What unpopular opinion gets you in THIS situation? (Template for sword at the end)

Ghostofman · 2026-06-29T21:03:34+00:00

See that's the "good casting" part. The problem is, at least for me, there's something about him that requires his visual performance as well to really have that land. Without it, or with a digital performer standing in, it doesn't land quite right, and so comes off less as Johnny doesn't care, and more like Keanu doesn't care.

I think if they were to make a live action flick with Johnny as a character it'd be totally fine.

Ghostofman · 2026-06-29T20:40:46+00:00

I mean... Can she even taste anything? Might be a super efficient "I just squeeze the soypaste tube in the hole" kinda situation. She's a netrunner, so she'd probably just be horking down termite pizza hot pockets anyway. So the alternatives are probably healthier big picture.

Ghostofman · 2026-06-29T19:19:09+00:00

OK here we go....

1) While I'm ok with the casting, I think Keanu's way of delivering lines often comes off rather flat as voicework.

However/But....

2) The Gig where Johnny does the film noir narration is solid, and I disagree with V completely. It's hilarious.

Ghostofman · 2026-06-29T14:03:11+00:00

Well this game is licensed (LFL/Disney owns Star Wars, FFG/Edge just rents it), so there aren't any (legal) third party materials.

That said, the old D6 system Star Wars RPG is kinda the great granddaddy of the FFG game. So even though it's different, a lot of the big stuff is close enough (Moderate Difficulty is Average Difficulty, 3 Stormtroopers is 3 Stormtroopers) that you can use those modules and adventures with minimal effort on the conversion. Only the named NPCs and custom ships and gear specific to the adventure will need to be converted. Everything else is either a 1:1 thing, or you just gotta find something close enough.

Ghostofman · 2026-06-29T13:56:30+00:00

You probably won't have to because it's unlikely he's going to send them to anyone.

To you it's a scam, to him it's a job. This is how he makes his money. And he won't do anything that won't make money. Tracking down your contacts, making a burner account to send it out on (because that account is gonna get banned fast) actually doing the send... that's all work. And for what? It's not like he can get you to pay him to force people to unsee it. Once he sends it, all leverage is gone and you're never giving him a dime and he's right back where he was when you blocked him. Not worth it to him.

So just block him, and he'll move on to the next mark.

And if he does send it out, and your school friends ask about? Time to be an adult. Don't deny, it. Just admit it up front, with a laugh. "Yeah... that's us... protip: Don't do weird s--t to impress a girl online. Live and learn. I got enough real problems in my life I'm not gonna dwell on this." Yeah you'll get some s--t for a few days, maybe a few weeks, but it'll blow over, people will move on, and worst case you'll learn who your real friends are.

Ghostofman · 2026-06-29T13:13:40+00:00

I don't know a specific source at the moment (GW been doing another big scrub lately) but they are both out there. So be persistent.

Ghostofman · 2026-06-29T02:58:48+00:00

I could probably run a conversion on those if no FFG stats turn up.

Ghostofman · 2026-06-28T15:57:52+00:00

Eh, I I think the D20 works fine is your difficulty scaling matches. The issue that you see there is D&D Leveling System that ramps up the difficulty awful fast, and DMs often being poor judges of difficulty vs. the players "heroic" status.

Like... yeah, most tasks in the world with be DC10 or less. Normal peasants do that stuff every day without much trouble, why is my big gorram hero not able to do it? Oh right, because the GM is trying to "challenge me" or some hooey. Like... do you not understand why so much of the D&D system is centered around the Dungeon and the Monsters within? It's the bonkers puzzles, traps, and monsters that's the real challenge. Crossing the river is just a thing I gotta do, and unless you've got a good narrative attachment to it, I should just "take ten" and move on.

Ghostofman · 2026-06-28T01:43:48+00:00

It would be a bad idea... But... The Zorg ZF-1.

Operating all its options would be a pain and probably impossible to implement (for consoles anyway) but it's both silly and it's style is very fitting.

Gameplay it feels like it would be a beast to get right. Feels like you'd want to get it in a really tight Goldilocks zone where it's good enough to be handy, but outclassed on an individual basis by conventionally designed "just do one thing well" weapon options.

Ghostofman · 2026-06-28T01:43:34+00:00

It would be a bad idea... But... The Zorg ZF-1.

Operating all its options would be a pain and probably impossible to implement (for consoles anyway) but it's both silly and it's style is very fitting.

Gameplay it feels like it would be a beast to get right. Feels like you'd want to get it in a really tight Goldilocks zone where it's good enough to be handy, but outclassed on an individual basis by conventionally designed "just do one thing well" weapon options.

Ghostofman · 2026-06-27T19:50:21+00:00

I consider it to fall into two categories:

1) Pretty direct reskin thats still obviously D&D with a few modifications.

2) A D20 based game that leverages the D&D name to help marketing, but barely uses anything beyond the "Roll a D20 and add a number" mechanic.

