Fantasy Flight Games is planning a Q1 2014 release of Star Wars: Dangerous Covenants (MSRP $29.95), a rules supplement for the Star Wars: Edge of Empire role-playing game.  Dangerous Covenants, which is subtitled "A Sourcebook for Hired Guns," focuses on making players better fighters and more likely to survive in the rough and ruthless world of Star Wars mercenaries.  This rules supplement expands the game's "Hired Gun" career with new specialization, talent, equipment, character, and vehicle options.
 
The mercenaries are among the most colorful characters in the Star Wars saga so expanding the "Hired Gun" character opportunities in the Edge of Empire game makes sense.  Set in the rough and tumble border regions of the Empire, Star Wars:  Edge of Empire is a standalone RPG system that FFG launched earlier this year (see "'Star Wars: Edge of Empire Core Rulebook'").
 
The new Dark Covenants hardcover includes sections on Hired Guns’ motivations, obligations, and background--this is the kind of in-depth RPG that encourages players to create elaborate backstories for their characters.  Of course it also includes new advancement opportunities in the form of a Hired Gun’s "signature" abilities as well as some serious weaponry and cool vehicles.
 
Dark Covenants should also prove useful for GMs in crafting memorable and exciting combat encounters.  Suggestions range from practical details like the pay that Hired Guns receive for jobs like protection, mercenary work, and sabotage to overarching campaign guidance and beyond.