Star Wars Rules Upgrade/Clarification

By Bill Smith
(Reprinted from The Official Star Wars Adventure Journal, Vol. 1, Number 11)

The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded (or simply Star Wars, Revised and Expanded) has several rules changes from the Star Wars, Second Edition rulebook. Here's a summary of these changes for those who already know the Second Edition rules. Feel free to copy and distribute this upgrade to anyone currently playing the Second Edition game.

These new rules are used to speed up games and encourage good storytelling over "number crunching."

All aspects of the Star Wars roleplaying game boil down to a mechanic called the "Star Wars Rule of Thumb."

Pick a difficulty number. If the character's skill roll is equal or higher, she succeeds.

Whenever interpreting the rules during play, keep in mind this basic mechanic. Keep the story moving, focus on the characters and the players aren't likely to argue about the rules: All they'll care about is the excitement of the game!