About six years ago now (wow – how times flies!) I ran a Star Wars RPG campaign. Its structure was to mimic a trilogy of Star Wars movies – tightly paced, action-packed, complete with credits, text crawl on starfield at the start, a full cast, etc.. The players knew going in that the game wasn’t going to be as ‘open-ended’ as some other campaigns I had run, in that we had plot points to hit and a pre-defined conflict to resolve. The three ‘films’ would take place between Episode III and Episode IV and covered the founding and establishment of the Rebel Alliance. They wound up being great, great fun.

Cast of Characters

• Cordelia Algodon: The Last Jedi (so far as she’s aware), who’s been on the run from the ISB and Vader ever since the Jedi holocaust of Episode 3. A Padawan who saw her master murdered before her eyes by ISB Operative Sammar, her story arc saw her midwifing the Alliance into existence and, finally, sacrificing her life to ensure its survival. Played by my friend Melissa.
• Bi-Fi Doon: A space pirate played by my friend Bobby who winds up finding his calling as the fledgling Allaince’s best operative. Love interest of Mon Mothma (who was a major NPC). Partners with Heidel Thann (played by my friend Fisher). Wound up as one of those bearded guys in the background at the Battle of Yavin
• Heidel Thann: First officer aboard Doon’s pirate vessel, the Totally Legitimate. Though Doon retained his skepticism of the Alliance’s high ideals, Thann jumped in with both feet. Wound up being the founder of Red Squadron.
• Kthaar, DC4P, et al.: There was a disaffected Nohgri Assassin, a grumpy protocol droid, and a variety of guest stars, all PCs, and, while they were all awesome, they weren’t central to the main plot of the ‘films’
• Sammar: An Imperial Security Agent hot on Cordelia’s tail (and secretly in love with her). He is trained in the Dark Side by Palpatine in secret from Darth Vader (Palpatine was grooming him as an insurance policy should Vader betray him). Sammar killed Cordelia’s master prior to the start of the first ‘film’.

There were other characters, too, but I don’t want to bother going too in-depth here. Suffice to say we had a whole functioning trilogy with lots of awesome moments and tons of fun had. It’s very possible what we did conflicted with the Expanded Universe (I never read much beyond the Timothy Zahn novels), but we didn’t care (hell, Lucas doesn’t care, either, so whatever). Episode 3.3, Freedom’s Embers, involved the PCs rescuing Mon Mothma from Coruscant and establishing a safe haven on Dantooine; 3.6, Clash at Corellia, involved the theft of the plans for the X-Wing fighter and the rescue of key scientists from the Kessel Spice Mines; Episode 3.9 was about the recruitment of Admiral Ackbar and the first naval victory of the Alliance over Mon Calamari.

I even went so far as to write up trailers for the films, and, to be honest, if someone gave me a chunk of cash to write and produce the things we came up with here, they would make damned good movies. Anyway, what follows in the trailer to the second episode. I hope you enjoy it:

INT: MEETING HALL: NIGHT
(Mon Mothma stands at a podium. It is dark, and the shadows of various aliens in a variety of martial and rugged attire hang on her every word.)

MON MOTHMA
To the Emperor Palpatine, we say this:

CUT TO:
EXT: ORD MANTELL MARKETPLACE: DAY
(Sammar emerges from the crowd, blaster in hand, and shoots Tamik in the back of the head)

MON MOTHMA (VOICE OVER)
You have murdered and imprisoned millions…

(We see Cordelia in the crowd, screaming)

CUT TO:
EXT: SPACE
(A fleet of Star Destroyers comes into orbit around a blue-green planet)

MON MOTHMA (V.O.)
You have stolen our land and our property…

(We see TIE fighters strafing a city)

CUT TO:
EXT: BARREN MOONSCAPE: DAY
(Stormtroopers stand watch over a prison-camp, where exhausted slaves trudge into the depths of a mine)

MON MOTHMA (V.O.)
You have used your military for the sole purpose of oppressing your subjects.

(We see an old man collapse. A Stormtrooper stands over him, takes aim, and as the blaster fires we…)

CUT TO:
INT: MEETING HALL: NIGHT
(close shot of Mothma, her voice hard)

MON MOTHMA
This will not stand. We will fight you.

CUT TO:
MONTAGE
(As Mothma speaks, the following images are seen:)

(A heavily forested world where ancient ruins pierce the trees)

MON MOTHMA (VO)
So it is that we…

(A shot of Rebel pilots running to their Y-Wings)

MON MOTHMA (VO)
…the free beings of the Galaxy, do solemnly pledge…

(A shot of Doon running a hand along the underbelly of the Legitimate)

MON MOTHMA (VO)
…our property…

(A shot of Cordelia and Sammar raising their lightsabers in a dark hall)

MON MOTHMA (VO)
…our honor…

(a shot of K’thaar leaping in front of somebody to take a blaster shot)

MON MOTHMA (VO)
…and our lives…

(a shot of a massive space battle between Star Destroyers and lots and lots of corvettes)

MON MOTHMA (VO)
…until the Empire is destroyed…

CUT TO:
INT: MEETING HALL: NIGHT
(close shot of Mothma)

MON MOTHMA
…or we are.

CUT TO:
RAPID MONTAGE
(following images flash across the screen)

(A giant Imperial wheeled vehicle smashing through walls)
(Cordelia engaged in lightsaber duel atop some kind vehicle at high speed)
(A man throwing a tarp off of a concealed object)
(DC4P fleeing an explosion)
(The Legitimate pursued by TIE fighters)
(Cordelia running through an ancient stone hall)

CUT TO:
INT: STONE HALL
(Cordelia stops up short, her lightsaber drawn, her face terrified)

CORDELIA
Sammar!

CUT TO:
BLACK OUT
(block lettering appears: “Episode 3.6: Clash at Corellia)
(Vader’s tell-tale respirator starts up)

VADER (VO)
No more running, little girl.

(block lettering: Coming 11-13-05)