Jabba's Rancor, Part 3:
"You're Standing On..."

A New Star Wars Miniatures Scenario

By Sterling Hershey

As might be expected, the arrival of Jabba's rancor on Tatooine was a violent affair marked by unexpected twists of fate, deal making and backstabbing. This Star Wars Miniatures Game scenario is the last of three depicting the events surrounding the arrival of the rancor and its ultimate demise. While the three stories are linked, the results of the earlier scenarios don't impact the later ones, so they can be played separately or as a trilogy.

You can check out Part 1 and Part 2 first, or plunge right into Part 3, below.

Background

After taking up permanent residence under Jabba's Throne Room, the rancor served as both entertainment and executioner for its criminal master. Jabba took great delight in feeding any who displeased him to the beast. Bidlo Kwerve was but its first victim.

The rancor's fate was finally sealed when Luke Skywalker appeared at Jabba's palace to retrieve Han Solo. Predictably, the negotiations went poorly. Jabba dropped him into the pit when the Jedi tried to attack the Hutt with one of his guard's own weapons. In the end, the Jedi was too cunning for the dim-witted beast. Skywalker crushed the creature under its own cage door.

This scenario recreates the quick battle between Luke Skywalker and the Rancor. The battle is unusual in that the Rebel force is unarmed, and the Rancor is more interested in eating its opponents than just defeating them.

A bonus alternate scenario depicts the Rancor's first meal for Jabba -- Bidlo Kwerve. The bonus scenario can also be used to pit the Rancor against other characters. After all, the creature ate well during its years of service to Jabba.

This scenario uses miniatures from the Universe, Revenge of the Sith and Rebel Storm sets. Either blank map and terrain tiles from the Rebel Storm Starter Set or the Clone Strike Starter Set may be used. Place the terrain tiles face down as indicated on the map. These represent the walls of the Rancor's pit.

(For those interested in more background on the rancor, see "A Boy and His Monster: The Rancor Keeper's Tale" from Tales from Jabba's Palace, the rancor databank entry on starwars.com, and "A Rancor Comes to Tatooine" from The Star Wars Sourcebook by Bill Slavicsek and Curtis Smith.

Rebel Setup

The Rebel force consists of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight and a hapless Gamorrean Guard, totaling 36 points. Other versions of Luke Skywalker may be used instead (see below).

The Gamorrean Guard sets up in Area A. Luke Skywalker sets up in Area B.

Rebel Victory Conditions

The Rebel player wins by defeating the rancor.

Rancor Setup

The Rancor is the only character available to the Rancor player. However, you might find it interesting to try the scenario with other Huge creatures instead.

The Rancor sets up in Area C.

Rancor Victory Conditions

The Rancor player wins by devouring both Luke Skywalker and the Gamorrean Guard.

Special Scenario Rules

Unarmed: Both the Gamorrean Guard and Luke Skywalker are unarmed and therefore have Damage 0 for this scenario. Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight loses all Special Abilities except Force 3 and Force Leap. The Gamorrean Guard loses all Special Abilities.

Gamorrean Terror: The hapless Gamorrean Guard is absolutely terrified. It can only move 6 squares and cannot use "The Door" rule, below.

Rancor Food: The Rancor is more interested in eating its enemies than merely defeating them. The creature's attacks do not inflict its normal damage. Instead, each time the Rancor makes a successful attack, it does 10 points of damage and grabs its opponent. The Rancor may use its triple attack ability in this fashion. However, once it successfully grabs someone, it loses all remaining attacks for that turn.

If its opponent is the Gamorrean Guard, it devours the guard immediately. If its opponent is Luke Skywalker, see "A Bone to Pick," below. The hungry Rancor will pursue the larger, meatier looking target first (the Gamorrean Guard), ignoring Luke until finished.

A Bone To Pick: Ever resourceful, Luke has figured out how to jam the Rancor's jaws open with a long bone. This is repeated every time the Rancor grabs Luke (with so many victims, there are a lot of bones scattered around the pit). Each time the Rancor successfully grabs Luke; the Jedi makes an attack roll against the beast (including his attack bonus). If successful, Luke jams the bone in, and the Rancor drops him. The Rancor loses its next turn while it removes the offending remains.

