Some time ago, Epidiah Ravachol proclaimed that Swords Without Master was the obvious and best choice for running a Star Wars roleplaying game. Having examined the thought a little further, it appears that only a few light tweaks are required to tell awesome Star Wars inspired stories using Swords Without Master. Here is my take on it:
The Sensual Feast
In Lightsabers Without Master, Imperious and Rebellious replace Glum and Jovial as the tones of narration.
IMPERIOUS
Cold, calculated, controlled, determined, mysterious, authoritarian, commanding.
A slow pan on a giant space-ship. The twin sunsets of Tatooine. Visions in the dark side cave. The hum of lightsabers drawn before a duel. Heavy boots on metal floors. A sorrowful tear. Jedi mind tricks. A holographic plea for help. Frozen in carbonite. “I feel a great disturbance in the force”. The Imperial March.
Leia Organa, Grand Moff Tarkin, Obi‑Wan Kenobi, Emperor Palpatine, C-3PO, Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi.
REBELLIOUS
Hot, fast, noble, bold, chaotic, defiant, unexpected.
Last minute preparations before the battle of Hoth. A wretched hive of scum and villainy. A scream of defiance. A limb lost to flashing lightsabers. The full power of the Force. Tears of rage. A daring rescue at Jabba’s palace. The Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs. “We’re all fine here now, thank you. How are you?”, The Cantina Song, The Star Wars main title theme.
Han Solo, Darth Vader, Lando Calrissian, Boba Fett, R2-D2, Luke Skywalker in A New Hope.
The Tales
Below are suggestions for tales that use each of the Star Wars movies as an eidolon. Play them individually, or mix and match them into your own trilogies or serials by saving loose threads from each tale and reintroducing one of them in the next chapter with an additional Echos of the Past overtrick.
A New Hope (1977)
A tale of New Beginnings.
- A tale in which the rogues meet for the first time.
- Begin the game with a Rogues’ Phase in which demands are made to see how the rogues first meet.
Doom. “I felt a great disturbance in the Force. What cataclysmic events unfold elsewhere in the Galaxy?” Any Rogue Player may ignore one roll they just made to suffer a Mystery that leads to this question.
The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
A tale of Betrayal.
- A tale in which loyalties are not what they seem.
- After the second Motif is finished, but before the last thread is reincorporated, there must be at least one Rogues’ Phase in which a demand is made to see how a rogue betrays or is betrayed by someone or thing on that rogue’s list of named.
Haven. Before the Overplayer chooses a new phase, any Rogue Player may demand that it is a Respite Phase and it is set in the home of an old friend. If an old friend isn’t already on your list of named, add one to it now.
Return of the Jedi (1983)
A tale of Redemption.
- A tale in which absolution is sought or given.
- Before the last thread is reincorporated, there must be at least one Rogues’ Phase in which a demand is made to see how a rogue gains redemption, or witnesses the redemption of someone or thing on that rogue’s list of named.
Ill Fate. “Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.” any Rogue Player may ignore one roll they just made and instead hit the Overtone to suffer a Moral with a consequence that leads to this lesson.
The Phantom Menace (1999)
A tale of Intrigue.
- A tale in which lies are told and characters are manipulated to serve hidden agendas.
- At every Discovery Phase, a new character with ulterior motives must be introduced or the ulterior motives of an existing character must be revealed.
Locus. Before the Overplayer sets the scene on a new phase, you may demand that it takes place in the Galactic Senate.
Attack of the Clones (2002)
A tale of Tragedy.
- A tale in which the unthinkable occurs.
- Before the last thread is reincorporated, a rogue or something or someone with its name recorded next to a rogue’s name must be lost forever.
Compact. “We do this together and… …we do it while leading an army of Clones.” any Rogue Player may use this agreement for one invocation of the Ritual of the Companion.
Revenge of the Sith (2005)
A tale of Savagery.
- A tale in which violence and brutality are brought to the forefront.
- At least one element on each Motif thread must be about a moment of graphic violence or cold brutality.
Inevitable Foe. Before the Overplayer chooses a new phase, any Rogue Player may demand that it is a Perilous Phase and your foe is the Dark Lord of the Sith.
The Force Awakens (2015)
A tale of New Beginnings.
- A tale in which the rogues meet for the first time.
- Begin the game with a Rogues’ Phase in which demands are made to see how the rogues first meet.
Echoes of the Past. Place a thread that you saved from a previous game or a Lore Phase on the table before the first Overtone is rolled. One of the elements on the first Motif must echo something on this thread before you can move on to the second Motif. This thread may also be reincorporated as normal during the End Game.
