UnnaturalGas
Member since: 2011I know everyone has their own opinions about EpI-II, and the many glaring loopholes it creates in the storyline, "Your father wanted you to have this when you were old enough...", "I don't seem to remember ever owning a droid...", etc, but like many hot topics of this nature, complaints abound, but solutions are conspicuously absent. Until now. Please bear with me.
From what I gathered in EU, the Clone Wars had nothing to do with corporate separatists or droid armies. I will staunchly defend my position that the whole story Lucas had in mind had to be cleaned up with a droid army so kids don't ask questions about Jedi Knights killing living people en masse. Imagine how different the movies would be if Obi-wan and Qui-Gonn had casually dismembered several footsoldiers just in the opening scenes of Ep I. But I digress; there's no shortage of fan opinions whenever Lucas graces us with another installment. My solution to this whole thing is to explain the Clone Wars as I believe they 'actually' happened. I'm compiling my opus campaign that will tell the 'real' story from beginning to end. It will no doubt entertain my players for years to come. A synopsis follows.
The Republic had grown fat and rich from cloning slaves to do dirty jobs (Look to a movie called Multiplicity for a light-hearted take on cloned slave labor). In fact, just before the Clone Wars, there were hundreds of millions of clones managing everything from interstellar trade to civil works. The Jedi council had staunchly opposed the idea of slavery, and lobbied against it diligently for decades, to no avail.
Enter what we all learned from the Thrawn trilogy; clones are universally mentally unstable, perhaps because of the distribution of Life Force and ensuing psychological strain it imparts as it attempts to occupy two bodies at once.
That said, you guessed it, the clone slaves revolt, collectively driven insane and lead by any number of charismatic sociopaths among them. The Republic is in chaos as its infrastructure falls into the hands of a large revolting slave population. The Jedi are sent first to mediate, but communication breaks down and aggressive negotions become necessary. The Jedi council is faced with the mother of all moral quandaries as they must either slaughter armies of (insane) revolting slaves, or watch the Republic crumble and give rise to total anarchy and chaos. Many Jedi leave the order, either to stay out of it entirely, or to defend the revolting slaves.
Enter Anakin Skywalker, who was not, in fact, a whiny pushover, but a grand patriot and champion of the Republic, not to mention a fantastic fighter pilot. His master, one Obi-Wan Kenobi, is stuck in that ethical grey area and cannot really make the call between slaughtering slaves or letting the Republic fall. Anakin makes the call for him and drags them into the fray, knocking up a distinguished young lady who is never seen on screen in the process. Yadda yadda yadda, and we've got ourselves a showdown. Anakin understands that the Republic shot itself in the foot with this whole cloning business, while Obi-Wan believes there are alternate solutions. By the end of it, Anakin gets a new cybernetic body and the Republic, which can no longer be trusted to manage its own affairs, becomes the Empire. The Jedi are blamed for the whole thing, like politicians like to do, and go into hiding. Cloning is outlawed, but slavery is not. In fact, there are large gaps in industry and commerce that need to be filled quickly, so certain races are deemed 'slave races', and we're ready for EP IV.
No Jango Fett, no Clone Army of the Republic, no Count Dooku, Naboo, Jar Jar, or any number of alphabet soup-inspired assortments of letters to represent (relatively) ridiculous people, places or things.
Sorry for the long read, but if anyone can take anything of value out of it, I commend you.
As a side note, I still believe Leia sold out Alderaan on the Death Star. Given that she's the only one who could conceivably recount the story later, it doesn't surprise me that she spat in their faces and was all like, "Tarkin, you stink and I'm never gonna help you jerks... But then they totally blew up Alderaan anyway... Weird, huh?" >.> <.<
Sorry I just slammed that all on you without asking for feedback. This was meant to stimulate conversation, not kill the forum. Having read the above post, answer me these questions... four...
Does it make sense?
How does it make you feel?
Is it more or less interesting than the story in the movies?
Are there major details or events you would change in my storyline?
Thank you.
Your feedback will help me provide a more immersive and dramatic campaign to my players.
We always held that the Clone wars were order 66. Clones were made of each Jedi and sent to find their counter-part. This, like stated above, spread out the force between the two, making the Jedi weaker in the force. These clones. or dark Jedi, were short lived but lasted long enough to dispose of all Jedi except Obi-wan and Yoda. The connection By the force was incredible strong between clone and Jedi, Making hiding all but impossible.
We also hold to, You must have the force with you in order to use a light saber. This is thrown off a little by Han using one to save Luke. It's easier to say it was because Luke was in such close proximity and the Force could sense the intentions of Han than to explain away the umpteen millions reasons the would be standard issue to everyone in the galaxy.
These two prevent our group from all being "survivors" of 66 and gallivanting around with light sabers. Anyone can play a force adept, but to be Jedi class you need to roll 96-100 on percentile or the story line leads that way.
Our games always take place in parallel to the OT. Little side missions in support to the success of the Heroes from the movies. Our gm may have us save some guy that in the movies walks by and does some semi important thing. Or draw off Half of the full battalion of Storm troopers so they have a chance to take down the shield. Help a bunch of Bothans Gather some intel. While in your stolen imperial freighter and under cover, being asked to rescue a lost Tie pilot, and deliver Darth Vader to a near by Start destroyer...that kinda stuff. Changes the way you watch the movies.