…still waiting for a clever title…

Character Defects

All characters have defects that help to round them out. Even in Star Wars not all the heroes are perfect. For example Han Solo is a wanted criminal, while Luke is a rash and impatient punk kid during most of New Hope. All normal defects as found in the BESM rule book are available, in addition the following defect is added as well.

Jedi Code 2 BP

By purchasing this defect the character lives by the Jedi Code. This code is strict, and a Jedi who does not follow it runs the risk of giving into the temptations of the Dark Side. The code calls for the Jedi to put the needs of others before their own, to protect the weak and innocent, and to fight when all other avenues of diplomacy have been exhausted. The code does not allow the Jedi to take life needlessly, nor to put the needs of the few ahead of the needs of the many.

Droid Defects

Droids also have defects that round them out as characters. These defects represent problems with the droid’s construction or a flaw in their design and programming. Defects can also represent a restriction in their programming as well as a limit in their functions.

Attack Restriction is a typical defect found with most druids. Since their programming does not allow them to take a life. Awkward is also a typical defect which most droids have in some form. Inept Combat is often found among astromech droids, who have been known to use their tools to defend their owners. Not so Fast, Not so Strong, and Not so Tough are also common disadvantages and some droids, like protocol droids, have one or all them. One Arm/No Arms is also a common attribute and astromech droids typically have this.

Can Not Talk is a very common attribute that is typical among astromech and repair droids who can only communicate through whistles and chirps. Conditional Ownership represents the fact that most droids are property of some organization, and typically are viewed as such. Hanger Queen is common among droids who are very old, or poorly maintained. Restricted Ground Movement is common among Astromech droids, or droids that do not rely on walking to move. Volatile is rare among droids, but some droid models are known for being unpredictable and even dangerous. R5 astromech droids are famous for what seems to be their random explosive nature.

Table 6 – Droid Defects

Skills

Skills, as described in the Big Eyes Small Mouth are used in Star Wars: BESM. A few of the skills need to be changed to reflect the Star Wars universe. Also two new skills, Hyperspace Navigation and Lightsaber Combat, have been added to Star Wars: BESM. For the point cost of the skills refer to the “Space Opera” column on pages 60 and 61 of the BESM rulebook.

Changes to Skills

Driving - Specialization includes pod racer, skiffs, speeder, and swoop racer.

Gun Combat – Specialization includes blaster, heavy blaster, rifle, stunner, wookie bowcaster.

Law – Specialization includes Imperial and Old Republic. In addition specialization can be taken in other systems laws, for example Tatoonie.

Piloting – Specialization includes A-Wing, B-Wing, capital class, destroyer class, freighter, shuttle craft, tie, transports, X-Wing and Y-Wing

New Skills

Hyperspace Navigation
Cost: 4 Points/Level
Relevant Stat: Mind

This skill allows a character to be able to calculate jumps into hyperspace, as well as plot courses through hyperspace.

Lightsaber Combat
Cost: 2 or 4 Points/Level
Relevant Stat: Body
Specialization: single blade, double blade

This skill allows the character to fight with a lightsaber. Jedi’s buy this skill at 2 points, and all other characters buy it at 4.

Droid Skills

Droids, much like other characters, can learn skills. These skills aid a droid in their primary function and are not physical in nature. The skills and their cost are included in Table 4. Only military droids are able to learn combat skills.

Table 4—Droid Skills

Table 5 —Droid Combat Skills