Star Wars: Edge of The Empire - Core Rulebook

457 Pages·2013·35.22 MB·English

by  Fantasy Flight Games

IN T R O D U C T IO N
"Much to learn, you still have."
-Yoda
Bounty hunters! Run!" We all ran harder. At least the stun bolts told us they
wanted us alive...for now.
I bolted. I didn't need to be told again. They weren't
taking me back to Logron. Ahead. Sona decided the sun­ "There's no way Logron's hunters could find us that
drenched alley was too exposed and dove into a shad­ fast!" I yelled at Sona. We had escaped Logron’s des­
owed archway. ert farmstead hideout less than an hour before, after
we smashed his comm gear and took the only speeder.
"Come...argh!” the Bothan groaned, suddenly reap­
Logron (all-around scum, minor crime lord, and illegal
pearing as she bounced off something hard, landing on
bounty hunter kingpin) had left unexpectedly, and we
her back in the sandy street. I slowed to a jog. grabbed
seized the opportunity to break out of our makeshift
her hand, and yanked her back to her feet without stop­
cell. His otherwise-inept guards managed to blast the
ping. "Didn't see the door. Too dark," she cursed. As we
landspeeder as we zipped away. Its repulsorlift died five
picked up speed, she pressed something into my hand.
minutes outside Mos Shuuta. crashing us into a conve­
A blaster pistol.
niently-located sand dune.
"So. now you trust me?" I asked..
"They're not Logron's." Sona shouted back. ”1 think
"Barely Just point it at the bounty hunters." She looked they're after the Pero brothers. Coson and Reis must owe
behind us. Our twisting path through Mos Sluiuta's alley someone BIG. They always attract bounty hunters."
ways blocked the hunters from view. I momentarily pan­
The Twi'leks caught up to us when we slowed to turn
icked as a pair of humanoid figures sprinted around the
down a side street. The older one, Coson. replied, "If
corner, but I quickly realized they were Sona's friends, the
they're after us. they're new. Don't recognize them " A
Pero brothers. At least. I thought the Twi'leks were her
barrage of stun bolts announced the hunters' reacquisi
friends. I barely knew any of them.
tion of their targets. Us.
Stun bolts buzzed by the Twi'leks as they turned the
cornei The hunters were much too close for comfort.
Sona pointed up toward a tall structure that dwarfed the horizon turned from blue to black, I turned to Sona,
the buildings around us. "There’s the bay! Co left!” A a question burning in my mind. I kept my hand on the
throng of people clogged the cramped outdoor market blaster in my lap, but didn’t pick it up. Not yet, anyway.
street ahead. Sona led us down a parallel side street. We
"No one could break into a ship that fast. How did you
emerged near a cliff, face—not unexpected, given that
know the code to Logron’s ship?"
Mos Shuuta covered the top of a small mesa. We turned
right, expecting to run between the buildings and the cliff Sona laughed. “It’s MY ship. I owed him some cash,
edge, but a towering, teetering stack of crates and junk and Logron decided to alter our deal and take the ship
blocked the way. instead. The Pero brothers and I tracked him to the farm
but got caught by some of his hunters. We figured out.too
"Wonderful," groaned Reis. The hunters would be here
late the-ship was in Mos Shuuta."
in moments.
My mind raced with this unexpected turn. "How long
I grabbed Reis' wrist. "Come on, we’ll skirt around the
have you owned this ship?”
outside. Just don’t push me off the cliff!” I turned side­
ways, as there was just enough of a ledge to get around "Years.”
the junk. I tried to touch the pile as little as possible.
My blaster came up instantly. Sona’s smile vanished.
Predictably, Reis slipped and panicked. He grabbed the
“Hey, hold up, I told you to point that thing at bounty
nearest stable thing to save himself—me. I seized his
hunters."
hand and his momentum yanked me towards the edge.
