For part 1 from the imperial perspective click here.
A Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far Far Away…
We have hope. Rebellions are built on hope. For too long has our galaxy fallen under the control of the self-appointed Emperor Palpatine. Gone are the days of the Republic, and of democracy. Recent times have seen a growing rebellion rise. With the support of key allies in the Imperial Senate and across the galaxy, the Rebel Alliance has pooled its resources and has established a hidden base of operations on Geonosis. The beginning of the clone war started on Geonosis. It is fitting that our Rebellion is based here. This base will serve as the launch point for operations across the galaxy in the hope to rally more systems to our cause and ultimately defeat this oppressive regime.
Gameplay Overview
Battle Lines Are Drawn
Our Rebellion is strong and full of dedicated people, but we know we cannot win a direct war. The Empire has had decades to build a force dedicated to the subjugation of the galaxy. Our hope will be to use misdirection, subterfuge, and deception to keep the Imperial forces at bay. If we can land just a few strategic wins, perhaps we can rally the rest of the galaxy to rise up with us.
Unfortunately it doesn’t seem like we will need to wait long. We have attracted attention as we see the Imperial forces spread out from the core worlds. Our Wookie allies in Kashyyyk look to be the next target. As such we must move forces to try and intercept the assault. Admiral Ackbar takes a small strike team to Malastare nearby with hopes to divert imperial attention.
Unfortunately, we were not successful. The Imps pushed hard through Mandalore and took Kashyyk with ease. Our best hope to keep them out of the Geonosis sector is to put up a fight at Malastare.
That said a second Imperial fleet has massed near Sullust. Naboo is all that stands between our base and that fleet. If it moves in we must be ready to repel them at Naboo!
Meanwhile, we were able to send Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi with a small strike team to liberate Bespin. It was a small victory, but it freed the planet much closer to the imperial core worlds from Empire control. At this point, we will take everything we can get.
Our Darkest Hour
A sad day for the galaxy. Our Rebellion was too late for Malastare. In a show of force not seen before, Grand Moff Tarkin gave orders for the fully operational Death Star to fire. In one shot millions of voices were silenced as the planet was reduced to a debris field. It is hard to believe that such evil exists, but we must not let our convictions waiver. Only a victory and toppling this Evil Empire will bring justice to those lost. Remember Malastare!
Unfortunately, before we can even gather ourselves Palpatine personally led an attack on his home planet of Naboo. Our ground forces were able to hold temporarily, however, the Star Destroyer above the planet was an effective blockade and those forces would not hold out long. We had to pull back to Geonosis. With our forces falling back the best we can do is hope that the Empire doesn’t know our base is located so close to Naboo.
Heroes of the Rebellion
In our most desperate hour, new heroes step up to aid the rebellion. Master smuggler and scoundrel Han Solo has a change of heart and joins the alliance. He heads to Bespin to talk to the leader, Lando Calrissian and is able to recruit him to our cause. After the battle of Bespin, and hearing of the destruction of Malastare Lando understood that the Empire must be wiped out.
Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker, an understudy of Obi-Wan, lead a daring assault against the Star Destroyer above Naboo and was able to destroy it. The galactic community has feared the Star Destroyers as symbols of the Empire’s power. News of its destruction rallies more citizens to the Rebellion’s cause and gives us the boost to morale so desperately needed.
Take the Fight to the Empire
Fresh off this minor victory the Rebellion decides the time to act is now. The rebel spies locate and transmit the plans for the Death Star to us. The Empire’s test of a fully functional Death Star was so compelling a second battle station was already under construction. If we are to be successful we cannot defend against two Death Stars.
Luckily the Empire has left the first Death Star relatively undefended in the Malastare system with one lone Star Destroyer to protect it. Skywalker, fresh from his victory at Naboo, leads a small strike fleet and with the Cruisers drawing the fire from the Star Destroyer, his Y-Wings make their way down the trench to the exhaust port and his one in a million shot destroys the station.
With the Empire’s attention diverted Han Solo gets word that a subjugated Kessel is a prime target. As a former smuggler, he’s famously made the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs. His knowledge of Kessel is key. Quietly, he was able to sneak a small strike team on his ship and surprise the imperial garrison. Very quickly the Rebellion was able to win key space and ground victories gaining even more support across the galaxy!
Will the Rebellion Hold?
The Emperor did not take kindly to our recent progress. As such he recruited the infamous bounty hunter, Boba Fett, to search and capture the young Jedi apprentice Skywalker. Luke wasn’t expecting the bounty hunter to be waiting in the Malastare system. Before he could make the jump to hyperspace, Boba Fett’s ship was able to engage and entrap young Skywalker.
Fett then brought Luke before Palpatine, who taught him the true nature of the dark side. This was a blow for the rebellion as Luke was lured to defect and join the rebellion. Luckily the Emperor’s dark ways must have caused memory loss in Skywalker, or he wasn’t turned fully, as he did not betray the location of our hidden base on Geonosis. It was a vital mistake for Palpatine to not question Skywalker first. It is a mistake we’d have to make him pay for.
Last Stand of the Rebellion
While the loss of Skywalker was a hit, the Rebellion was able to make progress turning other systems to our cause. The imps became even more desperate allowing Princess Leia, Mon Mothma, and Admiral Ackbar to rally more systems to our cause unopposed.
Just in our most desperate hour as the Empire surrounded Geonosis we readied our transports for a quick escape as we were surrounded! But just as all seemed lost, the rest of the galaxy rose to overthrow Palpatine and his evil empire. We were victorious! Finally we could restore the Republic and peace to the galaxy!
Overall Impressions
As I got into the board game hobby it didn’t take long before Star Wars Rebellion showed up on my radar. I’ve been a huge Star Wars fan as a kid, growing up playing Echo Base each winter on our farmhouse with my brothers. From there I read many of the books now considered legacy and one of my favorite videogames of all time is Knights of the Old Republic. Star Wars has always been about telling epic stories of heroism vs. evil as well as exploring small planets teeming with life with lots of paths to explore. All that however, is told in such personal stories at its core. A small band of people coming together from all corners to do what they need to for the good of the galaxy.
Rebellion knows that is the strength of Star Wars. What it does expertly gives you the backdrop of the galactic civil war, the planets, and people you love, and then lets each side figure out what you need to do. As the Rebellion especially near the beginning felt hopeless, the Empire had large fleets, subjugated planets easily by sending storm troopers, and as such could just keep building larger and larger fleets.
That said I found the Rebellion’s strengths: Stealth, hit and run tactics, and misdirection. If the game had gone one more round longer I likely would have been discovered. I was able to force the Empire to spread out. That allowed me to slowly turn planets they abandoned to our cause, and slowly claim objective points.
Closing
I look forward to future plays of this game even though it is no small game. As it was our first game it took us nearly 8 hours to finish. But the narrative that came out of the game was great! I wouldn’t call this a war game per se, as the focus isn’t on the battles, but more on the missions and interplay with leaders. That said for anyone willing to put in the time and the table for it, Rebellion is a game that you’ll find rewarding. Especially if you are a fan of Star Wars!
If you haven’t already check out part 1 of this impression, written by contributor and gaming partner Jacob Garis as he recounts the game from the empire perspective: Part 1 here
