Date: Thu, 04 May 1995 15:57:52 +1000 (EST) From: Neil Creek Subject: SWRPG - FAQ v1.0 _.------------------------------------------------------------------._ / .----------------------------------------------------------------. \ | | ___________________ ___ ________ | | | | / __________ ____| / \ | ____ \ | | | | ( (___ | | / \ | |____) ) | | | | \____ \ | | / ^ \ | __ / | | | |________________) ) | | / /~~~\ \ | | \ \ ___________| | | __________________/ |__|__/__/ __\__\|__| \______________ | | ___________ \ / / \ | ____ \ / _____________ | | | \ \ __ / / \ | |____) ) ( (___ | | | | \ \ / \ / / ^ \ | __ / \____ \ | | | | \ ` /\ ' / /~~~\ \ | | \ \ _______) ) | | | | \__/ \__/__/ \__\|__| \____________/ | | | | | | \ `----------------------------------------------------------------' / `----------------------[ The Role-playing Game ]---------------------' FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS LIST Version 1.0 by Neil Creek : orion@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au 3rd May 1995 ALTERATIONS SINCE LAST VERSION: (0.3) Addition of introduction Addition of question "What is the address of...?" Addition of question "How many people are actually on the mailing list?" Addition of question "Is there a problem of copyright when quoting from rule books?" Addition of question "I don't have FTP, can I still get the stuff from the Resource Pool?" Addition of question "Who are Jae Walker, Peter Skanes and Bill Smith?" Addition of Andrew Jackson's opinion of the "Scavenger Hunt" module Answer to question "What is a PBeM?" Answer to question "How do I join a Star Wars PBeM?" INTRODUCTION This is the Frequently Asked Questions list for the Star Wars Role Playing Game mailing list. The purpose of this FAQ is to inform newcomers to the list what it is all about, and to act as a reference for any questions which the list users may commonly want to ask. This way, the volume of traffic on the list can be more restricted to other aspects of the roleplaying game. The FAQ is also a kind of advertisement for the mailing list and for the Star Wars Role Playing Game in general. The FAQ has been compiled with the assistance of several members of the list, and has come together over the period of several months, with three preliminary versions presented to the list members for comment and suggestions. I view the FAQ as a dynamic thing, evolving and growing. I therefore ask that anyone who reads the FAQ and has any suggestions and comments, that they please email me. If you can think of any questions that you'd like to see added to the FAQ, then please send them to me and I will see that they are answered and added. Any expansions, alterations or revisions that you think would improve the FAQ would also be greatly appreciated. Finally, I would like to see the FAQ distributed far and wide, so that anybody with an interest in Star Wars and the Role Playing Game will be able to read and refer to the list. I hold no copyright on the material in the list, and I ask only that any uses for the list you can find be for the advancement of the Star Wars universe and also be considerate of the contributors. Enjoy, and may the force be with you! Neil Creek orion@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au LIST OF QUESTIONS: What this acronym stand for? What is a role playing game? What do I need to play the game? Where can I get the rule books? How much do they cost? What do each of the books contain? What is the difference between first and second edition rules? Which are better? Where can I get the stats for [insert ship\character\system here]? How do I subscribe to the SWRPG mailing list? How many people are actually on the mailing list? Who are Jae Walker, Peter Skanes and Bill Smith? What is a PBeM? How do I join a Star Wars PBeM? I've got some great new [ships\characters\systems] I want to share, where can I put them? What is the Resource Pool? I don't have FTP, can I still get the stuff from the Resource Pool? Is there a problem with copyright when quoting from rule books? My server went down and I missed some messages, how can I get backup copies? I need help in my campaign, who can I ask? What is the address of...? I don't understand this rule, what does it mean? - How many projectiles do starfighters carry? Accreditation list. WHAT DOES THIS ACRONYM STAND FOR? The Star Wars world, and the role playing game in particular is filled with acronyms, often making it confusing for newcomers. Here is a list of some of the more common acronyms : ANH Star Wars - A New Hope, the first star wars movie COMPNOR Commission for the Preservation of the New Order DE Dark Empire DESB Dark Empire Source Book DFRSB Dark Force Rising Source Book DS Death Star or Dark Side DSP Dark Side Point FAQ(L) Frequently Asked Questions (List) FFTR Fragments from the Rim FTP File Transfer Protocol - an internet utility GG# Galaxy Guide number GM Game Master HESB Heir to the Empire Source Book