This 17-page PDF helps GMs re-imagine the Star Wars universe with anime style and tons of Hong Kong action. (The title refers to the directors of "The Matrix" and "Face/Off.") It catalogues the narrative and mechanical tricks I've used to give the Star Wars mythos a fresh, new style.
It's available at http://www.Bayn.org/games
The Introduction also touches upon some other genres that you can roll into a Star Wars game: Crime Noir and Spaghetti Western. It's heavily focused on the Jedi and only addresses the 10-year time period between Episodes 2 & 3. GMs should either be conversant with the Star Wars universe or have access to other sourcebooks. It is not a licensed product.
The booklet provides a decent amount of information within the above constraints, primarily new NPC organizations, rules mechanics, and GM advice. The new organizations each get about a half page of explanation, just enough to establish their style, and at least one sample NPC. My personal favorite is the Fu Jedi, a sect within the Jedi order that considers lightsabers unnecessarily brutal weapons. Instead, they fight with fists, feat, and blaster-deflecting gauntlets.
The rules section consists of a tailored version of the Nameless RPG, which is also available free online. Nameless can be used either as a stand-alone game system or as a toolbox of mechanics for speeding up gameplay in other systems. If rules-light games aren't your thang, you'll probably have more luck with the latter than the former. Highlights include the drama point-driven Flaw system for darksiders and Force-users' codes of honor, and a handy mechanic for the ever-popular lightsaber riposte (i.e. bouncing blaster bolts back at shooters).
I have some definite, and peculiar, views on the Force and how it should work; they become readily apparent rather quickly. It's a free form approach, so it's easy to roll into other game systems. It casts Jedi as pulp action heros with a few magic tricks, rather than god-like supermen. You know, like they are in the movies.
The booklet finishes off with a quartet of pre-gen player-characters, including a penitent darksider and the infamous Jedi Pimp. (Trust me, they're cool. I've run 'em all in games past.)
There is no artwork, as I am not an artist, but I did my best to break up the text with frequent headers and layout tricks. The PDF is designed to be easy on your eyes and even easier on your printer. There's no better value at the price (free).
- 5 for Style; this product is nothing but style, and since it's my style, I like it.
- 2 for Substance, because it's only 17 pages and designed as a commentary on someone else's setting.
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