Countdown to the Old Republic

Ah E3. Did anyone else get confused by the site’s “Special Fan Friday”? I mean I was sitting around all day Friday waiting for the special edition to come out and it never came. It was only then that a message came up from the Devs saying that the whole week was technically a Fan Friday, so we weren’t getting one. I don’t mind guys, you did release a load of cool info over the week, but seriously, you shouldn’t have called it a Fan FRIDAY if we weren’t getting anything on the Friday.

Moving on, E3 had its good and bad points. Good: the new cinematic. Who else died while watching it? It was so amazing to see; especially the Trooper who I think has gone from our least popular class to one of our most popular. It’s all over the forums about how cool the guy is and how they would love to play troopers, so well done Bioware for that inspiration.

Also good, SHIPS!!! I LOVE SHIPS!! This was personally one of the reasons I was so looking forward to the game, because my own star ship is a dream come true. And Devs, the Corellian Vanguard: Dream come true. I can’t wait to take that baby for a spin. :P The interior is just as stunning as the exterior with a beautiful set of twin engines, living quarters complete with Jedi statues (how do they not fall over when in Hyperspace?) and a central area that blew my mind. Corellian work truly at its finest.

Ok, the bad: why can’t I be a Twi’lek Jedi?? I love the species so much and I’ve found you’ve limited them to being smugglers. That’s so mean! Well I’m hoping that if you’re successful enough for an expansion pack, you’ll include the Twi’lek Jedi. Pretty please guys.

Ok, we’ll end on a high note: Battlezones!! Yay, we’re going to fight on Alderaan. Known in later times as a centre for politics and democracy, despite being ruled by a monarchy, Alderaan is best remembered for being blown up by the Death Star. So we get to play on a planet that in 4000 years we know won’t be there anymore. Am I the only one who actually thinks that’s stunning? Plus it’s a constant centre of conflict between Sith and Republic for control of the area. And we players get to decide who wins!

And moving on from an awesome week in the Star wars world to this Friday’s release, Blood of the Empire is by far one of the most clichéd storylines I have ever read. Not that it isn’t a good story, but the Sith have a great tendency to repeat the same patterns over and over again, and this particular pattern is one of my personal favourites. Sith Master has apprentice, decided that old apprentice isn’t good enough for any reasons, and gets a new apprentice to kill off the old one. Well it had a slightly different ending than usual but the pattern is there. I guess it is true; if you repeat the same patterns over and over and expect a different result each time, you really are mental. On a side note: who names their kid Maggot? You’re literally asking for them to become the scum of the Galaxy.

Well Master Gnost Dural has another story for us, only this time it’s one we thought we already knew. All Revan fans across the forums are screaming in outrage at the fact that, Revan was actually a bad guy! Dum dum duuuh! Though what I’m surprised with is the fact that so many people are actually surprised by this revelation. I’m sorry everyone who was firm in their belief that everything Revan did was for the good of the Republic and that he was trying to prevent the rise of the True Sith with his conquest of the Galaxy, but it’s time to face the facts. Revan was yet another instrument for a greater evil. I think it disappoints people, because this proves that Revan was not some form of ultimate Sith Lord who tried to conquer the Republic on his own back, but was just another minion for another Sith Lord, conquering on the behalf of a Master, at least according to the records of the Jedi Council. I guess it ruins the romance of Darth Revan, but that should have been obvious. I’m sorry guys but if he was that epic, he would have come back.

Also big thumbs up to Peter Mayhew, who plays our beloved Chewbacca, who returned to the UK for Celebration Europe and was also so very very kind to come up to my home city and sign an autograph for me!!! Never seen someone so tall (7ft 3inches) and still have my attention drawn to the lightsaber walking stick instead of his great height. What a loser am I??

Ah companions. My favourite part of Bioware games. One thing is certainly true: in Star Wars, EVERYONE has a companion character. Han’s got Chewbacca, Anakin had Ashoka, Jabba had that weird little monkey lizard, and now we’re all going to have one too. From Love interests to Padawans, each one we have is going to contribute to our game, making it just a little more interesting that it was the day before. You get your first one early, and as you go on, more and more will want to follow. I hope not too many though. Last thing I need on a covert mission is 20 various people standing behind me when I’m trying to sneak past Imperial guards.


I like that we’re going to be able alter how our companions view us. We can change how they see the world, or if we can’t, odds are they’re going to attack us. Yay! I give it a week before I tick a companion off enough for them to push me into a Sarlacc mouth.

We are being granted a wondrous gift call “The Affection System”. It's sort of based on the Dragon Age affection system and lets the player to alter his companion's feelings through his conduct, words and even presents. So basically means an extra person to shop for if you want to stay on their good side. It really depends on who the companion is and what sort of person the player is role-playing as. Meaning that you can twist someone to become your Dark side Apprentice, or even pull them back from the brink.

I really can’t wait for my first companion. Personally I want a utility droid; I just adore the cute little guys :P

Ok, this is the sign of a true Star Wars geek; a guy who plays a character in Star Wars when you don’t even see his face is coming to town and I still died when I found out. But then again, it is Chewbacca!! I’m serious! Peter Mayhew is back in the UK and will be in my home city. And my wonderful (and I must say dashingly handsome) other half is going to take me. So I must be very flattering in order to stay on his good side, so he doesn’t change his mind and not take me. I love Chewbacca. The giant walking shag carpet has always been one of the most iconic characters to me, because he was always there to remind me that not everyone in Star Wars is human. He’s the constant alien presence and it was awesome when he showed up in Revenge of the Sith, with every other Wookiee on Kashyyyk, backing Master Yoda up all the way. I will do my best for photos and will update soon!!

Lol, ok, did my 30th anniversary post like a good little girl, talked about how much I love Hoth and low and behold, look who showed up this Fan Friday. We're going to Hoth ladies, gentlemen and all unknown genders, the "Icy Graveyard". A tribute to our 30 year anniversary has been given to us. 3 moons, a 323 day year and 23 hours in a day, Hoth is not all that different to our home planet, if you ignore the great frozen wampa-infested wasteland.

But that's what gives this planet its rather unique charm, don't you think? In the very similar words of an unknown scoundral, there's nothing like a line of creatures that hate you and want to kill you to get the heart pumping, right? And to add to the heart racing action, the planet is contested as well. so not only will I have to worry about being eaten by wampas, there's going to be Sith on my tail as well. Forget heart pumping, I may as well have a heart attack right there on the tundra. Someone keep a tauntaun handy for me.... ;P

The Empire Strikes Back is so significant to Star Wars fans, for being the moment where evil actually seems to triumph over the good guys. Luke is rescued, having discovered his father is a psycho, one hand, his friend frozen in carbonite and sold to the highest bidder and everyone in the audience feeling pretty dejected. However it’s only three years until the Return of the Jedi, and frankly that 30th celebration is one I really can’t wait for.

Elyonn