W is for super Weapon

A super weapon is an antagonist and Nemesis given the form of a terrifying object. It is a means to inspire fear and trepidation on the galactic scale fueled by the accumulated wealth, anxieties, and nightmares of a trillion worlds.

Super weapons are the ultimate display of both power and hubris. They are designed by highly focused minds, flawed by deep-rooted neuroses. Super weapons are also a projection of a society, proudly showing their most advanced technologies built, in vain, to alleviate their crippling insecurities.

Everything about a super weapon must be over the top and larger than life. They are always described in the most extreme way possible, often with one or more Superfluous Descriptors. These monikers need not even be accurate. the need only inspire fear, wonder, and awe in those that gaze upon them.

Though the ideals behind them are quite radical, the basis of functionality and purpose to a super weapon is always grounded in a relatively simple idea. The Means and Method of a super weapon are easy to grasp, in contrast to the often ignored technological details, so as to be immediately understood in a story. They often represent a very basic idea, magnified to a truly galactic scale.

Lastly, all super weapons must inevitably face their own downfall in the form of an exploitable Vulnerability. This weakness has the most dramatic impact when used to mirror the personality flaws of the super weapon’s designer, such as the Death Star being destroyed by insignificant snub fighters to reflect Grand Moff Tarkin’s apathy towards those he deemed beneath him.

To generate a new Super Weapon, roll at least four d10’s on the table below for a random assortment of a least one selection from each of the four columns. Or, simply select as many choices from the Superfluous Descriptor, Means, Method, and Vulnerability categories that fit the unique, new technological terror you have constructed.

d10		SUPERFLUOUS DESCRIPTOR		MEANS		METHOD		VULNERABILITY
1		Death		space station		extreme destruction		starfighters
2		Super		planetary destruction		extreme range		computer slicing
3		Ancient		torpedo		advanced artificial intelligence		the Force
4		Chaos		tractor beam		affects hyperspace		ion cannons
5		Shadow		laser cannon		self-replicating		a traitor within
6		Hyperspace		crystal		affects the Force		very slow
7		Dark		droid		affects gravity		requires costly fuel or other upkeep
8		Star		Jedi or other Force user		undetectable		sonic vibrations
9		Graviton		army		indestructible		sensor or communications disruptions
10		Electromagnetic		starship		psychic		boarding parties