age of the rebellion pdf

Age of Rebellion PDF: A Comprehensive Guide (Updated 12/10/2025)

Today, December 10th, 2025, marks the release of essential resources! A sneak peek at specializations and the full sourcebook are now available, empowering rebels with everything needed to begin their journey․

What is Age of Rebellion?

Age of Rebellion, a thrilling roleplaying game from Fantasy Flight Games, plunges players into the desperate fight against the Galactic Empire, set within the iconic Star Wars universe․ Unlike focusing on Jedi Knights, this game centers on the courageous, often overlooked, individuals who formed the backbone of the Rebel Alliance – spies, smugglers, soldiers, and technicians․

The Age of Rebellion PDF offers a complete tabletop roleplaying experience․ It allows Game Masters and players to collaboratively weave tales of daring missions, political intrigue, and thrilling starship combat․ Players create unique characters, choosing from a diverse range of species and careers, each impacting their skills and role within the rebellion․

This system utilizes a narrative dice pool mechanic, emphasizing collaborative storytelling and cinematic action․ The PDF version provides all the rules, character sheets, and background information needed to embark on a campaign, offering a flexible and immersive Star Wars experience focused on the grit and determination of those fighting for freedom․ It’s about being a hero, even without the Force!

The Core Rulebook PDF – What’s Included?

The Age of Rebellion Core Rulebook PDF is a comprehensive package, delivering everything needed to initiate a campaign․ It contains over 400 pages packed with detailed rules for character creation, skill checks, and the unique narrative dice system․ You’ll find extensive background information on the galaxy, the Rebel Alliance, and the oppressive Galactic Empire․

Specifically, the PDF includes detailed character options, covering numerous species and a wide array of career paths – from Pilots and Spies to Technicians and Soldiers․ It also features a complete guide to starship combat, outlining rules for maneuvering, weaponry, and damage control․

Furthermore, the PDF provides a robust section on running a campaign, offering advice for Game Masters on crafting compelling narratives, designing challenging encounters, and managing the overall story arc․ Appendices contain vital reference tables, character sheets, and a glossary of terms, ensuring a smooth and immersive gaming experience․ It’s a complete toolkit for Star Wars adventure!

Digital vs․ Physical: Advantages of the PDF Version

Opting for the Age of Rebellion PDF offers several compelling advantages over the physical rulebook․ Primarily, accessibility is greatly enhanced; the PDF is instantly available upon purchase, eliminating shipping times and allowing play to begin immediately․ Portability is another key benefit – carry the entire rule set on a tablet or laptop, perfect for gaming on the go․

The digital format also facilitates searching․ Quickly locate specific rules or character details using the built-in search function, saving valuable game time․ Hyperlinks within the PDF provide seamless navigation between related sections, streamlining gameplay․

Furthermore, the PDF is often more cost-effective than the physical edition․ Digital copies are frequently discounted, making Age of Rebellion more accessible to new players․ Finally, updates and errata are easily distributed for the PDF version, ensuring you always have the most current ruleset․

Character Creation in Age of Rebellion

Character creation in Age of Rebellion is a robust process, detailed within the core rulebook PDF․ It begins with selecting a species, influencing starting characteristics and special abilities․ Next, players choose a career, defining their role within the Rebel Alliance – from Pilots and Spies to Technicians and Commandos․ This choice heavily impacts available skills and talents․

The system utilizes a point-buy system for skills, allowing for customization and specialization․ Players allocate points to skills relevant to their chosen career and desired playstyle․ Backgrounds and motivations are also crucial, shaping the character’s personality and providing roleplaying hooks․

The PDF provides clear guidance on determining derived statistics, such as Stamina and Willpower․ Finally, characters receive starting gear and connections, preparing them for a life of rebellion against the Galactic Empire․ The process ensures unique and compelling characters ready for adventure․

Species Options & Their Impact on Gameplay

The Age of Rebellion PDF presents a diverse array of species beyond humans, each significantly impacting gameplay․ Species choices aren’t merely cosmetic; they grant unique characteristics, influencing skill bonuses, special abilities, and even narrative opportunities․ For example, a Wookiee might excel in Strength-based skills, while a Twi’lek could possess advantages in social interactions․

The core rulebook PDF details these species-specific traits, providing Game Masters with clear guidelines for implementation․ Some species may have inherent disadvantages alongside their strengths, creating balanced and engaging character options․ Players must consider how their chosen species aligns with their desired career path and playstyle․

Furthermore, species selection can influence a character’s standing within the Rebel Alliance and the wider galaxy, opening doors to unique story arcs and interactions․ The PDF emphasizes the importance of roleplaying these species-specific nuances․

