Lions, Tigers and Sith, Oh My! Star Wars Roleplaying Games: Threats of the Galaxy.
Written: May 27 '08 (Updated Mar 14 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: A Slick well designed Monster Manual for the Star Wars Game.
Cons: Rather expensive.
The Bottom Line: If you love Star Wars this game is a great hobby. This book is a must have for the game.
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| talyseon's Full Review: Rodney Thompson, Robert J. Schwalb, Gary Astleford... |
Star Wars Roleplaying Game: Threats of the Galaxy. Designed by Rodney Thompson, Robert J. Schwalb.
What would Luke Skywalker be with out Darth Vader? What would have happened to Anakin Skywalker with out the manipulations of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine? Well, their stories would not be nearly so entertaining. A good villain makes the tale.
Enter Star Wars Roleplaying Game: Threats of the Galaxy.. This 160 page volume details over a hundred possible threats, allies and background characters.
The Introduction gives novice GMs a few pointers on building a balanced encounter. Experienced gamers can skip this.
Chapter 2: Characters details various well, characters. Starting with Adept, Force and running the gamut to Warrior, Elite this chapter gives an example of practically anything you might need for you adventures.
Just for an example, the Force Adept entry details a Soldier 7/Force Adept 1. It outlines how they might be encountered. Then it gets a bit more detailed, describing a force adept population from the books, the Dathomiri Witch. The example is a scout7/Force Adept 3 for a CL 10. Next it shows Tribal Shamans. The example is a Noble 5/Scout 2/ Force Adept 2. So if you wanted to have a Nelvaanan wise man, or a Ewok Witchdoctor, here is the way to build it.
Also there are examples from the movies detailed here, Captain Typho under body guard, Aurra Sing, Bossk, and Jango Fett under Bounty Hunter. Jerec, Dark Jedi Master, and Desann, Primitive Dark Side Adept.
Bail Organa is the example for a politician, Darth Maul the example for a Sith Apprentice. Lumiya, Dark Lady of the Sith, and Darth Bane round out the very bad guys. Zakarisz Ghent details what it is to be a slicer. (hacker) and Talon Karrde is the example for a smuggler.
The next Chapter deals with Creatures, like the Rancor, the Mynock, and the dreaded Krayt Dragon of Tatooine. Simple and straightforward, this chapter is most notable for its brevity. In Star Wars, most of the threats you face pack a blaster. But if you want to send your players to Dagobah, it details the Knobby White Spider, which is actually a sapling form of the trees of Dagobah. Give a Krayt dragon water breathing, and it can be what tried to eat R2D2.
The last chapter details Droids. Some are the simple Astromechs, and Protocol Droids we all know and love, but it also includes Assassin Droids, Battle Droids, and Sith Elite Warbots.
As with any “monster manual” these books are as useful as you, the GM chooses to make them. With a little creativity, you can really step up a great encounter. The characters are meeting with the crimelord Garbanza the Hutt. It does not go well, so the great Garbanza decides to teach them a lesson. A pair of Twi’lek assassins can make the evening a lot more interesting. Now, what if, when they run out, they encounter a pair of Assassin Droids waiting for them? And when they finally make it to the relative safety of their ship, The Fortunate Womp Rat, what if there are a few Khoun (the Bugs that tried to assassinate Senator Amidala) lurking in the galley? That is a busy evening.
My main complaint is the price. $34.95 is a bit pricy for only 160 pages. Still, this will be one of the most useful books for the GM.
All and all, this game system really delivers. It has been streamlined until it is SLICK, which makes it fast paced and easy to play. Check it out.
May The Force Be With You.
The New Frontier: Younglings.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Check out the other completely different Clone Wars cartoons.
Star Wars Clone Wars Volume One. and
Star Wars Clone Wars Volume Two.
Check out these Star Wars Novels:
Tatooine Ghost
Star Wars Legacy of the Force: Sacrifice
Star Wars Legacy of the Force: Invincible
The Cestus Deception.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor
Check out these Star Wars Comics:
Tag and Bink Were Here
Jango Fett: Open Season.
Rites of Passage
Star Wars Rebellion: My Brother, My Enemy.
Check out my reviews on Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic.
Commencement
Flashpoint.
Days of Fear, Nights of Anger.
Check out the Future of Star Wars in Legacy:
Star Wars Legacy: Broken.
Star Wars Legacy: Shards
Star Wars Legacy: Claws of the Dragon
Star Wars Legacy: Alliance
The Star Wars Role Playing Game:
Star Wars Role Playing Game
Star Ships of the Galaxy
Threats of the Galaxy
Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide
The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide
Scum and Villainy
The Clone Wars Campaign Guide
Check out all the Star Wars Saga:
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Recommended:
Yes
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