Champions of the Force Preview 3

Jedi Weapon Master and Kashyyyk Trooper

By Sterling Hershey and Gary M. Sarli

In this third preview of the upcoming Champions of the Force set for the Star Wars Miniatures Game, we look at two more minis. First, Sterling Hershey details a character with more lightsaber powers than any other Jedi in the game -- the Jedi Weapon Master. Then Gary Sarli brings us the Kashyyyk Trooper, a member of the 41^st Elite who served with Yoda to defend the Wookiee city of Kachirho.

Jedi Weapon Master

Although wars do not "make one great," some Jedi still become expert combatants. Indeed, these Jedi Weapon Masters often find their closest connection to the Force comes through their fighting ability. These Jedi are aware that violence and aggression are paths to the dark side, but their special skills do not necessarily increase their chance of falling.

Jedi Weapon Masters are found in most eras, though they were most plentiful in the early days of the Republic. During the Clone Wars, it was perhaps natural that they became a bit more common, or that some advanced Jedi added a few Weapon Master skills to their own abilities.

Jedi Weapon Masters are highly accomplished combatants, specializing in specific weapons. While the lightsaber is a common choice, Weapon Masters also train in martial arts, two-weapon fighting, and advanced fighting techniques. They learn how to deal greater damage using abilities only their dedicated training can provide.

In the Star Wars Miniatures Game, the Jedi Weapon Master is a lightsaber specialist, with more lightsaber powers than any other Jedi character. Though limited by their Force rating, these powers give the character many options in battle. The Weapon Master's Lightsaber Duelist ability even increases its Defense against lightsaber-wielding opponents.

Even better, the Jedi Weapon Master is a non-Unique character. This gives you a decent, mid-level Jedi subject to many Commander Effects, and you can use more than one -- which should be especially attractive in squads of 100 to 200 points. This character should be a popular choice for Jedi-based Republic squads.

Star Wars Miniatures Stat Card Preview

Faction: Republic
Cost: 26
Hit Points: 90
Defense: 19
Attack: +12
Damage: 20
Special Abilities: Lightsaber Duelist, Melee Attack, Double Attack
Force Powers: Force 3, Lightsaber Assault, Lightsaber Block, Lightsaber Deflect, Lightsaber Riposte, Lightsaber Sweep

Star Wars Roleplaying Game Statistics

* See the Power of the Jedi Sourcebook.

Equipment: Lightsaber*, comlink, Jedi robes.

* The Jedi weapon master has constructed his own lightsaber.

Skills: Balance +6, Bluff +2, Climb +3, Computer Use +3, Craft (Lightsaber) +3, Intimidate +5, Jump +4, Knowledge (Jedi Lore) +4, Read/Write Basic, Speak Huttese, Tumble +8.

Force Skills: Battlemind +11, Empathy +2, Enhance Ability +5, Enhance Senses +2, Force Defense +2, Force Strike +5, Move Object +5.

Feats: Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Force-Sensitive, Improved Disarm, Martial Arts, Mobility, Spring Attack, Whirlwind Attack, Weapon Group Proficiency (blaster pistols, exotic, simple).

Force Feats: Alter, Burst of Speed, Control, Sense.

The Jedi weapon master prestige class appears on page 26 of the Power of the Jedi Sourcebook.

Kashyyyk Trooper

The clone troopers who fought on Kashyyyk were members of the 41^st Elite, a Legion out of the 9^th Assault Corps commanded by Luminara Unduli and Commander Gree. In the closing days of the Clone Wars, the 41^st was assigned to Yoda with orders to repel a Separatist invasion of the city of Kachirho, and they fought alongside the Wookiees against wave after wave of Separatist tank droids and droid gunships. The 41^st kept both standard Phase II clone trooper armor as well as lighter scout armor for their missions, the latter painted with camouflage to better hide in forested or jungle environments. Members of the 41^st Elite are usually armed the same as other clone troopers, generally carrying the short-stock DC-15B blaster for close-quarters fighting or the long-barreled DC-15A rifle for heavier battlefield duties.

In the Star Wars Miniatures Game, Kashyyyk Troopers cost the same as regular Clone Troopers, but they give up the higher damage of a heavy blaster rifle for the flexibility of Double Attack and Mobile Attack. They are best deployed with Clone Commander Gree because his Commander Effect allows them to avoid attacks of opportunity as well as move an extra 2 squares at the end of their turn, making their Mobile Attack that much more versatile on a crowded battlefield.

Star Wars Miniatures Stat Card Preview

Faction: Republic
Cost: 9
Hit Points: 10
Defense: 13
Attack: +6
Damage: 10
Special Abilities: Order 66, Double Attack, Mobile Attack

Star Wars Roleplaying Game Statistics

Kashyyyk Trooper (41^st Elite Clone Trooper): Male Human thug 9; Init +1 (+1 Dex); Defense 14 (+3 class, +1 Dex); DR 3; Spd 10 m; VP/WP --/13; Atk +10/+5 ranged (3d8/19–20, blaster rifle) or +6/+6/+1 ranged (3d8/19–20, blaster rifle with multifire); SQ Clone trooper immunities; SV Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +2; SZ M; FP 0; DSP 0; Rep +2; Str 12, Dex 13, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 9. Challenge Code C.

Equipment: Clone trooper scout armor (jungle camouflage), blaster rifle, comlink.

Skills: Climb +3, Hide +3 (+5 in jungles), Jump +3, Profession (clone trooper) +3, Read/Write Basic, Search +6, Speak Basic, Spot +5.

Feats: Armor Proficiency (light, medium, powered), Dodge, Mobility, Weapon Group Proficiency (blaster pistols, blaster rifles, simple weapons).

Clone Trooper Scout Armor (Powered): Cost 5,000; DR 3; Maximum Dex Bonus +3; Armor Check Penalty –2; Speed 10 m or 6 m; Weight 10 kg.

This lightweight armor protects its user through concealment as well as material strength. The helmet, which is included in the armor's cost, provides a +2 equipment bonus on Search checks and Spot checks. The armor's camouflage pattern provides a +2 equipment bonus on Hide checks in a specific environment, such as jungle or desert. Changing the camouflage pattern for a different environment requires appropriate dyes and paints as well as 1 hour of work.

About the Authors

Sterling Hershey has been a full-time architect and freelance game designer for over 10 years. He authored and contributed to many of West End Games' Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game products and later contributed to Star Wars Gamer Magazine. These days, he writes regular Star Wars Miniatures scenarios for the Wizards of the Coast website, and he also wrote the Scenario Book for the recently released Attack on Endor Scenario Pack. Gaming in a galaxy far, far away is the focus of his starwars.com blog, Delusions of Grandeur. Sterling lives in the Midwest with his wife, Mary.

Gary M. Sarli is a freelance writer and editor whose credits include Ultimate Adversaries (Star Wars), Monster Manual III, Races of the Wild, and Heroes of Battle (Dungeons & Dragons). He also moderates on the Wizards.COMmunity message boards as WizO the Hutt, cheerfully feeding Code of Conduct violators to the Sarlacc. Gary still works as a staff member for SWRPGNetwork, three-time ENnie Award winner in the Best Fan Website category and host of the Star Wars RPG Frequently Asked Questions.