Raspar Ojen posted May 14, 12
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Author: Raspar, BioWare, Darth Maul, EA, Electronic Arts, Force Reflection, LucasArts, Palpatine, role-play, Roleplay, RP, Star Wars, Star Wars The Old Republic, SWTOR, SWTOR-RP, The Old Republic, TOR, Zabrak
In movies, comics, books, and plays, it is usually very easy to tell who the "bad guy" is from the get go. Some are plain old evil, while others or more ambiguously evil. No matter the particular flavor of evil though, we can usually identify said evil very quickly. But does your character know or think he or she is evil? How do you roleplay a character who is truly "evil" versus a character whose evilness could be debated?
When a Star Wars fan needs to adequately describe a quintessentially evil character, Darth Maul is a perfect fit for the bill. He looks evil, he talks evil, and he acts evil. He's one dimensional in that sense. The moment he appears on screen, you think, "That is one evil Zabrak" (or horn guy if the word Zabrak escaped you). Even so, did he think he was a bad guy? Or did he think he was doing what needed to be done for the "good" of the galaxy? Palpatine wanted to control the galaxy, but he acted as if it was the best thing for it. He must have felt as the most powerful being, he was doing right by the galaxy, right? Has any evil being, real or fake, ever actually thought of themselves as evil?
Right and wrong and good and evil are not always as easy to identify as we would like. But there are beings that do evil things and could be defined by those actions as being evil. But as a group of (hopefully) non-evil people, how do we roleplay evil characters? Are they classically evil, or do they live in a perpetually grey sector of morals? Do they know what they do is wrong and simply not care, or do they think they are doing good in a unconventional manner? Well, let us know in the comments below!
Raspar Ojen posted May 7, 12
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Author: Raspar, Death Star, EA, Electronic Arts, Force Reflection, Han Solo, Hutt, Jedi, LucasArts, role-play, RP, Sith, Star Wars, Star Wars The Old Republic, SWTOR, SWTOR-RP, The Force, The Old Republic, TOR
When most people—or at least most Star Wars fans—hear the term " The Force," thoughts of Jedi or Sith doing battle and using their amazing powers immediately come to mind. This is for good reason; in most Star Wars lore the Force and discussions of it are usually centered on those who can manipulate it at their will. But does this always need to be the case? Though a large majority of the universe cannot wield the Force, does this mean they are exempt from its power?
As most of you know, the Force is the life essence that permeates all things in the Star Wars galaxy. Some have a more powerful connection to this powerful energy source and can control—or be controlled—by it. As such, all six films revolve around one family of force wielders and how they are destined to do the will of the Force. But what about the rest of the galaxy? If all beings are part of the Force, why wouldn't the Force play a part in their destiny, large or small? Characters like Han Solo are a great example of this. Though he isn't a force-user, he has performed amazing feats and beaten the odds far beyond simple luck. Surviving a Death Star, an asteroid field (three thousand seven hundred and twenty to one right there alone!), Carbonite freezing, and a death sentence by the most dangerous Hutt in the galaxy. In a galaxy where the Force touches everyone, what's to say that some characters "dumb luck" isn't actually the Force in some manifestation?
So, is this idea of the Force conducive with your character's story or actions? Do you have a character that is very lucky or in some elusive way guided by the Force? Or is the Force even something your character puts a lot of stock in? Are some of your characters guided or protected by the Force, or is it just magic those Jedi folks are playing with? Let us know in the comments below!
Raspar Ojen posted Apr 30, 12
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Author: Raspar, BioWare, Electronic Arts, Force Reflection, LucasArts, role-play, Roleplay, RP, Star Wars, Star Wars The Old Republic, SWTOR, SWTOR-RP, The Old Republic, TOR
When we roleplay, death usually signifies the end of a character's story, and because of this, death should be taken quite seriously. If or when we decide our characters should meet their end, we want it to be poignant and for that character's actions to resonate and change those we've RPed with. Before any poetic deaths can happen though, our characters need something that they are willing to die for.
In the era of The Old Republic, the most apparent thing to die for would be the respective side of said character. Though it seems a bit obvious or uninspired, a good roleplayer can take a generic idea and make it uniquely personal. Another apparent scenario would be dying for a character's loved ones. Dying for one's friends, family or lovers provides all involved with a life changing roleplay experience, that can forever shape the future RP of those involved.
With that, we have the two most broad reasons to kill off a character: for something they believe in, or in order to save someone else. Before we ask for specifics, however, I have another question to pose. What about those who RP characters who have nothing they would be willing to die for? Is your a character a loner, or a coward? And if so, is this an attribute that will always be attached to them, or something that simply makes their RP and transformation into someone who has something to die for all the more entertaining?
So what specifically is your character willing to die for, if anything? Is the death of a character something you have planned in advance, or something that happens at an opportune moment? How do you decide when your characters story has been fully told? Answer in the comments below!
