Heroic Traits (KotOR)

     Knights of the Old Republic, page 20.

The Knights of the Old Republic era provides exciting story opportiunities for all character types, especially Jedi and other Force-users. This chapter contains information for creating heroes tailored to this era, including story considerations, new ideas and talents ofr the standard classes, plus new feats and expanded skills usable by all classes. These volatile times—when it is difficult to distinguish friend from foe—also call for new heroes to fulfill their destinies.

     In the Knights of the Old Republic campaign guide, characters are assumed to be good, fighting against the forces of evil. It is a time of wide-ranging open warfare, with shifting fronts and loyalties. Heroes can face off against Mandalorian or Sith invaders. Other enemies might not be so clear-cut, especially if the campaign takes place during the Jedi Civil War. Although it is possible to play darker characters using these rules, the forces of good remain the focus of this book.

Character Creation in the Old Republic

In a Knights of the Old Republic campaign, exciting character and plot development are integral to creating the feel of an era previously established by computer games, comiscs, and novels. Much as a classic-era campaign strives to re-create the feel of the movies, a Knights of the Old Republic campaign should capture the atmosphere of its earlier incarnations. Your campaign will feel more authentic if the Gamemaster and players give their characters rich backstories that develop over the course of the game. Gamemasters should see later chapters for suggestions on attaining the right plot and feel. This section focuses on character creation and development.

     You can spend as much or as little time as you wish on your character’s background, but answering the following questions will give you a sounjd foundation to build upon.

     What is your view of the Republic? The Republic of this era is not an all-powerful bureaucratic machine. It does not dominate the galaxy. You might be a citizen of the Republic, but if you are not, where do you com from? You might regard the Republic as static and ineffectual in the face of dire enemies, or you might view it as the galaxy’s best hope for victory, regardless of its flaws. You might take pride in fighting for the Republic, or resent it ineffectual responses. The answer to this question should impact how you relate to your fellow heroes, as well as Gamemaster characters such as government officials, Jedi Knights, or the many invaders of the era.

     How do you feel about current events? In times of war, you must decide which side to support. Supporting the Republic might seem natural. However, you might be operating in regions outside of their sphere of influence, and it might be more practical or beneficial to support another side. Your answer might depend on your view of the Republic, as above, or on the results of a specific battle or other major event.

     If you are a Jedi, do you support the Jedi Council? Given that the Jedi Order is more fragmented in philosophy and organization, its influence over all Jedi is weaker than in later eras. This is especially true if your campaign takes place when the Jedi Council is withholding support from the Republic war effort. Jedi characters should decide whether to support the Jedi Council’s positions or to strike out on their own. This affects how they deal with other Jedi and with the Council itself. If you are playing during the Jedi Civil War, you will need to decide how you feel about Revan and Malak’s break with the Council.

     How do the recent wars affect your species? Were they devastated by a Mandalorian invasion? Did Sith governance alter their society? Did the Republic safeguard them, or were they forced to fend for themselves? Plus, unlike the latter days of the Republic, not all species are looked upon as equals on all worlds. The Species and Galactic Gazetteer pages provide additional clues and hooks you can use to help answer these questions.

     How strong are your loyalties to your current affiliation? Are you a fanatical supporter? Do you question their authority? Are you disillusioned with your leadership? How likely are you to switch sides? What would happen if your government abandoned you, or if your leaders completely failed you? Alternatively, what would happen if you are saved by one side or another? How likely are you to swear loyalty to one side or another?

     What is your tolerance of the dark side? Will the dark side tempt you? Do you want its power? Is it a threat to be wary of, or a tool to be used? In the Knights of the Old Republic video games, every decision pushes you closer to the light side or the dark side. Your tolerance of the dark side can influence your relationship with your fellow party members. Unlike later eras. you will likely battle directly against Sith with the full power of the dark side at their disposal. They are not hidden away, or dismissed as myth. They are real; they are here, and they are a threat to the Republic. However, you might not see this as black and white, especially because many Republic citizens do not discern a great difference between the Sith and the Jedi, in many cases.

     How does your character class fit into this era? Look for ways to tie your class and character into the organizations and events unique to this era. Instead of being a simple smuggler, specialize in smuggling between the Republic and Sith Empire. A scout might be a clandestine Mandalorian advance reconnaissance scout, traveling incognito. A noble might work directly for the Czerka Corporation. A Jedi might serve as a Jedi Watchman over a single world or in a Jedi Covenant. Look for ideas in the different organizations discussed throughout this book. You might be a member of one of the groups, or you might turn out to be an enemy instead.