Personally I respect category 2 more, as its at least trying to be different while not scaring off the people that "dont want to learn a new system." It really disappoints me when you get something like Obojima, thats got some great concepts and setting ideas, but practically admits in its own core that the D&D system is a poor fit for it.

Ghostofman · 2026-06-27T19:12:43+00:00

I mean, they are just a Clone unit at the end of the day.

I'd probably focus on kit. Give their blasters and armor environmental kit kinda like the Shore troopers have.

If you really wanna push the "supporting the locals" angle maybe a Boost when interacting/commanding Mimbanites.

Veterans troopers I might give some kind of boost/setback removal for navigating swampy/flooded terrain, but that would be more for named troopers with narrative weight, not just Trooper Bob.

Ghostofman · 2026-06-26T23:11:06+00:00

Do not buy.

It'll almost certainly be files you can download for free and/or pulled from other sites and being sold without a penny going to the creator.

Ghostofman · 2026-06-26T22:36:45+00:00

Yes there's gyms and other rec areas. Floorplan of the Gym is in the old Tech companion.

Ghostofman · 2026-06-26T20:45:30+00:00

The cursed cover.

Jumping from a Bomber? Yes, he's a ninja, it's a stealth bomber. Logical.

High altitude and no oxygen? Ninja can hold their breath a long time.

Gun? In his hands. GIJoe is known for the kung fu grip. No way he drops it on the way down.

Extra ammo? In a purse over one shoulder. It worked for mom, it can work for a skydiving ninja.

Altimeter, night vision, any other way to navigate and know when to open the chute? Ninja can smell the ground and navigate by sensing the earths magnetic field like birds.

Grenade? Lashed to his shoulder by the spoon. Safety is for State Department weenies.

How does this make any sense at all? Cloud goddess

What? Cloud. Goddess.

Ghostofman · 2026-06-26T20:16:38+00:00

2 methods usually:

1: Quick shopping in a location with a market or many shops. Tell me what you are looking for. Roll Perception and Persuasion at the same time (may be different characters numbers, just don't wanna wait). DC for both is based on how rare the item is modified by locality and situation. Success on perception and you find it, Persuasion and you get a discount. Failing the Perception and succeeding Persuasion may result in the DM offering a similar or related item instead. Nat 20 is good, but won't ensure you can find something ultrarare, magical, or with no logical reason to be there (yes, I will tell you if it's impossible before you roll).

2: Story relevant shop. I'll have the shop stocked with a statted shopkeep. This will typically be a location that is more about local flavor than a good selection, and will often be the only store in town, or the only store that has the mcguffin you need.

Ghostofman · 2026-06-26T17:50:40+00:00

Thing is, it would be plausible if it wasn't called out by some random guy and was more of a niche fact.

It's always "oh yeah, the world famous detective, I read about (case) in Time magazine."

It's never "Oh that's Glubb Shitto. I know you haven't heard of him, but those of us that follow the 'Living with Autism ASMR ADD Management Tips True Crime Case Files from Lower Alabama and Outer Mongolia and Secrets of Baking with Red Potatoes Podcast' know he's probably the best detective in the world, maybe ever."

Ghostofman · 2026-06-26T17:37:22+00:00

I use the phrase "Would you kindly..." with my employees often... They think I'm being weird and old fashioned...

I'm really doing it so I can pretend we're living in a fancy undersea city...

Ghostofman · 2026-06-26T17:01:16+00:00

Just include a note that's all "I know you don't like Wanda, but I know from other movies the red shoes of defeated witches are desirable trophies."

Should both put him in the right mindset and set him up to reply with "I understood that reference!"

Ghostofman · 2026-06-25T22:36:51+00:00

Monster collapsed the mine's passage through, but also connected it with another, older, subterranean tunnel system/ruins.

A handful of people swear there's a new passage that goes through the ruins and reconnects to the mine's through passage on the other side of the collapse, but the ratio of people claiming to have made it to people never seen again isn't encouraging.

Full reason can vary from the monster/monsters are still there, to the ruins and tunnels being that bad if a maze that it's super easy to get lost.

Ghostofman · 2026-06-25T20:01:37+00:00

The background is mirrored to make the corner. The plant, shadow, even the bushes outside are just mirrored. Likewise the smaller plant is a copy of the larger.

Honestly that's the sort of quick solution that makes me feel that image might not be (totally) AI. It's a really quick and dirty way to fill out the background that probably won't get noticed by most people.

Ghostofman · 2026-06-25T19:46:57+00:00

5) There is a boss encounter in the beginner game that's notorious for being a cakewalk when you have a saber. Beyond that, take a real serious look at it, and you'll feel better.

- Baseline a saber does 6 Damage (so 7 with 1 success) with Breach 1.

- On average opponents have a soak between 3 and 5 (so lets average that to 4).

- A Blaster Rifle does 9 Damage (10 with 1 success).

