Set in the Galactic Civil War era, Star Wars: Age of Rebellion is a tabletop RPG where players join the Rebel Alliance, engaging in combat, espionage, and diplomacy. This game, part of the Star Wars Roleplaying series, emphasizes storytelling and strategic gameplay, offering customizable characters and immersive adventures across iconic planets and battles.
Overview of the Game
Star Wars: Age of Rebellion is a tabletop role-playing game set during the Galactic Civil War, where players embody rebels fighting against the Galactic Empire. The game emphasizes storytelling, strategic combat, and character development, allowing players to create unique characters with diverse skills and backgrounds. It uses a customizable ruleset, incorporating elements like skill checks, combat maneuvers, and narrative-driven gameplay. The core rulebook provides extensive details on character creation, advancement, and game mechanics, making it accessible to both newcomers and experienced players. The game is designed to capture the essence of the Star Wars universe, focusing on teamwork, heroism, and the struggle for freedom.
Significance in the Star Wars RPG Series
Star Wars: Age of Rebellion holds a prominent place in the Star Wars RPG series as it focuses on the Rebel Alliance’s struggle against the Galactic Empire. It offers a unique blend of military and espionage gameplay, distinguishing it from other titles in the series. The game’s ruleset emphasizes teamwork and strategic decision-making, aligning with the Rebel Alliance’s guerrilla tactics. Its character creation and progression systems allow players to craft heroes who embody the spirit of rebellion. This RPG not only expands the Star Wars universe but also provides a fresh perspective on iconic events, making it a cornerstone for fans of the Galactic Civil War era and a standout entry in the Star Wars roleplaying legacy.
Target Audience and Use Cases
Star Wars: Age of Rebellion is designed for fans of the Star Wars franchise, particularly those drawn to the Galactic Civil War era. It appeals to both new and experienced tabletop RPG players, offering a balanced mix of storytelling and strategic gameplay. The game is ideal for groups of 3-5 players, allowing for diverse roles such as soldiers, spies, and leaders. Its modular design makes it suitable for short campaigns or extended adventures. Game Masters (GMs) can use the Core Rulebook to craft immersive narratives, while players can explore iconic locations and battles. The system also supports solo play and serves as a valuable resource for fans seeking deeper engagement with the Star Wars universe, making it versatile for various gaming preferences and experiences.
The Core Rulebook
The Core Rulebook provides comprehensive rules, character creation, and adventure setup, serving as the foundation for gameplay and storytelling in the Star Wars universe.
Structure and Content
The Core Rulebook is a 464-page comprehensive guide that includes rules for character creation, gameplay mechanics, and setting details. It is divided into sections covering character generation, skill systems, combat rules, and the Star Wars universe. The book provides detailed explanations of the game’s core mechanics, such as skill checks, combat encounters, and character advancement. It also includes an introduction to the Star Wars setting, focusing on the Galactic Civil War era, with descriptions of key locations, factions, and technologies. Additional resources for Game Masters (GMs) are provided, including tips for creating adventures and managing the game world. The rulebook serves as the foundation for both players and GMs to engage in immersive Star Wars storytelling.
Key Features for Players and GMs
Star Wars: Age of Rebellion offers robust tools for both players and Game Masters (GMs). Players can craft unique characters through customizable classes, careers, and species, with progression systems allowing for skill mastery and talent tree specialization. The game’s narrative focus enables players to shape the story through their choices and actions. For GMs, the Core Rulebook provides detailed mechanics for creating engaging adventures, managing combat encounters, and balancing the game. The Duty and Contribution systems add depth, allowing players to contribute to the Rebel Alliance’s broader goals. These features ensure a dynamic and immersive experience, blending strategic gameplay with rich storytelling in the Star Wars universe.
Roleplaying in Star Wars: Age of Rebellion invites players to embody heroes of the Rebel Alliance, immersing themselves in the Galactic Civil War. The game encourages creative storytelling, collaboration, and strategic thinking. Players craft unique characters, choosing species, careers, and motivations that define their roles in the Rebellion. The Core Rulebook provides tools to guide new players into the Star Wars universe, explaining core concepts like skill checks, combat, and character advancement. For GMs, the system offers resources to create compelling narratives, adversaries, and missions. The Duty system ties characters to the Rebel Alliance’s goals, fostering cooperation and shared objectives. This blend of personal and collective storytelling makes the Star Wars universe come alive in a dynamic, interactive way.
Character Creation and Advancement
Players craft unique characters by selecting species, careers, and motivations, advancing from level 1 to 10. Customization options and talent trees enhance character progression and personalization.
