Table Top RPG

I mentioned a few posts back that I was reading a fanfic titled "Shinji and Warhammer 40K." This novel-length offering by Charles Bhepin takes the story of Neon Genesis Evangelion and tweaks one "minor" detail in Shinji Ikari's past. Bhepin's purpose appears to be to present the NGE story with a different Shinji, one who is truly a hero and mankind's savior rather than, well, what you get in the story.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT

As presented in the anime, Shinji Ikari was abandoned at a very young age by his father Gendo to an unnamed aunt and uncle after the "death" of Shinji's mother Yui Ikari. This leaves the boy with massive emotional and psychological damage. When the anime starts, Shinji, now eleven, is effectively a hollow shell. He feels unloved, unwanted, useless, and has practically no sense of self at all. From this point, the anime tells the story of man fighting desperately for it's own existence against invading space monsters called angels. In the end, after all of the backstory; the betrayals and secret plots, have been revealed, the future of the human race (maybe) is left in Shinji Ikari's hands (maybe) and he has to fall back on everything that happened to him during the course of the series to make some enormously crucial decisions (maybe). All of the "maybe's" are because the ending of the series (supplemented by rewrites and two movies, and a current retelling via movies) is an ambiguous mess. What I summed up above is one possible (and simple) interpretation of the ending. If you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about.

NGE is one of the more important and influential anime series ever produced. It's not necessarily the best liked; in fact Evangelion would make the top ten hate list of many anime fans. Lauding the merits of Evangelion (as well as taking the opposite tack) is one of the biggest hot-button issues in anime fandom. I personally love the show, while acknowledging that the story is full of holes, the production is a mess, and it's possible that you may wish to commit suicide after a viewing. The bottom line for me is that I can see greatness peaking out from behind many corners in NGE, and I can really glom on to the massive epic taking place behind what is actually shown

One of NGE's biggist faults, it's gaping plot holes, is also it's greatest asset. So much of the series is left unexplained, or is explained by characters who are shown repeatedly to have imperfect information or an agenda that prompts them to lie about the backstory; that the viewers can easily, if they wish, provide the details themselves. It is entirely possible to change almost anything in the given story without actually screwing with established canon. In fact, this appears to be the deus ex machina Charles Bhepin uses to re-tell the first half of the series. You could watch large portions of the series as reference material to Bhepin's work; the changes he has implemented all occur behind the scenes or at the level of subtext. This part of "Shinji and Warhammer 40K" I quite enjoy. In the second part Bhepin strikes off on his own on a quest to provide an entirely different ending to the series, and this part doesn't do very well. Instead of working within the boundaries established in the first part, the author intentionally devolves his epic into a pun-a-minute commentary on anime and fan-fiction tropes. As I said, Bhepin does this intentionally (according to his notes); unfortunately I feel he lost something great when he moved the series in that direction.

However, the first half of "Shinji and Warhammer 40K" provides not only a funny but fascinating "what if"; it actually tells the NGE story in a much more appealing way. All of this, initially, is accomplished simply by providing a Shinji Ikari who is not *the Shinji*.

I didn't really include many spoilers, I guess. Bhepin's work is incomplete, but he has apparently spent the last few years editing the earlier parts of the story. I do in fact want to know how he ends the series, as the current stopping point feels very much like the end of the second act in a three part epic. I definitely recommend a reading, especially if you want to dig a little deeper into the original story or if you would just like to see Shinji Ikari as a true, intentional hero.

UPDATED 04/01/09

Hey, remember when I said I was working on a Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha RPG? Probably not, but it's way back there in the archives somewhere. Anyway, DKellis at Moe Check! is doing a screencap webcomic based on the third series, Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS. The concept is supposedly to follow in the footsteps of DM of the Rings and Darths and Droids; which is to say that the webcomic is presented as if StrikerS is an RPG being played by several people. I'm not really sure he is succeeding on that count; except for a few obvious instances you never really feel as if you're reading about players interacting with a GM. There is a lot more of a free-form storytelling element to the comic; and the commentary is a lot more about the series than it is about roleplaying or gaming (which is fine if that's what you want). However, the comic is still pretty good, although I think it will primarily entertain those familiar with the series, at least in the long run.