Raspar Ojen posted Apr 26, 12
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Author: Raspar, BioWare, Classified Report, CNA Report, EA, Electronic Arts, IC Report, Jedi, LucasArts, Republic, role-play, Roleplay, RP, Sith, Star Wars, Star Wars The Old Republic, SWTOR, SWTOR-RP, The Old Republic, TOR
A highly classified Republic mission has come to light with the appearance of this sanitized report. Coruscanti News Agency received the document from an unknown source, though said source was a self admitted slicer. The report appears to be an intelligence document reporting on the events of a "Strike Team Spire” whose mission was to recover a highly classified Republic document from a local gang. The report also details a battle that took place between this Strike Team Spire and Sith forces. Republic officials have not released a statement on the validity of this report as of yet, though this will likely be a topic of much discussion throughout Coruscant. To see the full report, continue reading.
Raspar Ojen posted Apr 9, 12
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Author: Raspar, BioWare, EA, Electronic Arts, Force Reflection, Jedi, LucasArts, Republic, role-play, Roleplay, RP, Sith, Star Wars, Star Wars The Old Republic, SWTOR, SWTOR-RP, The Old Republic, TOR
While research is not the first thing that we think about when we roleplay, it is always a necessary step in creating a believable and enjoyable character. Luckily for us, as Star Wars RPers we have a lot of lore and resources to fall back on to create whatever character tickles our far far away fancy. Be it a website or one of the many books of the Expanded Universe, the amount of resources at our disposal is nearly limitless. So, with all of this lightning-esque power at your fingertips, how much research do you do when creating a new character?
As I mentioned above, the Star Wars universe has a lot of lore to make it immersive and enjoyable, and the amount of lore continues to grow. New planets and races are invented often, giving RPers the opportunity to learn about and create new and interesting characters constantly. So where do you start? Wookieepedia is a great repository of information on all things that are Star Wars. Hours, if not days could be spent learning the characters, races, and planets of the galaxy (though like all things, moderation is recommended). This site is another great source of information, from forum posts on specific races and planets, to the articles on animals and important figures. And last, but certainly not least, is the source material itself. The movies, television shows, books and comics can provide a comprehensive—and highly enjoyable—reference for general knowledge and character creation.
So now that we a nice list of resources, how much time do you spend learning about the Star Wars universe? How much research do you do when creating a new character? What sources and tools do you use when doing so? Is your research the driving force behind your character creation, or does your research only aid in ideas you had already? Let us know in the comments below!
Raspar Ojen posted Apr 2, 12
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Author: Raspar, BioWare, Bounty Hunter, Dejarik, Electronic Arts, Force Reflection, Huttball, LucasArts, role-play, Roleplay, RP, Star Wars, Star Wars The Old Republic, SWTOR, SWTOR-RP, The Old Republic, TOR
We all have hobbies; things we do that entertain us, and things we can do when we need to escape the stresses and problems of our daily lives. Some are highly physical, whilst others are purely cerebral, but either way a person's hobbies often define them in very interesting ways. So when it comes to roleplay, shouldn't our characters have their own ways to deal with stress or boredom? To be convincing, won't they have to have hobbies outside of fighting their enemies, tending bar or fixing hyperspace engines?
One of the many interesting aspects of the Star Wars universe is the fact that the movies, books, and comics always create rich environments that feel real. Though they do this by using a variety of techniques, one of the most interesting is showing us board games, card tournaments, and even sporting events. The universe feels real because there are lives and events outside of what we are shown, events and hobbies we can relate to. The ruthless Bounty Hunter we roleplay may be an avid Dejarik player, or the brainy doctor may follow his favorite Huttball team religiously. This extra dimension of roleplay gives people the opportunity to roleplay with those they normally would not.
So, what hobbies do your characters have? What do they do on their down time to keep their sanity, or simply pass the time in between missions or jobs? Well, give us your answer in the comments below!
Raspar Ojen posted Mar 26, 12
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Author: Raspar, EA, Force Reflection, Jedi, LucasArts, Republic, role-play, Roleplay, RP, Sith, Star Wars, Star Wars The Old Republic, SWTOR, SWTOR-RP, The Old Republic, TOR
The Star Wars galaxy is rarely a safe place. This is especially true in The Old Republic's time period, and as roleplayers, combat and violence are things that everyone will encounter sooner or later. And with combat, more often than not, comes injuries. So how do we handle a blaster bolt to the chest, or a lightsaber slash across the leg? How do you judge how long someone should be wounded? How do you choose the the severity of the wound?
If you were shot in the stomach in real life (which let us hope does not happen!), the recovery time would be quite some substantial. Surgery, physical therapy, months of rest...it would take some time to get back to 100%. But when we roleplay, a wound that would normally take months to heal takes days. Now, we can attribute much of that to the space age healing technology at our disposal, but how do we decide what is the right length of time to heal? How do we decide the severity of a wound as well? Wounds make combat RP feel more realistic, and dealing with the after effects of a wound can give everyone something to talk about when they aren't fighting for their lives.
So, how do you handle injuries taken in the line of roleplay duty? How long does a wound last, and how do you decide the severity? Do you strive for realism in regards to your injuries and plan how long an injury will last, or simply "shoot from the hip" and let RP take its course? Well, answer in the comments below!
