Science Fiction Wargaming: Star Wars Trilogy, Episode Six Return Of The Jedi, Wizards Of The Coast, Jedi Master, Darth Vader, And Star Wars Universe Figurines

Wargaming is a popular pastime in many science fiction cliques. Science fiction fans have been enjoying these role playing games for the past 20 years. Star Wars wargaming, in particular, has gained the most popularity in recent years.

Star Wars science fiction role playing games (RPG), which follow characters from the Star Wars films, were first introduced by the West End Games company in 1987, four years after the release of the final installment of the first Star Wars Trilogy, Episode Six: Return of the Jedi.

The West End RPG game was considered so influential it laid the groundwork for the Star Wars Expanded Universe.

This universe is used to tell Star Wars stories in different time periods or on planets other than the ones featured in the trilogy films. It follows the original characters as well as new intergalactic personalities. Star Wars creator George Lucas gave a copy of the RPG sourcebook to novelist Timothy Zahn for inspiration when he was writing the Star Wars Thrawn Trilogy.

Wizards of the Coast, the online and in-store merchandising chain, offers several varieties of science fiction wargaming figurines for Star Wars gamers. The first is the Bounty Hunter line, which offers figurines of Boba Fett, Bossk, IG-88 and other characters from the Expanded Universe.

Wizards of the Coast also offers the Champions of the Force line, which features Jedi characters dueling against their rivals, the Sith race. The Jedi include Luke Skywalker and Barriss Offee. Sith Lords include Darth Malak and Darth Maul.

Lastly, Wizards of the Coast offers figurines entitled Star Wars Universe. These science fiction wargaming figurines are of the majority of characters in the Star Wars films as well as the Expanded Universe novels. Characters include the battle droids from Episode One, Obi-Wan riding Boga on the planet Utapau from Episode Three, and the Acklay, Nexu and Reek during the Battle of Geonosis from Episode Two.

Other Star Wars wargaming figurines include Han Solo and Princess Leia dressed in camouflage during the Battle of Endor, two different figures of Luke Skywalker- one dressed as a Jedi Master and one riding a Tauntaun- from Episode Five, Darth Vader, Admiral Ackbar, the Rancor monster from Jabba's Palace, storm troopers, Super Battle Droids and Darth Maul on his speeder bike.

In November 2000, Star Wars actors Jake Lloyd (young Anakin Skywalker) and Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca the Wookie) took part in the “Wizards of the Coast Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game” launch celebration in Seattle, Wash.

Lloyd and Mayhew were played the science fiction wargame and signed autographs for Star Wars fans. Other people present to help launch the science fiction game include artists Drew Struzan, Adam Hughes and Mark Price. Many Star Wars fans were in attendance at the science fiction wargaming launch. Some people even dressed as their favorite Star Wars character such as Boba Fett and Darth Vader.