Cloning in STAR WARS

by Eric Carltock


Cloning: The mere mention of the word in the Imperial era brings to mind terrible images of death and destruction by huge armies of unstoppable clones. For centuries it was known that cloning was possible. Once cloning of animals and creatures was not uncommon, and there were stories of wealthy individuals using clone bodies and organs to greatly extend their lifespan. However, as with all technology, cloning has its own terrible dark side. Many would use it to bring forth armies of darkness to terrorize and despoil the galaxy.

Extremely hard to find now, the parts and components used in the cloning process are carefully controlled by the Empire's military and intelligence sectors. The vats require huge and constant amounts of power, requiring the use of surge controllers and back-up generators, not to mention the extremely controlled environment which the clones to be are grown in. Temperature must remain at a constant 50 degrees, no more and no less, while the clones are kept suspended in a nutrient-rich bath -- a sort of artificial amniotic fluid -- until ready.

Gravity was also an important factor in the growth of the clones. Lighter gravity grew thinner, more fragile clones, that were more suited to piloting a starcraft, while heavier gravity was required to grow a clone of exceptional strength. Powerful computers and a small army of droid attendants were used to ensure that all the clones grew within the rigidly defined parameters required. Entire complexes were built by the Clone Masters specifically for the purpose of growing clones, while other complexes would provide the power, chemicals and parts needed.

Modern technology allows clones to be grown to physical adulthood in just a few weeks. However, producing clones that are mentally stable requires years: usually three to five, and one at the very minimum. There were several incidents in the last days of the Clone Wars when clone batches that were not yet "ripe" were pressed into service by their desperate masters. These insane clones ran amok, destroying friend and foe indiscriminantly.

Admiral Thrawn recognized that the stability issue was actually due to how the clone mind interacted with the Force. If the body was grown too fast, the mind didn't have time to "adjust" (like a normal mind does) and went crazy. Thrawn's breakthrough was to use ysalamiri around the vats, removing the interaction between the mind and the Force and thus the instability associated with quick growth.


Spaarti Cylinder
Type: Cloning vat
Availability: 4, X
Scale: Character
Cost: Not for sale

Game notes: Each cylinder can hold one clone. Clones can be grown at regular rates (taking a full 20-30 years to mature, just like a normal person) or faster. Speeding up the process can be dangerous without close supervision, leading to deformed or insane clones.

Spaarti cylinders have "growth" dice of 5D. Growing a clone is normally a very easy task, producing an adult body that is stable and ready for training, skill-imprinting or the occasional soul transfer. However, would-be Clone Masters often do not want to wait a lifetime. Clones may be grown in less time by subtracting 1D for every six years and increasing the difficulty to moderate. The absolute minimum time is one day for every two years of physical age. Extra growth dice may be added by using extra-rich nutrient solutions (which increase the cost still further) or by adding dice from an attending person or droid with the (A) medicine skill, up to a maximum of 3D. Ysalamiri add another 3D for purposes of stability.

Example: Bob the Clone Master needs an adult clone and he needs one fast. He decides to risk growing the clone as fast as possible. He has a ysalamiri set up around the cylinder, increasing its growth dice to 8D. He subtracts 5D for thirty years and has 3D left to roll against a moderate difficulty. The roll is a success, and the clone is ready in a mere two weeks.

The nutrient bath required to grow one clone costs 2,000 credits; an extra-rich solution can run as high as 10,000 credits. However, this is usually the easiest part to find compared with a ysalamiri, a scientist who knows how to grow clones, or the cylinders themselves.

Persistent rumor has it that the Empire uses cloning to make stormtroopers. It is said that up to 80% of stormtroopers are clones, with the remainder being recruited from SAGroup.



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