Saber Rider

I really don't think that Saddam can do a damn thing about the terrorist attacks in Iraq. Just look towards Egypt. There were attacks on tourists again, and that has nothing to do with anything else but ethnical differences caused by religion. Same goes for Israel and Palestine, Saudi Arabia and most other countries with similar cultures. It's mostly the religious hardliners in the middle east, that try and prevent any kind of social evolution. As long as religion is maintained as a deciding factor in those countries, there will always be fundamentalists who want to change things by force. As I mentioned before, we've had the same problems in our "western" societies until the enlightenment stripped the church of alot of it's influence. So f*** religion, and then we can move in to a more openminded world.

That "mildly lame" book has laid the foundation for basicaly any modern fantasy stuff, including SW!!! The only real LOOSERS are these stupid Harry Potter fans, and I'm not talking about the kids that just don't know better. SW nerds, on the other hand, are way cool! Didn't you ever feel the force, lift a coffe cup by mere mind-power, or kill a yak from 200 yards away... with mind-bullets?! I'm telling you the force ROCKS! And I know, 'cause I dare YOU to type wihile in a straitjacket... using only your nose. There's the FORCE for you!

Well I'll try and pick up on that and risk a flamewar (I've built me a bunker...20000 miles below sealevel )! I think everything basically would basicaly turn out to be an improvement compared to the previous situation in Iraq! The small steps are just kind of real "babysteps". I mean, right now, they really have no chance of kicking off a democracy. There is simply no real information flow, that would allow for mature voting. The way I see it religious factions play too much of a roll there (way more than in the US " ), but that's the problem with all counties that didn't benefit from the age of enlightenment. So, overall still a step forward! Let's see how it develops.

See, I'm not the only one who thinks that. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Dude!!! So far we're having a very pleasant political debate about the uglyness of such!

Great link dude!!! :D I hope I did this right?! Unbeliveable!!! (w00t) I'm not a conplete idiot after all!!! (This actually looks like me)

I'm ready to take insult just entertain me!!! No seriously, why not!? Political debates always get kind of heated, but as long as we don't go off on each other it's all good!

Do you you actually think anybody is that shallow to try and start a political debate just to get his post count up?! That would be, by far, the sadest thing I have ever heard!!! Sure these debates come and go but politics don't ever get old! It's a way of finding out how the people we're talking to tick. I gues you've be here long enough, but i would like to here what other people are all about. I know it won't matter one bit in the real world, but if there are more people like you, who post frequently (check your post count), this could turn into a healthy conversation between people who have more on their minds than just fun and games. No offense Flatus, but that's about as "NONVIOLENT" as I can be when I'm reading a post like yours!

Back on topic, either Revan, the Exile or a new character would be OK, provided the writer has a clear vision of what they want to do with the character and puts a little effort into tying up loose ends. I personally don't have a problem with level 20 characters suddenly starting again from level 1 - my disbelief in that regard is easily suspended. The idea of playing all three at different points, meeting up in the final stages, isn't really for me, though. I want an epic journey with a small group of people. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I don't have problem with them level 20 PC starting at level 1 again either, it's just that there isn't much about those characters that's left to explore. Something like that should only happen if it's a "real" sequel! In my opinon TSL wasn't one and therefore KOTOR III shouldn't be one either. Hence, a newbie PC! Considering the epic journey, I agree on that! That's what this game has been, and should be all about in the future!

@ Kalfear: Seems like were realy on the same page here! I do remember the problems in SWG (I was playing as soon as it came out in europe). Eventhough the Swoop travel kind of didn't bother me that much, the deserted cities realy killed the feel of the game. I eventually quit because the whole thing about becoming a Jedi kind of anoyed me (I almost played for a year and still no FS slot). Question: Do you still play?! How is the feel of the game now? I've read some real bad suff about there being too many jedi and them harvesting everything? I was thinking of starting again as soon as ROTW is released. But back to the topic! I think Plano's idea could be the way to go, to be honest I wasn't thinking in that direction but it would certainly be a compromise I can agree to. @ edu11: I don't feel the Exile was a "super-powerful" force user unlike Revan, but has isolated himself from the force on his own free will, which made him special because it has never been done before. On the other Hand aren't all force users sort of superpowered? But I think since it's a game, everybody sort of wants to be the hero or thew guy/girl that kicks the sith/jedi masters butt in the end!

