SamuraiGaijin

I prefer going the high-Dex route ... the difference between the bonus for "normal" Str (+1 to +2) and "maxed" Str (+4 at low levels ... up to +9 maximum) is really insignificant compared to the overall damage of a fully-upgraded lightsaber. Go high Dex+finesse, and you get a bonus to Attack and a bonus to Armor - better, in my opinion, than a bonus to Attack and Damage (even if it costs a feat). Plus, while jedi certainly appear to be in great shape, it would seem that dexterity is more accurate, from a role-playing point of view (not a "how do I do the maximum possible damage" pov).

There are nine levels of crystal intensity with increases available at Exile level 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30 & 33 There are five "colors" - very dark, dark, neutral, light, very light - based on the Exile's alignment, and each of them provides different bonuses: - Very Dark ranges from (+1 Dam, +2 Str, +1 Dex, +1 Cha, +1-4 Massive Criticals) to (+3 Att, +5 Dam, +7 Str, +5 Dex, +6 Cha, +3-30 Mass Crit, Knockdown DC 22) - Dark: (+1 Dam, +2 Str, +1 dex, +1 Cha) to (+3 Att, +5 Dam, +7 Str, +5 Dex, Knockdown DC 22) - Neutral: (+1 Att, +1 Dex, +1 Con, +1 Wis) to (+3 Att, +4 Str, +4 Dex, +5 Con, +4 Cha, Force Resist +24) - Light: (+1 Att, +1 Dam, +1 Str, +1 Dex, +2 Wis) to (+3 Att, +5 Dam, +5 Str, +6 Dex, +7 Wis, 25% Slow DC 22) - Very Light: (+1 Dam (+1 vs DS), +1 Str, +1 Dex, +2 Wis) to (+3 Att, +5 Dam (+5 vs DS), +5 Str, +6 Dex, +7 Wis, 25% Slow DC 22) While the Very Dark/Light versions provide abilities above the Dark/Light, whether Very Dark, Very Light, or Neutral is "more powerful" is up for debate. Whether or not you visit Dantooine early is irrelevant - the only deciding factor in how powerful your crystal ultimately becomes your level - before you confront the last Jedi Master (after that, Kreia will only say "we must go to Dantooine"). In fact, I have found that by going to Dantooine last, you're higher level when you gather the other crystals in the cave and are much more likely to find the high-value crystals. (Enter the random loot.) Playing the game straight (i.e.: no XP cheats or exploits), I think the best I've done, level-wise, by that point is about 21.

I felt the same way about Windows when it was first released - it took a long time before I believed that Windows was anything more tnan a virus they made you buy. Ultimately it came down to being able to do some work at home and compatibility issues. If you can afford to not have faith in "the man" - and I know the issue is way more complex than that - more power to you. I'm happy that the open source community is alive and well, but Black Hat hackers and conspiracy theorists (yes, I know many of the conspiracies are based in some fact) are more scary to me than "big brother".

My current box is doing just fine - has been for a couple of years yet - but it's too old to upgrade efficiently. So, when I start to really feel the pain of having a two-generations-old gaming machine (I haven't bought a new game in a while), I'll be dropping the cash for a new rig. Might as well dive into Vista then, but I won't be upgrading any of my XP machines (my laptop, my wife's laptop, or my current game box).

(1) Mandalorian Melee Shields (2) Decent Armor (3) Force Wave (or Whirlwind) if Atton's Jedified, if not, equip Atton with a tricked out Watchman Blaster - hopefully you'll stun one (4) Keep attacking the one you stunned - Atton's sneak attack will kick in. It is a difficult fight with Atton Jedified - even more difficult if not. (the hide behind the counter and blast 'em trick works too)

I'm not familiar with 3.5, but in 3.0 there was a provision for a player to "take 10" for routine skill checks, and "take 20" (with a time penalty) if they wanted to be especially thorough and careful. Big picture, the game is about role-playing, not random mechanics - I preferred to roll most checks myself when DM'ing, so that I could fudge the results when appropriate.

Jedi Watchman (or Sith Lord, if DS ... but I strongly prefer LS) I see the LS or DS Exile very differently ... LS: I see the Exile as being independent and resourceful, in spite of (possibly in order to avoid) the "force bonds" the Exile creates, and the increased skills of the Watchman enable that moreso than combat power or study of the force - plus while the Exile easily brings out latent force ability in companions, I don't see the Exile sticking around to lead the rebuilding of the Jedi Order. DS: I see the Exile as trying to examine all aspects of the Force, and seeing complete knowledge of that power as the only way to fully understand and overcome his initial "deafening" to it.

The article could be focused on any escapist hobby, which is kind of scary. As a military officer and a former avid PnP RPG'er (I always thought LARP was probably a little over the top, though) if anything, the decision making and creative thinking associated with role playing develops the kind of people you would want in the positions that require security clearances. Now, maybe not elite troops - especially if they have "detachment from reality" issues - but there are certainly other places in the military where they could be useful.

Nar Shadda

IMO, the influence system is about 50% of the replay value, you can't please everyone every time, and almost all of the backstories are interesting. - play LSF and see the Atton-Disciple-Exile triangle (and as much as I despise Disciple, his backstory is pretty interesting). - play LSM twice and see the Visas-Handmaiden-Exile triangle from both sides. - play DS and max influence with Hanharr and G0-T0 (as much as I will never use G0-T0, his backstory is one of the few shockers) The rest of the replay value is trying out different LS/DS paths and class combinations.

