So we could have three continuing storylines.... do you think it would be possible to play either OT/PT and the third game at the same time? I would gladly go for it. Perhaps after Matrix is over? Or we could run an introductory episode so people could see what they prefer- since it was people`s voting that decided in favor of OT as I remember?
Since I couldn`t edit in time, here is contination of post above:
I have actually wondered myself about creating a setting where the old Sith won the war and overthrew the Republic. How do you think would the galaxy-wide Sith goverment look like if there was no rule of two, Ush? Certainly with most of the Jedi eliminated Sith would have no reason not to spent most time with infighting giving the surviving Jedi opportunity to create a rebellion. Would Sith Empire be able to function effectively even as long as Palpatine`s before degenerating into open civil war instead of game of backstabbing politics, with occasional assasinations and duels? Certainly no single Dark Lord would be able to maintain absolute rule for long when hundreds of others aspire to assasinate him. My quess would be something resembling a loose confederation of warlords having control over particular planets/systems/sectors, trying to take most important decisions in unity in order to avoid destroying the "balance" with perhaps the leader acting as "first among the equals." -I would see Sith dividing into kind of "houses", to large extent based on bloodlines( I assume family ties can lessen the amount of self-destruction, though not elimininate it) and common interests/approach to the Force, like the berserkers, more-knowledge oriented ones prefering mind-games, those interested more in technology...... etc. I would see it evolving into some kind of feudal system, with weaker "Lords" being vassals of the more powerful, and the like.
So it would be interesting to play a Sith who tries to think beyond the destruction of the Jedi. Certainly in the Ush`s scenario Darth Malphus should be aware of the fact that other Lords accept his rule mostly because of the need to have a strong leadership in the war. Even if we assume all Sith are evil, I would see a potential Order-Chaos issue- all Sith are ultimately out for themselves, but all sentient beings need rules to survive, and only strict and harsh laws can keep immoral society in line. I haven`t read all of the EU, but answers to those issues presented there didn`t fully satisfy me.
Malphas is an extraordinary Sith, of course, and the way he holds things together would be part of the game.
Not all plots can directly interact, besides which, the point is still that the set-up and broad objectives of the Jedi are identical to that of the PT game, and even in directly opposed episodes, the terms may change but the style would be the same for them as a PT opposed game. They don't really much care for the pinternal politics of the Sith, it's just skilled lightsabre wielding bad guys. The only difference plot wise is there being no need to justify parity of numbers (in the PT we have to explain why the Dark Siders aren't just rushed out by many times their number).
I think, all other basic issues for the Sith aside, the Galaxy is just too damn big. Even the Roman and Byzantine Empires had issues by which Emperors would feel that their minions would grow too powerful. Communications are better in a Star Wars setting but the theory is not much different and the Republic is freaking huge. No one person can run something of that size, no Sith ruler is personally willing to share power, and so every Sith ruler would be permanently worried abot the problem of someone else being a threat to him, and would eventually act to strike first to eliminate potential threats, and soon enough 'potential threat' would mean every other Sith.
If something ever varies from that it's a miracle. The overwhelming nature of the way they are points to that pattern.
No, Palpatine is using the Rule of Two, and even then it still failed.
Miracle talk alweays has to be a consideration, so long as people appreciate that they are indeed miracles. So take the inalienable rule:
"Once you go to the Dark Side you can never return."
Now, that is a 100% solid and unbreakable rule. Everyone has to respect the totality of that rule.
Except Vader tuerns back, of course, not that that excuses his moral actions, but he still turns away. But that's the culmination of a six film uber story entirely and 100% dedicated to his existence. It is within the very nature of such super plots to tinker with these 100% firm rules.
The mistake is then to take something like that and then think it can apply generally, which the EU has a habit of doing, leading to what my brother calls the "revolving door" policy of bouncing from one side to the other.
Only if such rules are so greatly and vigorously applied is there any drama involved in them becoming broken, else it is just a 'meh' thing that Vader became Anakin again.
And so it is with the Sith rule thing. it is, of course, completely and utterly impossible for the Sith to reasonably rule the Galaxy. But if the thrust of an entire campaign is to tinker with thatm then that would have some impact...
However, I would remind people that this is Star Wars, and bad guys don't thrive, ultimately. Good guy miracles are really going to be the only lasting ones.
Also, the impossibility of Dark Side co-operation and rule is actually a theme of the Dark Side game. It is in fact intended that if the Dark Siders ever really get things right they will, in their own small way, have actually done things better than the Sith would. It's the closest thing to victory they can get.
So you agree with me Ush, that if Sith managed to overthrow Republic ( by which I mean destroying the goverment, capturing Coruscant, destroying almost entire military, forcing Jedi to hide/run) their rule would degenarate into some kind of feudal anarchy, with Lords controlling parts of Galaxy fighting among each other. They propably wouldn`t last longer than Palpatine`s Empire before Jedi strike back.
By the way, the great war with the Sith would be the good reason for having the "new" incarnation of the Republic.
And the rule of two was ultimate solution that almost suceeded... I wondered if before this rule Sith often trained their own children, since family links could propably counter the Darkside effects a bit... and Master could choose most capable of his offspring as successor.
So how do you like my Sith Empire setting concept, Ush? Jedi players would be outnumbered and in similar situation as Rebels in OT.... but instead of fighting a monolothical Empire they would try to take advantage of Sith civil war. But this is quite a dangerous game, since currently the top three Lords(one is actually a Lady) have made a non-agression pact that lasted for several years so far, allowing them to destroy most rivals, and they are likely to cooperate if the Jedi once again emerge as a significant threat. I may try to run my own game based on it using your new SW rules.