Crews in Space Combat 1 [FFG Star Wars]

What can new players and a new group of characters do on a starship that finds itself in combat? Let's put older videos together into a seamless process of running an exciting and engaging combat where everyone participates in the thrills~

[@smokymcpuddles1345]

Excellent tips to make space combat come alive!! I really appreciated the idea that you bring forth of players describing their actions and harnessing the narrative to the simple act of passing a Boost die or two to a PC ally on the ship. Too often, players simply say: “I use my two advantages to buy a boost die and give it to…lemme see, oh yeah, Fred needs help on his skill check. Boost die for Fred.” But after watching your video, this could be: “My pilot character banks the ship hard to starboard - narrowly missing the tumbling asteroids- and in doing so, the pursuing TIE Fighters are thrown off course and can now only come at us from the port side of the vessel. This will set up Jimbo in the gunnery turret nicely… [discreetly slides Boost die to Jimbo] ;) It truly is all about the narrative that can be unlocked with our imaginations Wonderful video!! I should find a way to make your video required viewing for my players! Thanks, Runeslinger!

[@Runeslinger]

I am glad this one resonated with you. It isn't always easy to execute as sometimes the other players are so keen to keep the action moving people all talk over each other. Of course, that has lots of excitement, too~

[@dylanlewis3038]

These videos are great for helping out a beginner GM, like myself. The books give the rules, but sometimes it’s just easier to understand when a person explains it. Thanks.

[@drakeswarchannel2530]

Thank you for all your excellent advice. Your work with FFG Star Wars is very informative and helpful.

[@Runeslinger]

My pleasure; thanks for letting me know~

[@johnw5154]

This is one area of the game, I have struggled to get my players motivated with. The action tends to be pilot focused too much. You video has got me thinking of new ways to try and get other characters to share in the scene more and be more involved. "Make sure space looks cool" is definitely something I will be trying harder with. I hope you will do more videos on the system soon. I enjoy watching them and listening to your experiences and your groups activities. Cheers.

[@Runeslinger]

It is easy to get caught up in thinking the pilot can and must do everything. You aren't alone in that, and that comes add much from the players as it does from the GM. One thing O did to encourage my group was to remind them that a 0 pilot rating does not mean *cannot pilot* and cited moments in the films where 'non-pilots' are at the controls and involved in other important tasks. It got easier from there. I am glad this video has offered some ideas for you to try. There will be a few more~

[@eloyc4245]

Excellent video, as always. I would add special attention to the setting of the combat. Real space is really empty. Star Wars space is really crowded and visually exciting. Asteroids, debris and floating space hulks from old battles, nebulae, gas clouds, carbonbergs, giant space squids, planetary rings, dipping into the atmosphere of gas giant planets, combat in the vicinity of large capital ships. Use all that for backdrop AND as terrain. Throw in setback dice!

[@Runeslinger]

Right on, you have to get everybody involved in that moment of pool creation: boost, setback, assistance, and the flow of destiny~

[@fingerstoes9869]

Great video! These have been extremely helpful when it comes to inspiring new ideas and techniques for keeping my star wars game engaging as well as clarifying rules. Thanks!

[@Runeslinger]

Glad to hear it~

[@MrBrad9]

would be great to see some of these topics you talk about in practice. live stream/demos etc. I'm still a new sub and haven't explored all your videos yet.... always great vids thanks for all the time and effort. Cheers.

[@Runeslinger]

There are a few actual play videos of Star Wars on the channel, and some of them are annotated to demonstrate what is going on with the system~

[@arch3ddraftsman]

Catching up late, but great video. Thanks.

[@Runeslinger]

My pleasure~

[@SgtReuster]

The problem I keep coming back to, and the internet isn’t much help due to differences in opinion, is hyperspace travel times. Could you do a video on calculating it and what makes travel longer? Deep core density, not following a known lane or following a lesser traveled lane, etc... thanks in advance, because this seems important to be consistent about and if there’s a better system from the previous games or if you made one up... I’m interested in ideas

[@Runeslinger]

That is a great topic for s video~

[@SgtReuster]

Runeslinger I could not ask for more. Star Trek has calculators but Star Wars... I can accept some hand wavy’ness but this is just weird

[@SgtReuster]

Runeslinger oh! And Thank You in advance!

[@batjutsu]

Great video addressing a common gap in player overlap for mechanic co-ordination as well as involvement 🙂 I'm in the midst of writing feedback for the new UK sci fi LARP Orion Sphere about their ship missions (run by UKSBS), typically 5 or 6 crew. One of the points is about how more players could be involved, without it snowballing things like: RL costs (like 20 PCs), or players feeling that only large specialist crews can attempt things. Related to player involvement, this is one of the reasons decades ago I disliked having Netrunner/Decker characters in my games. Their solo play that was also typically a time sink.

[@TinyPirate]

FYI. Your 60 plus playlist of SWRPG vids isn’t visible in your list of playlists on your channel. Think it can only be got to via end cards.

[@Runeslinger]

Thanks for the tip. KZbin sometimes behaves unexpectedly (or changes)

[@EtheStud]

Great video! Any thoughts on a hyper charisma guy might be most effective or involved in the ship encounters?

[@Runeslinger]

We have gotten a lot of fun and effectiveness from using comms to confuse issues in space combat. You can serve as a distraction (pass setback dice), sow doubt, cause delays, get captured instead of destroyed, avoid the fight altogether, etc. Dialogue can be a great source of risk, tension, and humor~

[@arcanetraditions]

This question immediately made me think of one of the opening scenes in The Last jedi, when a certain pilot buys time by making fun of an officer via the comms..

[@rodneywk1]

Mike Guinn uuugghh.. I had thought I purged the memory of that movie. Thanks for the refresher.... 🤢

[@dylanlewis3038]

In my AoR campaign I’m running for my brother and myself, we only have two PCs. My brother’s Ace Pilot, and my Soldier Commando. My Commando is primarily built for ground combat, with the only possible space thing being Gunnery. My brother is the one piloting, but also the only one with Astrogation for course plotting. If a pilot can only pilot, can he still assist me with an Astrogation check, or would that count as his maneuver? I’m imagining that he’s basically just telling me what buttons to push. His knowledge, but my hands. Our ship is a HWK-290, with an Clone Wars Y-Wing style bubble turret dorsally mounted slightly aft of the cockpit, if that’s any help. (Edit) So the book says “Assist” counts as a maneuver. So if my brother assists me with Astrogation, we would use his Astrogation Rank (1) and my intellect (2), for a 1 yellow 1 green role plus a boost for the assist. Right? So for him to take a piloting maneuver after, he would have to strain himself. I think I understand.

[@Runeslinger]

it sounds like you have it worked out. As the soldier is untrained, the Pilot would contribute a Boost Die. Outside of combat there is no need for the soldier to do the check. Inside of combat's structured play, the Pilot would use the Assist Maneuver on their turn to represent telling the Soldier what to do. It would be good for the soldier to learn astrogation as soon as possible, or revise the character to include it if the campaign will revolve around hyperspace escapes. Trained assistance is much better. Don't be afraid to use the Destiny Pool to alter your pools. Remember to roleplay the tension and banter~

[@dylanlewis3038]

Runeslinger Thanks. We haven’t actually got the ship yet, but I like to plan in advance. I planned on taking Astrogation and Piloting for my Commando once we got the ship. This would represent the Pilot teaching the Commando some of the basics, which could lead to some really entertaining role play if I fail a check.

[@baron7755]

where are your bookcases from? what brand/model?

[@Runeslinger]

We had them made to order locally.