Imperial Player Characters

We're delighted you're considering an Imperial player-character!

The purpose of this page is to help you craft a character to tell the kind of stories you want experience in your time here on Star Wars MUSH.

There are of course many ways to achieve this, and there is no formal application process you must submit to before creating an Imperial character, but we believe that following this method will produce the best results.

In addition to the suggestions included here, any Imperial Recruiter will be pleased to discuss your ideas and help you to define your character. In fact, we strongly recommend it; this will give us a chance to get to know your character, the kind of roleplay you'd like to experience and provide you with connections to the faction and metaplot.

You may even wish to consider an introduction plot.

Concept
A good character is one who excites you - something that fires your imagination. that after all is the factory from which roleplay is produced. So, start there. What images spring to mind when you think about a playing an Imperial character? Does a scene play out in your imagination? Are there characters in the Star Wars universe, or other media, which inspire you?

Your concept need not be terribly detailed. A mere idea is enough to work with, the process will help to refine it.

The Branches
After conceiving of a concept, and the idioms you'd like to explore, its a good idea to look at where that concept might fit.

The Galactic Empire is vast, with branches, divisions and bureaus beyond counting. By their nature, player characters are extraordinary individuals whose experience of the galaxy is far from mundane. To that end, all Imperial player characters hold positions of seniority and importance.

In an effort to ensure that you have plenty of potential partners and have plenty in common to roleplay about, we have chosen to focus player characters into the following branches:

Imperial Navy
The Imperial Navy offers player characters the most direct access to one thing; power.

Player characters are senior or commanding officers of some of the most powerful warships in the galaxy, responsible for tens of thousands of lives. As a career advances, a naval officer may ultimately find themselves controlling entire fleets, prosecuting whole campaigns or ruling portions of the galaxy in the Emperor's name.

Players will have the opportunity to take part in epic space battles, strategize at the highest levels and engage in treacherous politicking for position.

Stormtrooper Legions
The Stormtrooper Legions are the Emperor's elite, private army. They're reminders of his authority, the final solution to treason and the shock troops of the Galactic Empire. Entrusted with the most dangerous and critical missions, glory is the most abundant reward.

Player characters are front-line officers of the most feared military force in the galaxy, ideally placed to experience the grit and splendour of galactic war - players will have the opportunity to storm rebel fortresses, seize enemy vessels and become better acquainted than most would ever wish with the terrifying power of the Darkside of the Force.

Imperial Security Bureau
The Imperial Security Bureau are the secret police, the chief enforcers of the New Order and Imperial Law. Wading waist deep in the dirty-laundry and messes of others may not be glamorous work - and if you do your job right, few will ever know that there was a problem in the first place - but it is essential. The ISB ensures that the wheels of the Empire continue to turn, come what may.

Player characters are highly placed agents charged with regulating the military and called upon to resolve troublesome situations; part loyalty officer, part spy, part fixer. Players will experience the seedy underbelly of the Empire's elite, root out traitors and spies, suppress rebellion and iron out situations which would displease the Emperor.

Motivation
What does your character want?

This is perhaps the most important question to ask once you have a concept in mind; pursuit of goals informs everything else a person does.

So, what DO they want; today? Tomorrow? In five years? In twenty?

What have they done so far to achieve their aims?

What remains to be done?

What currently stands in their way?

What might stand in their way in the future?

How far are they willing to go?

What will they settle for?

Background
By now, your background should be starting to write itself. While many games encourage you to begin with a list of dates and events and hope a character emerges from them, you may find it more helpful to look at what elements in your background will help support the decisions you've made about WHO your character is. Look at your background as an opportunity to define the how's and why's of the traits you have assigned to your character. If they're a ruthless young officer, where does this drive stem from, and what skills have they acquired to aid them? Where did they learn them? If they're a jaded old soldier, what dampened their enthusiasm? Why did they begin this life, and why do they continue to do what they do?

Putting it all together
Your next step is to contact an Imperial Recruiter. Whether you've now got yourself a character as well developed as any you'd find in a novel, or just a few ideas you'd like some input on, we'd be delighted to help you on your way to telling your adventures in the Star Wars galaxy.