RULES OF PODRACING
The rules of podracing are an extension of the rules for a
series of Piloting (Planetary) checks, each check made
against a difficulty set by the current stretch of the course.
These checks are made by each of any PC/NPCs involved.
Success on a check results in a gain of +1 on the “pole.” At
the end of the race, the leader of the pole wins the race.
The first check of a race is made by the PCs/NPCs in any
order. Each future check is made in order from first to last
on the leader pole.
In the case of ties on the pole, leads are determined by the
greatest number of s on the check, or, if a tie remains, the
greatest number of x, or, if a tie still remains, the greatest
number of a.
CHARACTERISTICS
In perhaps the most unique aspect of podracing, each
podracer has seven characteristics: Speed, Accel, Cooling,
Repair, Turning, Brakes, and Traction. Each of these is set
by the podracer’s parts.
For each stretch of a course, two characteristics are called
out with attached numbers. These characteristics may be
green (Speed, Accel, and Cooling) or red (Turning, Brakes,
and Traction). The Repair characteristic is used elsewhere.
If a green characteristic is called out, and the attached
number is surpassed by the proper characteristic, it adds
positive dice to the pilot’s roll on the check: b if surpassed
by 1; instead the check is upgraded if surpassed by 2; the
check is upgraded and b is added if surpassed by 3; etc.
If a red characteristic is called out, and the number is not
met by the proper characteristic, it adds negative dice to
the pilot’s roll on the check: b if deficient by 1; instead the
check’s difficulty is upgraded if deficient by 2; the check’s
difficulty is upgraded and b is added if deficient by 3; etc.
FAILING CHECKS
Failure on a check results in no gain on the pole. In some
cases, as noted, there may be further results such as: -1 on
the pole; X damage (+1 per t, -1 per a); with y, crash.
DAMAGED PARTS
Due to t or y, parts may be damaged. On any further
podracing checks, before rolling, a pilot may make a Hard
(ddd) Computers check. This check is affected by the
Repair characteristic, similar to other characteristics, but
positively if 3 is surpassed, negatively if deficient from 3.
Attempting a repair check upgrades the difficulty of the
subsequent podracing check.
Success restores damaged parts from 1 to their full rank.
SYSTEM STRAIN
While podracers are treated differently from any normal
vehicle, they do have a standard hull trauma threshold of
10 and a system strain threshold of 10. Also like vehicles,
system strain may not freely be removed by a. However,
system strain may be removed by a on a check up to
the rank of that podracer’s Repair characteristic.
USING a, x, t, AND y
a or x: Remove 1 system strain (may be chosen multiple
times, up to the rank of Repair characteristic).
aa or x: Add b to next podracing check.
aaa or x: Upgrade next podracing check.
x: While trailing on the pole, gain +1 on the pole.
xx: While leading the pole, gain +1 on the pole.
t or y: Add 1 system strain (may be chosen multiple
times).
tt or y: Add b to next podracing check.
ttt or y: Upgrade the difficulty of next podracing
check.
y: Damage a part; until repaired, it is treated as rank 1.
y: With failure, on certain stretches, crash.
yy: Instant crash; with failure, instant death.
OTHER CHECKS
Apart from GM discretion, no checks should be allowed in
a race except the normal Piloting (Planetary) checks and
necessary repair-based Computers checks.
SPENDING DESTINY POINTS
The GM is encouraged to spend Destiny Points in order to
preemptively upgrade the difficulty of podracing checks.
The GM should describe the challenge introduced, and, at
the GM’s discretion, may change the upgraded difficulty
to instead simply b or no added difficulty at all if players
describe their response to this challenge sufficiently in
narrative detail. Players may do so with or without also
upgrading their own check by spending a Destiny Point.
This is meant to encourage narrative detail on the part of
the players in every podracing check, and should be used
or avoided in accordance with that end.
ALTERNATIVE PARTS & SPECIAL QUALITIES
Certain specialized parts, in addition to their base rank,
may provide other bonuses, such as b situationally.
Likewise, certain designs may have special qualities that
are contained in the sampled podracers or that may be
created or allowed by the GM.
SAMPLE PODRACERS HISTORIC PODRACERS
CT-400 “SHIFTER” XL-5115
The CT-400 “Shifter” strips down its weight with smaller Ody Mandrell’s XL-5115 was known for its large engines
engines and compromised cooling systems, instead and for Ody’s propensity for pushing his racer’s weight
relying on advanced control coupling and pristine Mark-V around on the course.
air brakes for the advantage.
4 4 4 3 4 4 3
3 3 2 1 4 4 2 SPEED ACCEL COOLING REPAIR TURNING BRAKES TRACTION

