Podracing in the Star Wars RPG

Even though Episode 1 wasn’t on the level of the original trilogy (though unlike most, I still quite enjoyed it), podracing was always an idea I liked. The idea of strapping a couple of jet engines together and pulling a little seat you’re sitting in across the track seems both ludicrous, and exactly the type of crazy sport that would evolve as the people desired more and more insane racing.

The only RPG to feature podracing was the non-revised D20 Star Wars RPG supplement Secrets of Tatooine. This was a pretty good book which featured great maps of all three major cities on the planet, rules for dying if thirst and heat stroke, an adventure, and in the back, podracing.

It was sort of a mini-game inside the RPG, where you laid out a course that each pilot had to succeed at a skill check to pass through each area. I’ve used the rules not only for Star Wars, but in D&D and D20 Modern as well, as it translates well.

Another great aspect about the rules is that you could design your own pod from scratch, using character creation type rules.

And in the back: a vehicle sheet specifically for your podracer featuring stats for overheating and the like.

I would definitely recommend picking it up, since it’s on Amazon for $3-10.

I’m thinking I’ll squeeze in a podrace somewhere in my Saga Edition Dawn of Defiance game coming up.