Career Paths: Defining Your Rebel Role

The Age of Rebellion PDF meticulously outlines a variety of career paths, allowing players to define their unique role within the Rebel Alliance․ These aren’t simply job titles; they represent a character’s background, skills, and connections․ Options range from the gritty Smuggler, adept at navigating the underworld, to the courageous Pilot, mastering starship combat․

Each career path, detailed within the PDF, provides a starting skillset, equipment, and access to specific talents․ This system ensures characters feel distinct and contribute meaningfully to the team․ The PDF also highlights how career paths influence a character’s narrative arc and relationships with NPCs․

Furthermore, the system encourages multi-career characters, allowing for complex backgrounds and versatile skillsets․ The sourcebook provides guidance on combining careers, creating truly unique Rebel operatives․ Choosing a career is a pivotal step in character creation, shaping their destiny within the galaxy․

The Rebel Alliance Faction

The Age of Rebellion PDF dedicates significant detail to the Rebel Alliance, portraying it not as a monolithic entity, but as a diverse coalition of individuals and groups united against Imperial oppression․ The PDF explores the Alliance’s fractured leadership, logistical challenges, and constant struggle for resources․

It delves into the core philosophies driving the rebellion – freedom, justice, and the restoration of the Republic – and how these ideals are interpreted differently by various factions within the Alliance․ The PDF outlines key Rebel bases, from hidden asteroid hideouts to established planets sympathetic to the cause․

Players utilizing the PDF will gain insight into the Alliance’s internal politics, the tensions between military commanders and civilian leaders, and the moral compromises often required in the fight against the Empire․ Understanding the Alliance’s complexities is crucial for immersive roleplaying․

Key Figures within the Rebel Alliance

The Age of Rebellion PDF doesn’t focus solely on iconic characters; it provides tools for Game Masters to create compelling, original Rebel leaders․ However, it establishes archetypes and frameworks for influential figures within the Alliance’s ranks․ Expect detailed profiles outlining motivations, skills, and potential story hooks for Rebel commanders, intelligence operatives, and political leaders․

The PDF emphasizes that Rebel leadership isn’t about grandstanding heroes, but often about pragmatic individuals making difficult choices․ It offers guidance on crafting characters with flaws, internal conflicts, and realistic backgrounds․

Furthermore, the PDF suggests ways to integrate these key figures into campaigns, providing scenarios where players can interact with them, earn their trust, or even challenge their authority․ These characters serve as catalysts for adventure and deepen the narrative experience, enriching the galaxy far, far away․

Rebel Specializations: A Deep Dive

The Age of Rebellion PDF significantly expands upon character customization through detailed specializations․ Recently previewed specialization decks, now readily available alongside the sourcebook, offer focused skill sets and unique abilities for Rebel operatives․ These aren’t merely skill lists; they represent distinct roles within the Alliance, from covert spies and starship gunners to charismatic leaders and resourceful medics․

Each specialization within the PDF is presented with a clear narrative identity, informing roleplaying opportunities and campaign integration․ The PDF details how these specializations impact gameplay, offering specific talents and advantages that enhance a character’s effectiveness in various scenarios․

Furthermore, the PDF provides guidance on combining specializations, allowing for highly customized characters that reflect a unique blend of skills and experiences․ This depth of customization empowers players to create truly memorable and effective Rebel agents․

The Galactic Empire Faction

The Age of Rebellion PDF doesn’t solely focus on the Rebel Alliance; it provides a robust framework for portraying the imposing Galactic Empire․ This faction is presented not as a monolithic entity, but as a complex organization with internal power struggles and diverse motivations․ The PDF details the Empire’s structure, from the Imperial Navy and Army to the shadowy ISB (Imperial Security Bureau)․

Understanding the Empire’s hierarchy is crucial for Game Masters, and the PDF offers insights into the ambitions and methodologies of key Imperial figures․ It outlines how Imperial units operate, emphasizing their discipline, technological superiority, and ruthless efficiency․

The sourcebook, available as a PDF, provides tools for creating compelling Imperial antagonists, moving beyond simple villainy to explore their dedication to order, fear of rebellion, and personal ambitions․ This allows for nuanced and engaging conflicts, enriching the Age of Rebellion experience․

Imperial Units & Tactics

The Age of Rebellion PDF meticulously details the vast military might of the Galactic Empire, outlining various Imperial units and their preferred tactics․ From the standard Stormtrooper corps – emphasizing overwhelming firepower and disciplined formations – to specialized units like Death Troopers and Scout Troopers, the PDF provides comprehensive stat blocks and descriptions․

