Thursday, October 6, 2011

d6 Star Wars

The Star Wars Roleplaying Game by West End Games is, in my opinion, one of the greatest RPG's of all time. Released in two editions, the game was published from 1987-1999, and was based on the d6 System from the Ghostbusters RPG (1986). The game is remarkably deep while being simultaneously easy to learn and play.

Numerous books were released for the series (over 140), and established much of the groundwork of what later became the Star Wars Expanded Universe, and their sourcebooks are still frequently cited as reference material. Lucasfilm considered West End Games' sourcebooks so authoritative that when Timothy Zahn (Heir To The Empire) was hired to write what became the Thrawn trilogy, he was sent a box of their Star Wars RPG books and directed to base his novel on the background material presented within.

In addition, fifteen issues of a magazine series, the Star Wars Adventure Journal, were published between 1994 and 1998.

The Star Wars Roleplaying Game won the Origins Award for Best Roleplaying Rules of 1987.

A sampling of the books follows:


1st Edition Core Rules (1987)

Experience the vast scope and sweeping power of the greatest space fantasy of all time!
Struggle against the awesome might of the evil galactic Empire, fly faster-than-light spacecraft, trade blaster fire with Imperial stormtroopers, fight lightsaber duels, and tap the mystic Force which binds all living things together. Explore a galaxy of a billion suns, each with wonders and dangers of its own — a universe of dire peril, where Rebels fight desperately against the eternal night of Imperial oppression.


Gamemaster Handbook

A complete guidebook for GM's on how to bring the Star Wars universe to life.


The Star Wars Sourcebook

The first Star Wars roleplaying book ever published (1987).

Discover all the technical and natural wonders of the fantastic Star Wars saga. Here are sleek starfighters that clash with mile-long Star Destroyers, tilling the void with streaks of laser fire and blazing wrecks. Here are armor-clad stormtroopers battling desperate-Rebels across the galaxy. Here are detailed descriptions of the bizarre aliens, devastating weapons, amazing Droids, courageous heroes and cunning villains of the Star Wars universe.

Clear explanations and illustrations show how everything works: from lightsabers, the elegant Jedi weapon, to repulsorlifts that defy gravity. Stories, maps, charts and much more highlight this extraordinary guide to the Star Wars RPG.


Planets of the Galaxy: Volume One

Planets of the Galaxy: Volume One introduces GM's and players to some of the most exciting and unusual worlds of the Star Wars galaxy.



Tatooine Manhunt

In this adventure, a group of Rebel agents on Space Station Kwenn in the Kwenn system (the player characters) learn that Adar Tallon, a hero of the Clone Wars long presumed dead, is still alive on Tatooine. They also learn that the Galactic Empire has sent several bounty hunters, including Jodo Kast, IG-72, and Zardra, to capture or kill Tallon. The Rebels head to the desert planet, trying to reach Tallon ahead of the bounty hunters and the forces of the Imperial Star Destroyer Relentless.


The Abduction

In this adventure, Rebel agents have to rescue a kidnapped Shashay celebrity, Crying Dawn Singer to avoid the Alliance being discredited in Rayter sector.


Crisis On Cloud City

Chilling murder and intrigue abound as Rebel agents become detectives to solve a deadly mystery on the floating metropolis of Cloud City.


Imperial Double-Cross

Through a series of adventures, you'll run into stormtroopers, bounty hunters, and sinister Imperial agents.


The Politics of Contraband

A smuggler's life has never been easy, and with a new government, old Imperial flunkies, and gangsters all vying for power, it's more dangerous than ever to be an independent. A true smuggler wouldn't have it any other way! Travel the star-lanes of the Known Galaxy, smuggling illegal goods, clashing with infamous pirates, and trying to survive until your next pay-check.


Mission To Lianna

The Rebel heroes have been asked to deliver updated information to the Rebel cell network on the industrial world of Lianna, home of Sienar Fleet Systems, manufacturer of the dreaded Imperial TIE Fighter. What starts as a simple delivery becomes something even larger than the Rebels can imagine, as the characters discover that Lianna is where the Empire is building a secret weapon that could mean the destruction of the Alliance — a cloaking shield!

It is up to the characters to infiltrate and destroy the plans before the Empire can put the cloaking shield to work.


Cracken's Rebel Operatives

How does the Alliance get its information? If Rebels are stranded in the field, where do they go for protection? Who works for the Alliance to help overthrow the Empire?

Cracken's Rebel Operatives is a collection of saboteurs, operatives, spies, contacts and informants who work with the Rebel Alliance in its valiant struggle against the evil Galactic Empire.


Imperial Sourcebook

Discusses the organization of the Galactic Empire between the Battle of Yavin and the Battle of Endor.


Galaxy Guide 4 - Alien Races

Alien Races provides the information you'll need on homeworlds, cultures, lifestyles and the behavior of over 30 alien species. Whether recognizable as bipeds, or insectoids with compound eyes, they make up a huge portion of the Galactic Empire.


Galaxy Guide 6: Tramp Freighters

Tramp Freighters discusses various rules for roleplaying campaigns involving independent spacer and smuggler characters, including rules for modifying freighters, dealing with loan sharks, and trading legal and illegal cargo. It also includes a description of various planets, and personalities in the Minos Cluster during the Galactic Civil War era. Adventure ideas and a five-adventure mini-campaign set in the Minos Cluster are also featured.


Battle for Endor

A solitaire board game using the Star Wars Heroic Battles game system. Battle for Endor recreates the critical battle on the Forest Moon from Return of the Jedi.


Live-Action Adventures

A Star Wars LARP adventure. There is also a LARP game masters book.


Star Wars Miniatures Battles

Star Wars Miniatures Battles is a tabletop miniature wargame system produced by West End Games in 1991 and republished in a 2nd edition version in 1993. The first edition was winner of the Origins International Game Expo award for Best New Miniatures Rules in 1991.


Star Wars Miniatures

West End Games released unpainted 25mm metal miniatures to support the Star Wars RPG and Miniatures Battles game. The miniatures were released mostly on blisters and also in numerous boxed sets (some of which are pictured above).


Star Wars Adventure Journal

The Star Wars Adventure Journal was published by West End Games between the years 1994 and 1997. Fifteen issues were eventually printed, containing short stories by both well-known and relatively unknown Star Wars authors, and adventures and source material for the RPG.


Introductory Adventure Game

The Introductory Adventure Game was designed as a soft start to the d6 system.

The adventure centers around the players' escaping pursuit of Imperial forces on the planet Edan II. The notable difference from the full West End system is combined skills (such as Melee representing Melee Combat and Melee Parry).


Gamemaster Screen

It's hard to run a great Star Wars adventure when you're busy flipping through the rulebook. Keep your game moving with this easy-to-use screen, which summarizes rules, charts and game statistics.


Mos Eisley Shoot-Out

Pamphlet-sized mini-game distributed at the 1997 San Diego Comic Con.

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