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Nyxotic

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  1. DISCLAIMER: I personally would love to see MORE Old Republic merchandise! Mugs! T-shirts! Backpacks! Toys! A plushie Nerf! So, do not take the following comments to mean that I don't want these things, too. ---------- The difference between Blizzard/WoW (for example of game merchandising) and BW/SWTOR is that Blizzard OWNS the Warcraft rights, whereas BW merely licenses the rights to use the Star Wars franchise in their game. Formerly LucasArts and now Disney OWNS Star Wars, and it would be up to the remains of the former and most of the latter to decide who can market what and when. For BW, I think it smarter to focus on doing what they do best - being a game company - and let LA/Disney and third-party merchandising licensees decide what could or could not be best marketed in relation to the Star Wars franchise in general and The Old Republic era in specific. So, petitioning BW here about wanting SWTOR merchandise is kind of barking up the wrong tree. It might be more on target to hit up Disney, what remains of LucasArts, or even third-party companies like SteelSeries, JINX (for T-shirts), FigurePrints, and so on. Speaking of The Old Republic, there are already books and LEGOs for The Old Republic era, and if you would like to send a message to the powers that be that there is money to be made here I suggest you buy at least some of these items. Remember, companies are there to make money - big, fat stacks of money; fulfilling your wants is only an incidental byproduct of that. Cold, I know, but true.
  2. <The Enclave of Mandalore> is a new, Mando’ade-themed guild comprised of fun-loving, casual-but-active, mature players who enjoy mixing together a devoted interest in Mando’a language and Mando’ade culture RP with the usual SW:TOR PvE and PvP mayhem. We are looking for like-minded players who would like to join our small but growing aliit. What you need to know: - Being Mando’ade-themed, our characters can be a rough and tumble lot when IC. But, as players, we expect everyone to be respectful of each other OOC. It is all about camaderie! Vod'e an! - Not every Bounty Hunter needs be a Mando’ad, and not every Mando’ad has to be a Bounty Hunter. So, don’t worry, we can find a way to welcome in your favorite characters in regardless of class and background. - You don’t have to know a lot about Mando’ade culture, history, or stories, nor do you have to speak Mando’a. Many of us do, but even if you don’t that’s OK. All of us had to start somewhere, and we will be happy to teach you what we know if you want to learn. - From the use of ‘Enclave’ in our guild name, we are not specifically all Mando’ade of a single Mandalorian clan. So, you can feel free to have your Mando’ad be of any clan or with any sort of history. We just enjoy the Mando’ade story arcs in general, even as we create our own within SW:TOR. - We try to use Mando’a words when we can, we like to discuss Mando’ade stories and culture, and we think of our characters as Mando’ade. But, we are not a ‘heavy’ RP guild. No one is going to get down on you if you are talking OOC or get your Mando’ade history mixed up or even if you don’t RP much at all. Some of us do WZ’s and PvP fanatically, others enjoy exploring the PvE world and stories to their penultimate reaches, and some… well, some seem content to spend lots of time in the cantinas ogling the Twi’lek dancers. If you have questions, please, post them here, or you can send whispers, mail, and messages to Raethandra, Atin’buir, Rhevene, Jadus, or Imo’gene in game. Oya! Vod’e an! Mando’ade darasuum!
  3. You do know you can create your own chat tabs and then select/deselect what specific types of messages you see in said tabs, right? I am NOT being sarcastic! I am really trying to help here. I have found this feature to be VERY useful in narrowing down visible chat to only what I want to be reading at any given time.
  4. Agreed. RP is, first and foremost, about using one's imagination. Everything else - from different armors and outfits, to emotes, to non-combat items (e.g., mini-pets), and so on - is all just icing on the RP cake. Yes, there are game mechanics that could facilitate or enhance RP, but these are not necessary for RP. I am not saying this to say making suggestions for added RP elements lack merit or should not be posted. Far from it! I, too, would love to actually be able to sit in a chair (!), see even MOAR emotes, and, most important to myself, MOVING MOUTHS WHEN I USE '/SAY'!!! But, these are just wants, not needs. And, a lack of implementation of these wants in the game should neither stop any of us from RP-ing nor does it mean SW:TOR is a lacking game in general or for RP in specific. So, take a deep breath, organize your thoughts, go use the "Suggestions" forum, and then get on with enjoying your RP. The biggest challenge/impediment to RP is ourselves, not shebs-repulsing chairs in the cantinas. Just my 2-credits worth.
