances or specifics change.

Example Campaign Concept: Hyperspace rail-

road. The Player Characters are dedicated to freeing

slaves from the Empire, the Hutts, and various locales.

Perhaps some of the Player Characters are escaped

or rescued slaves themselves. The Player Characters

may be altruistic, but likely seek some kind of fee for

their services. They might be smugglers, trained mer-

cenaries, or a combination.

Sample Linear Campaign Basic Outline:

• Episode 1 : The Slave Ship. The Player Charac-
  ters respond to a distress call from a Trandoshan
  freighter, damaged by an asteroid strike. The
  Trandoshans ask the Player Characters to board
  their vessels to help with repairs. Once aboard,
  the Trandoshans try to capture any non-Human
  Player Characters. The Player Characters manage
  to free the slaves and a fight erupts to capture the
  ship. The Player Characters also learn the Tran-
  doshans work for a particular Hutt, as part of his
  slave trading network.

THE GAME MASTER

EDCE OF THE EMPIRE