SPEED ACCEL COOLING REPAIR TURNING BRAKES TRACTION

HT THRESHOLD SS THRESHOLD

HT THRESHOLD SS THRESHOLD
12 9
10 10
Podracer Model: XL-5115.
Podracer Model: CT-400 “Shifter.” Manufacturer: Exelbrok.
Manufacturer: Baroo Engineering. Cost/Rarity: 74,700.
Cost/Rarity: 39,200. Customization Hard Points: 3.
Customization Hard Points: 3. Parts: XL-5115 Engines (Speed: 4), Quad 32-PCX Injector
Parts: Plug-5 Thrust Coil (Speed: 3), Dual 32-PCX Injector (Accel: 4), Rod Coolant Pump (Cooling: 4), Quad Power
(Accel: 3), Stack-3 Radiator (Cooling: 2), Single Power Cell Cell (Repair: 2), Control Coupling (Turning: 4), Mark-V
(Repair: 1), Control Coupling (Turning: 4), Mark-V Air Air Brake (Brakes: 4), R-80 Repulsorgrip (Traction: 3).
Brake (Brakes: 4), R-60 Repulsorgrip (Traction: 2). Specialty: Weighty (once per race, inflict damage equal to
a on a podracer within 1 on the pole).
KF-X3 “BRUISER”
PLUG-F “MAMMOTH”
The KF-X3 “Bruiser” is a classic from Malastare Designs,
incorporating higher-tier thrust coils and a rod coolant Sebulba’s Plug-F “Mammoth” was a huge, orange racer
pump system for maximum thrust, at the expense of air that helped Sebulba win fame around the galaxy as one of
brakes and traction, and hull integrity over system wiring. the most fearsome contestants of all time.
The hull is known for often crushing opponents literally.
5 3 6 2 4 2 3
4 3 4 1 3 2 2 SPEED ACCEL COOLING REPAIR TURNING BRAKES TRACTION