UPDATE: Just wanted to add a couple of things. One, just to make it clear, the comic is really good. I still think you have to know a bit about the series beforehand to know where many of the character jokes are coming from, but a lot of the humor stands on it's own. Also, the comic is really well done; the quality of the screencaps is fantastic. I've found a few facial expressions that I didn't remember from my own multiple viewings of the series. Two, while DKellis did originally mention doing something like Da&Dr and DMotR, he also specifically stated that the original impetus of his comic work was a City of Heroes comic contest. A lot of the "RPG" elements of Nanoha GamerS does recall more directly to CoH (and other online MMORPGS, in general) that it does tabletop RPGs; so my criticism concerning the lack of "gaming" content is only half-fair.

This is the link to the first comic.

Personally, I see a lot of potential in presenting Nanoha as a webcomic more in the vein of the aformentioned DMotR and Da&Dr. Presenting any of the series as a pre-configured universe for your average tabletop gamers to inhabit (using pre-generated characters, of course) would present some interesting situations to test gamer foibles. For example, either Nanoha or Fate, or possibly both are clearly played by males...which would go a long way toward explaining why there is an obvious romantic interest. I mean, gamer-stereotypically speaking, that's what women in RPGs are for, right? They either kick ass, or you rescue them. Both, if you're of the more enlightened variety.

Please don't complain; just be aware that I'm messing with cliches and stereotypes here.

I mean, we've all seen the jokes about what happens when one of the all-male or mostly-male gaming group decides to play a female...or has to play a female. Imagine a game using pre-generated characters that are *ALL FEMALE*(except Yuuno). (Yes, I know they exist...but you know as well as I that they AREN'T the rule.) Imagine even further, when all of the male players also find out that all of the main characters are PRE-TEEN females. (except Yuuno...although he may be an NPC.)

I really need to think about this.

It’s that time of year again...

Started stripping (harvesting, to those of you not from 'round here) yesterday. That means I'll be getting in late and be bone tired when I do. So don't be surprised if you don't see me online or hear from me for a bit; although I'll still try my best. I still have to post my third Guild Wars character, in addition to having plenty to do in Guild Wars anyway...we just bought our Guild Hall, which pretty much bankrupted the three members of our Guild.

The weekly Star Wars game is back on hold because I couldn't figure out how to connect the "intro" section with the main game section (the intro section was getting interesting, but I had never planned it out past a few events, and I felt like we were heading into a blind alley). We replaced it with a Call of C'thulu game, which has only made it one session so far, but was fun.

And now it's already time to get the kids to school.

First, I did a major upgrade to my computer, involving several new hard drives (including a raid array for storage, the old system drive, a new slightly faster system drive, and a dedicated page drive); two new gigabytes of RAM, a new video card (their are only a couple of "current" generation AGP cards, so I'm runnin' about as fast as my graphics well ever get, now), a new power supply and a new keyboard. Still need a new mouse.

The ONE THING I forgot to back up was all my gaming stuff. It pretty muchly killed the Star Wars game for time being. Since I was a bit burned out anyway, I handed off GM'ing to my wife; we started a d20 Call of C'thulu game last Wednesday. Also, based on the review by Shamus Young over at TwentySidedTale, I ordered the Guild Wars- Prophesies (the original chapter) GOTY edition from Newegg. This title includes the Eye of the North expansion. Man, I was hooked immediately. I gave the ten-hour trial code to my wife; she installed my discs and put in the trial code. She was hooked too; we ordered ANOTHER GOTY edition from Newegg, and sent THAT trial code to my best friend from high school and college who games with us. He downloaded the client, put in the install code, and a day later was asking where we had bought our copies. I'm not sure which version he bought, but I think he currently has Prophesies, Eye of the North, and Factions.

Anyway, Wife and I have already decided we're going to use a small windfall we just received to go ahead and purchase two copies of Factions and two copies of Nightfall. That'll give us four more trial codes to hand out. Anyone want some crack?

I wrote an entry detailing everything that happened from the last entry until our current game, then got logged out when I tried to post it and lost the whole thing. But, it was a lot more stuff than I had remembered, so maybe I'll just come back later and post more stuff straight from the logs.

