STAR WARS D6: New Player Starting Guide

Source: AJB Blog — https://blog.ajb.bz/star-wars-d6-guide-how-to-play-the-classic-rpg-system
Author: Alan Bollinger
Published: Jul 24, 2016
Rights: © 2016 AJB Blog. All Rights Reserved.

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Welcome to the Star Wars D6 Roleplaying Game, a system designed to capture the fast-paced, cinematic energy of the original trilogy. Unlike systems that focus heavily on grid-based tactics, D6 emphasizes narrative flow, improvisation, and the iconic "heroic" feel of the galaxy far, far away.

Click here to download the Quickstart Guide PDF

Quicker Quickstart (the PDF is better)

The Core Mechanic: The Dice Pool

At the heart of every action is your character’s Skill Dice. When you attempt a task, you roll a number of six-sided dice (D6) equal to your skill level. For example, if you have 4D in Blaster, you roll four dice and add the results together. You compare this total against a Difficulty Number (DN) set by the Gamemaster:

• Easy (5): Routine tasks, like shooting an unmoving target at close range.

• Moderate (10): Standard challenges, such as hitting a stormtrooper behind partial cover.

• Difficult (15): High-stakes maneuvers, like sniping a pilot from a moving speeder.

• Heroic (20+): Near-impossible feats, such as hitting a thermal exhaust port while flying at high velocity.

The Wild Die Every time you roll a skill, one of your dice must be a different color—this is your "Wild Die."

• If you roll a 6: It counts as a 6, and you roll the Wild Die again, adding it to your total. You keep rolling as long as you keep hitting 6s, allowing for spectacular "exploding" successes.

• If you roll a 1: It counts as a 1, and the Gamemaster may introduce a "complication"—a jammed blaster, an accidental alarm, or a sudden change in environmental conditions—regardless of whether your total succeeded.

Character Attributes and Skills

Your character is defined by six primary Attributes: Dexterity, Knowledge, Mechanical, Perception, Strength, and Technical. These represent your raw potential. Beneath each attribute are specialized Skills. If you don’t have a specific skill, you simply roll the base Attribute die code. Investing character points into skills allows you to specialize, making you more reliable in high-pressure situations.

Combat and Initiative

Combat is fluid and occurs in rounds. At the start of a fight, everyone rolls their Perception or Blaster skill to determine Initiative. During your turn, you can move and take one action. If you wish to perform multiple actions—such as firing your blaster twice or dodging while attacking—you can, but every action after the first incurs a cumulative penalty of -1D to all rolls in that round. This represents the difficulty of juggling multiple tasks in the heat of battle.

Force Points and Character Points

• Character Points: These are your primary currency for advancement. You earn them at the end of every session. You can spend them to improve your skills permanently or save them to add a bonus die to a roll during play.

• Force Points: These represent destiny. When you perform an act that aligns with the Force—or when you are at your lowest point—you can spend a Force Point to double all your dice for that round. If you use one for an act of dark intent, however, the Gamemaster may grant you a Dark Side Point, which carries long-term consequences for your character's soul.

The Golden Rule The Star Wars D6 system is designed to be cinematic. If a rule slows down the action, the Gamemaster is encouraged to make a quick ruling to keep the story moving. Focus on the drama, the stakes, and the fun of the galaxy. May the Force be with you.