What kinds of security systems does SW have?

[Adam Reynolds]

I was planning a target for a Star Wars based heist in an RPG, and was having trouble figuring out what types of security systems would be in place. What sorts of things are generally present? There were a few cameras and other sensors in ANH, which Han and Luke blasted when they rescue Leia, but I'm not really sure about specifics.

One relevant idea I really like, largely based on R2's hacking in the OT, is that hacking in SW is generally a contest between droid intelligences. Thus it is often about motivations and desires of the protective system as much as it is about finding technical flaws. Which is vastly more dramatically interesting than trying to deal with technical issues.

[Solauren]

Off hand, any security system that is present in the real-world, they probably have better versions in Star Wars
i.e Motion Sensors, sonic sensors, infrared sensors (possibly other parts of the EM spectrum), preasure-plate sensors, air current sensors, laser trip wires (across the spectrum), and even little robots that blend in with the surroundings but monitor everything independent of the main network to prevent hacking.


Also, imagine how hard rescuing Leia from the Death Star would have been without R2.
R2 probably disabled most of the security systems in the detention block (obviously not all of them).

If he hadn't, automated weapons could have kicked in, bulkheads/security/blast doors, knock-out gas that even goes past the filters on Stormtrooper armor, electrified floors and walls, droids, and lots of other things could have activated.

Really, the security you want to set up is limited to your imagination, and what you don't want the PC's to disable with an ion blaster, rip out of the walls, and resell on the Black market for more credits.

[Lord Revan]

I suspect it depends on what are you stealing and from whom. You'd probably have cameras, motion sensors, lifeform sensors and similar like solauren stated. Govermental installations or asset for a wealthier criminal may have things like forcefields or combat droids (either patrolling in the open or disguised as scenery) remember that K2 droids from rogue one was one of such droid types used by the empire.

Also if the place being raided is owned by someone with more resources they might have beefier electronic security then your average imperial frontier garrison or a small shop.

[FaxModem1]

Exactly what security, if any, did The Mandalorian and the crew he was with face when trying to free a prisoner from New Republic prison transport? It was a lone guard in the control room and several droids doing patrols. If anything went wrong, three x-wings come in and kill everyone on board.

[Solauren]

Exactly what security, if any, did The Mandalorian and the crew he was with face when trying to free a prisoner from New Republic prison transport? It was a lone guard in the control room and several droids doing patrols. If anything went wrong, three x-wings come in and kill everyone on board.

For holding high risk, high danger criminals, all schduled to be executed anyway, that might have been more cost-effective then other security measures.

[bilateralrope]

Exactly what security, if any, did The Mandalorian and the crew he was with face when trying to free a prisoner from New Republic prison transport? It was a lone guard in the control room and several droids doing patrols. If anything went wrong, three x-wings come in and kill everyone on board.

For holding high risk, high danger criminals, all schduled to be executed anyway, that might have been more cost-effective then other security measures.

Except that it requires a crew member to hit the 'kill everybody' button. Knowing they are included in that 'everybody'.

Shoot or bribe that crew member before he hits the button and the x-wings won't come.

[Lord Revan]

Exactly what security, if any, did The Mandalorian and the crew he was with face when trying to free a prisoner from New Republic prison transport? It was a lone guard in the control room and several droids doing patrols. If anything went wrong, three x-wings come in and kill everyone on board.

For holding high risk, high danger criminals, all schduled to be executed anyway, that might have been more cost-effective then other security measures.

Except that it requires a crew member to hit the 'kill everybody' button. Knowing they are included in that 'everybody'.

Shoot or bribe that crew member before he hits the button and the x-wings won't come.

Well I'd suspect that shooting the guard wouldn't work (at least I'd link that beacon to lifesigns monitor so if the guard's lifesigns aren't present for certain time, the X-Wings come) granted that doesn't work against bribes.

[FaxModem1]

For holding high risk, high danger criminals, all schduled to be executed anyway, that might have been more cost-effective then other security measures.

