Mandalorian Reveal and Faction Guide news - Star Wars: Interregnum mod for Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion

As I’m sure you’re all aware, this weekend is a special one to Star Wars fans. The Force Awakens represents a new hope for our favorite franchise and the first opportunity to see Star Wars on the big screen in many years.

In honor of this, and also as promised to the community by our team as a reward for Interregnum reaching the top 100 in the Mod of the Year contest, I am proud to reveal the other faction making its first appearance in our mod in the Alpha 3 release.

As many of you may have suspected from the recent hints being dropped, the world of the great Interregnum will soon see the resurgence of the fearsome Mandalorians. The Raiders will completely replace the pirates in Interregnum, keeping the base mechanics but adding a level of immersion and detail to the universe. The Mandalorians will be a much more significant threat to the major factions than the forces of the Atzerri Cartel. As a result, especially in the early game, those frantic bidding wars to avoid a raid on owned territory or redirect it to a foe’s will be all the more intense.

Faction Overview

The Mandalorian Raiders represent a fringe sect of Mandalorian society. The Interregnum has fragmented the galaxy and worn down the larger powers, the Galactic Empire and the New Republic, as they struggle to counter the threat posed by extra-galactic invaders. In the chaos, Mandalore found itself in a curious position. Caught roughly between the territory of two Imperial warlords, external supervision on Mandalorian activity disappeared for the first time since the Imperial Occupation after the Clone Wars. Sensing opportunity, many Mandalorians quietly returned home, and before long, the foundries of MandalMotors and their subsidiary corporations began a production run unrivaled in recent memory.

The majority of Mandalorians accepted the leadership of Boba Fett, recently appointed as Mand'alor. The remainder, however, disagreed with the Fett’s longer term, more patient strategy. Accordingly, these Mandos acquired what weapons, vessels, and armor they could and began an independent, less focused, campaign.

Befitting the ad-hoc nature of Mandalorian culture, the Raiders employ an eclectic and unusual variety of vessels in their endeavors. In terms of vessels they produce themselves, the Mandalorians rely on a small lineup of craft produced by MandalMotors or Mandal Hypernautics, which tend to share characteristics such as reliability, heavy armor, and variety in armament. The staple vessels of the Mandalorian raiding fleet are Crusader-class Corvettes, designed to punch far above their weight class and tangle with much heavier vessels, and Protector-class gunships, an advanced variant designed for anti-strikecraft work. For truly difficult engagements, the Raiders may choose to deploy the Mandal Hypernautics designed Keldabe-class Battleship, one of the few privately produced vessels capable of tangling with an Imperial Star Destroyer.

Supporting the small line-up of home-built vessels is a collection composed of any combat-ready vessels readily available. Always a resourceful people, Mandalorian fleets often include vessels salvaged from the Clone Wars or adapted from civilian designs. Frequently seen are the Interceptor-IV frigate, a modification of the reliable Action VI Transport, and the Acclamator-I Cruiser, many of which were collected in the years after the Clone Wars.

The Acclamator-I, which primarily operates as a troop carrier, represents a commitment to a larger, significant strategic decision made by the Mandalorians. During a time in which the focus of planetary assault has shifted to orbital bombardment, the Mandalorians remain committed to the transportation and deployment of elite surface armies. True to form, Mandalorians are crack troops in ground combat, fearsome in their gleaming beskar’gam. Additionally, the Mandalorian Warrior culture is reflected by tactical choices in naval combat, which often include attempting to capture and repurpose opposing vessels.

Unit List

Capitalship (Battleship) – Keldabe-class Battleship

Named for Mandalore’s capital city, the Keldabe Battleship is a heavy, extraordinarily well armed, sizeable cruiser designed for large-scale naval engagements.

Capitalship (Carrier) – Venator-class Star Destroyer

With the unusually rapid retirement of the Venator class in the Imperial Navy, many Venator class vessels found their ways into third parties, and the Mandalorians were the most active collectors. In Mando fleets, they continue to act in a carrier and command role. Commonly deployed in support of Mandalorian Raiding parties are two homebrew fighter designs out of MandalMotors: the M3-A Scyk and the M12-L Kimogila. The Scyk functions as a versatile, light fighter comparable to a TIE series craft. Kimogilas, on the other hand, are the preferred choice for conducting bomber attacks on hard targets.

Frigate/Cruiser List

Dreadnaught Heavy Cruiser – Heavy Cruiser

Crusader Class Corvette – Light Frigate

Interceptor IV Frigate – Long Range Frigate

Protector Class Gunship – Antifighter Frigate

Acclamator-I Cruiser – Siege Frigate

Firespray Class Patrol Ship – Corvette

Thank you all for your support during Mod of the Year. Please consider voting for us in the final round of voting! As a reminder, if Interregnum places in the top 5 of the ‘Upcoming Mods’ category, the Eclipse-Class Super Star Destroyer will be added to the mod, and taking first place would see us commit to adding a new, playable faction.

May the Force be with you as you go to see Episode VII this weekend.

-ahobgoblin