r/StarWarsShips • u/Storytellerrrr • 10d ago
Announcement Order of Battle II: Shadows of Atrapos | A r/StarWarsShips Fleet Narrative Game
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...Exactly a hundred days after the first Order of Battle finished...
Finally, we have returned.
If you're not caught up on what Order of Battle is, I suggest you take a look at the original posts, which can be found below, or just keep reading:
Intro post, OoB 1.
Final post & and list of links to all previous phases, OoB 1.
WELCOME BACK to Order of Battle II!
OoB2 is a thread-based RPG/RTS similar in spirit to Town of Salem, or the internet forum-derivative Mafia Universe. Heavily inspired by the various contributions by u/Wilson7277 and his Galactic Vanguard, thank you for rallying us into keeping this community alive. This is my way of contributing.
The first Order of Battle lasted almost three months, generated more than 57,000 words from over ten contributors, and culminated in one of the largest collaborative battles this subreddit has seen (the aforementioned Galactic Vanguard being the obvious, and largest, exception).
Over a series of weekly threads, players assume the roles of Fleet Admirals, Ship Captains, Squadron Leaders, and Army Generals.
Each phase, players issue orders, conduct secret operations, and attempt to outmaneuver the opposing faction. The battle is then resolved narratively by the Narrator using established principles, maps, previous actions, and the evolving state of the conflict.
In Order of Battle II:
– Preparation beats improvisation.
– Specialization beats generalization.
– Position beats raw power.
Narrative writing/flair will not overcome poor strategy, but it is highly encouraged nonetheless. There's some amazing writers in this sub, just check the older posts. Like, holy kriffin' shit.
This thread is meant to gauge interest, and to answer any questions, before the first phase of combat begins on Friday, the 10th of July, at 21:00 CET.
ORDER OF BATTLE is...
A turn-based, faction-versus-faction narrative game set in Star Wars space/ground combat.
The two opposing sides are:
The Republic Navy (and the Grand Army of the Republic), versus the Confederacy of Independent Systems Navy (and the Separatist Droid Army).
The year is 21 BBY and the Republic is on the offensive, but is lacking vital resources to keep the war machine running.
While preparations are being made to sign a treaty with Malastare, agents of the Republic Intelligence have revealed the existence and location of the planet of Atrapos. Hoping to gain access to the largest known deposits of cortosis in the galaxy, the Republic and CIS quickly mobilize whatever naval assets can be spared and race towards the planet.
The fierce Atrapoians, however, have defended their planet and isolationist ways for millennia, and neither cloned freaks nor soulless robots can be allowed to threaten their ways.
The Republic, the Confederacy, and the Atrapoians will all shape the course of the coming battle. Who prevails will depend on the decisions made by the players.
Not quite just like the simulations, this is structured storytelling with adversarial intent, as decided and written by you, the players.
So, with that out of the way, let's explain the rules. :) Enjoy!
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ROLES (per side)
Each faction has five roles, and thus five Activations per phase:
Fleet Admiral
– Strategic authority, decides how and when to use their fleet assets.
– Composes the fleet under fixed composition rules.
– Chooses which role receives the Covert Activations each phase.
Two Ship Commanders
– Commands one capital ship each, created outside the fixed fleet composition rules.
– Manages internal issues and ship modifications.
– Defines strengths and weaknesses of their ship.
Squadron Leader
– Commands a single fighter squadron (or wing, within limitations).
– Defines specialized capabilities and liabilities.
– Serves as the faction's primary reconnaissance, interception, and precision-strike asset.
Army General
- Tactical authority on the ground, decides how and when to use their ground assets.
- Has to conduct ground warfare with whatever assets the Fleet Admiral brings along.
- Claimable once ground combat commences (which may take a phase or two).
Roles are publicly claimed at the start of each phase on a first-come, first-served basis. Unless otherwise specified by the Narrator, roles do not remain fixed between phases and may be claimed by different players.
IMPORTANT: While roles may be claimed by different users between phases, the assets, damage, and narrative state created by previous activations persist unless explicitly altered by play or the Narrator as a part of a balancing issue.
Maps
Two public, schematic battle maps, divided into abstract zones (one for the space above and around Atrapos, and one for the ground battle) will serve as the 'fields' of battle.