IM(H)O In my (humble) opinion - nettalk ISB Imperial Source Book (I)SD (Imperial) Star Destroyer NPC Non-Player Character PC Player Character PotG# Planets of the Galaxy number RASS rec.arts.sf.starwars - a star wars usenet news group R(ot)J Return (of the) Jedi RPG Role Playing Game RPGML Star Wars RPG mailing list SotME Splinter of the Mind's Eye (by Allen Dean Foster) ST Storm Trooper SWRPG Star Wars, the Role Playing Game SW Star Wars SWRC Star Wars Roleplaying Companion (?) SWSB Star Wars sourcebook (T)ESB (The) Empire Strikes Back TK Telekenetic Kill - the force power Darth Vader used to choke people TLCSB The Last Command Source Book WEG West End Games - Publishers of SWRPG WHAT IS A ROLE PLAYING GAME? From "Star Wars - The Roleplaying Game" Second Edition, Appendix One: Roleplaying Basics, Page 162: "In roleplaying games, the action takes place in the imagination of the players. There is no board to move tokens around. Instead, the gamemaster must describe each scene and setting to the players, who then must visualise the scene themselves. Then, by imagining how their character would react in these settings, they tell the gamemaster what their character is going to do." "In a roleplaying game, the players can have their characters do whatever they want - there is no script. Instead, the player just has to have a good idea what his character might do." "Most of the time, the game consists of players just imagining what happens and telling the gamemaster what their characters will do. Sometimes, however, a player or gamemaster may demonstrate a particular action to give everyone a clearer idea of what the character is doing." "Roleplaying games have no "winners" and "losers". The object of roleplaying games is for each player to have a lot of fun. In fact, players are supposed to co-operate to achieve their success!" "What's important is telling a story that's interesting, exciting and fun to play. Often, especially in heroic fiction (and Star Wars is clearly heroic), the characters are heroes and supposed to win. They are expected to defeat the villains, and survive to fight another day. _Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game_ often has the characters triumphing over evil, but simply defeating the villains doesn't mean everyone had fun; sometimes everyone has fun even if their characters are soundly defeated by the opposition." WHAT DO I NEED TO PLAY THE GAME? Aside from the rule books, all you need to play the SWRPG, is some pencils, paper, plenty of six sided dice and a healthy imagination! The rulebooks themselves are essential but the game can be played with just one book. The core rules of the SWRPG contain everything that a beginning player will need. An introduction to roleplaying in general and the Star Wars universe in particular is provided. The rules used to play the game, as well as techniques to help run the game are fully explained, and the book is fleshed out with a lot of source material and character development ideas. Additional sourcebooks can be bought to give more specific information on a much wider variety of topics. Description of new ships and systems as well as a full run down of the Empire and the Rebellion can also be bought. WHERE CAN I GET THE RULE BOOKS? Every good gaming shop should have a copy of the rules or be able to get them in for you. If you cannot find a games shop, or there is not one nearby you, you could try looking in your telephone book or business directory for games distributors. HOW MUCH DO THEY COST? The main rulebook is the most expensive of all the books, but contains everything you need to play the game. Other sourcebooks are all approximately the same price, and pre-made adventure modules can even be bought, and are cheaper than the source books. For full details see the next question. For a price catalogue write to the addresses specified. Prices : AUSTRALIA - Core rules : $45 Sourcebooks : about $25 Galaxy Guides : about $25 Game modules : about $17 Military Simulations Pty. Ltd. 134 Cochranes Rd. Moorabbin PO Box 164 Moorabbin Vic. 3189 Ph : (03) 555 8886 Fax : (03) 553 3339 CANADA - Core rules : $33 Source books : $23 paperback, $27 hardcover Galaxy guides : $20 Game modules : $12+ From : Robert E Hipkin EUROPE - Norway Core rules : ca. 200 kr Sourcebooks : ca. 180 kr Game modules : ca. 100 kr From : Jens-Arthur Leirbakk UK - 15-20 pounds From: Keith Sohl [anyone with more detailed info?] USA - Core rules : $25.00 Sourcebooks : $15-$25 Game Modules : $10-$15 WEG Spring/Summer 1994 Catalog. West End Games RR 3 Box 2345 Honesdale, PA 18431 From : Tony Frederico WHAT DO EACH OF THE BOOKS CONTAIN? Cracken's Rebel Field Guide - Details the technology available to Rebel agents and soldiers - weapons, tools, computers plus improvised equipment. Very well illustrated. - As far as I know, this book will not make it to a 2nd edition version - which is bad, because this book is VERY GOOD. Heaps of useful items