Star Wars Game Log - Continued
2008-07-20 17:30
Regor, the Zabrak Scout and Ellona, the Miralukan Tech Specialist quickly made their way to the Elrood Sector chief world, Elrood, and capital city, Elrooden. I have posted the actual game session below:

[21:37] Friend Gamemaster: You exit hyperspace and a medium-sized world appears before you.
[21:38] Friend Gamemaster: Elrood is home primarily to the mining industry, but sports many self-sufficient and high-tech cities and towns scattered across it's two major landmasses.
[21:40] Friend Gamemaster: Elrood was colonized relatively recently, but it's vast wealth of ores, minerals and chemicals has spurred rapid development. The Elrood Sector was admitted into the Republic only a few decades ago, but already forms one end of the famous Hadrian Way Trade Route that spans the galaxy.
[21:41] Friend Gamemaster: The planet (and the sector) was named after the Republic Senator who pushed through the funds and resources necessary to colonize the plantet.
[21:42] Friend Gamemaster: As you approach the planet, your comms console flashes to let you know there is an incoming priority message.
[21:43] David: Who wants to talk?
[21:43] Mari: I will. probably less scary to the recipients....
[21:43] Friend Gamemaster: The Message ID is from Elrood Space Central.
[21:44] Mari: Elrood SC, this is the Regor's Revenge, Ellona manning the coms. Can I help you?
[21:44] Friend Gamemaster: A pre-recorded message plays:
[21:45] Friend Gamemaster: Elrood system, star: Elrad, yellow sun. Six planets in system -- third planet, Elrood, can support life. Others can support artificial colonies. Elrood is the main system planet........
[21:46] Friend Gamemaster: Elrood is the capital of Elrood Sector. Heavy ship traffic ahead. Please turn ship's comm to channel XTX984, local planetary spaceport control channel, for landing instructions.....
[21:46] Friend Gamemaster: ATTENTION TRAVELLERS: This is Elrood Space Central. Welcome to Elrood. Please turn to channel XTX984 for instructions.
[21:46] Friend Gamemaster: Message repeats.....and so on.
[21:47] Mari: Good god, welcome to the bureaucracy.
[21:47] David: Lovely
[21:47] Mari: I flip to channel XTX984 just for kicks and giggles.
[21:47] Friend Gamemaster: There is a brief burst of static, then a voice speaking Basic:
[21:48] Friend Gamemaster: "This is Elrood Starport Command. Incoming vessel, please identify yourself, and your intentions. Use standard protocol, please."
[21:50] Mari: Elrood SC, this is Ellona manning the comms of Regor's Revenge. Request permission to land and quick access to Republic law enforcement officials. We have some handy info for you guys about your pirate problem.
[21:51] Friend Gamemaster: There is a brief pause.....then "Urmmmm, what?"
[21:51] Mari: Got your attention at least. Permission to land?
[21:52] Friend Gamemaster: ESC: "Uh, what was that about pirates?"
[21:52] Mari: We're refugees from one of the ships that got jacked by pirates. Thought you guys might like a heads up on where they're based so maybe you can get control of your spaceways back.
[21:54] Friend Gamemaster: ESC: "Oh, Uhhhh, REGOR'S REVENGE, please hold on for a moment...." The line goes silent, but is still open.
[21:54] David: I have a bad feeling about this
[21:54] Friend Gamemaster: LOL
[21:54] Mari: you and me both.
[21:55] David: (had to get that in at some point)
[21:55] Mari: can't think of a much better point than now...
[21:55] Friend Gamemaster: A moment later, another voice comes on the line:
[21:56] Friend Gamemaster: ESC: This is Captain Otall, what's going on here?
[21:59] Mari: As I was telling your junior, we just managed to escape a charming band of pirates that hijacked the freighter we were coming in on. The rest of the passengers we're shunted to a smaller craft headed away from Elrood. Just thought we might give you guys some information so maybe you can go round up the sods and clean up the hyper-ways a little bit.
[22:02] Friend Gamemaster: ESC: Our scanners indicate you are in a light freighter under it's own power and control. Your story isn't making a lot of sense, but I'll give you one more chance before having you interdicted. What freighter were you on, and what happened to it? How did you get here?
[22:03] Friend Gamemaster: OOC Gamemaster suggestion?
[22:03] Friend Gamemaster: Recite your story, and make some kind of diplomacy roll.
[22:03] Friend Gamemaster: As in, just SAY you recite the story.
[22:05] Mari: I recite the story again (diplomacy 13) and add that we are aboard a light freighter with no weapons and have no hostile intentions