I clutched the pipe I’d been using to balance myself, but "I think I am. My cousin disappeared six months ago
it found-no footing in the pile. The edge under Reis’ feet on Tatooine, and she was last seen being taken aboard a
crumbled and suddenly I was holding us both, dangling blue freighter. This one. An informant in Mos Eisley told
by one arm from the pipe. The pipe finally caught on me Logron owned it and used it for bounty hunters. I
something and held, but both it and my arm threatened found his hideout at the farm, but.his guards caught me
to come loose at any moment. and threw me in with you and the brothers. I don’t know
or care what you’re mixed up in. I’m out here looking for
Then, Reis went limp. Unconscious. I began to curse
my.cousin. If it's your ship, you know where she is."
him all the way to Ryloth when a stun bolt glanced off
the pile nearby. I’d forgotten about the bounty hunters. “I’m a smuggler, not a bounty hunter. Coson and Reis
They had hit Reis. I looked back and saw Sona halfway are my crewmates. Your cousin was in trouble with Jabba
up the pile, returning fire from behind a smashed crate. the Hutt, so I smuggled her offworld." Sona sighed, “You
Coson scrambled fearlessly across the ledge towards us. know, I always regret coming to Tatooine.”
He grabbed his brother by the arm and we hauled him
“I’m sure you do,” said a voice from behind us. We spun
up. We slung him over my shoulder and I carried him to
around, and I instinctively aimed my blaster at the in­
safety behind some of'the junk.
truder. "As do I. Regret your coming here, that is. You’re
The pile lurched as- Sona jumped down to join us, trouble." A tall, well-dressed human with short black hair
having taken the high road over the top. She jammed and a full board stood in the cockpit doorway, his blaster
some kind of stim into Reis. He began to revive, but not aimed at us. It was Logron. In the rush, we hadn’t checked
quickly enough. the ship. He could have been almost anywhere onboard.
I peeked around the corner and saw the bounty hunt­ “You did me no. favors leading my Rodian ex-partners
ers—Rodians—walking nimbly along the ledge. "Come right to me. Now, you will land this thing at Mos Ei.s...”
on, Coson,” I yelled at the strong Twi’lek. "PUSH!" I low­ He trailed off, staring out the. cockpit window behind me
ered my shoulder and we slammed into the pile. A dozen and Sona, which suddenly glowed. We turned to see the
random containers tumbled down on the Rodians just bright white triangular hull of an Imperial Star Destroyer,
before the whole pile lurched and slid off the cliff side which had just dropped out of hyperspace.
in an avalanche of junk. I didn’t see whether or not the
I turned around and shot the scum. Logron fell to the
Rodians went over with it. We ran.
deck, stunned. Unconscious.
Sona defeated the landing bay door's security in mo­
Sona looked from me, to the blaster, to Logron, to
ments. To my surprise, inside stood a very familiar, very
the Imperial ship outside. She smiled broadly and said,
worn freighter. It was disk-shaped, with its cockpit offset
“You know, I think you're right. Today I am a bounty
on the starboard side. Its color scheme of equal parts
hunter. I bet those Rodians knew something we didn't
blue and rust seemed to visibly crack and fade in the
about Logron. Let’s make a few credits, then see to your
bright sunlight that streamed in through the landing bay’s
cousin." Sona grabbed the comlink microphone. “Captain
open top. Sona ran up the boarding ramp to the hatch.
Sona Fey'lya of the Blue Flare to Imperial Star Destroyer.
She punched in a code and the hatch sprung open. She
You have great timing. I'd like to claim an Imperial bounty.
sprinted toward the cockpit, leaving me and Coson to
Shall we deliver, or do you want to pick up?"
lead the staggering Reis into the ship.
I strapped myself into the copilot's seat as the Rodi­
ans (or at least some of them) ran into the bay and we
roared into the sky. As we cleared the atmosphere, and
WELCOME TO ROLEPLAYING
AT THE EDGE OF THE EMPIRE!
In the Edge of the Empire roleplaying game, you’re part With each adventure, your character gradually becomes
character, part storyteller, and part improvisational ac­ better at what he or she does, and the story evolves with
tor. You simultaneously create and play through fantas­ and around all the characters.
tic Star Wars stories filled with action, suspense, space
Player Characters in Edge of the Empire are typically
battles, and more than a few stormtroopers, smugglers,
from the rough-and-tumble side of the galaxy,
bounty hunters, and Hutt crime lords. In Edge of the Em­
but they don’t have to be. You use the rules
pire, you play characters at the fringes of civilized space
to create the kind of character you want
or society—usually both. To play the game, you need
to play, and you develop it by playing
your imagination, this book, paper and pencil, some Star
the role you envision. You might play
Wars Edge of the Empire dice, and several other players.
a character based on someone found
Before you begin, you need to decide which member of
in the Star Wars movies and stories,
your group will play as the Game Master (GM). While not
but most players use a combination
a permanent decision, the role of GM does not gener­
of abilities and
ally change from one game session to the next, and the
backstory to
Game Master has several responsibilities that the rest of
create a charac­
the players do not.
ter unique to them.