and information about jury-rigging and all the consequences of such tampering with equipment is given - and the book is _great_ on flavour. The (arguably) most useful item in this book is the FastFlesh medpack - never leave home without it! From : Jens-Arthur Leirbakk - Aus : $22.50 - US : $13.00 Cracken's Rebel Operatives - A collection of saboteurs, operatives, spies, contacts and informants who work with or for the Rebel Alliance in its valiant struggle against the evil Galactic Empire. Provides detailed info on some of the more famous individuals. - A sort of anti-Wanted by Cracken book, this book deals with the other side of the coin - namely, those men, women, droids and aliens which put their lives or circuits on the line for the Rebellion. Excellent source material for NPCs, and there are some interesting items there - and the illustrations can be real nice in a game, too. But, as with Wanted By Cracken, do look through it before you decide on anything. From : Jens- Arthur Leirbakk - Aus : $25.00 - US : $15.00 Dark Empire Sourcebook - A 126 page hardback sourcebook based on the smash-hit comic series following on from the end of the Return of the Jedi. Includes 16 full colour plates, heaps of illustrations, new ships, new NPC's and PC's, new equipment and vehicles, planets, and a history of the comic. - Most excellent, with a lot of new ships and stuff that are very useful. A drawback, however, is the cursory treatment some races get when it comes to NPCs - one of the NPCs are of a race called the Yaka, but how can one get the stats for that race? From : Jens-Arthur Leirbakk - Aus : $45.00 - US : $25.00 Dark Force Rising Sourcebook - A 144 page hardback sourcebook based on the novel written by Timothy Zahn, with game stats, characters, aliens, vehicles, droids, planets and starships. - The best thing about this sourcebook, is that it contains the stats for the Noghri. I bought it solely for that purpose. Other than that, it is good enough, I suppose. From : Jens-Arthur Leirbakk - Aus : $30.00 - US : $18.00 Death in the Undercity (adventure module) - The Quarren Mining facilities are a vital resource to the Rebellion, but this sprawling industrial installation has become the target for Imperial sabotage teams. - Aus : $16.50 - US : $10-$15 Deathstar Technical Companion - Details daily operations, personnel, defences, auxiliary vessels, power plant etc. With deck plans and maps for hangers, surface trenches etc. 96 pages. - Aus : $25.00 - US : $15.00 Galaxy Guide 2 - Yavin and Bepsin - Details moons, inhabitants, adventure ideas etc. - Aus : $16.00 - US : Unknown Galaxy Guide 3 - The Empire Strikes Back - Details the alien, Imperial and Rebel personalities that appeared in the second Star Wars film. Includes data on Hoth, Dagobah and Bepsin. 80 pages. - Aus : $20.00 - US : Unknown Galaxy Guide 4 - Alien Races - The second edition aliens book has been expanded and updated for the 2nd edition Star Wars game. - A sourcebook dealing with a collection of alien races known in the SW universe. I have not looked at the 2nd edition GG4, so I don't know if there are any differences, but the 1st edition book proved interesting, at least, though we never used any races from that book. Strange, isn't it? From : Jens-Arthur Leirbakk - Aus : $25.00 - US : $15.00 Galaxy Guide 5 - Return of the Jedi - Jabba and his strange cohorts get the treatment. - Aus : $20.00 - US : Unknown Galaxy Guide 6 - Tramp Freighters - Updated for the second edition game, this features the ships of smugglers and pirates etc. - At last! One can get decent rules for ship modification and damage increase because of fire linked weapons. Some new items are also up for grabs in this book. All in all relatively useful - but if you are a little short on cash to spend, avoid this one. From : Jens-Arthur Leirbakk - Aus : $24.00 - US : $15.00 Galaxy Guide 7 - Mos Eisly - A complete overview of this city, with detailed location descriptions, illustrations, maps, a history of Tatooine and information on heaps of famous and infamous smugglers. - Aus : $25.00 - US : $15.00 Galaxy Guide 8 - Scouts - Join the New Republic Scout Service and travel the length of the galaxy exploring new worlds. Includes system generation, new races, specs on new scout vessels etc. - An excellent sourcebook dealing with scouts and their equipment. Contains a planet generation system, and a race creation system. Stats for several interesting types of ships are supplied. A good book - perhaps especially for the SpecForces guys among us (because of the wilderness equipment and stuff). From : Jens-Arthur Leirbakk - Aus : $26.00 - US : $15.00 Galaxy Guide 9 - Fragments from the Rim - 94 page supplement being a compendium of trivia, news, rumours, and information from the Outer Rim territories. With new characters, new ships, aliens and locations. Also swoop gangs, merc units, corporations etc. - Perhaps the best one of the lot. Contains a lot of different