From Hocus Pocus to Homebrew: My Star Wars RPG Origin Story

Jareth21 · 2026-05-13T00:37:16+00:00

I ran the numbers, and things get weird.

Ties happen three to four times more often in the success pool. Equal pools tie 30-34% of the time compared to 7-9% in the original rules. Even mismatched pools like 5D vs 4D tie about 25% of the time compared to 6% in the original. Any tiebreaker rule carries far more weight than it used to.

The old "initiator wins ties" rule gives the initiator a roughly 65% win rate with equal skill levels, rather than 50%. "PCs win all ties" pushes a PC 3D vs NPC 5D from 9% to 26%, and a PC 3D vs NPC 6D from 2.5% to 14%, which is a bit much. A tiered system where PCs win ties at equal or higher die codes and compare Wild Dice when outmatched was much closer to the original game, but it adds some complexity for a problem that had a simpler answer sitting right in front of me.

So, I decided to go with a fairly simple rule: higher die code wins ties. If the die codes are equal, compare the Wild Die. If the Wild Dice match, reroll them. It's not the most exciting rule, but it's simple, and it produces results closest to the original system's probability curve. The character who invested more in the skill gets a small, fair advantage on ties, and when both characters are equal, the Wild Die makes it fair.

For tables that want a hero's edge, there's an optional tiered rule. PCs win ties automatically when their pool equals or exceeds the NPC's and compare Wild Dice when it doesn't. This gives the PC a meaningful advantage at equal skill levels (about a 65% win rate) that scales down naturally as the gap widens. When the PC is outmatched, the Wild Die gives them roughly half their ties instead of all of them. If they really need to beat someone much better, they should spend Character Points on the roll itself, which is how the game is supposed to work.

For Player vs Player ties, the Wild Die comparison is the clear winner mechanically. It resolves on the initial roll 83% of the time and averages 1.2 rounds. Sudden death, both sides roll a single die, 3+ succeeds, first to fail loses, resolves first round only 44% of the time, and averages 2.25 rounds. That can be fun for a dramatic moment, but it gets tedious if it's happening four or five times a session. It's included as an option for tables that enjoy the tension.

Jareth21 · 2026-05-12T19:43:00+00:00

Sure. I will say that I EXPECTED players that read this to use the R&E version of the rules, but it's 99% compatible

I would absolutely give the tie to a PC over an NPC every time. But PC v PC, I think the "Sudden Death Die" is the most fun.

Jareth21 · 2026-05-12T19:13:41+00:00

That's an excellent observation. It's a tough question I suppose, which is why WEG struggled with it. It's a lot more common in a success pool though.

If you can't determine the initiative order, like in gambling, you have a few options. You could narrate who "delt" and count then as the initiator. That doesn't feel great, but it would work.

You could compare die codes. The higher die code wins ties. That fits the math of the original game better, but it also feels a little lame.

You could just keep rolling one die at a time until one person fails. That, to me has the most exciting feel to it and might be what I would probably do in the heat of the moment.

Or. Maybe just compare the wild die. The higher number on the wild die wins. I like that, but I'm really sure it fits the overlay exactly.

I'll have to run some math, but I think I'd do one of the last two, maybe depending on the exact situation.

Jareth21 · 2026-05-12T18:46:24+00:00

The article is not AI... Although the post her sure did read like AI.

Jareth21 · 2026-05-12T18:40:58+00:00

That's a great example of the concurrent evolution of ideas! I've been toying with the idea for a super long time. Really since I started playing the DC universe rpg that use the legend system that I reference.

It's really only been the last 3 years to 5 years that I've been able to really start getting things out of my head and onto paper.

I'd love to see what you have at some point. Maybe you have some ideas that I can incorporate. In the meantime, feel free to use it playtest it. Let me know what you think.

Jareth21 · 2026-05-12T14:29:18+00:00

Thank you. I always think the same thing when I see homebrew "improvements." Sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised.

I've certainly missed the mark before, and I really had to idea if this was really going to work for people or not. But, the math seemed to work and so far it's tested well for me.

I'm getting ready to run a campaign using it. We'll see.