[22:08] Friend Gamemaster: ESC: OK, here's what I want you do. Head to Elrooden Space Port in Elrooden. Land in Docking Bay AA23. When you land, please stay on the ship. Someone will be there to meet you. ESC Out.
[22:08] Mari: Roger, ESC. Thanks.
[22:09] Friend Gamemaster: ESC uploads the necessary map and headings to the ships computer.
[22:09] Friend Gamemaster: And let's break there for 5 minutes.
[22:09] David: Ok
[22:16] Friend Gamemaster: Everybody check in when you're back.
[22:16] Mari: back
[22:16] David: here
[22:17] David: Did we ever search the ship when we got under way?
[22:17] Friend Gamemaster: Not that I know of.
[22:17] Mari: I don't believe we did.
[22:17] Mari: which is suddenly a scary thought...
[22:18] David: Uh, yeah
[22:18] Friend Gamemaster: The question is, do you want to take time out from meeting the beaurocratic authorities to search the ship?
[22:19] Mari: errr...no, not exactly.
[22:19] David: Guess we'll have to grin and bear it
[22:20] Mari: suppose we will. I'm suddenly very nervous, though.
[22:20] Friend Gamemaster: You now have the directions to Elrooden (the principle city of Elrood, and center of most government and industrial activities) Spaceport.
[22:21] Friend Gamemaster: I take you both want to go ahead and land?
[22:21] David: Might as well get this over with
[22:21] Mari: indeed
[22:24] Friend Gamemaster: Approaching Elrooden, you see a large, sprawling, immaculately clean city. The spaceport, incredibly, blends in with the surroundings. You descend into a large, walled, spotless docking bay. Waiting by the doors are a squad of armed men in perfectly clean and ordered uniforms, accompanied by a droid and woman a no-nonsense business-oriented jumpsuit.
[22:24] David: Away put our weapons?
[22:25] Mari: visible but out of reach is my vote
[22:25] David: deal
[22:26] Friend Gamemaster: One of the men in the squad of guards talks through a hand-held comlink, and his voice comes through the cockpit, amplified:
[22:27] Friend Gamemaster: All passengers of the REGOR'S REVENGE, please disembark now. Stop at the foot of the ramp. If you have any armaments, make sure they are secured to your person. Any hostile action will result in immediate arrest.
[22:28] Mari: yeah, you try securing a staff to your person. think I'll just leave it aboard.
[22:28] * Mari commences disembarking
[22:29] David: Ok, my blaster is secure in it's holster that I'v had ALL ALONG
[22:29] David: time to disembark
[22:30] Mari: ROFL
[22:30] Friend Gamemaster: Standard Zabrak jumpsuit always has a built-in holster, right?
[22:30] David: roger
[22:30] Friend Gamemaster: RD-88: Should I come with you, sirs?
[22:31] Mari: Please do, Arty. We may wind up needing some of your...unique skills.
[22:32] Friend Gamemaster: RD-88: Yes, sir. RD-88 straps his blaster to one leg.
[22:32] Mari: with the handy-dandy droid-o-matic holster
[22:33] Friend Gamemaster: After you disembark, the squad of guard approaches. The one who talked to you a moment ago, stands forward. The woman remains off to the side, while the droid step up next to the apparent leader.
[22:33] Friend Gamemaster: Nah, with a zip-tie.
[22:34] Friend Gamemaster: RD-88 couldn't place the blaster in his storage compartment, as you were all ordered to display your weapons.
[22:35] Friend Gamemaster: The guard captain: ESC sent us a message to escort you inside for questioning. I would appreciate it if you would surrender your weapons for the moment.
[22:36] David: If we must, but I want a receipt
[22:36] Friend Gamemaster: GC: Of course, sir.
[22:36] Mari: I left mine aboard the ship. it's a little difficult to secure safely to my person. I expect it to still be aboard the ship and functional upon our return
[22:38] Friend Gamemaster: GC: I'll have someone take it to the security office here. Weapons are prohibited within Elrooden, but if you leave the city you can reclaim them before you leave. They will also be available there when you leave Elrood.
[22:39] Friend Gamemaster: GC: Now, if you will stand still for a few moments, the medical droid will scan you, and provide you with any necessary innoculants.
[22:40] Friend Gamemaster: @David One of the guards holds out his hand for your blaster, a friendly smile on his face.
[22:40] David: I smile as I slowly hand it to him.
[22:40] Friend Gamemaster: The droid approaches the three of you, and begins some sort of scan.
[22:42] Friend Gamemaster: @David His smile wavers a bit, but he takes the weapon, scans it with a small recorder, and then prints out a small piece of paper, that he hands to you. "Your receipt, sir."