@ jwhitt: I don't get the point where you and lots of others feel that the stories of Revan and the Exile were linked that much that the story needs to be "wraped up"?! Sure, the story of the exile kind of had an open ending but please, there is seriously no need to bring these two out of retirement to be playable characters again. I mean of course both of them should have a vital part in the history of the future game, but realisticly I feel that sending characters of into "unknown regions" at the end of a game is just a polite way to cut them out of the game. <_< Please don't get me wrong I realy liked the story you came up with but I just can't see it beeing fun and most of all surprisingly new to play. I know Star Wars kind of dosn't hold real surprises any ways (always good vs. evil/jedi vs. sith), but draging out fully explored characters is just plain boring. But your story would have rocked for KOTOR II as for realy continuing a strong story.

There is nothing funny about detroit losing 1,900 teachers. its a tragedy, which only makes there future harder. The government is not sending the money detroit needs for its education system. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You're right there is nothing funny about it any more, and a tragedy... absolutely! But think about the reason why a govt would deprive it's children, and therefore it's future from proper education. The only answer I can muster is, that they knownling want to keep their citicens and future voters ignorant to what is realy going on. I mean, as long as only a select few is entiteled to an education worth mentioning, and I don't mean a public school with over 1500 to 2000 kids and a bunch of unmotivated teachers, the govt has perfect control of them. I have to quote a Propaghandi song on this, "knoledge tends to democratize". " I hope I didn't offend any teachers, as I know there are are always those who try hard to not only work through the text book, but try to encourage individual thought. But the mere fact that the schools are overcrowded and teachers are still being let go will not ad to the remaining teachers motivation. But don't feel isolated. This is a trend that is spreading through out our so called free and democratic world. So thanks alot Mr. Bush, for defending this freedom by distracting from the real problem and pointing far overseas. ***an american living in selfchosen exile***

Seriously dude, that would so ROCK MY SOCKS OF!!! (w00t) And if Obsidian actually does this game, and considering their expirience with NWN 2, that IS my biggest hope. (plus everything else I mentioned! " )

Absolutely true, the planets would be traveled much faster! But that was sort of my thought. I was considering swoops only if the area restrictions were to be removed, wich I truely think will happen, as an alterate means of travel. It's just not very up-to-date to have those kinds of restrictet areas in a RPG thes days. And on an other thought I really don't think it would be a question of age, I mean I wasn't talking about turnig the game into an Action Adventure of any kind. Swoop bikes would just make an interesting side aspect, that's all! But in the end if the story holds up to the previous standard I could do with out that gimmik any day. By the way, even though I'm probably not one of the older players, I would consider myself (27) out of the action driven age. I basicaly only play non-action RPGs, but still a little action now and then will hopefully keep artheritis out of my joints for a few more years!

I agree completly with Cybersquirt and kalimeeri, that it wouldn't be necessary or good for any game to include nudity or graphic language. I think the dialogue in KOTOR has basically proven that subtelty can be just as entertaining. The simple fact of the existence of nude patches for games proves that there are alot of immature people out there. I mean who needs his/her character to run around naked slashing people with swords, seems kind of strange to me. But on the other hand I would welcome more romantic dialogue that could hint in the direction the relationship is going or provide cut sceenes when the "real action" is taking place. I mean beeing from europe has given me a slightly more relaxed look to sexuality and I think eventhough it isn't of any importance romantic relationships and sex, although not visually displayed, could enhance the story of any RPG.