She's tough ... but not unbeatable ... Here's a few tricks: - before you first approach her, amp up with the best flavor of every stim you have - as soon as the first combat starts, master speed, then beat her down with your lightsaber For the second combat: - run away - either hide behind one of the horn-shaped terrain features or run back down the ramp - usually only one of her lightsabers will follow relatively closely - heal, stim, buff - Kreia's disembodied lightsabers are susceptible to Force Wave (i.e.: they can be stunned) - very helpful if you have Sneak Attack or if you find yourself attacked by two or three at once - attack the lightsabers one at a time - keep a close eye on your health, use Life Support Packs instead of healing There are lots of other tactics to use, but these always work for me, when brute force won't.

If price is an issue ... Core2Duo is still a pretty good buy ... my future rig will be C2D E6600 (2.4 GHz), 975X mobo, 2GB DDR2 RAM, 250GB HDD, mid-grade VGA, etc. for well under $1300. Take a step down (and still stick with top-name brands) ... and here's what I came up with after a quick browse on newegg: CPU: C2D E6300: $185 Mobo: Intel 965PLTCK: $109 RAM: 2GB (2x 1GB) Kingston DDR2 667: $210 HDD: 250GB Western Digital (16MB Cache): $75 DVD+/-RW: $30 VGA: XFX (NVidia) 7900GS: $190 PSU: SilverStone 500W SLI Certified: $88 Modern, mid-range parts (not including the case): $887 You can recycle your current HDD & Burner and scale back on RAM and save $200. Take a gamble with a low-end PSU and save another $50, but the parts listed are the absolute lowest I would recommend for a gamer looking to buy a modern system with power to grow.

The main storyline isn't bad, it's just hard to follow. The best stories in the game can be found by opening influence options with the various NPC's ... I find this easier to do by playing lightside, but others will probably disagree.

Make sure you're maximizing the amount of memory that your VGA is able to share with your system (the settings are most likely in your BIOS). The 7300 is a miserable graphics card, and not really suited to 3D applications at all (but it should be able to deliver playable framerates at bare minimum quality settings).

"We are all anxious to end this. The rebels have escaped this fate for far too long now. My only comfort this day is that their blood will be on my hands."

I believe the point of the first point is ... "the force" is neither inherently good or evil. There are some powers or techniques of using the force that are ... healing = good, injuring others = evil ... seeing Luke use force choke on the gamorreans in Jabba's palace, for example, made me wonder where he learned that (probably not from Yoda). Those that embrace the "dark side of the force" do not restrict themselves in wielding the force to increase their own power and inflict harm on others ... Jedi, on the other hand, use the force selflessly.

I will play both ... usually male on the first run, female on the second ... i freplay value is high enough, I'd say I play female more often on subsequent games for the same reason listed earlier ... I much prefer to watch a female avatar run around for 40+ hours than a male. I'm a little shocked that the sexist comments haven't drawn a little outrage (I'm a little offended at comments about "women can't", "shoe shopping" and "sandwich making"). Nice to know the ladies here are above responding to obvious flame-baiting.

I like that a well-rounded PC generally has more options available than one that focuses on one aspect of Jedi-hood. A strictly DEX-focused finesse duelist, STR-focused basher, INT-focused skills guru, WIS-focused force-power spammer, CON-focused tank, or CHA-focused diplomat will not have access to all the possibilities that a well-balanced "jack-of-all-trades". Now, Jack won't wade through combat as handily as the basher, but the basher won't get the same role-playing opportunities. My image of a "typical" jedi is the self-reliant loner who lives by his wits more often than fighting his way into and out of trouble (one reason I prefer the Sentinel over the other classes), but in addition to having above average mental abilities, is also more fit, hardy, and nimble than your average Joe. Using the standard 3d6 ability scores, average is 10.5 ... with the d20 system, PC's roll 4d6 and discard the lowest die, resulting in an average score of 12.24. Jedi should, in my opinion, begin the game above average across the board and then refine their focus and abilities as they progress.

Spar with her, get dressed (don't dress her) and ask her why you spar with no clothes on ... argue with her a bit. you might be surprised at the results ...

I usually end up with the following equipment: Exile: Two Sabers Kreia: One Saber Atton: One Blaster / One Saber Visas: Double Saber Handmaiden: Unarmed or Two Sabers (or Double Saber) Disciple: One Blaster / One Saber Mira: One Blaster / One Saber Hanharr: Two Vibro Blades (or Double Vibro) Mandalore: Two Blasters / Two Vibro Blades HK-47: Disrupter Rifle G0-T0: Two Blasters T3-M4: One Blaster Pistol (or One Blaster Rifle, after a sweet combat upgrade) Big picture, there's not a "best" path for any of them ... except HK-47, I guess, since his assassin droid abilities lean heavily on getting him the weapons that are most likely to score a critical hit, but even then, a disruptor pistol will work just fine. For example, Mandalore starts with rifle feats, etc. - and if you played K1, you have an urge to equip him with the biggest repeater you can find - but he makes an incredible melee tank (especially if you go LS and don't get Hanharr).

:joy: Very funny ... almost makes me want to play SWG ... almost

I might be wrong about the repair / breakdown thing ... it's admittedly been a while since I played. Regarding Kreia influence and conversation trees, there are two ways to approach it ... play your character, and get what you get, or try to open as much dialog as possible by carefully choosing the responses that will gain influence. Keep in mind that there are some situations (mostly on Nar Shadda) for which there isn't really a good action to take, but there is usually a follow-up dialog with Kreia where you can gain some influence by claiming to see things her way.

The workbench uses the lead character's (i.e. not the Exile in the Duxn Tomb, Exile everywhere else) repair skill to break down items, and the skills of the character using the workbench for everything else.

They look weird to me too ... but the eyes are positioned correctly (in the sockets), but you can see the whole sphere of the eye through transluscent skin, etc.

I like the added skills and immunities provided by the Sentinel, and then usually switch to Sith Marauder/Jedi Weaponmaster for the beefed-up combat feats (specifically advanced dual-wield and lightsaber).