The other night, Bridget and I sat down for some Star Wars Miniatures gaming. For those of you who don’t know what that is, it’s basically a simplified war game based loosely on the D20 system. Basically, Chainmail has come around full circle, and now war games are based on RPGs, where once RPGs were based on war games.
What I thought was this: Why just keep it as a war game? Why not run it like an RPG with character motivations and an advancing plot-line? Furthermore, I have all the miniatures I need for A New Hope, so why not see what would happen if things changed in the storyline?

The setup before the attack.
I decided to begin with the attack of the Tantive IV by Darth Vader’s Star Destroyer. Using my Star Wars Galaxy Tiles, I set up a map.
I asked Bridget what side she wanted to play, assuming she’d ask for the Rebels, since she’s always chosen the side of good. Instead, she said one of the hottest phrases she’s ever uttered: “I want to be the Empire”. That brought a smile to my face.
The goal of the Rebellion was simple: Get R2D2 to Princess Leia before the Empire got to her, receive the information of the stolen data tapes, then flee to the escape pod. The Empire simply had to keep the tapes from getting off the ship. If Artoo and Threepio were unable to get to Leia, she could escape to the pod on her own.
I decided to use part of the script of the film, as well as incorporating some of my own dialogue to demonstrate how the game went. Here it goes.
It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire.
During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the Death Star, an armored space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet.
Pursued by the Empire’s sinister agents, Princess Leia races home aboard her starship, custodian of the stolen plans that can save her people and restore freedom to the galaxy…
INTERIOR: REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER — MAIN PASSAGEWAY.
An explosion rocks the ship as two robots, Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) and See-Threepio (C-3PO) struggle to make their way through the shaking, bouncing passageway. Both robots are old and battered. Artoo is a short, claw-armed tripod. His face is a mass of computer lights surrounding a radar eye. Threepio, on the other hand, is a tall, slender robot of human proportions. He has a gleaming bronze-like metallic surface of an Art Deco design. Another blast shakes them as they struggle along their way.

Threepio and Artoo flee down a hallway.
THREEPIO: Did you hear that? They’ve shut down the main reactor. We’ll be destroyed for sure. This is madness!
Rebel troopers rush past the robots and take up positions in the main passageway. They aim their weapons toward the door.
THREEPIO: We’re doomed!
The little R2 unit makes a series of electronic sounds that only another robot could understand.
THREEPIO: There’ll be no escape for the Princess this time.
Artoo continues making beeping sounds. Tension mounts as loud metallic latches clank and the scream of heavy equipment are heard moving around the outside hull of the ship.
THREEPIO: What’s that?
The nervous Rebel troopers aim their weapons. Suddenly a tremendous blast opens up a hole in the main passageway and a score of fearsome armored spacesuited stormtroopers make their way into the smoke-filled corridor. In a few minutes the entire passageway is ablaze with laserfire. The deadly bolts ricochet in wild random patterns creating huge explosions. Stormtroopers scatter and duck behind storage lockers. Laserbolts hit several Rebel soldiers who scream and stagger through the smoke, holding shattered arms and faces. An explosion hits near the robots. They continue to hurry down the passageway

Darth Vader arrives aboard the Tantive IV.
The awesome, seven-foot-tall Dark Lord of the Sith makes his way into the blinding light of the main passageway. This is Darth Vader, right hand of the Emperor. His face is obscured by his flowing black robes and grotesque breath mask, which stands out next to the fascist white armored suits of the Imperial stormtroopers. Everyone instinctively backs away from the imposing warrior.
VADER: The Princess is here. I can feel her presence.
Vader stalks down the hallway, ignoring the laserfire from the rebels who stand in his way, occasionally lifting one up and hurling him against the wall with the brutish power of the dark side of the Force.
Threepio and Artoo round a corner to find a woman in white standing in the passageway. Artoo moves close to her as she inserts a disk into the front of his “face”. She leans over him as his holoprojector turns on.
LEIA: I haven’t much time to deliver this message. These plans are vital to the Republic. General Kenobi, you must help!
Leia looks up and sees a figure in black at the end of the hall. She withdraws in horror.
LEIA: Vader! Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only…
Leia is lifted off the ground, clutching her throat. Threepio stands in shock, unable to move. Vader moves closer.
VADER: You’ll not escape me this time, Princess…

The end of the battle.
Leia turns to Artoo, only able to utter a single word.
LEIA: Run…
Artoo presses on down the hall, moving towards the escape pod.
THREEPIO: Artoo, don’t leave me!
The doors close behind Artoo, all alone, as his escape pod jettisons from the ship. Leia blacks out as Vader stands over her.
***
So as you can see, it ended almost the same as the film, the only difference being Vader’s takedown of Princess Leia and Threepio’s being left behind aboard the ship. He’ll most likely be taken into custody as well as the Princess.
I’m looking forward to the next session to seee what happens to Artoo once he’s on the planet and what other changes will arise.