I'M THE GAME MASTER! WHAT DO I DO? For example, the
opening story featured a
Running a roleplaying game is a lot of fun. The GM runs common Player Character
the game, provides the basic story plot, plays the char­ type—Sona, a smuggler whose
acters the players meet, describes the surroundings, and deal with a criminal benefac­
adjudicates the rules. A good GM must think on his feet. tor turned sour, forcing her
The GM responds to unexpected actions from the play­ and her crew to take dras­
ers and adjusts the story as the players come up with tic action to regain their
the best way to resolve the situation they have encoun­ ship. The Pero brothers
tered. Your number one job is to make sure everyone has and the story’s nar­
a good time. Fun first, rules second. rator could be
played by oth­
I'M A PLAYER! WHAT DO I DO? er players.
As a player, you take on the role of an individual charac­
ter, referred to as the Player Character (PC). You usually
Your smug­
create a Player Character for yourself at the beginning
gler might run con­
of the game, but the Game Master may provide a pre­
traband to Imperial
generated PC for you. Your Player Character takes part in
worlds while dodging
an adventure, analogous to episodes of a television show
Star Destroyers and stor-
or individual movies wherein you play part of the recur­
mtroopers. You could be­
ring cast. Adventures last for one or more game sessions.
come a Rodian bounty
hunter, chasing down the
scum of the universe for
WHERE DO I START?
profit. Or you could be a dis­
graced human noble or politi­
Different parts of this Core Rulebook will serve cian on the run from the Empire
as a good starting point depending on wheth­ and fending off accusations of
er you will be playing Edge of the Empire as the being a rebel sympathizer...
Game Master or as a Player Character. accusations which might
be true!
Players should begin by reading Chapter I: Play­
ing the Game and can then dive right into Chap­
ter II: Character Creation.
The Game Master should also begin with Chapter
I: Playing the Game but can then move on to
Chapter IX: The Game Master
When you create your character, you will need to con­ During the adventure, you tell the GM what you want
sider your backstory: where did your character come your Player Character to do. You might use accents or
from? What does he do now and why? What does he unusual voices like an improvisational actor, but it’s per­
want to do next? The game includes ways to inspire fectly fine to simply say what you want to do and let the
backstory development through roleplaying motivations GM respond. Don’t worry about knowing all of the rules
and obligations to other individuals. Your PC has a spe­ of the game immediately—you’ll learn from the GM and
cific Obligation that influences him regularly—maybe he other players as you go, although reading the Edge of
owes a crime lord thousands of credits, must repay a big the Empire Core Rulebook is helpful. Having a good time
favor, or is dedicated to his family or organization. On is more important than following every rule to the letter.
the seedy side of galactic society, you can’t help but owe
someone something. WELCOME TO THE GALAXY!
You also create a personality, one which might be very
similar to yourself, or very different from anything you’ve It is a time of civil war...and much more. Every day, the
known. The heart of a roleplaying game is taking on the growing Rebellion threatens the Galactic Empire on
role of your Player Character, and acting in a manner be­ new battlefields and political arenas, fighting for hearts
fitting the character’s situation, history, and aspirations. and minds throughout the galaxy in their bid for free­
Backstories and personalities can be as complex or sim­ dom. Beyond the Rebellion, the rest of the galaxy goes
ple as you like, so long as you and your fellow players are about its business. Some hope to stay out of the line
having a good time. of fire, but others profit from the conflict. The most un­
lucky beings are caught in tyrannical Imperial policies
Once you have a Player Character, you play as part
that repress freedom and enslave entire species. The
of a group, usually comprising four to six players. Your
desperate and the opportunistic seek the edges of the
character's backstory might mesh with theirs (perhaps
Empire, finding refuge in social, eco­
they are related, or all serve aboard the same ship), or
nomic, and legal grey areas in the
they might be allies of the moment, thrown together by
remote parts of the galaxy.
circumstances beyond their control.
When you play, each member of the group controls his
own Player Character. The Came Master plays the part
of everyone else the PCs encounter, work with, or fight.
(These are called Non-Player Characters, or NPCs.) The
CM also embroils the group in the adventure. The CM
might create a story or plot, or the group could dictate
their own journey. Most games are a combination of both.