There are lots of great ideas in this thread and, eventhough I've read most of the old threads I might repeat somthings that were mentioned previously. So here we go. I'll start of with gameplay stuff first: 1) The whole leveling system should be revised! Eventhough it was good, I felt you were leveling up much to fast and easy. I mean it was okay since the stories had PCs that were powerful Jedis before, but considering that even Anakin Skywalker had more than 10 years of training before he was moved up from beeing a padawan to a knight, makes the short amount of time needed in KOTOR II to become a master more than ridiculous. The way I see it, the game should be divided in to three parts (padawan, knight, master), each of wich should start at level 1. This would not only be more realistic, but would also allow for time jumps (start as a child/teenager and mature into an adult) 2) More and especialy bigger Planets. I realy hope that those artificial boundries that keep you from venturing of the pre-planed paths are getting kicked out with the new engine. This was in part one of the reasons, mostly if not in a city, that you just had to walk of all of the area in order to find all the side quests. There should realy be more discovering going on this time around. I go along with most of the Planets mentioned in previous posts. The ones I think would realy make for some interesting exploring are Corusant, Corellia, and maybe Naboo but I'm open to almost anything on that account. 3) I realy liked the Idea of riding swoop Bikes and Speeders on the planet surface if that would be possible with the new engine. Not as a real big action element, but much more as a possibility of using the loads of money for something useful like bying/renting these kind of htings. 4) Improve on the minigames! I realy thought the swoopraces in KOTOR I were realy cool but instead of adding those stupid jumps in part II, I would have wished for other racers and a winding circuit. If thats not possible due to engine isues, I think at least the possibility of tuning your swoop (which you should have to buy) using your mechanical skills and parts you can find/buy would be lots of fun. The card game could also use some thoughts, there was just to much luck involved in that. I was thinking more like the game in Final Fantasy 8, but if that wouzld be to much of a change, being able to use your force skills would make it a lot more fun (and could result in some real western like bar fights). 5) Fighting: I thought the adition of the different fighting styles was probably one of the best changes made, but to elaborate on that idea you should be able to alocate ability points to those skills (making your Jedi mor of an individual). Another good way to anhance this would be to take the people that teach those advanced skills out of the direct story line and make at least some of them hard to find bonus features. 6) If at all possibly, PLEASE dish out an editor like for NWN. That was about the coolest tool ever in any game and has completely made up for the crapy story of that game. Now for the storyline: 1) Start with a whole new charakter! Preferably a child/teenager (see gameplay #1) so the development of your character and especialy his history is not as predetermined. 2) The companions should be new as well! Sure the droids could still remain but the others have already advanced in rank to much that it just wouldn't make any sense to have them reapear as part of your party. But they should certainly make a come back as part of the Jedi council (I'm thinking of Bastilla and all of the forcesensitive characters of TSL) or as villains (Revan and the Exile) or anything else you can think of. They were too well developed to just drop them. 3) Although I liked the fact of you having influence on your party member they should have a little more personality. I mean they should leave/not join your party if your allignment differs to much from their own (I'm thinking of the way it was in Baldurs Gate 1/2), or maybe try to influence you like the old hag did in TSL. This would even icrease the replay value of the game! The companions should also have quests of their own interest and engage in conversations more frequently again like they did in part I . 4) Keep the quality of the story! The one thing that made KOTOR I the best RPG ever was the fact that it had the most compelling story I have ever encountered in a game. Any loss in quality and depth like in TSL will overshadow any improvements that could possibly be made. Well I guess that's it for now. It turned out to be quite a long post so thanks to everyone who took the time to read it. I still have some thoughts left but I'll just add them some other time.

Well, I think Part III should start with a new PC, and I'm not talking about the kind like Revan and the Exile, I'm talkink about a clean slate (I think the amnesia story is getting old by now!). Kind of like Luke in Episode IV. Although he should't have that much of an history, so there is more room for developing the character the way the player sees fit (I never liked the part where most important people you meet know more about your charakter than you do). I think you should be discovered by a Jedi master in the beginning of the game, who will train you in the ways of the Jedi, instructing you during the first Jedi missions, and being a locked companion until you reach the rank of a full Jedi knight. (Please keep the coments on missuse of the force, I loved that, it gave a real SW feel to the Jedi Master) Although I really liked Revan I don't think he should return as a PC or as some one who interacts with the PC up until the very End of the Game. He is just to powerful to make any sense from the PC leveling side. Same goes for the Exile, even though I really don't think his strory was all that great. The idea I liked best so far is the one of taking a padawan, although that shouldn't happen until the later parts of the game. But I don't know about creating him/her yourself. I think much rather you should meet a couple of force sensitive Kids (a slave you free on a mission, and stuff like that) with different character traits, so you can choose the one that you think is best fit for you. I still have some more thoughts on gameplay and storyline but I'll post those in the other thread.