Character Classes and Careers
In Star Wars: Age of Rebellion, players choose from distinct character classes, such as the Acolyte, Soldier, and Spy, each offering unique abilities and playstyles. Careers further refine roles, like the Guardian, Consular, or Smuggler, providing skill specializations and narrative depth. These choices shape how characters contribute to the Rebel Alliance, whether through combat, diplomacy, or covert operations. The game also allows for customization of motivations and species, ensuring each character feels personalized and integral to the story. This system balances flexibility with structure, enabling players to craft diverse and engaging characters for their campaigns. The variety of classes and careers ensures a dynamic experience, catering to different playstyles and storytelling preferences within the Star Wars universe.
Character Levels and Progression
Characters in Star Wars: Age of Rebellion progress from level 1 to level 10, gaining experience points (XP) through missions and achievements. Each level unlocks new abilities, talents, and skill improvements, allowing players to customize their characters. The system emphasizes balance, ensuring progression feels gradual and impactful. XP can be spent on enhancing skills, upgrading attributes, or acquiring specialized talents. This progression system enables players to tailor their characters to specific roles within the Rebel Alliance, fostering a sense of growth and strategic development. The level-based advancement ensures a clear path for improvement, making every mission and decision feel meaningful in shaping a character’s journey.
Customization Options and Species
Star Wars: Age of Rebellion offers extensive customization options, allowing players to craft unique characters tailored to their preferred playstyle. The game includes a variety of species, such as humans, Twi’leks, Rodians, and Wookiees, each with distinct traits and abilities. Players can further personalize their characters by selecting skills, talents, and equipment, ensuring a high degree of flexibility. The system encourages diversity, enabling the creation of characters that align with the Rebel Alliance’s diverse roster of allies. Species choices also influence gameplay, with some offering bonuses to specific skills or attributes. This customization ensures that every character feels distinct, whether they are a skilled diplomat, a cunning spy, or a fearless soldier, adding depth to the Rebel Alliance’s fight against the Empire.
Gameplay Mechanics
Star Wars: Age of Rebellion uses a d12-based system, emphasizing skill checks, stunts, and dynamic combat. Players utilize abilities, talents, and equipment to overcome challenges, fostering strategic and narrative-focused gameplay.
Combat and Skill Systems
In Star Wars: Age of Rebellion, combat and skill systems are designed for dynamic and narrative-driven gameplay. Combat utilizes a d12-based mechanic, where players roll against difficulty levels. Stunts add creativity, allowing unique actions like disarming opponents or dodging attacks. Skill checks enable players to perform tasks like piloting, hacking, or persuading NPCs. The system emphasizes teamwork, with party members combining skills to overcome challenges. Initiative determines turn order, and maneuvers like aim or cover provide tactical depth. Players can also use Force abilities, though they are less central here compared to other Star Wars RPGs. This system balances action and storytelling, making it accessible for new players while offering depth for veterans.
Stunts, Tests, and Defense Mechanics
In Star Wars: Age of Rebellion, stunts, tests, and defense mechanics enhance gameplay with creativity and strategy. Stunts allow players to perform unique actions, such as disarming opponents or piloting through obstacles, by spending dice results. Tests involve rolling against a target number to succeed at specific skills or tasks. Defense mechanics include passive defense values and active actions like dodging or using cover. These systems promote narrative flexibility and tactical decision-making, ensuring every encounter feels dynamic and engaging. The balance between stunts and tests encourages players to think creatively while maintaining a focus on strategic gameplay.
The Duty and Contribution Systems
The Duty and Contribution Systems in Star Wars: Age of Rebellion add depth to gameplay by emphasizing teamwork and character growth. Duty represents a character’s role within the Rebel Alliance, such as soldier, spy, or leader, influencing their responsibilities and narrative impact. Contribution Points are earned through missions and achievements, allowing players to advance their characters by unlocking new talents or improving skills. These systems encourage strategic planning and collaboration, ensuring every character contributes meaningfully to the Rebel cause. The interplay between Duty and Contribution fosters a balance between individual progression and collective goals, enhancing the game’s immersive and dynamic storytelling experience.
The Setting
Star Wars: Age of Rebellion is set during the Galactic Civil War, focusing on the Rebel Alliance’s fight against the Empire. Key planets like Yavin 4 and Hoth serve as pivotal locations, immersing players in a universe of resistance and heroism, where every mission impacts the broader struggle for freedom.
The Galactic Civil War Era
The Galactic Civil War era in Star Wars: Age of Rebellion is a time of rebellion and resistance, as the Rebel Alliance challenges the oppressive Galactic Empire. This period, spanning from the formation of the Rebel Alliance to the Battle of Endor, is marked by pivotal events like the destruction of the Death Star and the Battle of Hoth. Players immerse themselves in this turbulent era, navigating the political intrigue and military conflicts that define the struggle for freedom. The setting captures the essence of heroism and sacrifice, with iconic locations such as Yavin 4, Dantooine, and Hoth serving as backdrops for epic missions. The era’s themes of hope, rebellion, and camaraderie are central to the game’s narrative, allowing players to experience the Star Wars saga’s most iconic moments firsthand.