EXAMPLE OF PLAY
Frank, George, Harper, Isabelle, and Jackie have Jackie (GM): Okay, this will be a Streetwise check.
gathered together to play Edge of the Empire What do you do? What do you say?
around Frank's dining room table. Frank and George
Isabelle (Sona): I start with the bartender, I guess.
are playing Twi’leks: Coson the Hired Gun and Reis
“Hey, you handsome devil. I like your cantina; it must
the Technician. Harper is playing Mills, a human Col­
be the first port-of-call for every spacer in town."
onist. Isabelle is playing Sona, a Bothan Smuggler.
Jackie is acting as the Game Master (GM). George (Reis): I’ll sit with my brother at a table
near the middle of the room where we can see and
We join the group mid-session as they arrive in
hear as many people as possible. Maybe someone’ll
Mos Shuuta...
let something interesting slip while Sona’s doing her
Jackie (GM): It takes five minutes to walk from gladhanding.
your crashed speeder to the foot of the great stone
Jackie (GM): Okay, that’s a pretty good icebreaker.
bridge leading up to the Mos Shuuta mesa. It takes
This will be an Average difficulty Streetwise check.
another ten to climb all the way up to the town itself.
Reis and Coson’s extra eyes and ears are worth a
Fifteen minutes hiking in the Tatooine sun is enough
Boost die, and take another for good roleplaying.
to tire everyone; you all suffer two strain (Everyone
(Isabelle gathers dice based on various factors into
marks that they’ve suffered two strain on their char­
a dice pool and rolls it.)
acter sheet.)
Isabelle (Sona): Success, no Advantage or Threat
Frank (Coson): I hate this planet. Let’s get out of here.
Jackie (GM): Well, good news! The Blue Flare is in
Isabelle (Sona): We should try to find a ship. May­
dock at Bay Aurek.
be we can book passage off-world at the cantina—
this town must have a cantina, right? Isabelle (Sona): The Blue Flare? I know that ship!
Jackie (GM): Sure. The first Jawa you ask on the Jackie (GM): Meanwhile outside, Mills, make me a
street points you towards the cantina. Vigilance check.
Harper (Mills): We should be cautious about this. Harper (Mills): Not exactly my strong suit. (Harper
I’ll hang back from the group and keep an eye out. collects dice based on Mills’ Vigilance skill and chal­
Logron’s thugs could be right behind us. lenge and difficulty dice provided by Jackie, then
rolls.) Failure, but two Advantage.
Jackie (GM): Good idea. The cantina is a low
pourstone building, like most of the rest of the Jackie (GM): Alright, Mills. You don’t see the Rodi-
town. It’s sunken a bit into the rock of the mesa an bounty hunters until you literally walk into them
and is much cooler than the hot streets. There is when you turn to step into the cantina. You and the
a collection of aliens of all types scattered around Rodians go flying in opposite directions, tumbling
the main room, and the Devaronian bartender to the ground as they shout out in recognition. Be­
sneers at you as you approach. cause of your Advantage, I’ll give you a free maneu­
ver before they can respond.
Isabelle (Sona): Okay, I guess we work the room
and see who might know where we can get a ride Harper (Mills): Uh...uh... I duck into the cantina
off of this rock. Somebody must be a pilot for hire. and shout for help!
Frank (Coson): Hire? With what money? We’re Frank (Coson): Oh, great A firefight in the cantina
broke, remember? is the perfect cap to our terrible day.
Isabelle (Sona): Details. We’ll figure that out later. Jackie (GM): Roll for initiative!
THE EMPEROR RULES Dominant though the Empire is, it is hardly monolithic
or omnipresent, and the rebels, criminal organizations,
The fearsome Empire dominates the galaxy politically, corporations, and many others exploit that fact.
socially, and militarily. The Emperor maintains absolute
control; he skillfully plays political games, using both the THE GALACTIC CIVIL WAR RAGES ON!
military and the dreaded Darth Vader to keep his choke-
hold on the galaxy. The Imperial military is unmatched The rebels destroyed the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the
when deployed en masse. Imperial agencies monitor the Death Star! The loudest shot of the Galactic Civil War
actions of opponents and allies alike. The feared Imperial still reverberates throughout the galaxy. Viewed as a le­
Security Bureau (ISB) digs into any suspected corruption gitimate new hope for the repressed and the persecuted,
or rebel activity. Government-sanctioned political groups the Rebel Alliance battles Imperial forces every day. The
like the Commission for the Preservation of the New Or­ rebels are locked in a desperate, winner-take-all battle
der (COMPNOR) promote Imperial ideals and harshly with the Empire, with only a fraction of the military might
counter rebel propaganda and anti-imperial sentiment. they need. With each new success, the Rebellion spreads
Sun deliveries and operations. Black Sun
reaches from Coruscant, the capital world
of Imperial Center, to the backwater planets
and isolated worlds beyond Known Space.