     What is yout relationship with the other characters? Character connections are important in a Knights of the Old Republic game, perhaps more than in a typical Star Wars campaign. Even if your characters do not know each other before play begins, you should seek to develop strong bonds between them during the game. These relationships might change as each of you makes decisions based on the answers to the questions above.

     That is not to say that characters with diametrically opposed views on certain subjects cannot get along; it just might take more compromises or a concerted effort to agree on a course of action. Additionally, characters might have feats or abilities that influence your character through their actions. Since having two or more characters who argue all the time becomes uninteresting or disruptive to the game, you are encouraged to have the characters change their stance over time. After all, character development and evolution can make for dramatic moments in a campaign.

     One option is to create the characters as a group, with a specific concept in mind. Most gaming groups already create parties with characters that complement each other’s abilities. By taking that one step farther, you can strengthen the party and the game by incorporating character interaction into the common group concept. Group concepts can include the crew of a single starship, friends or associates from a specific homeworld, members of a military team, or any other strong reason for a group to work and remain together through tough times.

     If you want to raise the stakes even further. and your Gamemaster approves, consider creating characters with large amounts of political, military, or other power. The Star Wars movies and the events of the Knights of the Old Republic video games and comics depict characters involved in the most important events in the galaxy. That is possible in this game as well. You might find it easier to restrict this concept to a single star system, planet, or corporation. The characters’ positions of power will make their decisions more dramatic over the course of the game.

     For instance, consider a party with the following characters: a Republic Senator, an elected planetary leader, a couple of Jedi Knights, a general of the Republic military forces, and the vice president of a interstellar corporation. Placed against the backdrop of an impending Mandalorian invasion, the decisions of such a party will have far-reaching consequences for themselves and thousands of others, producing a high degree of drama. There should also be plenty of action, especially if the Mandalorian forces penetrate the Republic defenses, putting the heroes’ lives in direct danger.

     Regardless of your answers to these questions, you should also reference the class updates below.

Sample Group Concepts

Below are some examples of the kinds of heroes you will find in a Knights of the Old Republic campaign. Each of these examples is centered around a theme that can be used to create a cohesive party with existing connections between the heroes.

Corporate Investigations Team

Specialist investigators can deal with corporate issues such as fraud, theft, kidnappings, and other threats to a major company. This team should be noble-heavy and supported by scouts and soldiers. Jedi are unlikely to be involved.

Corporate Security Team

Corporate muscle can be used on demand to intervene and combat piracy, large-scale theft, rioting laborers, or even invading forces such as a Mandalorian strike team. This team relies on soldiers and scouts, perhaps with a noble commander.

Gladiator Team

A gladiator team might fight as professionals out to make some credits, or the team might be forced to fight together, such as captives held in an Outer Rim gladiatorial pit. In the first instance, such a group is likely to be comprised mainly of soldiers and highly talented scouts. Otherwise, they can be made up of most any class.

Jedi Covenant

Made up exclusively of Jedi, the Covenant watches over specific areas or aspects of Galactic life. See The Force for additional information.

Military Reconnaissance Force

A small reconnaissance team can operate as advance scouts for a military force, such as the Republic, Sith Empire, or Mandalorians. This group is made up primarily of scouts and scoundrels, with soldiers for additional protection, and possibly a Jedi supporting the Republic.

Military Search-and-Rescue Squad

This team is out to locate wayward pilots or military survivors from largescale battles. Much like the recon force, this team is made up of scouts and soldiers, with classes specializing in medical treatment.

Postbattle Emergency Security Force

This team is sent into a battle-damaged area, such as a city or large space station, when local security has been destroyed or scattered. Soldiers secure the area while scouts search the surroundings for remaining threats.

Rescue Crew

This crew specializes in rescuing civilians in space or on most any world. They operate out of their own ships and can be of any class.

Revanchists (Mandalorian Wars)

These Jedi support the work of Revan and Malak—against the will of the Jedi Council. Most do not realize the dark path ahead of them, but others embrace it.

Republic Negotiating Team

This team represents the Republic government in negotiating military settlements, planetary treaties, and other complex situations, large or small. Such teams are mainly nobles, supported by scoundrels while other characters provide security.

Republic Special-Forces Strike Team

Republic special forces carry out surgical strikes against the Sith Empire and Mandalorians. Soldiers, scouts and scoundrels make up the majority of these forces, with noble officers and the occasional Jedi.

Scavenger Crew

A fringe group out to make credits by scouring terrestrial battlefields and debris-strewn regions of space after one of the many battles in this era. The crew can be made up of any class, and might even be officially sanctioned by one side or another to salvage certain equipment, ships or items.

Smuggling Ring

This is another fringe group, this time smuggling goods between planets of opposing sides, or at least unfriendly sides. Scoundrels and unscrupulous nobles lead these groups, with brutish soldiers for protection.