things for SW. This GG is great to promote flavour, as it is long in posing, but perhaps a little short in game mechanical stuff. Two new stormtrooper types are introduced - the RadTrooper and the Commando Trooper (the Imperial SpecForces, really). From : Jens-Arthur Leirbakk - Aus : $25.00 - US : $15.00 Galaxy Guide 10 - Bounty Hunters - 128 pages packed with info on the various bounty hunters, where they go and how to play one including a scenario for fledgling bounty hunters. - An inherently interesting book about Bounty Hunters and the weapons they use. A big drawback is that the complete stats of Boba Fett and his equipment is _not_ supplied in this book - Boba is there, but the stats for Slave I and complete (?) stats for his armour ISN'T! Nevertheless, many neat weapons in this book - if you need many types of weapons, this book is the place to find it. From : Jens-Arthur Leirbakk - Aus : $30.00 - US : $18.00 Game Chambers of Questal (adventure module) - The Alliance High Command has given up the search for Tiree, an illustrious Alliance hero, but Rebel adventurers may yet discover his fate. - Aus : $16.50 - US : $10-$15 Gamemaster's Handbook - More rules and ideas for GM's, giving tips and hints on making your games more challenging and fun. - If you're a very novice GM, this might be a very useful book for the SW RPG. If you're running your own campaign already, this would likely be a waste of perfectly good money. Harsh, but true (IMHO). From : Jens- Arthur Leirbakk - Aus : $30.00 - US : $18.00 Graveyard of Alderaan (adventure module) - Rumours persist that the shattered remains of Alderaan conceal powerful Jedi artefacts and strange ghost ships, but the truth is far more terrifying. - Aus : $16.50 - US : $10-$15 Heir to the Empire - A 144 page softcover campaign sourcebook that details major characters, the Imperial City and New Republic, the Dark Jedi Joruus C'baoth, new alien races, strange planets, extra spacecraft and equipment and the state of the galaxy after the fall of the Empire. - Aus : $30.00 - US : $18.00 Han Solo and the Corporate Sector - 114 pages containing everything you wanted to know about the Bilan Daley series of Han Solo novels, as he romps around the galaxy trying to turn a profit. - Aus : $35.00 - US : $20.00 Imperial Sourcebook - Fully revised to be compatible with Star Wars 2nd edition. Covers the Empire's system of control through fear, Imperial intelligence, the military, capital ships, custom ordinance, land vehicles, sector group organisation, combat artillery, infantry support, weapons, special military forces etc. - Excellent source material, with a lot of real neat ships and stuff. Perhaps a little theoretical at times (like, several pages of how a brigade is deployed), but it might come in handy sometimes. From : Jens- Arthur Leirbakk - Aus : $35.00 - US : $25.00 Isis Coorinates (adventure module) - Imperial agents discover the coordinates to an Alliance factory world. A party of rebels must eliminate a Combat-Survey Team before it confirms the site. - Aus : $16.50 - US : $10-$25 Jedi's Honor (adventure module) - Solitaire adventure involving Luke Skywalker's search for a new Rebel base site and his subsequent rescue of a powerful Jedi Knight's son. 80 Pages. - Aus : $20.00 - US : $10-$15 Mission to Lianna (adventure module) - A weary Rebel unit, after completing a mundane mission, discover a top-secret Imperial operation intent on producing an effective cloaking device for their starships. - Aus : $16.50 - US : $10-$15 Planet of the Mists (adventure module) - Stranded on a swamp world unmarked on any star chart, the Rebels must save a strange alien race from extinction by disabling a secret Imperial plant guarded by mercenaries. - Aus : $18.00 - US : $10-$15 Planets of the Galaxy Vol 3. - the Elrood Sector - A little known backwater far from the raging battles of the Galactic Civil War, but still threatened by the merciless forces of the empire. 96 pages with six new worlds, new aliens, info for running campaigns, etc. - A sourcebook dealing with a part of the SW universe called the Elrood Sector. Well thought out, excellent execution. Much interesting information about races and equipment. From : Jens-Arthur Leirbakk - Aus : $25.00 - US : Unknown Rebel Alliance Sourcebook - A detailed description of the personnel, vessels, equipment, strategy, intelligence and history of the Rebel Alliance, now updated to 2nd edition rules. 