I've been toying with the idea of running an one-shot scenario for Star Wars set during the Old Republic, and this is what I've got so far.

The Brabidos system is one of several key Republic systems in the Rim, due to its favorable location as on trade routes as well as it's resources and natural beauty. Brabidos is ruled by the Regency, which is currently held by the Yolis family - the Yolis are descendents of Galenn Yol, a legendary Jedi Knight who became the first Regent after freeing Brabidos from a Sith Lord called Darth Kronus.

The current Regent is concerned with reports about Mandalorian activity in the Rim, and has called for the assistance of the Republic. The characters are part of the Republic diplomatic team sent to asess the situation and negotiate with the Regent and its advisory council.

Once they arrive to Brabidos, the characters find that the Regent position is a bit unstable. Some of the Regency advisors would welcome the help of the Republic, but others think that the presence of a large military fleet would scare trade and commerce away, and others think that the Republic is exaggerating the Mandalorian threat in order to gain more power over member systems. Furthermore, suspicion arises that somebody is plotting against the Yolis.

The Mandalorians indeed intend to conquer Brabidos. They also have a unusual ally in this endeavor - a Sith Lord who has infiltrated the Regency palace. He's doing this because he's seeking to gain access to Darth Kronus lost chamber. The chamber is hidden somewhere in the palace, and contains ancient Sith texts and relics that the Sith Lord will use to restore the Sith to its former glory.

When the time is right (meaning when the Sith Lord is ready to enter the chamber) Mandalorian commandos will infiltrate Brabidos' command center and sabotage the planetary defenses. Then the Mandalorian fleet will arrive and attack the planet. The Sith Lord thinks that the ensuing chaos and destruction will cover his tracks nicely. It will also kill thousands of people, but then, the Sith see people as nothing more than things to be used and discarded.

The characters of course have to stop this. This will take them to fight in several fronts - restoring the planetary defenses, holding off the Mandalorian fleet until Republic reinforcements can arrive, and finally confronting the Sith Lord at Darth Kronus chamber.

Some aditional thoughts:

* I'm thinking that the entrance to Darth Kronus chamber is protected by a force field that can only be surpassed by a living descendant of Galenn Yol. This means that the Sith Lord will have to kidnap one of the Yolis. I'm doing this because I'd like to set one of the Yolis as a potential romantic interest for one of the characters (I have this idea for a scene where they go for a ride - this being Star Wars they ride flying beasts - and then get attacked by would-be assasins)

* I need a memorable name for the primary villain - that is, the Sith Lord. I like the thought he's currently posing as a harmless old scholar who bores everybody with endless tirades on architecture and ancient history. All through the scenario he plays as comic relief until the final confrontation, when the mask is off and his identity revealed.

* I'm toying with having a secondary villain, a renegade Mandalorian commander whom the PCs would fight in the Brabidos command center. I'd like to feature him sometime before the final battle - perhaps the PCs get a glimpse of him somewhere on Brabidos, or he's posing as a renegade and now works for the Brabidos military. The latter would explain nicely how the Mandalorians managed infiltrate and sabotage Brabidos defenses, but it would possibly disminish the Sith Lord role as a source of information for the Mandalorians).

* I want a distinctive look for Brabidos. Naboo is Renaissance, Onderon looks like a mix of North African and Middle East styles, the Nemoidians look vaguely Chinese. I'm considering to look at Indian styles, but I'd like to hear other options.

* I'm a bit of a loss on what to do with the middle part of the scenario, and how to point the characters towards the larger plot. Something to do with a large number of disgraced Mandalorians hanging around the spaceport, perhaps? Or simply having somebody at palace killed by the Sith Lord? I'm thinking both, and then have the Sith Lord frame the Republic and the characters. Then they have to escape from detention in time for the big climax.

* Anything which helps to spice up the scenario would be welcome. Suggestions on chases, battle scenes, characters scenery and so on.

Feedback, comments, criticism, etcetera, would be appreciated. Tell me what you think!

Quote from: AegyptoI've been toying with the idea of running an one-shot scenario for Star Wars set during the Old Republic, and this is what I've got so far.

And I want you to know that it rocks.

