The Inside Scoop on Gaming

The STAR WARS MOVIE TRILOGY SOURCEBOOK is a good help for the gamemaster who would like incorporate characters & character types from the original STAR WARS trilogy into his or her campaign. Though the title is ambitious, the book does not cover all aspects of the trilogy. It is mainly a book which focuses on the characters and background characters (read "cannon fodder") from the trilogy, including obscure personalities like Biggs Darklighter & Hobie but also the likes of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. A few non-character items which were left out from the rulebook are added, like the two Death Stars and Boba Fetts Slave One. The book is strictly linear, detailing characters in order of (trilogy) appearance, making it easy to use the book quickly in game time. If you need information on Jabba the Hutt, you'll know instantly he can be found in the last part of the book, which covers the characters and creatures from EPISODE VI:RETURN OF THE JEDI.

The book has it's own "narrator" which makes it a more entertaining read; the New Republic armchair historian Voren N'aal guides you to the many exciting characters of the Star Wars trilogy. Using the Voren N'Aal character to explain events in that galaxy far, far away makes the reading even more entertaining. Because that is what the book's all about: not about rules, but about entertainment. There are very many short & long stories here, adding incredible backgrounds and depths to characters merely glimpsed at in the films. For instance, you'll discover facts about how Mon Mothma became the leader of the Rebel Alliance, just why the Mon Calamari led the attack on the second Death Star, etc.. Though I personally do not like too much messing with Lucas' characters, it's still a good read. It's too bad the book consists mainly of black & white pictures.

The book is usefull in two important ways: First, it can be used to incorporate trilogy characters into the gamemaster's own campaign. For instance, the gamemaster could arrange a meeting between the players and Lando Calrissian. It is, however, an easy trap to step into-overuse of main Star Wars characters is not good in the long run for a Star Wars campaign ( or so my own experience as a gamemaster tells me). Second, the book can be used as an informative guide to add "almost-characters" to the campaign. For instance, if you want a Hutt, you could use Jabba's statistics, maybe alter them a little. Personally I have only used two main Star Wars characters in my own campaign, and both have been in the background (Boba Fett and Luke Skywalker). I have used many of the characters in the book though; I created my own Hutt, I used IG88 for an out-of-control assassin droid, and general Rieekan as a prototype for my own Rebel general in command.

The "cannonfodder" characters in the book are usefull any time; these are all the nameless heroes and villains of the Empire and the Alliance, like the Rebel Soldiers, Rebel Pilots, TIE Pilots, Imperial Gunners, Death Star Troopers and the Best Cannonfodders ever, the Stormtroopers of the Empire.

Every character comes with a fairly complete list of attributes and statistics - the main characters have one such list for each movie, which helps the gamemaster determine just how good Luke is at using the Force during "The Empire Strikes Back" or "Return Of The Jedi".

Finally, the book contains a number of interesting color-pages with Star Wars "commercials" (would you like to buy a TIE Fighter?) and poster art, which come as gems in the black/white world of the book. I must say the book contains much stuff (both necessary and unnecessary), and might be more interesting to the Star Wars-fan than the role-player with no particular fondness of the Star Wars phenomena.

Style: 2 (Needs Work)
Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

Star Wars Movie Trilogy Sourcebook
Author: Bill Smith Category: game Company/Publisher: West End Games Page count: n/a ISBN: n/a Playtest Review by Remy Verhoeve on 11/19/97. Genre tags: none	The STAR WARS MOVIE TRILOGY SOURCEBOOK is a good help for the gamemaster who would like incorporate characters & character types from the original STAR WARS trilogy into his or her campaign. Though the title is ambitious, the book does not cover all aspects of the trilogy. It is mainly a book which focuses on the characters and background characters (read "cannon fodder") from the trilogy, including obscure personalities like Biggs Darklighter & Hobie but also the likes of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. A few non-character items which were left out from the rulebook are added, like the two Death Stars and Boba Fetts Slave One. The book is strictly linear, detailing characters in order of (trilogy) appearance, making it easy to use the book quickly in game time. If you need information on Jabba the Hutt, you'll know instantly he can be found in the last part of the book, which covers the characters and creatures from EPISODE VI:RETURN OF THE JEDI. The book has it's own "narrator" which makes it a more entertaining read; the New Republic armchair historian Voren N'aal guides you to the many exciting characters of the Star Wars trilogy. Using the Voren N'Aal character to explain events in that galaxy far, far away makes the reading even more entertaining. Because that is what the book's all about: not about rules, but about entertainment. There are very many short & long stories here, adding incredible backgrounds and depths to characters merely glimpsed at in the films. For instance, you'll discover facts about how Mon Mothma became the leader of the Rebel Alliance, just why the Mon Calamari led the attack on the second Death Star, etc.. Though I personally do not like too much messing with Lucas' characters, it's still a good read. It's too bad the book consists mainly of black & white pictures. The book is usefull in two important ways: First, it can be used to incorporate trilogy characters into the gamemaster's own campaign. For instance, the gamemaster could arrange a meeting between the players and Lando Calrissian. It is, however, an easy trap to step into-overuse of main Star Wars characters is not good in the long run for a Star Wars campaign ( or so my own experience as a gamemaster tells me). Second, the book can be used as an informative guide to add "almost-characters" to the campaign. For instance, if you want a Hutt, you could use Jabba's statistics, maybe alter them a little. Personally I have only used two main Star Wars characters in my own campaign, and both have been in the background (Boba Fett and Luke Skywalker). I have used many of the characters in the book though; I created my own Hutt, I used IG88 for an out-of-control assassin droid, and general Rieekan as a prototype for my own Rebel general in command. The "cannonfodder" characters in the book are usefull any time; these are all the nameless heroes and villains of the Empire and the Alliance, like the Rebel Soldiers, Rebel Pilots, TIE Pilots, Imperial Gunners, Death Star Troopers and the Best Cannonfodders ever, the Stormtroopers of the Empire. Every character comes with a fairly complete list of attributes and statistics - the main characters have one such list for each movie, which helps the gamemaster determine just how good Luke is at using the Force during "The Empire Strikes Back" or "Return Of The Jedi". Finally, the book contains a number of interesting color-pages with Star Wars "commercials" (would you like to buy a TIE Fighter?) and poster art, which come as gems in the black/white world of the book. I must say the book contains much stuff (both necessary and unnecessary), and might be more interesting to the Star Wars-fan than the role-player with no particular fondness of the Star Wars phenomena. Style: 2 (Needs Work) Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

Star Wars Movie Trilogy Sourcebook