144 page hardcover, recommended for campaigns. - Much the same as the Imperial Sourcebook, though with less things not directly relevant to the game. All in all, I would personally buy this before I bought the Imperial Sourcebook, but it is close. From : Jens- Arthur Leirbakk - Aus : $30.00 - US : $25.00 Scavenger's Hunt (adventure module) - The only good thing with this scenario, is the poster of a Lambda class shuttle you get with it. From : Jens-Arthur Leirbakk - We also played the Scavenger Hunt adventure. We liked it. It is a very light-hearted adventure, meant to be funny and comical in many (most) places. It takes a special GM and a versatile group of players to appreciate this one and have fun with it. Not for people who take their RPGs really seriously. Proper presentation of the Squibs and the Ugors is a *must* for this adventure to work. The GM should practice in front of a mirror for these guys. From : Andrew JACKSON - Aus : unknown - US : $10-$15 Scoundrel's Luck (adventure module) - Solitaire adventure. Han Solo saves Princess Leia from some bad guys. - Aus : $22.50 - US : $10-$15 Star Wars GM's Screen - 2nd edition, tables and charts, includes 32 page booklet with ideas for adventure design. - This one has some interesting ideas when it comes to adventures, but the REAL useful thing here is the master table over skills and their specialisations... If you can get those without buying this book, that might be the best - they are mighty useful. Also, some other charts are useful in this book. A look before you buy deal. From : Jens-Arthur Leirbakk - Aus : $20.00 - US : $10.00 Star Wars Miniatures Rules - Rules updated to make them compatible with 2nd edition Star Wars. Features excellent morale and squad cohesion rules, heavy and assault weapons, all the different types of Stormtroopers and Rebel soldiers, rules for using the Force, and the aliens from the movies, such as Wookies, etc. - Aus : $30.00 - US : $18.00 Star Wars Movie Trilogy Sourcebook - A 160 page hard back sourcebook containing revised info from Galaxy Guides 1, 3 and 5. Covers Tatooine, Mos Eisley, Death Star, Yavin, Hoth, the Imperial Fleet, bounty hunters, Dagobah, Bepsin, Jabba's palace, the Rebel Fleet, the New Death Star, heroes and villains. Heaps of black and white photos. - Aus : $45.00 - US : $25.00 Star Wars Sourcebook - 2nd edition. Stories, maps, charts and illustrations that explain how the Star Wars galaxy works, from lightsabers to repulsorlifts. Plans for an X-Wing, a Rebel base, an Imperial garrison and blue-prints for the Millenium Falcon. Hardback with 144 pages. - I have only seen this in 1st edition format, and it was a blast! But it was a jumbled blast. The archetype profiles are as usual dated, but can be extremely useful. From : Jens-Arthur Leirbakk - Aus : $35.00 - US : $25.00 Strike Force Shantipole - Battle Imperial starfighters in the frozen void of space, chase deadly probots through asteroid storms and slug it out with an escort frigate. Includes counters. - Aus : $16.50 - US : $10-$15 Supernova - 96 page supplement with five mini adventures. The inhabitants of the Demophon system find out that their sun is about to go supernova, and a band of rebels tries to save some Imperial prisoners who are doomed to stay on the planet. - A little unimaginative, and short on stuff like new equipment, Force powers (there isn't anything Force related in the book!), and other stuff, but is good for rookie GMs, I suppose. From : Jens-Arthur Leirbakk - Aus : $25.00 - US : $10-$15 The Last Command - 144 page hardback sourcebook on Timothy Zahn's third and concluding novel. Grand Admiral Thrawn takes the battle to Coruscant, the heart of the New Republic, whose bravest heroes race across Wayland in a desperate attempt to destroy the Emperor's cloning chambers at Mt. Tantiss. New creatures, equipment droids etc. - Aus : $36.00 - US : $20.00 Wanted by Cracken - You are a criminal hunter working for the New Republic, and there are 50 individuals wanted for various crimes, Imperial officers and bounty hunters, smugglers, assassins etc. - A mish-mash of various criminal notables, this book is excellent source material for the Game Master. Players should avoid this book, and a GM should look through the book before buying, deciding if this is really an indispensable book. Which it isn't, but it _is_ neat. From : Jens- Arthur Leirbakk - Aus : $25.00 - US : $15.00 Main descriptions taken from Military Simulations Mail-Order Magazine, Summer 1994-5 edition, Melbourne Australia. Comments provided by Jens-Arthur Leirbakk , American prices from Tony Frederico . WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND EDITION RULES? The second edition rules introduced some new concepts to the overall system. First of all, one can under the 2nd edition rules use Character Points to "buy" extra dice for any skill or attribute checks - i.e., the Character Points can, in addition to being used in the normal way, also be used as _very minor_ Force Points. The second edition rules removed the Speed dice code for all vehicles, and moved to adopt a fully metric speed system, with "units" in space, and KPH for atmospheric vehicles. This created some changes in the resolution of vehicle maneuvers, but that would be obvious. The second edition rules introduced the concept of Force skills for the three Force attributes. Although one does not train in the various Force skills per se, one must have a skill to be able to