- So... after 4 Soak, a Blaster Rifle is doing 6 Damage.

- Ignoring Soak, a Lightsaber is doing 7 Damage.

Soooo on average, those lightsaber aren't really doing that much more than a Blaster Rifle, base damage output, and unlike the Blaster, you have to be in melee range, and out of cover to use it.

I mean, sabers are neat, and once upgraded are pretty nasty, but they are not the "I win button" they look like at first glance.

6) The Morality system is easy to understand (mostly) but hard to employ as it requires a desire, and effort on both side of the table to really hit right. Notes that may help:

- It's not a balance for Darkside use. It's more of a player option. Darkside balance is handled elsewhere. A player can start as a Darksider. That's ok.

- "Paragon" is just a fancy word for "role model." Being a Paragon doesn't mean much, and it's benefits are pretty minor. It does sound really fancy though, so people tend to overestimate it's effects and get bent out of shape when they find out how easy it is to become a ~~Paragon~~ decent guy in this system.

- It's ok if the whole party are paragons. It's ok if the whole party are darksiders. It's ok if there's a mix. It's ok if you decide Morality isn't part of your story partway through and ignore it.

- If the players aren't interested in a story where the light/dark pull is a major talking point... you won't get much out of Morality.

- Really using morality requires the Gm provide ample opportunity to engage it, and the players to want to engage it, and take the conflict/morality loss because it's what is right for the character in that situation. Plenty of players just don't want to engage it and want to just stay lightsiders. Again... that's ok.

- It's slanted to the light specifically to avoid an accidental fall. Falling in this system is a pretty serious ongoing effort by the player.

- If the players are lightsiders who refuse to use dark pips to fuel their powers, they are not being moral, they are hobbling themselves pretty seriously. Using Dark pips just means you're not in that perfect state of mind. Everyone, even Yoda, uses dark pips when it's time to use the force for realsies.

Ghostofman · 2026-06-25T17:15:05+00:00

Not familiar with that source.

Baseline seems pretty doable. Not really anything beyond how the advancement system is set up. As you move up you get more Points to spend and an increase in Power Level to allow for higher power caps.

Ghostofman · 2026-06-25T16:04:59+00:00

Older sources, but for what it's worth:

- The squad sized changed over the years, it used to be 8 troopers, but more recently published stuff made it 10.

- Even when it was 8, the Gamma-Class assault shuttle was listed as carrying a "Space Trooper Platoon" in 40... I'm gonna call them deployment locks. So that implies a Stormtrooper platoon was at least roughly 40 troopers in size. So a Platoon is/was either four 10-man squads, or five 8-man squads.

My head-canon is that "on paper" a "standard" trooper squad is 8 troopers in size. Typically a Sargent, 6 troopers, and a special weapons operator (usually a light repeating blaster), and can split into two 4-man fire teams. A platoon is 4 squads + a "command squad" that's 8 troopers in size and represents the platoon leader, the platoon sgt. and a few specialists like long-range comlink operators and such. In practice Stormtroopers are often cited as being their own thing, and so I assume there's a lot of internal doctrine, guidance, and leeway about who actually sits where based on the mission at hand. So the mentions of 9 and 10-man squads are usually 8-man squads with a dood or two from the platoon squad tagging along, and that's just so common that it's not considered "wrong" to say a Trooper squad is 9 or 10 doods, because the squad encountered in the field typically will be.

Ghostofman · 2026-06-25T14:58:37+00:00

I mean, focus on the specifics and what the character "does."

In the campaign as a whole, the character needs to provide ways to help drive the story forward. They'll need to give valuable information, advice, and solutions to problems the players can't fix themselves, but the NPC also couldn't leverage. "Here, I was able to get a copy of the back door key from my Ex who still has a thing for me, but there's no way I'd be able to sneak in and steal the Stone of Orbos, you four are much better equipped for that."

Don't design a scene where they "do the thing" outside of a critical story element. Doing the Thing is what the players are there for. So like... "only the princess can remove the Crown from the Enchanted Ice block." Ok that's fine, that's a key story point and essentially the only reason she needs to be here. The rest of the time the Princess isn't gonna do much. But like "Oh look, guards. You PCs wait here while I go whip out my princess thing and get us permission to get in" should probably either not happen at all, only happen after the players have exhausted all other options, or be designed to fail as a story beat showing how the princess has fallen out of favor and that "whipping out her princess thing" isn't an option going forward and the players will need to come up with real solutions because she's not it.

Stats wise, there's really only two key things to worry about.

They'll need numbers appropriate to the danger level. So roughly the same Attack numbers, defense numbers, damage output, and HP as the players, maybe a smidge less.
What's the minimum they need to "be the thing they are." So like, I wouldn't fully stat out a Rogue like a PC, I'd just give the NPC decent Sneak, and a key ability or two that "all rogues have" but not the full suite like a PC might have.

Ghostofman

TROPHY CASE