The FFG SWRPG Forum Is Closing

 This is sad news, but not much of a surprise. I'm still not sure what is going to happen with the Star Wars RPG as Fantasy Flight Games is transferring development of roleplaying games to a new company, but they have announced that the online forum will close after 31 January 2021. For that reason, I'll be transferring the Compiled Resources Thread that I started there onto this blog over the next month. 

-Nate

Review of The Mandalorian Season 2

 Picking up where I left off last year, here are my thoughts about this season's new episodes. 

-Nate 

Chapter 9

I liked a lot of things about this episode.

• Krayt Dragon!

• It was fun to see a character from the novels make the jump onto the TV screen.

• It was also cool to see the massifs from Episode II make another appearance. I know some people have mixed feelings about the prequel trilogy, but it added a huge amount of background to the Star Wars universe.

• I like the use of sign language for communicating with the Tuskens.

• There's plenty of epic action, of a kind that I can picture being attempted during an RPG session.

I also had some questions and/or concerns.

• There's the cameo at the end of the episode. Is that really who I think it is?

Chapter 10

I liked a lot of things about this episode.

• It's interesting to see an episode in which most of it has only one character who can speak Basic.

• The rewiring of Zero was a nice touch.

• The monsters in this one made for a fearsome foe.

• It's good to see that the New Republic will have a part in these adventures.

I also had some questions and/or concerns.

• This episode felt like a little bit of a side trek. It's entertaining, but I want to advance the search for the Child's people!

• The eating of the eggs was discomforting.

Trailer for Season 2 of The Mandalorian

 At long last, the trailer for Season 2 of The Mandalorian has arrived. 

-Nate 

Wroshyr Trees of Kashyyyk

Here's my first bit of useful content in quite some time.

-Nate

The Wroshyr Tree

The very center of most settlements on Kashyyyk are the massive wroshyr trees, a towering form of local plant life that rises hundreds of meters up from ground level, creating living space for the Wookiees on their higher branches and leaving much of what lies beneath in darkness. Indeed, Wookiee architectural style is such that it works with the features of the tree, rather than replacing the existing natural elements. For example, landing pads for airspeeders and starships are built onto relatively flat branches, especially where boughs come together to create broad, open areas. Similarly, typical Wookiee domiciles fit into niches, with support structure added as needed, but removing as little as possible. For example, the map above depicts part of one such tree, with a single landing platform and three houses. Note that the circle in the center of the tree represents the average circumference of its central trunk, although this is never quite so regular in shape as would seem to be indicated.

A typical Wookiee dwelling is surrounded by a covered walkway, allowing the inhabitants to enter or exit from various directions (A). There is often a common room (B), where members of the family or friends can relax and enjoy each other's company. In the center of the structure a spiral staircase (C) provides access to the upper level. A utility room (D) could feature storage space, work tables and the home's refresher units. Meals are taken in the dining room (E), and prepared in the kitchen (F), which boasts dry and cold storage areas. Bedrooms are located on the upper level (G). 

What most beings—and especially the Imperials—don't know is that the Wookiees have managed to dig tunnels through the living limbs of certain wroshyr trees, thus creating hiding places for materials as well as routes for secret travel. Many of these are accessible via the spiral staircases of Wookiee homes; they have secret viewports for looking outside, along with broad passages that permit travelers to move equipment and supplies freely.  

Star Wars: The High Republic

The announcement by Lucasfilm of details regarding Project Luminous--now formally known as The High Republic--is an intriguing one, especially given that the future of the roleplaying game published by Fantasy Flight Games is up in the air.

-Nate