Quote* I need a memorable name for the primary villain - that is, the Sith Lord. I like the thought he's currently posing as a harmless old scholar who bores everybody with endless tirades on architecture and ancient history. All through the scenario he plays as comic relief until the final confrontation, when the mask is off and his identity revealed.

"Scholar" Names:

• Dando Ubrukkian
• Amnett Tosloit
• Sol Fentrey
• Ovo Quan-Triss
• Min-Gao Zann
• Dulles Mir
• Happat Kromm

Darth Names:

• Vaxon
• Reptur
• Trask
• Murn
• Sangrus
• Lash
• Nihilus
• Cruxis
• Xaltotun*
• Oblivos
• Entropos
• Kalam

Quote* I'm toying with having a secondary villain, a renegade Mandalorian commander whom the PCs would fight in the Brabidos command center. I'd like to feature him sometime before the final battle - perhaps the PCs get a glimpse of him somewhere on Brabidos, or he's posing as a renegade and now works for the Brabidos military.

*air guitar*

Quote* I want a distinctive look for Brabidos. Naboo is Renaissance, Onderon looks like a mix of North African and Middle East styles, the Nemoidians look vaguely Chinese. I'm considering to look at Indian styles, but I'd like to hear other options.

Art Noveau is largely underused in the movies, and can make quite an impression -- it's effectively stylized nature, with organic shapes &c.  You can get all artsy-fartsy and use it as a theme, but...uh...hey, I'd better back aaway from that or I'll get too far stuck in.  Greek with art deco in it?  A mix of feudal Japan and Aztec?  Maya + Babylonian + 1930's futurist?

Quote* I'm a bit of a loss on what to do with the middle part of the scenario, and how to point the characters towards the larger plot.

Second acts suck.  I'll work on it.

Quote* Anything which helps to spice up the scenario would be welcome. Suggestions on chases, battle scenes, characters scenery and so on.

• Speeder chase through a herd of plesiosaur-sized herbiv-- no, wait, stampeding plesiosaur-sized herbivores
  
• Lightsaber fight up and down the steps of a palace/temple/thing with lots of steps
• An old palace droid with so many mem wipes that it gets confused very easily, but sometimes lets slip that it knows something vital to the plot -- PCs might wish to "borrow" it, dig through its memory, and get A Big Reveal
• Snooty majordomo who turns up his nose at the PCs at every turn but who turns out to be their greatest ally when the chips are down
• A local freighter captain who often visits the planet -- kind of like Humphrey Bogart in The African Queen.  He can dispense a little information, get into trouble from which he needs rescued, ad maybe even help out in the final battle, valiantly losing his life in the process...
  

*Yes, I'm stealing -- but from the best!

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!And I want you to know that it rocks.

Why, thank you.

Quote"Scholar" Names:
(snip)
Darth Names:
(snip)

I bow to your superior name-fu. For this character I particularly like Oblivos and Murn, and Dulles Mir sounds deliciously dull. The rest I'll probably use for other characters or future reference.

QuoteArt Noveau is largely underused in the movies, and can make quite an impression -- it's effectively stylized nature, with organic shapes &c.  You can get all artsy-fartsy and use it as a theme, but...uh...hey, I'd better back aaway from that or I'll get too far stuck in.  Greek with art deco in it?  A mix of feudal Japan and Aztec?  Maya + Babylonian + 1930's futurist?

Hm. Art Nouveau might be just the thing I'm looking for. I'll have to google some more images.

Quote

• Speeder chase through a herd of plesiosaur-sized herbiv-- no, wait, stampeding plesiosaur-sized herbivores

Okay. The mental image this conjures is way too cool to not be used. Consider it yoinked.

I'm borrowing the palace droid and the majordomo as well. I already can see some uses for them. And I was thinking of having a long staircase going all the way from the underground chamber to the heights of the palace, but that may be too much, even for Star Wars.

Great ideas! Thanks!

Quote from: AegyptoAnd I was thinking of having a long staircase going all the way from the underground chamber to the heights of the palace, but that may be too much, even for Star Wars.

You sure...?

QuoteGreat ideas! Thanks!

I got your six.  Just make sure to look the other way when I decide to yoink the whole idea for myself.