  5. Mandalorian Helms, eh? In that case, K'OYACYI!
  6. Sometimes when playing my Smuggler I kind of feel a disconnect between what I do in the game and what my class name is. So, this got me to thinking: Being a Smuggler, what would I smuggle in the Star Wars universe? Of course, there would be smugglers who would be motivated by nothing more than profits - the profits justify the means. Others might be more 'moral' or 'humanitarian', seeking to bring needed goods past blockades. Some smugglers may be formerly legitimate spacers who find themselves on the wrong side of the law because of debt or blackmail. Others my be truly nefarious beings, who seek to enrich themselves by any means possible. How I view my smuggler is as someone who is generally a decent person, but doesn't like much to be bound by the rules and regulations imposed by bureaucracies that cater to the rich and powerful at the expense of everyone else. So, I think she would likely be along the lines of a Robin Hood type with an eye for profit along the way. Refugees, stolen goods, blockade running, cheap knock-off counterfeit goods, arms for resistance fighters - these are the sorts of things I could see myself as her smuggling. However, working on the shady side of the law and the denizens therein, she's probably had to do a job or two that leaves her feeling a bit tarnished and guilty, maybe stolen pharmaceuticals to a planet that she knows will not only aid people in need but also get used to make spice, or weapons for resistance fighters that will also be used for criminal gangs (sometimes those two groups being one and the same). How about you other Smugglers? Do you break blockades? Do you run spice for the Hutt Cartel? Do you smuggle corporate defectors to their new masters? What would you smuggle?
  7. There are many different characters from Star Wars that I like for various reasons - Revan, Darth Malgus, Obi Wan Kenobi, Boba Fett, Barriss Offee, R2D2 (!) - but, my favorite above all is Kal Skirata from the Karen Traviss novels. I am quite fond of the Mando'ade (the Mandalorians) and their various story arcs. I am also fond of stories about troopers - be they Clone Troopers, Imperial Troopers, or even Republic Troopers from the Old Republic era. That Kal'buir is both a Mando'a and a trooper are two things going for him right out of the gate. In addition to that, he is a unwaveringly devoted father, and as a father myself this is something I can identify with and admire. He is also a bit of a rebellious and stubborn individual, only cooperating with authority when it also can suit his own ends and purposes. This proud, independent streak is also something I identify with. Being both Mando'a and a trooper, Kal'buir is, of course, a complete bad-arse physically, tactically, and strategically. Sadly, my sorry self cannot claim anything in common with that. Still, I admire that, and think physical prowess is certainly an admirable quality, and even more admirable is his keen intellect and wit. Finally, Kal'buir is both tragic and triumphantly enduring. Many hardships and sorrowful losses plague his life - mostly involving trying to protect and care for his 'children' and sometimes failing to do so. Every family loss is a deep scar on this man who has a great capacity for familial love and compassion despite his combative, roguish, often violent, and often criminal nature. And yet, despite bitter losses, he carries on. He just does not quit or give up - EVER! He does not stop fighting and caring for his extended family. THAT is perhaps the thing I find most endearing about Kal'buir and why he is easily my favorite Star Wars character: No matter what, he endures and soldiers on, never holding back from doing everything he can for the welfare of his family no matter the cost or effort required. He is the bedrock of his family.
  8. Yeah, I think there is nothing wrong with continuing on with older check-in threads. If nothing else, it can provide an opportunity for unifying continuity. BTW, I'm not from Minnesota, but I am your neighbor - North Dakota! So, I thought I would drop in and say hello.
  9. I think I understand what you are saying: You enjoy the appearance of the Taung and perhaps also their origins on Coruscant where they battled their fellow Coruscanti (though, eventually losing out in the end). Certainly, their appearance was distinctive, and they had a proud tradition of being a warrior culture. That said, it was the Taung themselves who opened their culture up to other species, first to the Mandallians and then to other species after that. So, even during the Taung era of Mando'ade, there was a shift initiated by the Taung to share their culture with others. I honestly would say this is one of the more admirable traits of Taung-originated Mando'ade culture, that of multi-species inclusion. It is certainly a step up from wars of enslavement and genocide, perhaps most notably first waged against the Zhell and later against the Nevoota, Fenelar, Kuarans, Tlönians, and the Basiliskans. While the early Taung value of martial strength both individually and as a culture is alluring, I cannot say that I place merit or value upon genocide. I certainly hope you are not suggesting that it is 'cooler' to be genocidal. I am not going to try and argue that you cannot like the Taung era of Mando'ade culture more than the other eras. To each their own, yes? I guess in the end I really just hope to have been able to have a good discussion about the Mando'ade and have provided you some food for thought. Hopefully that has been the case. Mando'ade darasuum!
  10. Really? No other NoDa vod'e around? I'm surprised. I know there has to be some other SW:TOR players here in these frozen wastes!
  11. OK, what do you like about the Taung era of Mando'ade culture? In what ways do you feel it is better than the other eras of Mando'ade culture? I'm not saying your opinion is invalid; I just would like to hear more about why you prefer the Taung Mando'ade culture over any other eras of Mando'ade culture.
