Next Tactics for the Empire?

[Zarn]

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[DougRed4]

Great stuff, Zarn. All of that seems quite plausible to me.

It will, of course, be up to the players if they choose to take advantage of this "space weather".
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Currently Running: Villains & Vigilantes (a 32-year-old campaign with multiple groups) and D6 Star Wars; mostly on hiatus are Adventures in Middle-earth and Delta Green

[garhkal]

True it would be up to them. BUT if the 'weather phenomenon is so harsh as to force all those ships to "Batten down the hatches" so to speak, then how will they brave it safely to make it out? Or will it conveniently only be placed in an area to hamper the Empire, not the party?
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[Zarn]

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[garhkal]

Its innate. I have had to many DM's over the years regal me with how much i should use "deus ex machina" and the like to save pcs from their own actions/the situation, that it has made me leery of when i read it being proposed.
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[DougRed4]

I think Zarn has raised a good point. And garhkal, your "contrariness" can end up being what causes lurkers to choose not to get involved here, or regulars to move on to different sites.

The point of the game is to have fun. That means for the GM as well as for the players.

The point of a GM asking questions is to get input from other GMs (or players). To get new perspectives, to tackle problems or issues, and to generally be encouraged.

You might do yourself (and us) a favor. Next time, before you post with your usual critical and negative tone, ask yourself this question: Am I being constructive at all with my comments? Am I just being contrary, for the sake of being contrary?

You can talk about how you don't prefer "hammy" or how you've been burned by this or that in the past, or how that doesn't fit your (perhaps narrow) definition of Star Wars.

But the bottom line is this - like your mom used to probably say: If you can't say something nice, say nothing.

Something for you to consider...
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Currently Running: Villains & Vigilantes (a 32-year-old campaign with multiple groups) and D6 Star Wars; mostly on hiatus are Adventures in Middle-earth and Delta Green

[garhkal]

Fare enough doug. Though i find being contrary has helped others in the past by pointing out flaws in their train of thought. I will try to curtail it just for this site.
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[DougRed4]

Thanks, gar.

You often have really good insights. I'd say just try to be a little more constructive.

One insight I was taught - in basically an instructor's academy - was to sandwich any negative feedback between two positives.

So when one has critical, negative feedback (stuff you have to point out to a student), the most effective way to communicate it is to point out something really positive. Then give them the critical part. Then finish with something really positive again.

Sometimes it's tough to do. And it's not always easy. But I've found that it can go a long way, and it sometimes really stretches you (as the person giving the feedback) to discover and look for the positive stuff.

But on the flip side the student/learner accepts it and considers it much more. When we only focus on the negative, we tend to put up walls and get defensive.

In any event, thanks for considering this, garhkal. Your honesty and frankness can sometimes be a good thing, so GMs can consider other points of view and consider another perspective.
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Currently Running: Villains & Vigilantes (a 32-year-old campaign with multiple groups) and D6 Star Wars; mostly on hiatus are Adventures in Middle-earth and Delta Green

[garhkal]

As someone on one of my adnd sites likes to say, i am often grating to the point of annoying. BUT in a way that makes people think of what they were doing.

BUT back to topic.
One possible way for the PC's to get out without the 'haming of a storm'.
Have them try to use the asteroid field; loop further into it and out the other end while trying to dodge the fighters on their tail.
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[DougRed4]

I'm still sticking with the storm idea, as I think it's perfect (thanks for the great idea, Zarn!)

But rather than outright tell them, what I'm going to have is - just as an Imperial probe droid approaches - the Jedi will suddenly slump to the ground (in a trance, with a Force vision). Here's what I just composed, to help them figure out the wisest tactics (thanks to lurker for the dream idea):

You see a beautiful field, lush and green. Small, furry, white bunny-like animals (with four medium-sized ears each) scurry about in a pristine meadow as sunlight streams down on them from above. Suddenly the sky begins to darken, as ominous purplish-black clouds extinguish the picturesque scene. As if on cue, a snarling, evil-looking, dark predator emerges from the tree-line into the meadow. Rows of gleaming teeth reflect with the little bit of sunlight remaining, and the hunter appears bright and perceptive, its eyes and ears focused ahead as if searching for something.

The smaller creatures race into their burrows as the larger beast approaches. It makes its way across the field, trampling colorful flowers as it makes a direct line towards what it seeks. It sniffs and snarls, extending its long snout into one of the burrows, eagerly seeking its prey. The sky is now black, and it looks more like nighttime than day.

The big monster begins pawing at the earth, digging at a burrow with massive claws. Numerous of the rabbit-type mammals crouch in fear, dreading what is coming. But before the next swipe, an ear-splitting crack of thunder peals overhead, as a full-on storm begins dumping buckets of rain on the now dark clearing. The large creature lifts its head and looks skyward, just as large chunks of ice and sleet rain down, pelting it mercilessly.

As it is distracted, the smaller animals use the opportunity to leap from their burrows and flee. They race in the direction of the thick canopy of brush the nearby forest provides. The huge monstrosity is momentarily confused, dazed as thermal detonator-sized balls of hail strike it in the head and torso. It tries to go after its quarry, but has difficulty as its colossal size hinders it, the thick barrage of ice balls not allowing it a moment’s peace. When it reaches the tree-line it realizes that its fleeing victims have escaped into the dense cover.
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Currently Running: Villains & Vigilantes (a 32-year-old campaign with multiple groups) and D6 Star Wars; mostly on hiatus are Adventures in Middle-earth and Delta Green

[garhkal]

Nice force vision. Will it just go to the jedi in the group or anyone who is force sensitive?

Also what if they receive the vision, but don't pick up on it? What then?
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[DougRed4]

I'd decided before we played to have it go to whichever of the Jedi (Knight or Padawan) that seemed more attuned (or which it seemed more appropriate for it to go to in play).

Before we even began, the Jedi's player pulled me aside and told me how he wanted to meditate in the Force to discern the right path, so I went with him being the one who had the vision (he plays the Knight).

After reading it, he couldn't make much sense of it, so I allowed him to make a Knowledge roll. When he rolled solidly on that, I told him he remembered (way back when he was a Padawan himself) how he had been instructed that sometimes you have to include others, from among your allies. That tackling every problem alone wasn't always a wise approach.

He got the hint and decided to share the vision with the others. But when he went to hand the paper (with everything written out on it) to the others, I nixed that. I had him describe it instead.

His Padawan (especially) was the one who insightfully suggested that it should perhaps be taken metaphorically instead of literally (he had gone outside their ice cave to see if the terrain was similar to that in his vision). That got them discussing and considering things, and they did well from there in figuring their way off planet.

I'll give some more details in my game session thread in "Adventures".

Thanks again for all the help, everyone!
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Currently Running: Villains & Vigilantes (a 32-year-old campaign with multiple groups) and D6 Star Wars; mostly on hiatus are Adventures in Middle-earth and Delta Green