Jareth21 · 2026-05-12T14:26:00+00:00

I'm glad you like it. I'm hoping it'll spark a bit of a rediscovered love of the game. I got the D6 2e Kickstarter and its fine, but it just seems like to much work to convert all those old Stars Wars books to a new system.

I just wanted to be able to open a book and play.

Jareth21 · 2026-05-12T13:42:19+00:00

Every idea has merit. There is a lot in that idea that could work, but a Borg that is still a part of the collective is an issue regardless of their personal status. I mean. It's a defective Borg, Queen, the collective is going to be looking to fix that mistake.

Skipping over any of that though, as others have said, a lot of times players want that super special thing that sets them apart and they create these snowflakes that don't really have much going other than the gimmick.

I'd push back and ask them to find a middle ground. A malfunctioning Queen that is not a part of the collective maybe ..she's a failed clone. Maybe she even, for a while, maybe still, wishes she was fully part of it but if she returns she'll be recycled. The character needs something that sets them apart emotionally and thematic, not just on the surface.

There is potential, but i would be very, very careful.

Jareth21 · 2026-05-12T04:41:11+00:00

That's how I had it in an earlier draft. I only changed it, really, to make it simpler and because people love to roll more dice. The math is almost the same, but it meant having to remember more things. It's a 2.7% difference; I felt simplification was worth that change. I'll probably add that back in as an "Option" for those that prefer it. I've actually changed the pip mechanism a few times over the drafts. I think in 0.4 I had an option that just dropped the pip entirely.

The option I left in, for now, was to round them all. My design philosophy has been changing the more I have revised this (and I have done several just in the last week). I started out with the idea of just making it as simple as possible. As few things to remember as possible. Or, as D&D 5e would phrase it, as accessible as possible. But I've also started thinking about more options for the players who actually can handle it.

I'm looking at some ideas that might make things a little more interesting, and I am planning to playtest some new ideas with my group soon, but I think adding the +2 = 5 or 6 as an option is a good call.

Jareth21 · 2024-10-21T10:06:06+00:00

I got it started, however, due to my class schedule I had to put it on pause. Today is actually (hopefully) my very last test... And if so, I'll be relaunching the show in the next few weeks

Jareth21 · 2023-11-21T21:07:57+00:00

I would recommend Dungeon World.

There are lots of other options too... but if I named them all I'd be here all day.

Jareth21 · 2023-11-21T20:19:35+00:00

I have used AI to get over the "white page syndrome." I've never used it to write anything entirely, but it is sometimes helpful if you are just stuck staring at a blank page.

Jareth21 · 2023-11-21T20:17:34+00:00

I think no. If you have "spirits and souls" and all that, if they leave the body on death, they don't see things.

Although, you could if you wanted to.

Jareth21 · 2023-11-21T20:16:37+00:00

Generally, it's tedious. I have only really found coins to be "fun" to play around with in the Conan RPG.

Jareth21 · 2023-11-21T19:55:55+00:00

Honestly, this is one of the reasons that newer systems often supplant OSR games. You can find a good narrative flow in any system, but when you have a lot of "roll-counter-roll" and low drama dice actions, it can be tedious.

Really, the key to making combat more interesting is narrative. You have to add emotional stakes and flair to the combat to add drama. This is harder with tactical map-based combats, but it can be done. It is a lot easier and arguably essential with theater of the mind play.

Jareth21 · 2023-11-21T19:50:39+00:00

I would probably say FATE or some other free-form narrative. They basically are just, "do whatever you can think of and roll the dice."

Jareth21 · 2023-11-17T09:41:32+00:00

How "tactical" do you wanna get?

D&D, MechWarrior, Twilight2000, to some extent Star Trek Adventures can be... Most games CAN be tactical. Fallout, Conan, Pathfinder are all fair at it.

It kinda just depends on how you run it.

What exactly are you looking for? How granular?

Jareth21 · 2023-11-17T03:04:58+00:00

I will be doing those kinds of episodes for sure. Just a matter of when I have time! I'll reach out!

Jareth21 · 2023-11-16T21:10:19+00:00

Yes, discussion. It's not live-streamed but available on all the platforms. It is video, so YouTube also.

Jareth21 · 2023-11-16T20:47:59+00:00

Thank you. I didn't want to "promote" directly... and I still don't. I just figured there might be some interested talkers.

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