  12. There are some inherent challenges in discussing Mandalorian culture, both internally in regards to the various eras of Mandalorian culture and the varying individual Mando'ade themselves to external variations in the Mandalorian story arcs arising from the past few years of ret-conning within the expanded Star Wars universe. From my understanding, you are likely to run across at least two main camps amongst the Mando'ade aficionados: Those who hew to whatever the current Star Wars canon is stated as (including the newer, pacifist Mandao'ade government), and a splinter group who favor the Mando'ade as portrayed in the Karen Traviss novels and other related works that have now, apparently, fallen out of canon. I will admit that I personally prefer the presentation of the Mando'ade in the Traviss books, but acknowledge that participation in the canonic Star Wars universe (games, books, movies) means I must at least tacitly accept recent changes brought about by the Clone Wars TV series. Aside from those issues, given as the Mando'ade tend to be a fiercely independent people up until their pacification, I think even their adherence to cultural norms was highly individualized. Even after the pacification of the Mando'ade, you still had the Death Watch who were off preserving (by their own interpretation) older customs in defiance of their fellow Mando'ade. Pre-pacification, what could be considered the core of Mando'ade culture? Perhaps the most succinct answer can be found in the Resol'nare - the six tenets of Mando'ade culture: 1) The wearing armor, later to specifically be the beskar'gam armor that became iconic in appearance; 2) Speaking the language - that is, Mando'ade; 3) Defending yourself and your family - family not only including blood relations but also in-laws and adoptees; 4) Raising your children as Mando'ade; 5) Contributing to the clan's welfare; and, 6) When called upon by the Mand'alor - the "sole leader/ruler" - rising to and serving his or her cause. As far as doctrinal cultural values go, these are hardly inherently malign nor evil. In fact, perhaps excepting for tenet 6, most of these are admirable in their aspirations. It is because, I would theorize, of tenet 6 that the Mando'ade culture and people was at times so easily turned to brutal if not wholly evil and corrupt purposes. If you can turn the Mand'alor to your purpose, so follows the Mando'ade. This was a strategy used well by the Sith Empire. From their temporary alliance with the Sith, a whole series of related events can be seen to unfold. The Republic, of course, would defend itself against Mando'ade aggression. In turn, the Mando'ade would defend themselves against the counterattacks of the Republic forces, and thus is set in motion a grimly repeating cycle of war and retribution. During such times, though, it is not unheard of for individual clans and Mando'ade to break away to do their own thing. While the authority of the Mand'alor is penultimate, maintaining said authority is a little less certain. Within Mando'ade culture the authority of the Mand'alor can be legitimately challenged by one with big enough gettse to think they can take the title of Mand'alor for themselves. Of course, legitimacy of said challenge only comes with success, and not even then will all Mando'ade necessarily submit willingly or immediately to the new Mand'alor. Do I agree with the Mando'ade culture? I appreciate it for what it is, and I find nearly all of its core tenets very admirable and desirable (especially 3, 4, and 5). It is perhaps only unfortunate how at times said culture was manipulated into some truly disastrous and even occasionally despicable acts.
  13. Granted. But, now every flaming troll post is directed at you. I wish I had my own spaceship.
  14. Same gender, cross-gender... cross-species... I think that it would be nice for BW and SW:TOR (heck, all RPG games!) to allow for a multitude of romantic/intimately personal relationships. That said, it just simply isn't possible to pre-program/script/voice act all possibilities of either romantic entanglements (I'm an Imperial Agent in love with a Twi'lek dancer who just so happens to be a Republic Smuggler stealing from my Sith spouse) or sexual liaisons (a dominatrix Ewok commanding its submissive Hutt to have a three-way with a transvestite Wookiee?). So, while it would be nice to have everything handed to me on a Xonolite platter (and, yes, we should be able to romance same-gender companions), the solution I have arrived on for myself is this: - If I really want something outside the current scope of the game, I can find a like-minded (similarly bent) player to RP with; or, - With the case of companions, I can imagine what I want versus the reality of the game mechanics (unrequited love?). Honestly, even though these are less than ideal solutions, they are a hell of a lot better than all of my real life relationships... SO THERE! Heh heh... sigh... sob.
  15. Other than work, drinking, and making babies, there's a derth of things to do here in the frozen wastes of NoDa. So, I know there are some fellow SW:TOR gamers out there. Military, Rigger, Farmer, Slightly-Embittered-Transplant-From-Somewhere-More-Interesting... Hey, we're all here, and we all enjoy Star Wars, so might as well make the most of it. Mostly Hoth, Part Tattooine: It's NoDa. So, give a shout out, and maybe even drop a character name or two and a server name. Who knows what shenanigans could arise? Main: Tessanya Server: The Harbinger (PVE – West Coast) ...but: I'm an alt-aholic and have a couple dozen characters strewn over 4 different servers.
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