SPEED ACCEL COOLING REPAIR TURNING BRAKES TRACTION

HT THRESHOLD SS THRESHOLD

HT THRESHOLD SS THRESHOLD
14 7
12 8
Podracer Model: Plug-F “Mammoth.”
Podracer Model: KF-X3 “Bruiser.” Manufacturer: Collar Pondrat.
Manufacturer: Malastare Designs. Cost/Rarity: 140,000.
Cost/Rarity: 29,500. Customization Hard Points: 1.
Customization Hard Points: 3. Parts: Split-X Turbojet Engines (Speed: 5), Dual 32-PCX
Parts: Plug-8 Thrust Coil (Speed: 4), Dual 32-PCX Injector Injector (Accel: 3), Ram-air Intake System (Cooling: 6),
(Accel: 3), Rod Coolant Pump (Cooling: 4), Dual Power Dual Power Cell (Repair: 2), Personalized Control
Cell (Repair: 2), Control Vectro-jet (Turning: 3), Mark-IV Coupling (Turning: 4; once per race, add b to a check
Air Brake (Brakes: 3), R-60 Repulsorgrip (Traction: 2). involving Turning), Mark-III Air Brake (Brakes: 2), R-80
Repulsorgrip (Traction: 3).
Specialty: Flamethrowers (once per race, upgrade the
difficulty of a podracing check; if successful, inflict 5
damage on a podracer at the same rank on the pole), Buzz
Saw (once per race, upgrade the difficulty of a podracing
check; inflict damage equal to a on a podracer at the
same rank on the pole), Nail Shooter (once per race,
upgrade the difficulty of a podracing check; inflict strain
equal to a on a pilot at the same rank on the pole).
SAMPLE COURSE: SCRAPPER’S RUN TRICKY SKYWAYS (LAP 2)
The following course, Scrapper’s Run, takes place on the The racers hold position into Lap 2, as they pass again
gas giant Ord Ibanna in the Outer Rim Territories. Once Scoundrel’s Gambit, the old refinery and Scrapper’s Yard.
the location of a thriving Tibanna mining colony, the site is This lap, however, the tricky skyways prove... trickier.
now largely abandoned except for those racers who still PILOTING CHECK
return to brave its terrifying jumps over the deep abyss. 2 5
ddc
SPEED TURNING
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Success: +1 on pole.
Scrapper’s Run takes racers across a floating heap of Failure: -1 on pole; 4 damage to podracer.
fragmented roadways, forcing them to negotiate narrow
catwalks and perilous scrap piles thousands of miles from OLD GAS REFINERY (LAP 3)
the planet’s core.
As the racers leap the high jump into the third lap, this
The following six checks are suggested for use. Notice, the final pass finds the old gas refinery a formidable stretch.
six checks are intended to represent highlights from the A wrong move ignites deadly explosions.
three laps of the race.
PILOTING CHECK
5 4
SCOUNDREL’S GAMBIT (LAP 1) cc
BRAKES TURNING
Scrapper’s Run begins with a classic bottle-neck as the
Success: +1 on pole.
course moves from a wide open platform to a narrow
Failure: No movement on pole; 5 damage to podracer
causeway looping around the colony. Failure to hold the
(plus, at GM’s choice, damage equal to t in the case of
turn results in a fall to the lower, slower course; though it
either Success or Failure); with y, podracer crashes.
may provide freer movement than the busy topside.

PILOTING CHECK HIGH JUMP (LAP 3)

2 6
dd Ragged and running hot, the pack of racers take on the
ACCEL TURNING
High Jump once again in a fitting end to Scrapper’s Run
Success: +1 on pole. and, for some racers, their hopes, dreams, and lives.
Failure: -1 on pole (may spend a or x for +0 instead); 3
PILOTING CHECK
damage to podracer.
2 4
ddc
COOLING TRACTION
SCRAPPER’S YARD (LAP 1)
Success: +1 on pole.
The course winds through an old gas refinery (covered in
Failure: No movement on pole; with y, podracer crashes.
Lap 2) and proceeds on through the middle of a nasty
scrapyard. Over scrap and under, the racers vie for strong
positioning, taking tight turns at high speed. IDEAS FOR SPENDING DESTINY POINTS
Here are suggestions for narrative reasons the GM might
PILOTING CHECK
use when spending Destiny Points, specific to this course.
3 5
dc
SPEED BRAKES • An avalanche of scrap parts cascades down the great
Success: +1 on pole. piles, dropping huge chunks of scrap down through the
Failure: No movement on pole; 3 damage to podracer. course here at Scrapper’s Yard...
• A great gust of wind blows across the platform, catching
HIGH JUMP (LAP 1) some racers with special force, hurling them off course...
The course whips around tricky skyways (covered in Lap • A trailing racer on a prior lap smashed head on into an
2) and finally ramps up a short, windy stretch before a old gas silo, and a wall of flames has erupted across the
precipitous drop into the nothingness below. course as the racers approach the old gas refinery...

PILOTING CHECK Remember, the GM may use these toward making a check
2 4 more difficult, but also for encouraging players to engage
ddc
COOLING TRACTION more descriptively in narration if the GM offers to change
an upgraded difficulty to instead a mere b or even no
Success: +1 on pole.
added difficulty in return for strong narration.
Failure: No movement on pole; with y, podracer crashes.