SW5e - Wretched Hives - 20201013

CHAPTER 1: STEP-BY-STEP FACTIONS
ANY FACTIONS SPAN THE GALAXY, FROM LOWLY GANGS
inhabiting a single city to governments
controlling the majority of known planets. While many
characters will nd a faction they want to join—for
instance, a Jedi will most likely want to climb the ranks
of the Jedi Order—many characters will prefer to build
their own.
Before you dive into step 1 below, thinking about
whether or not establishing your own faction is the
correct route, and what your faction will do that is not
already done better by others. You might want to
create your own bounty hunter organization and try to
take on the greatest bounties the galaxy has to o er.
Maybe you want to start your own government and
break away from the known powers. Perhaps you want
to start your own faction of Force-wielders, separate
from the Jedi and the Sith. Or maybe you just want to
create your own chain of casino resorts, with pazaak
and companions.
Once you have a faction in mind, follow these steps
in order, making decisions that re ect the faction you
want. Your conception of your faction might evolve
with each choice you make. What's important is that
your faction helps you realize a character you're
excited to play.
Throughout this section, we use the term faction
sheet to mean whatever you use to track your faction,
whether it's a formal sheet (like the ones at the end of
these rules), some sort of digital record, or a piece of
notebook paper. The o cial SW5e sheets are a ne
place to start until you know what information you
need and how you use it during the game.
Building the Mandalorians
Each step of faction creation includes an example of
that step, with a player building the iconic faction the
Mandalorians.
1. DETERMINE YOUR IDEALS
Every faction deviates in what they value, how they
exercise those values, and what kind of members they
attract. Your faction's ideals help determine what kind
of members you'll attract, should you decide to recruit
outside the con nes of your party.
GOALS
Each faction has its own goals. One of the most
common goals many factions share is the desire for
increased wealth and in uence. Many factions,
however, have goals unique to their own e orts. For
instance, a faction might have a goal of maintaining
peace and prosperity in their region, directing all of
their wealth and in uence towards that one goal.
BELIEFS
Each faction also has its own beliefs. Many nefarious
factions, such as the Exchange, believe power should
be wielded by the strong, and that the weak deserve to
be enslaved, while a more monetarily motivated
faction, such as the Commerce Guild, believe that
material wealth is the greatest source of control.
MEMBER TRAITS
Members of a faction are often drawn to it because
they share common traits with its members. For
instance, criminals who prefer to work alone, or in
small groups, might be drawn to the Black Sun, while
bounty hunters might choose to join the Bounty
Broker's Association to earn greater wealth and
prestige.
INSIGNIA
Every faction has a symbol that represents it, whether
that symbol is worn publicly or only shown in secret.
Building the Mandalorians, Step 1
Mandalorian culture places heavy emphasis on
strength and worthiness. The primary goal of the
Mandalorians is to prove that their strength is greater
than that of others. Mandalorian beliefs are
characterized by the Resol'nare, or the Six Actions:
A Mandalorian must wear armor.
A Mandalorian must speak Mando'a.
A Mandalorian must defend themself and their
family.
A Mandalorian must contribute to the overall wellbeing
of the clan.
A Mandalorian must raise their children as
Mandalorians.
A Mandalorian must heed Mandalore's call and
rally to their cause.
Mandalorians often share member traits of being
strong, hardy, resilient, and uncompromising. The
Mandalorian insignia—the Kyr'bes—features the skull of
a mythosaur. It is a badge of honor that Mandalorians
wear openly.
CHAPTER 1 | STEP-BY-STEP FACTIONS 6