Raspar Ojen posted Mar 19, 12
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Author: Raspar, BioWare, Bounty Hunter, EA, Electronic Arts, Force Reflection, Han Solo, Jedi, LucasArts, role-play, Roleplay, RP, Sith, Star Wars, Star Wars The Old Republic, SWTOR, SWTOR-RP, The Old Republic, TOR
 Trust is the foundation of every good relationship, be it with a significant other or a close friend. Without trust, how can we expect those close to us to follow through when we need them most? This article addresses that—specifically: how good is your characters word? If he or she makes a promise, do those around your character expect you to follow through, or do they expect you to leave them high and dry in a moment of need? Star Wars is a universe like any other in the sense that it contains many people of varying degrees of credibility. Han Solo has gone back on his word more than once, which landed him in more than one hairy predicament. While this archetype is fun to play, these characters aren't the only ones who go back on their word. What about a manipulative Sith who will say anything to get what he needs, or a worldly Jedi who understands the need to sometimes leaver certain promises unfulfilled? Or are you a Bounty Hunter whose word is his bond, and no matter what comes up he performs the job he swore to do? Do you establish a character's credibility beforehand for RP, or let his reputation in IC events determine how trustworthy his word is? How do you handle situations where a bad reputation comes back to haunt you? So, how good is the word of your characters? Are they trusted to complete any job, or are they known to go back on what they said? Have you ever had an experience where a previous failure to follow through on a promise put you in some hot water? Let us know in the comments below!
Raspar Ojen posted Mar 12, 12
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Author: Raspar, BioWare, EA, Electronic Arts, Force Reflection, LucasArts, role-play, Roleplay, RP, Star Wars, Star Wars The Old Republic, SWTOR, SWTOR-RP, The Old Republic, TOR
Everyone has been there, new to a great big virtual world with a character all our own to explore it with. But where did everyone go from there? While all experiences are different, it is more than likely someone took you under their wing and showed you the ropes and rules of roleplaying in an MMO. You learned all of the lingo (IC, OOC, ICA=ICC, and so on), the places to go, and what bad habits to avoid. For many, this may have been years ago, but what about the new roleplayers who are starting fresh, learning how to become a roleplayer? This article wants to know, when you see a struggling roleplayer, do you show them the "way of roleplay," and if you do, how do you go about doing it?
Occasionally, on the SWTOR and SWTOR-RP forums, you will see someone asking for advice and tips on how to develop a character, or how to start RPing. In-game, however, it's much more difficult to differentiate between a less skilled RPer and a new RPer. If a roleplayer sees something being done "wrong," they will usually (or hopefully) send them a polite out-of-character message informing them of their mistake. But how many roleplayers go that step further? How many dig a little deeper to see if they are new, or simply invite them to join their group and give them some "on the job" training? Do roleplayers take the time to hang out in lower level areas to stir up some RP with those who maybe always wanted to try, but just needed a simple nudge?
So, how have you helped those new to the roleplaying community of SWTOR? How has the help and RP of a complete stranger influenced your view on RP as a whole? Do you feel confident enough in your abilities as a roleplayer to help others get started? Answer in the comments below!
Raspar Ojen posted Mar 4, 12
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Author: Raspar, BioWare, Blood Factory, EA, Jedi, Kaizen, Larrick Haldo Presents, LucasArts, Nar Shaddaa, Niatara, role-play, Roleplay, RP, Sebaya Keto, Sith, Star Wars, Star Wars The Old Republic, SWTOR, SWTOR-RP, The Old Republic, TOR, Vaanthe, Yann'su
Larrick Haldo here, giving you the news on what is happening where and how to do it with the least amount of legal ramifications possible. After my recent…stink on Nar Shaddaa, I hadn't planned on making an appearance there for a while until I was sure specific events had been forgotten. However, my Hutt-loving editor decided that I needed to return sooner than I had expected. I contemplated faking my own death for a few weeks and shacking up with a local Ithorian dance troupe until the whole thing had blown over. Alas, Ithorians don't make the best dancers, and after hearing what he wanted me to cover, I took my per diem, self prescribed medication, and got on the next shuttle to Nar Shaddaa.
I've never been a big sports fan. Never made much sense to me. This could be due to the fact I am not very athletic, or the fact that the sport I created was never really accepted in popular culture. (For whatever reason, ingesting a massive amount of hallucinogens and chasing school children with sticks in an effort to gather the various candy strapped to their chests is not considered very sporting. I retain I am simply ahead of my time.) However, while I am not a fan of most traditional sports, I am a very big fan of violence overall. Especially violence involving fire, blasters and explosions. And the event hosted by the aptly named "Blood Factory” appeared to be my kind of event.
Now, a disclaimer: those who aren't accustomed to traversing the wilds that are the lower levels of Nar Shaddaa, be warned. Simply getting to this place is work enough, and if you aren't willing to shoot a nice little old lady in the face for looking at you funny, you may want to reconsider taking the trek down. Luckily I have a history of shooting at senior citizens, so I felt completely prepared to delve into the belly of Nar Shaddaa and see what was being digested.
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