SHADY SHADOWPORTS
AND BLACK MARKETS
Beneath the surface of legitimate com­
merce. Imperial bureaucracy, and regiment­
ed Imperial rule lies a teeming underworld of
smugglers, con artists, black marketeers, and
other criminals. Though officially condemned
as hives of scum and villainy, the truth is that
much of the galaxy engages with or even relies
upon these grey market economies to survive.
Isolated worlds sometimes have no other option,
further blurring the line between legitimate enter­
prise and illegal trade. As stifling Imperial law and
persecution increase throughout the galaxy, more
people escape to the fringes just to survive or evade
arrest. Shadowports provide trading ports, ship's servic­
in the galaxy. The Empire relentlessly seeks out rebels es, and other key support for otherwise illegal activities.
and their sympathizers, pursuing the main rebel leader­ Shadowports are usually isolated and secret, but some
ship across the galaxy. After the destruction of the Death foster illegal activities in larger, legitimate spaceports.
Star, to be labeled a rebel is to be a hated and hunted Black markets offer virtually any legal or illegal item, so
enemy of the Empire. long as one can afford it. Smugglers sneak contraband
past the ubiquitous Imperial customs inspectors, bringing
BEWARE THE POWERFUL HUTTS banned items into Imperial worlds, or even sneaking fugi­
tives and rebel agents away from the Imperials.
The Hutts are immense, slug-like creatures who wield
great influence in the galaxy; they have done so since SURVIVING AT THE EDGE OF THE EMPIRE
the ancient days of the Republic. They nominally fall un­
der the control of the Empire, but the Hutts long usurped Life at the fringes of society and civilized space is tough.
Imperial power in Hutt Space through corrupt and mon­ The edge of society can be found almost anywhere in
etary means. Many, like the legendary Jabba the Hutt, the galaxy—from the most isolated backwater Imperial
are criminal overlords, with the type of power and un­ planet in the Outer Rim to the dank depths of the seedy
derworld connections that make them difficult for the lower levels of the Imperial capital city-world. The edge of
Empire to counter effectively or eliminate completely. society often corresponds to the edge of the Empire it­
The Hutts' efforts—criminal or otherwise—heavily influ­ self: outliers where people run to escape Imperial agents,
ence the economies, governments, and illegal activities where rebels plot and strike against the Imperial military,
in large areas of the sprawling Outer Rim Territories. It’s and where the explorers and colonists establish new lives.
hard to operate at the fringes of society without encoun­
Living here is a gamble: a loss of societal law and pro­
tering a Hutt scheme. Worse, failing or crossing a Hutt
tections also brings freedom from Imperial interference
tends to be expensive (and occasionally violent). Bounty
and repression. Naturally, the fringes are home to crimi­
hunters make a good living enforcing Hutt revenge.
nals. scoundrels, and outlaws. Given that Imperial rules
regularly outlaw dissent and resistance, it isn't hard for
THE HIDDEN BLACK SUN
otherwise honest and upstanding citizens to run afoul of
Imperial edicts—and find themselves on the run.
Black Sun is a secret interstellar crime syndicate, op­
erating at every level of galactic society. Powerful crime Life at the edge requires hard work and risk-taking just
lords called Vigos protect Black Sun’s underworld su­ to survive. People are often caught in events beyond their
premacy while simultaneously vying for more power and control—Imperial security sweeps, mistaken identities,
territory within the organization. Each Vigo organizes, con games, fraud, accusations of rebel sympathy, theft,
coordinates, and controls massive illegal operations in and more. The adventurous can turn their misfortunes
his own region in the galaxy. Secrecy is paramount to into new opportunities for freedom, credits, and even
Black Sun’s centuries-long operations. Smaller criminal starships. They learn the ways of the edge, and thrive de­
groups often unknowingly work for the sprawling crime spite its challenges. Some even manipulate the situation
syndicate. Black Sun is sometimes an ally (but more of­ to their own advantage while maintaining their own moral
ten an adversary) of the Imperial government. Smugglers code. Life is a dangerous adventure.
and black marketeers are duped into carrying out Black