The Engines of War

“I want a Rogue-class starfighter with hyperdrive capabilities, weapons modifications, the works. Oh, and triple my usual fee.”
   –Cad Bane, Star Wars: The Clone Wars

When the Separatists unleashed their legions of battle droids on Geonosis, they did not expect for the Jedi to have an entire army mobilized, fully trained and equipped for battle. In Rise of the Separatists, a whole new arsenal is available to deploy to your tabletop campaigns.

As the second Star Wars Roleplaying Game era sourcebook, Rise of the Separatists showcases iconic Clone Wars era vehicles and starships, including AAT-1 hover tanks, LAAT/i transports, AT-TE walkers, Venator-class star destroyers, and more. Players can find new attachments and gear to upgrade their firepower and supplement their protection when facing superior forces, while GMs can steer ever-more-deadly droid vehicles and battleships into combat against the heroes. And for the cunning—or the opportunistic—the influx of arms into the galaxy and the scrap left in the wake of battle present countless possibilities to profit.

Armories and Armaments

The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) bears the responsibility for outfitting soldiers with the necessary weapons and armaments to conduct war, and for their upkeep. This alone creates a markedly different tone compared to a campaign featuring credit-strapped scoundrels, underdog Rebel heroes, and on-the-run Force-sensitives—but it also places a greater charge on those soldiers to avoid losing excessive materiel. In addition to their regular loadout, clone soldiers are sometimes granted special issue equipment to execute a boarding action, planetary assault, reconnaissance mission, or other special objective. Adaptability on the battlefield is key, not only in terms of tactics employed to counter Separatist forces, but also overcoming and capitalizing on the terrain itself, whether the GAR’s soldiers are infiltrating the corridors of a starship or staging a jungle invasion planetside.

To return order and peace to the galaxy, clone soldiers march into battle with powerful, sturdy weapons and armor whose cost in credits would be out of reach of most galactic citizens—even if such a weapon did find its way onto the black market without a clone firing key. Such power comes with a cost, however, with weapons like the DC-15 blaster rifle and the Z-6 rotary blaster cannon being notoriously heavy and even prone to overheating. Some clone soldiers, especially marksmen, modify these weapons to increase their reliability and accuracy. When the fighting is fiercest, squads might be assigned flame troopers wielding the BT X-42 heavy flame projector, while the RPS-6 rocket launcher can disable or destroy enemy vehicles in the steady hands of a clone trooper.

All clone soldiers are clad in laminate armor that favors protection over comfort, offering soldiers some protection from blaster fire and even enabling them to survive for short bouts in vacuum. Advanced Recon Commando (ARC) trooper armor affords improved mobility at great cost to the Republic, but the integrated commlinks and scanning technologies are essential to the success of these troopers’ missions.

Some of the fiercest combatants on the battlefield, however, are the Jedi knights. These legendary guardians and peacekeepers of the Republic have sometimes adopted the suits of the clone troopers for protection, using only the most important pieces of laminate plates to avoid impeding their lightsaber forms and acrobatics. This so-called “Jedi Commander armor” is a stark reminder of the violent new reality commonly faced by the once-peaceful Order.

With war raging and no end in sight, the training of a padawan must continue, despite the difficult circumstances. To join the fight alongside their masters, Jedi apprentices quest to obtain a kyber crystal to focus the energies of their lightsaber. In Rise of the Separatists, players using the Jedi career can choose from the simple elegance of crystals from Ilum, the mysterious healing properties inherent in Thontiin crystals, or the rare but devastating power of the Zophis crystals, as well as other modification options to personalize their lightsaber.

Dogfights and Dropships

Just as versatile as the GAR’s ground forces is the Low Altitude Assault Transport/infantry (LAAT/i) airspeeder, which simultaneously serves as a troop transport and gunboat, laying down impressive air-to-ground and air-to-air support fire. First deployed during the Battle of Geonosis to resounding effect, this ship has become mainstay on the battlefield and has proven its resilience, even in the face of superior firepower.

The LAAT/i is a balanced ship with good speed, fair handling, and superb survivability, all of which are necessary for the pilot and copilot to safely deliver their payload—whether that’s three squads of clone soldiers, four troopers on speeder bikes, or laser cannon fire. Squads rely on the LAAT/i to get where they’re needed, and to help them secure important objectives or concentrate firepower against entrenched enemy positions. When serving as fire support, two to four gunners have an array of weapons systems at their disposal, such as laser cannons and turrets, guided missiles and air-to-air rockets, and in special cases, even the “Droidbuster” EMP missile launcher, capable of devastating the main form of Separatist infantry.

For the knights of the Jedi Order, their pursuit of justice and peace frequently takes them to far-flung reaches of the galaxy, where they must undertake delicate negotiations on their own. Stealth and speed are paramount to avoid detection by the CIS navy, but in the worst-case scenario, pilots must be able to defend themselves until help arrives or they can seize the chance to flee. The Delta-7 Aethersprite-class interceptor fits the bill perfectly: a swift and responsive starfighter that packs an impressive punch for its small size. A built-in astromech droid assists with targeting and minor system repairs, but primarily serves to interface with hyperspace docking rings so that the ship isn’t burdened with the weight of its own hyperdrive. These ships are excellent support craft in large fleet battles, but they can also hold their own in a dogfight.

The ships you’ll find in Rise of the Separatists go beyond simple speeders and smaller starfighters. The Separatists and the Republic have brought entire planets’ worth of industry to bear in order to emerge victorious. From the Venator-class star destroyer—impressive carriers capable of laying waste to enemy emplacements and ships in atmospheric encounters and space battles alike—to the Munificent-class heavy frigates of the CIS navy—almost entirely automated and defended by squadrons of screaming-fast vulture droids—both sides are well matched, ensuring that victory will come down to those individuals whose crafty gambits and brave sacrifices can turn the tide.

Forged in the Fires of War

What will you add to your squadron’s arsenal, and how will you take the fight to the skies and stars? Rise of the Separatists offers an array of options to outfit soldiers and Jedi no matter the mission, and for GMs to equip new enemies in the galaxy-wide struggle. Join us next week for a sneak peek at the resources and advice the book provides Game Masters to make their campaigns evoke the grandeur of the Clone Wars!

There’s still time to pre-order Rise of the Separatists (SWR11) from your local game store or from the Fantasy Flight Games web store, so order your copy today!