Part 2 of the story of the Star Wars RPGs.
Click Here for Part 1.

The Wizards of the Coast Years

After the collapse of West End Games, Wizards of the Coast (aka Wizards or WotC) obtained the Star Wars RPG license from Lucas Licensing. WotC was known for their phenomenally successful Magic the Gathering collectible card game and had recently absorbed RPG giant TSR along with its staff and the industry leading Dungeons and Dragons line.

The fact that Wizards of the Coast was interested in the license was important because Bill Slavicsek was a leading WEG Star Wars designer who had moved to TSR years before and became head of Wizards RPG R&D. WotC was in the process of opening up the 3rd Edition D&D rules into something called the Open Game License, and expanding the use of their d20 system into genres beyond D&D.

With the release of Episode I in 1999, an ever expanding Expanded Universe and, most importantly, new movies on the way, the Star Wars universe evolved more than ever before. In November 2000, the new Star Wars Roleplaying Game was released. The d6 system had to be abandoned, as WEG retained ownership of the game system, if not the movie license. In any case, WotC adapted the D&D/d20 system to work with the specifics of the Star Wars universe. Many concepts from the d6 game, such as dark side points, force points and the three aspects of the Force powers, carried over into the new edition with new mechanics. The playable eras opened up to include Episode I and the New Jedi Order. It even included a conversion guide to ease d6 based campaigns into the game.

The shift to d20 and WotC represented the second, and largest, split in the RPG fanbase. Some fans jumped to the new edition, others decried its use of the d20 system and firmly sided with d6 (whichever version of that they liked best). Some thought the d20 system slower and less cinematic compared to the previous rules, others disliked the system, company or circumstances for the license change. However, some fans of the d20 system found it easy to learn the new edition, since they were already familiar with the basics of the d20 system and D&D 3rd Edition, as WotC hoped would happen.

Unfortunately, the lifespan of the Star Wars Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook (later known as the original core rulebook or OCR for those keeping track at home) was surprisingly brief. In only 2 short years, in 2002, it was replaced with the Revised Core Rulebook (or RCR). Among other updates were revised rules for new Force power usage and other revelations of the Attack of the Clones. It also included a comprehensive space combat system, something missing from the OCR. The book was the biggest version to date and included so many stats that you could run many games without any supplemental rulebooks, if you chose to do so. It also included many smaller revisions, fixing troublesome rules that had been revealed in two years of play. Although fans were confused (and/or angered) by the quick release of the RCR (especially since Wizards had recently done essentially the same thing with the main D&D line, moving from 3rd Edition to 3.5), the RCR became the accepted standard.

Around 2004, even with Episode III in the works, something was happening to the RPG line. New products were slow in coming. Eventually, it was announced that the RPG was on hold while WotC geared up their new Star Wars Miniatures game, which fell under the same license as the RPG. This was partly due to the limited the number of Star Wars products that they were allowed to produce in a year. Much was in doubt regarding the RPG. The new Minis game gained its own fans, as well as converting some RPG fans. RPG fans hoped and speculated that perhaps a final Episode III sourcebook would be produced, possibly as a final product. Eventually, in 2006, an Episode III PDF file was made available on the website, but no new print products.

In 2006, a new hope was rekindled as a couple of old sourcebooks were reprinted for the first time in years. Then speculation and rumors and outright hints started showing up on the WotC message boards about a new edition of the RPG...which was confirmed when something called Star Wars Roleplaying Game Saga Edition showed up as available for pre-order on Amazon.com.

An official announcement came at GenCon 2006. It was revealed that when WotC told Lucas Licensing their plan to put the RPG on hold, Lucas asked for a plan to bring the RPG back in the future, and the future was now. The fans spent the next few months analyzing every preview and tidbit they could to try to ascertain what this new edition would bring to the game.

The Star Wars Roleplaying Game Saga Edition came out in May 2007, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of Star Wars. It spans the entire movie saga, plus aspects of the New Republic. WotC has hinted that other eras from the EU will be available in future products. It is still d20 based, but revised once again. Some speculated that this was also a preview of the rumored D&D 4th Edition rules, something confirmed at GenCon 2007. The core rulebook is a slimmer, not to mention physically shorter, volume with an emphasis on quicker rules and gameplay. As with all new editions, some fans have pledged their allegiance to the previous d20 or d6 versions, while others jump into the latest system.

In any case, a whole new line is under development and fans are excited once again about the future of the RPG. Announced products include the Force Unleashed Campaign Guide (for Dark Times campaigns and a tie-in to the upcoming video game), and an updated Starships of the Galaxy book. The Dawn of Defiance is a new, free RPG campaign running from levels 1 thru 20, now gearing up at the WotC website. A whole collection of other titles has also been hinted at in the coming year, so stay tuned.

The story of the Star Wars RPG will continue for some time yet...