use that aspect of the Jedi training. I.e., one must have the Telekinetic Kill skill to be able to use it. This was not specified under the 1st edition rules. The second edition rules have introduced the concept of Advanced skills. These skills are highly expensive to develop, and highly specialised, though they can be used in conjunction with ordinary skills. The Advanced skills are used to resolve very difficult actions - like designing and building cyberware or spacecraft. The second edition rules have finally quantified the concept of specialisation skills - i.e., that a character can be very good at a specific aspect of a more general skill (example: as the Blaster skill governs the use of all hand-held blaster weapons, a person Specialised in Blaster Pistol would be very good with a blaster pistol, and ineffective with a blaster rifle). There were some traces of this idea in the 1st edition Star Wars RPG (Han Solo had a skill called Blaster Rifle in the Star Wars Sourcebook, if my memory serves me right), but this issue was not addressed until the advent of the 2nd edition Star Wars RPG. The second edition rules have also altered the creation of the character, as the various races are now given as dice ranges, and the character is free to allocate a set amount of dice among the various attributes, not ranging above or below the dice ranges. This means that the concept of NPC "templates" is no longer as valid as earlier. The new system is much more flexible, and there is no trouble whatsoever in introducing templates from the 1st edition, as the systems are completely in sync - only the skills and stuff are changed. As is the character's relationship with the Force, but that is in the next paragraph. The second edition rules have given more detail to a character's relationship with the Force. Some people are Force non-sensitive - they start with 1 Force Point, and have a max of three or so Points - any above that are traded in a set number of Character Points. Force sensitive characters start with 2 Force Points, and have (I believe) a max of about 5 Points at any one time. Jedi are Force sensitive (they better be), start with 3 (I think?) Force Points, and have no max on Force Points. Force non-sensitive characters can become Force sensitive if they spend 20 character points. Force sensitive characters must more or less follow the Jedi code to avoid getting Dark Side points - Force non-sensitive characters have more leniency when it comes to Dark Side points. Under the 2nd edition, it is also possible to train attribute points, though at a hefty cost in character points. The concept of dice caps between different scales and the ability to co-ordinate on tasks as given in the Rules Companion for the 1st edition, are given as parts of the basic system under the 2nd edition. Many other rules from the Rules Companion are also included under the 2nd edition, though I cannot remember which. From : Jens-Arthur Leirbakk WHICH ARE BETTER? Personally, I think that the 2nd edition patches a great many holes in the 1st edition system, and that the 2nd edition clarifies some vague spots in the 1st edition. I like the 2nd edition best - it is the more conformant system, though the differences between the 1st and the 2nd edition systems aren't _that_ great. If you know how one of them goes, you can play the other. But the 2nd edition _is_ better, IMHO. From : Jens- Arthur Leirbakk WHERE CAN I GET THE STATS FOR [INSERT SHIP\CHARACTER\SYSTEM HERE]? The source books described above are good for these. Currently, a number of people on the net are working on an index for all source material published in official West End Games rulebooks. This will tie together all the information which is often in separate and difficult to find places. To my current knowledge, it is not yet at a stage where it can be released, however it should be sometime in the near future. For information on where to find the index upon its release, see the questions below. Another source of information, much cheaper than the official sourcebooks, is the vast resource of imagination and experience on the internet. The Star Wars newsgroups are rec.arts.sf.starwars and fido.starwars. These groups have discussions on all aspects of Star Wars fandom, including the SWRPG. Alternatively, you could subscribe to the Star Wars Role Playing Game mailing list. The mailing list is dedicated to discussion of the SWRPG and it's subscribers are all SWRPG players. With over 100 members, this is a vast and active resource for any SWRPG player. HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE TO THE SWRPG MAILING LIST? To SUBSCRIBE to the SW-RPG list: send to: mailserv@drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu (no subject) SUBSCRIBE SW-RPG (no sig, nothing else) To UNSUBSCRIBE from the SW-RPG list: send to: mailserv@drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu (no subject) UNSUBSCRIBE SW-RPG (no sig, nothing else) If that doesn't work, send a note to: jae+sw-rpg-request@drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu asking to be removed. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY ON THE MAILING LIST? To get a list of everyone subscribed to the list, send the following to : mailserv@drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu SEND/LIST SW-RPG From : Jae Walker WHO ARE JAE WALKER, PETER SKANES AND BIlL SMITH? - JAE WALKER Jae walker is the administrator or the mailing list, and it is on her fileserver that the Resource Pool is located. Jae administers the list in her own time, including keeping the pool up to date. She also runs some other lists and has a full time job. Everybody on the list appreciates her commitment to the list and Star Wars and is greatful to her for making the list what it is. She can be contacted at - jae@drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu - PETER SKANES "Who is Peter Skanes? Well, that's a very good question. Presently I am finishing up my BA in Ancient History/Classical Studies. I first saw SW in '77, I was three. My parents took me to the opening here in my town and people were dressed as Chewbacca and Darth Vader." "I had always been interested in the virtual community of local BBS's but [when I discovered the 'net,] this was different. After about four months on the 'net, I virtually bumped into Mike Soulier and Andrew Jackson. Together we devised a manual mailing list in which I kept a list of all the subscribers and it was updated and sent to each member. Slowly it evolved into what we see today." "Contact me at the following address : pskanes@morgan.ucs.mun.ca" - BILL SMITH Bill Smith is the internet liaison for West End Games and occasionally makes a posting to the list concerning rule revisions and issues of copyright. Bill is the first person people turn to when they need to discuss an issue directly with WEG, but of course, he is a busy man. He can be contacted at - [does anybody have Bill's address?] WHAT IS A PBeM? A Play By eMail is a roleplaying game conducted ia electronic mail. It works something like this : - players e-mail moves to the GM every 1-2 days. - GM determines who is doing what to whom and exactly when, then he/she rolls all the appropriate dice - GM then posts results of the round (or whatever) to everyone, telling all the players what has happened. - in the two that I am involved in (1 player, 1 as GM), die roll results aren't mentioned in the posts. This encourages Role playing as opposed to Roll playing From: Andrew JACKSON HOW DO I JOIN A STAR WARS PBeM? - find a GM on the 'Net - advertise on the various SW discussion groups you are involved in - keep the e-mail rollin' or - join a game in progress, if the GM allows and it seems appropriate From: Andrew JACKSON I'VE GOT SOME GREAT NEW [SHIPS\CHARACTERS\SYSTEMS] I WANT TO SHARE, WHERE CAN I PUT THEM? If you have designed any new ships or other material, there are many other players who would be eager to see your work. If you decide that you want to share your work, please post it to the list and perhaps one of the newsgroups. It would also be appreciated by everyone if you could send your creation to the Resource Pool. WHAT IS THE RESOURCE POOL? The Resource Pool was designed as a location where SWRPG game masters could "pool" their resources so that everyone would be able to easily share their work. This is a place where you can find all kinds of things, from game ideas to GM utilities, from new ships to character stories. The Resource Pool can be accessed by ftp at the following address: FTP site (for Resource Pool access): drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu login as: anonymous password: your user id Directory: cd jae (or jae.dir) cd star-wars (or star-wars.dir) cd sw-list (or sw-list.dir) cd resource (or resource.dir) From : Jae Walker If you don't know how to use ftp get one of those 'Internet for Beginners' books from your local bookstore or ask you system administrator. To contribute to the resource pool, email your work to jae+sw-rpg-upload@drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu It will be checked and put onto the Resource Pool as soon as possible. Hopefully, over time and with the help of SWRPGers, the pool will grow to a substantial size. I DON'T HAVE FTP, CAN I STILL GET THE STUFF FROM THE RESOURCE POOL? A lot of people don't have access to FTP, and until recently, haven't been able to get all the information stored in the Resource Pool. Fortunately, however, a mail server has been set up at the site, and the files there can now be accessed by email. - All commands go to: mailserv@drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu Do not include .sig files or anything else besides the actual commands in the messages. - To get a list of all the directories and all of the files in them, the command is: DIRECTORY [jae.star-wars.sw-list.resource*...]*.