[22:42] David: Thanks
[22:42] Friend Gamemaster: The guard does the same for RD-88, then enters the ship, returning moments later with Elonna's staff. He hands Elonna a receipt, as well.
[22:44] Friend Gamemaster: The medical droid finishes it's scan, and says, "A couple of minor boosters are recommended." The GC tells the droid to proceed.
[22:45] Friend Gamemaster: The medical droid injects some form of medication into Regor and Elonna. The shot is painless, and you feel no effects. The droid then retreats. The GC indicates the woman who has been waiting to the side:
[22:47] Friend Gamemaster: GC: This is V'rono Korku, a Republic Investigator attached to the Elrood Space Control Investigative Division. She has been working on our pirate problem, and will be questioning you about your experience. If you will come with us, please?
[22:48] Friend Gamemaster: The guards split into two groups, and it is clear you are meant to follow the GC and Korku, while the guards follow YOU.
[22:48] Mari: I fall in behind the GC and Korku
[22:49] David: Likewise
[22:49] Mari: Come on, Arty.
[22:52] Friend Gamemaster: You enter a long circular hallway that apparently connects all of the landing bays. You travel down this hall a short way, before intersecting another, wide hallway that continues to the spaceport interior. After a short walk, you enter another, massive ringed hallway that is filled with offices and customs desks. Before reaching the main plaza of this hallway, you are shown to a room marked "Security".
[22:53] Friend Gamemaster: Inside this large room are several desks, all neatly arranged and, like everything else here, spotless. The room is currently empty except for yourselves, the guards and Korku. Korku takes a seat at one of the desks, and motions for you to sit down across from her.
[22:54] Mari: I sit
[22:54] David: after taking a moment I sit as well
[22:55] Friend Gamemaster: Korku: Captain Otall called me and said you claimed to have escaped from pirates. He was somewhat doubtfull, but I would like to hear your story. She smiles, and waits.
[22:56] Mari: I recite the tale again, starting with the captain exiting the rec room hurriedly and ending with landing the escape pod in the middle of a junk heap.
[22:58] Friend Gamemaster: Korku nods. "I've heard of pirate behavior like that from another survivor, but he was discovered in a state of shock, and near death, so no one knew what to make of it. Just a few more questions...."
[22:58] Mari: Fire away. We're here to help, after all.
[22:58] Friend Gamemaster: Korku: How did you come across a ship named after yourself on a deserted planet?
[22:59] Mari: We restored it to working order ourselves and thus named it after Reg. (bluff was 20)
[23:00] Friend Gamemaster: OOC: Natural 20?
[23:00] Mari: yep
[23:01] David: nice
[23:01] Friend Gamemaster: OOC: lucky.
[23:01] Mari: OOC: because I ROCK!
[23:01] Mari: OOC: quietly begins humming "We Are the Champions"
[23:02] Friend Gamemaster: Korku: I see. Not impossible, on Korad. Extremely lucky, though. We know there are some Ugnaught raiders on Korad that routinely cart off junk, and some Jawa scavengers; we don't know where they came from.
[23:03] Friend Gamemaster: Korku: You say one of the pirates told you they were based on Korad, as well?
[23:04] Mari: That's what he said although we opted not to test out that information. It seemed more useful to ourselves and the Republic to get the information here quickly instead.
[23:05] Friend Gamemaster: Korku: We appreciate that. I'm going to have to report this information, and decide what to do about it. I'm afraid that we'll need you to stay here until a decision has been made, though.
[23:06] Mari: I hope this isn't the sort of thing that's going to have to move through several committees. Still, we'll cooperate in any way we can.
[23:08] Friend Gamemaster: Korku: Well, it won't be several committees, but I can't act autonomously. We'll put you up in one of the spaceport's hotels for the time being, at the Republic's expense. Now, I have to get going; the hotel is down the main corrider to your left, not very far. I'll let you know what we decide. Thank you. She smalls at both of you, and leaves.
[23:08] Friend Gamemaster: The GC steps forward and says, "Thank you for your cooperation. You're free to go. You can claim your weapons, when appropriate, at the administration office next door.
[23:08] Mari: Thanks.
[23:09] Mari: I turn to Reg and say, "Well, we've done our civic duty. Now how about a drink on me?"
[23:09] David: Let's roll, er go