Rebel Alliance and Imperial Forces
The Rebel Alliance, led by figures like Mon Mothma, Leia Organa, and Luke Skywalker, represents a diverse coalition of individuals united against the Galactic Empire. Comprising soldiers, spies, and diplomats, the Rebels rely on guerrilla tactics, intelligence gathering, and sabotage to weaken Imperial control. Their mission is to restore freedom and democracy to the galaxy, often operating from hidden bases like Yavin 4 and Dantooine. Key leaders such as Han Solo and Bail Organa symbolize the Rebellion’s hope and resilience.
The Galactic Empire, under Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader, enforces its rule through fear and military might. Its forces include Stormtroopers, TIE fighters, and Star Destroyers, embodying the Empire’s power and discipline. The Empire seeks to maintain control and crush dissent, making it a formidable opponent for the Rebel Alliance. This conflict between freedom and tyranny defines the era’s struggle.
Key Locations and Planets
Key locations in Star Wars: Age of Rebellion include Rebel bases like Yavin 4, with its dense jungles and hidden temples, and Dantooine, a desert planet offering refuge for Rebel forces. These planets serve as strategic hubs for planning missions and training recruits, while also providing resources and safe havens from Imperial pursuit.
Other significant locations span the galaxy, such as Tatooine, a harsh desert world often used for clandestine meetings, and the Death Star, the Empire’s fearsome battlestation symbolizing its oppressive power. These planets and locations immerse players in the Star Wars universe, offering diverse settings for epic battles, covert operations, and pivotal moments in the struggle against the Empire.
Resources for Players
Official supplements, adventure modules, and character sheets provide essential tools for enhancing gameplay. Community forums and fan-created content offer additional insights and customization options for players.
Official Supplements and Expansions
Official supplements for Star Wars: Age of Rebellion expand gameplay with new careers, species, and equipment. Expansions like Lead by Example and Onslaught at Arda I introduce fresh scenarios and rules. These resources, available as PDFs, enhance character customization and deepen immersion in the Star Wars universe. The core rulebook remains essential, while expansions add layers of complexity for veteran players. Fans can explore diverse storylines and mechanics, ensuring endless adventures within the Rebel Alliance. Always source these materials from official publishers to support creators and ensure quality.
Adventure Modules and Scenarios
Star Wars: Age of Rebellion offers a variety of adventure modules and scenarios, providing players with diverse storylines and challenges. Modules like Onslaught at Arda I and Lead by Example introduce unique missions and conflicts, allowing players to immerse themselves in pivotal moments of the Galactic Civil War. These scenarios often include detailed settings, NPCs, and objectives, enabling Game Masters to craft engaging campaigns. Whether infiltrating Imperial bases or leading Rebel missions, these adventures enhance gameplay and deepen the Rebel Alliance experience. PDF versions of these modules are widely available, offering convenient access to new content for players and GMs alike.
Character Sheets and Talent Trees
Character sheets and talent trees are essential tools for organizing and advancing characters in Star Wars: Age of Rebellion. These resources streamline gameplay by keeping track of skills, abilities, and progressions. Players can customize their characters with detailed sheets, while talent trees provide clear paths for advancement, allowing for tailored development of skills and abilities. Official PDFs are available for download, offering structured templates for both players and GMs. Additionally, community-created sheets and trees expand customization options, catering to diverse playstyles. Ensuring these tools are obtained from official or trusted sources is crucial for maintaining game balance and legality. They are invaluable for new players and veterans alike, enhancing the overall roleplaying experience.
Downloading the PDF
The official Star Wars: Age of Rebellion PDF is available through authorized retailers like Fantasy Flight Games or DriveThruRPG. Ensure legality by purchasing from trusted sources to avoid piracy risks.
Official Sources and Purchase Options
The official Star Wars: Age of Rebellion PDF can be purchased from trusted retailers such as Fantasy Flight Games and DriveThruRPG. These platforms offer secure and legal access to the core rulebook and expansions. Purchasing from these sources supports the creators and ensures you receive high-quality, virus-free files. Additionally, official retailers often provide exclusive content, updates, and customer support; Avoid pirated copies to maintain game integrity and respect intellectual property rights. Always verify the seller’s authenticity before making a purchase to guarantee a safe and lawful transaction.
Community Resources and Forums
The Star Wars: Age of Rebellion community is vibrant and active, with numerous forums and resources available for players and GMs. Platforms like Reddit’s r/SWAoRPG and Fantasy Flight Games’ official forums host discussions, homebrew content, and advice. Facebook groups and Discord servers dedicated to the game offer spaces for collaboration and sharing fan-created materials. These communities often provide character sheets, adventure ideas, and strategies. Engaging with these forums can enhance your gaming experience and connect you with fellow enthusiasts. They are invaluable for troubleshooting, inspiration, and staying updated on the latest developments in the Star Wars: Age of Rebellion community.