* - To get a list of the files in a single directory (for example, the .droids directory): DIRECTORY [JAE.STAR-WARS.SW-LIST.RESOURCE.DROIDS]*.* - The DIRECTORY command accepts wild cards, so if you wanted to get a list of all the readme files, you might send the following command: DIRECTORY [JAE.STAR-WARS.SW-LIST.RESOURCE*..]0READ*.* - GETTING THE FILES: Once you have a list of the files, getting the files you want is very simple. Send the following: SEND [JAE.STAR-WARS.SW-LIST.RESOURCE.directory]filename.ext - The mailserver will send you the file by return mail. Couldn't be simpler... From: Jae Walker IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH COPYRIGHT WHEN QUOTING FROM RULEBOOKS? During discussion on the list someone will request the official stats for a certain object or character because they need them but don't want to go out and buy a new rulebook. Also, paragraphs from the rules are sometimes quoted to clarify points people are trying to make. Other people have suggested making a database of ships or systems and the like. When this happens, the issue of copyright becomes important. Jae Walker has the following to say on the subject : "Stats for a single template/ship/ability/etc. or a few paragraphs from a book, quoted to clarify a point -- these are very much within the concept of "fair use" and "quoting for review". I'm only going to take issue with material from books when we're talking about pages or chapters." From: Jae Walker MY SERVER WENT DOWN AND I MISSED SOME MESSAGES, HOW CAN I GET BACKUP COPIES? Jae (the list host) keeps the back messages from the list (with the strictly personal exchanges and the sub-unsub messages deleted) in logs at the FTP site. She says she's generally not more than a couple of days behind in transferring the logs over (though they might be kind of rough). ftp to: drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu (login as: anonymous) AOL users - AOL handles these for you (password: your user id) cd jae (or jae.dir) cd star-wars (or star-wars.dir) cd sw-list (or sw-list.dir) cd logs (or logs.dir) Logs are saved by day (swYYMMDD) under directories for the month (YYMM.DIR). From : Jae Walker I NEED HELP IN MY CAMPAIGN, WHO CAN I ASK? The newsgroups or the mailing list would be your best bet if you are having difficulty with some part of your game. There are many people there who have SWRPG experience, especially on the mailing list, and most are more than happy to offer ideas or suggestions. Do not be afraid to ask any question no matter how silly it sounds. The only stupid questions are the ones that you need the answers to but don't ask. The people on the net are, on the whole, very understanding. WHAT IS THE ADDRESS OF...? - West End Games (Ed Stark) , - LucasArts <75300.454@compuserve.com>, - Dark Horse Comics , For copyright info direct from WEG call: - Ron Seiden (Licensing Rep.) at (717) 253-6990 (USA) From: Peter Skanes I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS RULE, WHAT DOES IT MEAN? This is where common questions about the SWRPG rules are asked. Any rule which is obscure or missing should be mentioned here. If you can think of a rule which is particularly confusing and should be included here, please mail me the question, and preferably an answer as well, and it will be added to the FAQ (Neil Creek : orion@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au). - HOW MANY PROJECTILES DO STARFIGHTERS CARRY? Some people were speculating about the number of missiles/torpedoes that the four main Rebel Fighters have. There are stats for all four snub fighters and the number of projectiles in each launchers ----> From Volume 3 of the Star Wars Technical Journal: -------begin quoted material, brackets are *theirs*----------------------- X-Wing: "Two Krupx MG7 proton torpedo launchers (three torpedoes each)" A-Wing: "Two Dymek HM-6 concussion missile launchers (six missiles each)" Y-Wing: "Two Arakyd Flex Tube proton torpedo launchers (four torpedoes each)" B-Wing: "Two proton torpedo launchers" **anybody know??** -------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTES: 1) The A-Wing does have missile launchers. Also consistent with the TIE Fighter game. The launchers on the *models* (now really really official) look to be about 3-4 fingers in diameter. So much for encumbering the A- Wing with these little missiles!! They is small! :) 2) Using WEG stats for missiles and torpedos with these missile loadouts *may* unbalnce the starfighter. Therefore the Mini-missile system may be more appropriate for the Official loadout numbers. Plus the Mini-missiles seem more reasonable effect-wise also (IMO :) ) From: Andrew JACKSON [Can anyone think of any other rules which always seem to come up? Any rules which are particularly unclear?] ACCREDITATION LIST Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the FAQ: Neil Creek Robert E Hipkin Tony Frederico Andrew JACKSON Jens-Arthur Leirbakk Peter Skanes Keith Sohl Jae Walker