The Lowdown on the Living Force

Interview by Robert Holzmeier

The Force may, in fact, be with us all, but there's no doubt that it's particularly strong in the RPGA's HQ Operations Manager Robert Wiese. Robert recently authored the Living Force Campaign Guide. Released in early March, it is a comprehensive overview of the Cularin system, the setting of the RPGA's Living Force campaign. Recently Robert sat down with us to discuss the new guidebook, the Living Force campaign, and the RPGA as well as the appeal of the Star Wars universe.

Wizards of the Coast: Some folks might not be acquainted with the RPGA, Robert. Can you explain what the organization is?
Robert Wiese: The RPGA has a really simple mission -- to provide good games for people to play and the people to play them with.

Wizards: That's pretty straightforward. So were you an RPGA member before you joined the staff?
Robert: Yes, for about for four years. I joined after moving to Illinois, where I didn't have an established gaming group. But, I still wanted to roleplay, so I found this group that met at a local high school. I met some nice people there, found a group to play the games I liked with -- and it all turned out to be the RPGA.

Wizards: And what benefits would you say you've received from your relationship with the RPGA?
Robert: Well, before I was hired I got to meet lots of people to play with, I got the opportunity to volunteer at different events, and I got to write a lot of scenarios. As a staff member, I get to help people play games. As Operations Manager, I also edit a lot of scenarios, manage our web presence, make sure our members get everything they're supposed to, and I plan what the RPGA will do at various conventions.

Wizards: In writing the Living Force Campaign Guide, you must have done some research into the Star Wars Universe. You've seen all the films of course... did you do anything else?
Robert: Yeah, I read a lot. All the books from the Classic Trilogy forward through the New Republic Era. Besides that, I had a good idea of how the campaign should be. I've been involved in several of our Living campaigns -- Living City since about 1995 and a principal motivator behind Living Greyhawk -- which helped me. Plus, I've done lots and lots of roleplaying and campaign building. And I've written about 40 scenarios for the RPGA, nine of which were Star Wars scenarios.

Wizards: That's a lot of adventures. So, back to the movies for a second. Do you recall the very first time you saw Star Wars?
Robert: To tell you the truth, I don't remember the details surrounding my first viewing of A New Hope. But I do recall thinking, "This is very cool!" Not only were the special effects great but the whole conflict of good versus evil really appealed to me.

Wizards: Do you have a favorite of the four movies released thus far?
Robert: Definitely, my favorite is Return of the Jedi. I especially liked the scenes in and around Jabba's Palace and the final battle at Endor -- both up in space and on the surface. However, the real action was the conflict up in the throne room, and that's what I watch it for.

Wizards: Why do you think Star Wars has become so popular?
Robert: I think the entire story has all these different elements that are important to a wide variety of people. For example, Han Solo is this great character that appeals to many different people for entirely different reasons. I think that without him, some people may not have responded to the first films the way they did.

Wizards: What do you like best about the Star Wars mythos?
Robert: Apart from the good-evil conflict, I'd say that I really like that, in all the stories you have this small, close-knit group of characters who are taking on everything the universe throws at them. It's very close to a gaming group or a family.

Wizards: Who are your favorite heroes and villains from the films?
Robert: From the heroes, I'd have to say my favorite is Luke Skywalker. Everybody has their own course through the films, but Luke's is certainly the more spiritual battle. Among the villains, I like Jabba the Hutt, because he sits so far behind the scenes and yet he really controls so much.

Wizards: As a roleplayer, what are your thoughts on the new Star Wars RPG?
Robert: I played the West End Games Star Wars RPG for years and really enjoyed it. So, by comparison, I really like how expandable the new game from Wizards is. And I think the Jedi powers work amazingly well as feats.

Wizards: Is there a particular type of character that you most enjoy playing?
Robert: Not really, although I enjoy playing pilots. What I don't like to play -- personally -- is anything that can't speak with the other players and characters.

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Wizards: What's the Living Force all about?
Robert: We're trying to give players an experience as close to the movies as possible. We can't really alter the main story you see playing out in the films, but we can capture its scope and tone. Players should feel like they are the principals of this campaign. What they do really affects the overall story, as opposed to just resulting in what they "get." In some other campaigns, your character might just be some random adventurer in this hugely complicated setting. In Living Force, we still have a detailed campaign, but your character is one of the stars of the show.

Wizards: What sort of feedback have you gotten on Living Force?
Robert: The RPGA members have really taken to this campaign. So far, they all love it. Morrie Mullins (author of the campaign's first published scenario) is really a great author, and "Eye of the Sun" was a big hit at Winter Fantasy.

Wizards: What's your favorite part of the campaign guide?
Robert: Almas, the planet with the Jedi Academy on it. But, not because of the Academy. There's some other really appealing qualities to Almas that you'll have to get the guidebook to uncover.

Wizards: Is there any part of the book you'd like to flesh out more?
Robert: I think it's a very comprehensive book, so everything that's in there is very useful. But, I guess I wouldn't mind digging more into the story of the Cularin system before the campaign started.

Wizards: What do you think players will like most about the Living Force Campaign Guide?
Robert: That it exists. There's enough information there for players to have a foundation to work from, but there are some secrets hinted at in the guide, which will become apparent as the campaign unfolds.

Wizards: If you could take one thing from the book and insert it into one of the next two Star Wars films, what would it be?
Robert: The Filordi, for certain! They're this really cool looking alien race...a sort of evil cartel for the Cularin system.

For a closer look at the Cularin system, check out the Living Force Art Gallery!