Except that it requires a crew member to hit the 'kill everybody' button. Knowing they are included in that 'everybody'.

Shoot or bribe that crew member before he hits the button and the x-wings won't come.

Well I'd suspect that shooting the guard wouldn't work (at least I'd link that beacon to lifesigns monitor so if the guard's lifesigns aren't present for certain time, the X-Wings come) granted that doesn't work against bribes.

Considering the guard was killed stone dead, that's obviously not the case, so Star Wars Security relies on their guards being alive, not corrupt, and willing to be alone on a prison ship alone with nothing but droids between them and the prisoners. It was a tracking beacon he HAD to press.

[Solauren]

Redundant systems to alert the Republic there was a problem.
He could press the button, or his death activated it.

[bilateralrope]

For holding high risk, high danger criminals, all schduled to be executed anyway, that might have been more cost-effective then other security measures.

Except that it requires a crew member to hit the 'kill everybody' button. Knowing they are included in that 'everybody'.

Shoot or bribe that crew member before he hits the button and the x-wings won't come.

Well I'd suspect that shooting the guard wouldn't work (at least I'd link that beacon to lifesigns monitor so if the guard's lifesigns aren't present for certain time, the X-Wings come) granted that doesn't work against bribes.

So use a weapon with a stun setting.

[Solauren]

Could have the monitor that goes off when he's dead go off if it's hit by a stun setting.

Just set that monitor up so it's sending out a signal 'all is fine', to the ship, which is sending it to the Republic. Any disruption (i.e pilote/guard dying or pressing button, monitor is disabled, signal is interrupted), send the X-wings.

[bilateralrope]

Sure, there is a lot they could do. For example, they could have some alarm that goes off when droids start going offline. Maybe not a 'kill the ship' alarm, but something to make the human guard lock the door to the bridge.

But they didn't do that, so I'm hesitant to assume the existence of any system not shown on screen.

[Solauren]

I'd assume it exists, but the New Republic didn't care enough/want to spend that much.

Hell, we could set up a monitoring system like that with OUR technology. I already recieve alerts when I get an email, or lose my internet connection. I have programs set up at work that notify me if I lose access to one of the network drives, and if my primary printer goes offline I get a pop-up.

That's with Earth software on Microsoft windows. A society that created R2-D2 could do that easy.

[Adam Reynolds]

I haven't seen The Mandalorian, but am I the only one that sees something wrong with the New Republic executing prisoners like this? I never thought that Disney would do a worse job making the New Republic than Legends canon.

Also, are there any SW heists that don't devolve into blaster fights?

[Solauren]

It could be their view on the prisoners was 'better dead then lose'.

Also, we were never given all the details. For all we know, they were enroute to a prison colony, that was uncharted, and they never left. Effectively, from a galactic stand-point, that's a death sentence.

And the sort of location you DO NOT want being known, to prevent a mass break out attempt.

[Lord Revan]

It could be their view on the prisoners was 'better dead then lose'.

Also, we were never given all the details. For all we know, they were enroute to a prison colony, that was uncharted, and they never left. Effectively, from a galactic stand-point, that's a death sentence.

And the sort of location you DO NOT want being known, to prevent a mass break out attempt.

It's also possible that X-Wings didn't attack until they noticed that the beacon was clearly not on the prison transport and thus where ever it was would most likely be hostile.

For all we know the actual policy was to send troops with escorts to secure the transport but when they got the transport they noticed that the beacon was not on the transport.

But still we know way too little to draw any sort of far reaching conclusion especially as our only true source on the matter is bound to be biased.

[Marko Dash]

an idea came to me about R2.

what if he is able to get into imperial systems so well because he 'has' access. by which i mean he was utilized in the clone wars by a high ranking member in the military, what if there are still some legacy software that flags R2 as 'authorized maintenance droid'.

or the go a little farther with that, and assuming he (unlike 3PO) never got a memory wipe. what if the system thinks he's still Vader's droid.