We finally reached a point a few sessions ago when I felt the players really hit their stride. (I'll post some info from the games in a bit). As a result, we spent quite a bit of time a couple of weeks ago deciding where we were going and what we wanted to do. The campaign I have been running is an introductory campaign; one of my players is an experienced roleplayer, but had no experience with Star Wars gaming, and isn't historically a big Star Wars fan. The other is a big-time Star Wars fan, but hasn't played pen-and-paper games at all except for a brief time playing West End Games original D6 Star Wars.

I've been working on a longer campaign, but I had always assumed I would be able to segue into that story from this one. And I think I will, but I had my doubts for a few weeks. To be fair, I gave the players the option to break the introductory game right then, and jump to a new game, with new characters if they wanted. They decided to continue with what they're doing. In addition, we agreed on a few rule changes and adaptions.

1)I will no longer award XP per encounter. XP will be awarded to the group for story completion and excellent playing. Individual XP will be rewarded for truly excellent roleplaying and gaming. There will be some luck involved as well, as a lucky roll that allows you to save the day in an heroic way will get you a little extra XP.

2)In exchange, we're using an aspect from many skill-oriented games (we spend most of each session using skills when we roll). Good use of a skill wins you free skill points. Now, if we were playing by the D20 RCR rules, this would unbalance the game. But we're not playing by the rules, and in addition, level-ups will be a bit more manually tweaked.

3)Feats, Force Skills, Force Powers and Abilities remain largely the same. Every one is looked at individually, though (maybe I'll write them all down some day) and are analyzed for how well they will work in our game. We're trying to make everything as fluid and simple as possible, while recreating the feel and flow of the movies and some derivative properties. We try to avoid anything limited to once-per-day or once-per-encounter; these are usually re-written to once-per-level-per-day, etc. We try to eliminate the spending of vitality points whenever possible, unless that is the mechanic that makes the most sense. Many Force Powers and Skills have attendant difficulty and situational modifiers; we either use those exclusively or occasionally make them more difficult.

Feats, Force Skills, Force Powers and Abilities can be awarded situationally, as well.


Now, I'm working on a new Character Sheet that allows me to do all of that.

AND, we're still looking for at least one more player.

GAME INFORMATION

We are using Star Wars D20 Revised rules as a base, but I'm not sticking explicitly to the rules.

This game is heavy on skill use and roleplaying; there is quite a bit of fighting, but I'm trying to keep it clever and interesting.

The players started out at first level; at the end of the section outlined below, they are third level.

The droid, RD-88, was created using the Droid tab in Star Wars Heroforge, then started as a level one Fringer.

All NPCs and bad guys are generated as PCs with their own levels, classes and skills.

The current setting is Elrood Sector. The information for Elrood is taken primarily from West End Games Planets Collection. I then roll the era back 4000 years, to when Elrood just joined the Republic and was largely unexplored, and much rougher around the edges than it is at the time of the Rebellion and the New Republic.

The game is played over IM.


This record is a summary of several game sessions, from the beginning of April to the end of May.

Players - Elonna, a female Miralukan Tech Specialist Medic and Regor, a male Zabrak Scout

Booked Freight Passage from Derilyn to Elrood. Between Merisee and Coyn, ship was attacked by pirates.

Players fought their way up to the ships computer room, and learned their enemies number. They also learned the layout of the ship. They learned that the engineering room was lightly guarded.

They go to engineering, stunning several more pirates on the way. When the Pirate Leader, Burz announces that the lifeboat is about to be launched, the players reveal themselves over comlinks won in battle.

The Pirates lock them into engineering, but some quick combined computer work breaks through the lock. In the rec room, they encounter two groggy, naked pirates they had stunned previously, on the way to engineering. They are also pursued by two pirates, whom they had encountered soon after the pirates attacked. The players quickly stun all four, then question Digo, a young pirate who is in over his head. They discover that the pirates are actually stealing the ship, and sparing the passengers and crew so that the Republic won't take more than a passing interest in their activities.

The Players are convinced by Digo to take an escape pod rather than continue their fight. This they do, and land on the nearby world of Korad, a burgeoning junk planet, and coincidentally home to the pirates. It is also home to a colony of Jawas, and a group of Ugnaught raiders. The players manage to augment their weapons using some well scavanged junk: Regor customizes his stock blaster pistol for more damage and a larger range, while Elonna is able to craft a double-ended stun baton staff.