Tactically, the Empire favors a methodical approach, utilizing superior technology and logistical support to crush opposition․ The PDF highlights the Empire’s reliance on coordinated assaults, utilizing air support (TIE Fighters) and heavy ground vehicles (AT-ATs, AT-STs) to break enemy lines․

Game Masters can leverage this information to create challenging encounters, emphasizing the Empire’s overwhelming force; The PDF also details Imperial patrol patterns, base defenses, and interrogation techniques, offering a wealth of material for crafting immersive and realistic scenarios within the Age of Rebellion universe․

Imperial Characters & Motivations

The Age of Rebellion PDF delves into the complex motivations driving Imperial characters, moving beyond simple villainy․ While many are driven by unwavering loyalty to the Emperor and a belief in order through control, the PDF reveals nuances․ Some seek power and advancement, others genuinely believe they are bringing stability to the galaxy, and a few are simply following orders to survive․

Character archetypes detailed within the PDF include ambitious ISB agents, ruthless sector governors, and fanatical Inquisitors․ Each archetype comes with suggested personality traits, backgrounds, and potential story hooks․ The PDF emphasizes that Imperial characters aren’t monolithic; internal conflicts and moral ambiguities can create compelling narratives․

Game Masters can utilize these insights to create memorable Imperial antagonists, fostering a sense of realism and depth․ Understanding their motivations allows for more engaging interactions and potentially, even opportunities for player characters to exploit weaknesses or sow dissent within the Empire’s ranks․

Gameplay Mechanics: Skill Checks & Dice Pools

The Age of Rebellion PDF utilizes a unique dice pool system centered around narrative storytelling․ Skill checks aren’t simply pass/fail; they determine the degree of success․ Players assemble a pool of custom dice – representing their character’s skills and talents – and roll them to overcome challenges․

The PDF details how different dice types (Ability, Talent, and Difficulty dice) interact․ Ability dice represent a character’s core competencies, while Talent dice add specialized expertise․ Difficulty dice are determined by the GM and represent the challenge’s complexity․ Results are interpreted based on symbols rolled – successes, advantages, threats, and despair․

This system encourages collaborative storytelling, as advantages can be leveraged by other players, and threats introduce complications․ The PDF provides extensive tables and examples, clarifying the process and ensuring smooth gameplay․ It’s a system designed to be flexible and adaptable, prioritizing narrative impact over rigid mechanics․

Combat System: Blasters, Lightsabers & Starships

The Age of Rebellion PDF presents a dynamic combat system spanning personal skirmishes to large-scale starship battles․ Ground combat utilizes the core dice pool mechanic, modified by weapon characteristics and character skills․ Blasters, vibroblades, and even the rare lightsaber each have unique profiles affecting damage and range․

The PDF details rules for cover, maneuvers, and critical hits, adding tactical depth to encounters․ Lightsaber combat is particularly emphasized, featuring specialized maneuvers and a focus on elegant, deadly duels․ However, the system truly shines with its starship combat rules․

Starship battles are resolved in rounds, with players managing ship systems, targeting enemy vessels, and coordinating attacks․ The PDF provides detailed ship stat blocks and rules for damage control, boarding actions, and utilizing specialized ship abilities․ It’s a system designed to capture the thrilling scale of Star Wars space combat․

The Force in Age of Rebellion: Limited but Powerful

Unlike systems focusing heavily on Jedi, Age of Rebellion’s PDF portrays the Force as a rare and often misunderstood phenomenon․ While not absent, Force sensitivity is uncommon amongst Rebel operatives and Imperial agents alike․ The system emphasizes that the Force isn’t a readily available power source for most characters․

The PDF introduces Force Powers as Talents, requiring significant character investment to acquire․ These powers are potent, offering advantages in combat, social encounters, and skill checks, but come with a cost․ Overuse can attract unwanted attention, particularly from the Empire․

The narrative focus isn’t on becoming a powerful Jedi Knight, but rather on how a character’s limited connection to the Force impacts their role within the larger conflict․ It’s a subtle, flavorful element adding intrigue and potential to campaigns, rather than dominating gameplay․

Starship Combat: A Detailed Overview

The Age of Rebellion PDF dedicates significant space to its starship combat system, recognizing its central role in the galactic conflict․ Combat isn’t simply about rolling dice; it’s a tactical dance of positioning, managing ship systems, and exploiting enemy weaknesses․