Important Notes on Piracy and Legal Considerations
Downloading or sharing pirated copies of Star Wars: Age of Rebellion is illegal and undermines the creators and publishers. Always purchase from official sources like Fantasy Flight Games or authorized retailers. Piracy violates copyright laws and can lead to legal consequences. Additionally, pirated files may contain malware or incomplete content, risking your device’s security. Supporting official releases ensures high-quality materials and contributes to the game’s continued development. Respect intellectual property and enjoy the game responsibly by acquiring it through legitimate channels.
Additional Resources
Explore official Star Wars: Age of Rebellion resources, including community forums, digital tools, and guides, to enhance gameplay and character development.
Online Communities and Forums
Online communities and forums dedicated to Star Wars: Age of Rebellion offer vibrant spaces for players and GMs to connect, share strategies, and discuss game mechanics. Platforms like Reddit, official Star Wars forums, and specialized RPG communities provide extensive resources, from character builds to adventure ideas. Fans often share homebrew content, including custom species, talents, and missions, enriching the gaming experience. These forums also host discussions on balancing rules, optimizing gameplay, and exploring the lore of the Star Wars universe. For new players, these communities are invaluable for learning tips and tricks, while veteran players can showcase their campaigns and innovations. The camaraderie and creativity within these forums make them essential for anyone immersed in the Age of Rebellion universe.
Guides and Tutorials
Guides and tutorials for Star Wars: Age of Rebellion are abundant, offering players and GMs detailed insights into gameplay mechanics, character creation, and campaign management. Official and fan-created resources provide step-by-step instructions for mastering the rules, optimizing character builds, and crafting compelling narratives. Tutorials often cover essential topics like skill checks, combat strategies, and mission design, while advanced guides delve into complex systems like the Duty and Contribution mechanics. Video tutorials and written walkthroughs are also available, helping newcomers grasp the fundamentals and veterans refine their skills. These resources ensure that players can fully immerse themselves in the Star Wars universe, creating memorable adventures and dynamic characters.
Digital Tools and Apps
Digital tools and apps enhance gameplay and organization for Star Wars: Age of Rebellion. Apps like Adobe Acrobat and Foxit Reader allow easy access to PDF rulebooks and supplements. Virtual tabletop platforms such as Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds enable online play, complete with character tokens and maps. Character builders and campaign management tools streamline creation and tracking of characters, skills, and missions. Additionally, apps like Google Drive and Dropbox facilitate sharing and storage of PDF resources, ensuring everyone in the group stays connected. These tools complement the game, making it easier for players and GMs to focus on storytelling and adventure in the Star Wars galaxy.
Getting Started
New players should begin by reading the Core Rulebook, creating characters, and joining or forming a campaign. The Core Rulebook provides essential rules and setting background.
First Steps for New Players
New players should start by acquiring the Star Wars: Age of Rebellion Core Rulebook, either in physical or digital format. Begin by reading the introduction to understand the game’s setting and mechanics. Familiarize yourself with character creation by choosing a species and class that aligns with your playstyle. Assign attributes, select skills, and equip your character based on their role in the Rebel Alliance. Next, learn the basic gameplay mechanics, such as skill checks, combat, and the use of the Force. Join or create a campaign with a group of players to experience the game’s collaborative storytelling; Finally, explore official resources like character sheets and adventure modules to enhance your journey in the Star Wars universe.
Recommended Reading and Preparation
Before diving into Star Wars: Age of Rebellion, new players should thoroughly review the Core Rulebook to understand the game’s mechanics, character creation, and setting. Familiarize yourself with the Galactic Civil War era, key locations, and the Rebel Alliance’s structure. Download and complete a character sheet to organize your character’s stats and abilities. Explore official supplements like Lead by Example for expanded career options. Watch tutorials or guides to grasp concepts like skill checks, combat, and the Duty system. Reading community forums and fan-created content can also provide insights and inspiration. Understanding the basics ensures a smoother and more enjoyable experience when joining or creating a campaign.
Joining or Creating a Campaign
Joining or creating a campaign in Star Wars: Age of Rebellion is an exciting step for new players. Start by connecting with a group through online forums or local gaming communities. If creating a campaign, the Game Master (GM) should develop a compelling story arc, incorporating key locations like rebel bases or Imperial strongholds. Use the Core Rulebook to establish rules and setting details. Players should collaborate with the GM to ensure their characters fit the campaign’s narrative. Downloading character sheets and familiarizing yourself with the Duty system will help streamline gameplay. Community resources and forums often provide pre-made adventures and tips for crafting memorable experiences, making it easier to dive into the Rebel Alliance’s fight against the Empire.