Luke drops into the same square he was picked up from, unless he was pulled from under the ledge. If that is the case, Luke is dropped in the clear square closest to his original location.

If the Luke's attack roll fails, the Rancor devours the Jedi Knight and wins the scenario.

The Ledge: All squares along the left map edge are considered to be under a low rock ledge. The Rancor may not enter these squares. It costs three squares of movement for other characters to crawl into, out of, or between these squares. Characters under the ledge gain +8 to their Defense. Luke Skywalker may not use his Force Leap ability while under the ledge.

The Alcove: Luke eventually sees that the far end of the alcove provides the only way out. However, he is distracted by the Rancor for the first round and does not see it immediately. Luke may not enter the alcove until the second round or later.

The Door: The massive cage door is the only thing in the pit that can defeat the Rancor. The door switch is inside the alcove along one wall. Once Luke has passed the door from the pit into the alcove, he may attempt to bring it crashing down on the creature. When the Rancor tries to follow Luke into the alcove (and it will be forced to do so eventually, due to its Savage ability), Luke may make an attack roll against the door mechanism (Defense 18). This occurs during the Rancor's turn, after it passes one square into the alcove. If successful, the door crushes the creature and the Rebel player wins. If unsuccessful, the Rancor continues to move normally.

Luke may try again whenever part of the creature is under the door and Luke is in the alcove (in any square). Luke may have to exit the alcove, draw the creature after him, then re-enter the alcove to get the creature to cross the door again.

Luke Skywalker: If other versions of Luke Skywalker are used, they gain the Force Leap ability (Force 1; This turn, this character can move through enemy characters without provoking attacks of opportunity). They lose all attack-related Special Abilities and have Damage 0.

Bonus Scenario: The Rancor's First Meal

As related in Jabba's Rancor Part 2, Bidlo Kwerve found himself outmaneuvered by Bib Fortuna and fed to the Rancor. However, Bidlo had a trick of his own. He managed to smuggle a blaster into Jabba's throne room. It didn't keep him from ending up in the new Rancor pit, but it did better his reputation with Jabba's followers as he used it in a futile attempt to save himself from the ravenous monster.

This basic setup can be used to pit any medium-sized character against the Rancor. While it has its own Special Scenario Rules, you can substitute any of the special rules above as desired.

Use the same map as above. Bidlo starts in Area A. The Rancor starts in Area C.

Bidlo's player wins the scenario by lasting 3 complete rounds with the Rancor or by dealing 50 points of damage to the creature. After that occurs, Jabba sends in his guards, and they remove Bidlo's gun to prevent him from damaging Jabba's present too much on its first day on the job. Bidlo can't escape.

If you are using characters other than Bidlo, feel free to modify the number of rounds required for survival or the amount of damage required. If you are using multiple characters against the Rancor, you may require that the creature take full damage to be defeated.

Special Scenario Rules

Bidlo Kwerve: Bidlo ignores the "Mercenary" Special Ability for this scenario. He also gains the Special Ability Cunning Attack (+4 attack and +10 Damage against an enemy who has not activated this round).

Very Cunning: Bidlo automatically wins the initiative in the first round.

The Ledge: All squares along the left map edge are considered to be under a low rock ledge. The Rancor may not enter these squares. It costs three squares of movement for other characters to crawl into, out of, or between these squares.

Characters under the ledge gain +8 to their Defense. The Rancor has a difficult time reaching under the ledge, so its successful attacks only deal 10 points of damage. Some special abilities, such as Force Leap, cannot be used while under the ledge. Characters may attack normally from under the ledge and deal their normal damage to the Rancor. The Ledge does not provide cover for the Rancor from these attacks.

Devour: When the Rancor makes a critical hit on an opponent, the opponent is devoured (and immediately defeated) unless it makes a save 11.