The system utilizes a streamlined approach, focusing on ship roles – Pilot, Gunner, Engineer, and Sensor Operator – each with unique actions and responsibilities․ Players actively participate in combat, not just as observers․ Damage is tracked meticulously, impacting ship performance and crew effectiveness․

The PDF details various ship systems, from shields and weapons to engines and life support, each vulnerable to specific attack types․ Strategic targeting and coordinated crew actions are crucial for survival․ Furthermore, the rules cover maneuvers, asteroid fields, and other environmental hazards, creating dynamic and engaging space battles․

Ship Customization & Upgrades

The Age of Rebellion PDF doesn’t confine players to stock starships; extensive customization options are a core feature․ Players can modify their vessels to suit their specific needs and playstyles, transforming a basic freighter into a formidable fighting machine or a stealthy reconnaissance ship․

Upgrades range from enhanced weaponry and shielding to improved engines and sensor arrays․ The PDF provides detailed rules for installing these modifications, including associated costs and potential complications․ Crew quality also impacts upgrade effectiveness, highlighting the importance of skilled personnel․

Beyond simple upgrades, the system allows for significant alterations to ship layouts and internal configurations․ Players can add extra cargo holds, install specialized workshops, or even create hidden compartments․ This level of customization fosters a sense of ownership and allows players to truly personalize their starships within the Age of Rebellion universe․

Notable Rebel Starships

The Age of Rebellion PDF showcases iconic starships crucial to the Rebel Alliance’s fight against the Galactic Empire․ Detailed profiles are provided for vessels like the Corellian Corvette, a versatile warship often employed in frontline engagements, and the YT-1300 light freighter – a workhorse for smuggling and covert operations․

Players will find comprehensive statistics, including weapon loadouts, shield capacities, and crew requirements, for each featured ship․ The PDF also highlights the unique strengths and weaknesses of each vessel, informing strategic decisions during starship combat․

Beyond these staples, the document introduces lesser-known but equally important ships, such as modified freighters and repurposed Imperial vessels․ These examples inspire players to create their own unique starships, adding depth and variety to their Age of Rebellion campaigns․ The PDF truly brings the Rebel fleet to life․

Campaign Ideas & Story Hooks

The Age of Rebellion PDF doesn’t just provide rules; it sparks imagination with a wealth of campaign ideas and story hooks․ Game Masters can utilize pre-generated scenarios, ranging from daring raids on Imperial installations to desperate attempts to secure vital resources for the Rebellion․

Story hooks include investigating a suspected Imperial spy within a key Rebel cell, recovering stolen data crucial to a planned offensive, or escorting a high-profile defector through dangerous space․ The PDF encourages GMs to weave intricate narratives, focusing on the moral ambiguities and sacrifices inherent in the fight for freedom․

Furthermore, the document offers guidance on creating original campaigns, emphasizing the importance of player agency and emergent storytelling․ It suggests incorporating elements of political intrigue, espionage, and large-scale warfare, ensuring a dynamic and engaging Age of Rebellion experience․

Running a Successful Age of Rebellion Campaign

The Age of Rebellion PDF equips Game Masters with tools for crafting immersive and compelling campaigns․ Success hinges on embracing the themes of desperation, sacrifice, and the struggle against overwhelming odds․ The PDF stresses the importance of portraying the Empire as a formidable and oppressive force, raising the stakes for the player characters․

Key advice within the document includes fostering a sense of camaraderie amongst the players, encouraging roleplaying over optimization, and allowing for failures to have meaningful consequences․ Emphasis is placed on creating a living galaxy, where player actions genuinely impact the unfolding narrative․

The PDF also suggests utilizing the diverse cast of NPCs and locations detailed within, enriching the game world and providing opportunities for compelling side quests․ Ultimately, a successful campaign captures the spirit of the original Star Wars trilogy – a small band of heroes fighting for a greater cause․

Resources for Game Masters (PDF Supplements)

Expanding beyond the core Age of Rebellion PDF, a wealth of supplemental materials are available to enrich your gaming experience․ These PDF resources delve deeper into specific aspects of the Star Wars universe, offering GMs expanded options for storylines, characters, and gameplay mechanics․

Notable supplements include detailed guides to specific sectors of the galaxy, introducing unique planets, factions, and challenges․ Others focus on specialized campaigns, such as covert operations or large-scale battles․ Character-focused PDFs provide new species, careers, and talents, allowing for greater customization․

The availability of these resources in PDF format allows for easy access and integration into your game․ GMs can readily adapt and modify content to suit their campaign’s needs, ensuring a dynamic and personalized experience․ These supplements truly amplify the possibilities within the Age of Rebellion system․