After fending off a group of Ugnaught raiders, the players encountered a small band of Jawas, long separated from their native Tatooine. The players agreed to trade some of their extra stun batons to the Jawas in exchange for transport to a ship, and the purchase of a labor droid recently acquired by the Jawas. RD-88 appears to have had a colorful past, as his primary function, as programmed by his last master, was the duplication and creation of official documents, usually with small changes. He is also talented at computer use, hiding and searching, and is rather naive about the utility of his functions.

After a terrible meal and a night spent on the desert outside the Jawa home colony, the Jawa spokesman explained that a ship would come to trade with the Jawas in about two weeks. The Ugnaughts had a couple of spaceworthy ships at their own camp, and the pirates always had several ships. There were no known settled areas on Korad. Elonna and Regor elected to raid the Ugnaughts for one of their ships. The Jawas agreed to transport them to near the Ugnaught camp.

After a suprisingly lengthy battle against three Ugnaughts; Elonna, Regor and RD-88 managed to steal a small freighter, and escape the planet. Regor narrowly avoided the junk circling the planet during a short but harrowing trip into space. The players decided to head to the sector capital of Elrood in order to report what they knew about the pirate group. They also decided to reprogram the ships transponder, and renamed the small freighter "Regor's Revenge."

The United and Divided Imperium of Granath began with the splitting of of the Ancient Kingdom of Keldar.

The Ancient Kingdom, known then as the "Absolute Kingdom" because it's borders were the coastlines of the entire continent, was split when the twin sons (Vessus and Cassus) of the 17th King, Ossus, disagreed over the inheritance of the Kingdom. Vessus was the older, and the recognized heir, but Cassus was the stronger, and both commanded great loyalty. To prevent civil war, they both abandoned the capital city.

Vessus founded a new capital on the western peninsula, and called the realm Kelden, which simply meant "of Keldar". Cassus moved into the rich heart of the eastern half of the continent, and established the kingdom of Granath, which meant "Greatest Life". He took the name "Cirath" for himself, which means "Guardian of Life". Although the capital of His Divine Majesty has long been moved, the Title of those original central lands remains Cirath to this day.

Cassus Cirath, the first High King of the Granath Imperium, did not have a free and easy hand creating his new Kingdom.

The Kingdom of Keldar originally grew out of the North of the Middle Peninsula, now known as Kord, or The Wild. The first Keldar King is said to have been a barbarian of uncommen wisdom and a gifted tongue who united all of the Middle and Western Peninsulas, then conquered the Eastern Peninsula city-states one by one, which wasn't a hard task as each had only a small militia for defense. These Eastern people were then largely left alone; there were only two ways to travel from the west to the east; a narrow land-bridge in the north and massive swamplands in the south.

To gain rapid compliance with his rule of the new kingdom of Granath, Cassus gave the title and rulership of each city state and the surrounding area to the most powerful figure in that area. To buy the support of lesser people, lesser titles were established, as well. All of these titles can be awarded by the High King and taken away, and they cannot be inherited without the High King's permission.

In the current day, most of the Kings of the individual realms of Granath are related to the High King, although sometimes distantly. Similarly, most the lesser titles can claim some kinship to their King and the High King. There are some members of the royal court who have received their title to great acts of service, or more commonly, due to political prudence. The High Crown is technically an inheritance, but with so many relatives to the throne among the ruling class, ascendancy is more a matter of political intrigue than bloodlines.

I had an idea for a new RPG based on Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha.

No, seriously. We just finished watching the third season, StrikerS. The catchwords for the three Nanoha series are: Love, Friendship, and Kicking Serious Ass Really Really Hard. It's the only series I've ever watched (all three series) that could have me teary one minute and cheering world-shattering magical battles the next.

I mean, wow. Really.

And I'm serious. I've been planning out a d20-based RPG based on the Nanoha universe.

After schedules and who knows what fell out, the Star Wars game has two players eagerly waiting for AT LEAST ONE MORE PERSON for the game to start. Anyone who's been keeping up has probably noticed that we actually had many people stick with us for at least character creation, but it was a three week process to catch everyone. But, we're down to two, now. However, we've talked about moving the game to a different night, and hopefully this will grab at least one more player. We're going to try Thursday nights instead of Fridays; if I haven't contacted you and you read this, email me or comment to let me know if Thursday will work for you.

ALSO, I have at least two people keenly interested in getting a D&D game going, as well. I'm working on planning a D&D campaign, and I'll release info on the preliminaries soon. If you're interested in a D&D game (3.5 rules, haven't determined a setting yet), let me know (comment or email).