[Solauren]

It could be their view on the prisoners was 'better dead then lose'.

Also, we were never given all the details. For all we know, they were enroute to a prison colony, that was uncharted, and they never left. Effectively, from a galactic stand-point, that's a death sentence.

And the sort of location you DO NOT want being known, to prevent a mass break out attempt.

It's also possible that X-Wings didn't attack until they noticed that the beacon was clearly not on the prison transport and thus where ever it was would most likely be hostile.

For all we know the actual policy was to send troops with escorts to secure the transport but when they got the transport they noticed that the beacon was not on the transport.

But still we know way too little to draw any sort of far reaching conclusion especially as our only true source on the matter is bound to be biased.

Agreed. I'm still looking at things from the context of the Opening Post - What sort of security system does Star Wars have.
Not how the N.R handled prisoners.

[Solauren]

an idea came to me about R2.

what if he is able to get into imperial systems so well because he 'has' access. by which i mean he was utilized in the clone wars by a high ranking member in the military, what if there are still some legacy software that flags R2 as 'authorized maintenance droid'.

or the go a little farther with that, and assuming he (unlike 3PO) never got a memory wipe. what if the system thinks he's still Vader's droid.

I don't think Vader is that stupid. The drones left Mustafar with Kenobi. Therefore, they are in the hands of a wanted insurrectionists. Any special access R2 had should have to be coded out.

The better explanation is all imperial droids have restraining bolts, and R2 doesn't. Oh, and he spent 20 years covertly studying imperial systems as Bail Organa got a hold of them.

[Gandalf]

Vader being an idiot and forgetting about Artoo's access would fit with the general overconfidence of the Empire. Outside of general space wizard stuff, does he do a whole lot in the OT era aside from being the head goon for the Emperor and his inner circle?

[Elheru Aran]

Vader being an idiot and forgetting about Artoo's access would fit with the general overconfidence of the Empire. Outside of general space wizard stuff, does he do a whole lot in the OT era aside from being the head goon for the Emperor and his inner circle?

Depends on what you're reading. The comic books have him working to restructure the Imperial military alongside guys like Tagge post ANH. He also does a few diplomatic missions, but those might fall under your category of 'head goon' as well.

[Solauren]

Vader being an idiot and forgetting about Artoo's access would fit with the general overconfidence of the Empire. Outside of general space wizard stuff, does he do a whole lot in the OT era aside from being the head goon for the Emperor and his inner circle?

Vader forgetting about Artoo, I can't see. I can see someone else not doing anything with it.

I can see this:
Debriefing Vader----
"So, your droid with additional abilities, software, and access codes was taken by an insurgent?"
"I believe so, yes."
"I'll make sure security and intel are informed."

Then security/intel goes. "Oh, it's one droid, what can it do?"

[Batman]

Well what 'are' the chances of R2 always ending up in the thick of things?

[Gandalf]

Vader forgetting about Artoo, I can't see.

Vader seemed to have a mental break with his pre-Mustafar self, to the point where Anakin Skywalker is referred to in the third person. I could see him pushing Artoo et al into the "old life" and not thinking about it at all, instead focusing on the new life of being muscle for his new boss.

I can see someone else not doing anything with it.

I can see this:
Debriefing Vader----
"So, your droid with additional abilities, software, and access codes was taken by an insurgent?"
"I believe so, yes."
"I'll make sure security and intel are informed."

Then security/intel goes. "Oh, it's one droid, what can it do?"

That certainly makes sense. Given that ANH shows us two Imperial gunners who decide not to fire on the escape pod with no lifesigns, perhaps a lot of people in thr SW universe just don't "see" droids or ascribe them agency.

[Solauren]

Based on the old EU, that appears to be a dominate belief amongst the Imperial government and militiary.

In fact, in one of the older books I read (admittedly it was the X-wing Strategy guide, which was laid out like a novel of sorts), that was mentioned, and how the Rebellion wanted to change that.