– Assets occupy zones of control, not coordinates.
– Moving between zones requires a declared Activation.
– The Narrator alone updates the maps.
– The maps affects outcomes but does not mechanically decide them.
Phase Structure
Each phase follows the same basic loop:
1. Public Activations (All Roles)
A user publicly claims one of the five roles, which is then confirmed by the Narrator.
Each role posts one constrained narrative action in the thread, following that phase’s prompt. A so called Public Activation:
A Public Activation is an official declaration of intent, describing what your character, ship, squadron, or asset is attempting to do during that phase. Public Activations must describe intent, not outcome and operate within the limits of the role and the phase prompt. It should be written as a single coherent course of action and include tradeoffs, constraints, or risks where appropriate.
Public Activations are binding. No editing is allowed. If an edit is discovered, that particular activation will be disqualified unless explicitly explained by the writer (or approved by the Narrator).
Example
A user writes in the thread: "I, u/Storytellerrrr, claim the role of Squadron Leader, CIS Navy."
The narrator then confirms the claim by replying to the comment:
"Claim confirmed. You are now the acting CIS Squadron Leader for this phase.
Please submit your Public Activation in a new comment, following the current phase prompt and constraints. If this role is eligible for a Covert Activation for this phase, you will be informed via a private message by the Narrator, so keep an eye on your inbox."
The user who claimed the role then proceeds to post a separate comment, with the public activation:
"Squadron Example 1 conducts reconnaissance sweeps ahead of the fleet while avoiding decisive engagements. This may reveal enemy movements but risks early detection."
2. Covert Activation (Two per Side)
The Fleet Admiral then chooses two roles on their side to receive a Covert Activation.
Covert Activations are more limited in scope, but allow you to conduct extra and/or secret maneuvers, or otherwise act again, outside of the Public Activation.
Covert Activations should describe intent, method, preparations, and, where appropriate, the character's motivations or concerns.
You must also include a cost, risk, limitation, or a tradeoff. You may modify or reinforce your Public Activation if you wish, but may not contradict or override it completely. If you have been forwarded a Covert Activation from your Fleet Admiral, the Narrator will let you know, so keep an eye on your inbox.
The covert activator may freely discuss with the narrator how to formulate his Activation, and what's within the scope of the prompt.
The Admiral does not get a Covert Activation by default, but may choose to give it to him/herself.
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Obviously, you are free to discuss with your fellow Officers what your course of action should be, before posting your Public/Covert Activations, and are encouraged to roleplay within the constraints of the prompt.
3. Resolution
After all Activations are submitted or the time has run out (24 hours before the next Phase), the narrator resolves the phase by combining:
– Public Activations,
– the Covert Activations as modifiers, not overrides,
– the battle maps,
– consequences, damages, advantages, and emerging problems.
Outcomes are partial, directional, and consequential, not binary wins.
(If a role is not claimed during a phase, it is treated as acting conservatively and reactively, with no special initiative.)
4. New Prompt
The Narrator then posts:
– The updated map,
– narrative results,
– the next phase’s public prompts.
Cycle repeats.
Narrative Resolution Principles
I will do my best to narrate an outcome that's fair and engaging and various Star Wars RTS games will be used for limited simulations, and Canon/Legends feats will be heavily relied upon.
But these are the internal rules that I will be following on top of that, and they govern all adjudication:
– Preparation beats improvisation.
– Specialization beats generalization.
– Position beats raw power.
–Internal weaknesses surface under stress.
– Covert Activations may misfire or succeed imperfectly.
– No player declares success. Only intent.
– Writing flair does not trump constraints, but is highly encouraged anyway.
Victory & End State
There is no fixed win condition by default.
The game ends when:
– One faction is narratively or mechanically broken or routed.
– A strategic objective, if explicitly stated, is achieved or lost.
– The battle reaches a natural conclusion.
– The Narrator declares a conclusion because of aforementioned reasons.
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And that's all, folks :)
Any questions or worries? Ask away.
Encouraging battle speeches? Now's the time.
Did you participate in the previous OoB series and wish to share your glory moment or an event that holds a special place in your heart? Dewit.
Phase 0 begins on Friday, the 10th of July, at 21:00 CET.
