Designer Rambling: Echani

[Chris Avellone]

/ Begin Echani rambling:

 

The "Echani" were mentioned in Kotor1, and they are also the people responsible for the fighting styles used by Palpatine's Imperial Guard (at least as it's explained in the Expanded Universe, most notably in Crimson Empire, I believe). The Echani rely heavily on hand-to-hand combat and personal shield technology, and they had their asses handed to them by Revan during the Jedi Civil War, because, not surprisingly, there weren't many people able to face Revan across a battlefield and survive the encounter.

 

With little to go on for K2, we decided to expand the culture with those elements in mind, and even have a member of the Echani be able to join your party - which is responsible for much of the new hand-to-hand fighting feats and animations you'll see in the game, as well as potentially new powers.

 

Echani are a culture that communicates through battle, and there are many fighting rituals they use when dealing with their own people - and perhaps your character as well. If you wish to gain influence with them, engaging them in sparring matches or combat can earn their respect, their trust, and perhaps more.

 

The greatest among the Echani are said to be able to read their opponent's moves so well they can predict the path of a battle several seconds, sometimes even minutes in advance, by gauging their opponent's fighting style, heart rate, and their movements in combat. In many ways, the Echani see combat as a rapid dejarik game, calculating feints, attacks, and dodges with a speed that few can surpass.

 

More on the Echani will be present in the game, but I wanted to talk a little about their origins and their current ties to the Expanded Universe.

 

/ End Echani Ramblings.

[Craigboy2]

Alsome

[BC83]

Finally another rambling. Thanks Chris. By the way who is this Echani party member?

[NInjaPirate]

With little to go on for K2, we decided to expand the culture with those elements in mind, and even have a member of the Echani be able to join your party

 

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Does that mean we have found our last party member or is one of them already Echani.

[Dark_Consular]

He hasnt said anything about an Echani party member I don't think but I think you will ahve one. Why else the ramblings?

[Craigboy2]

Finally another rambling.  Thanks Chris.  By the way who is this Echani party member?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I doubt he'll tell us, it might ruin part of the story.

[Darth Tratious]

i think thats awesome need somebody good in battle

[Lacan]

Cool. If I had to guess, I would assume the party member that can use hand-to-hand combat. Never caught her name, though.

 

Just checked. Handmaiden, maybe?

[Azazel005]

Your my hero Chris, great rambling this addition says so much about the level of thought and research applied to the game.

 

*sniggers asses handed to them*

[envida]

Sounds great! So we get something ala the fighting ring on Taris?

[jaguars4ever]

Intriguing....

 

I'm sure Mandalore and the Enchani will have many a good quarrel. Good stuff

[Craigboy2]

Cool. If I had to guess, I would assume the party member that can use hand-to-hand combat. Never caught her name, though.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They all can

[Fettforce88]

Hmmm. If the Echani and Mandalore are in your party at the same time, theres going to be some big arguments!!!

[Maria Caliban]

Can someone tell me who the "Echani" was in the first game?

 

Was he the fellow who went on about the best part of battle being seeing the inside of your enemy? Or the one who talked about honor and such?

[ampulator00]

Mandalorians, Echanis... about the Irchidorian guys?

[jaguars4ever]

Hmmm.  If the Echani and Mandalore are in your party at the same time, theres going to be some big arguments!!! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Beat you to it, Fett. ^_^

[Fettforce88]

Intriguing....

 

I'm sure Mandalore and the Enchani will have many a good quarrel.  Good stuff 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Holy crap no way you posted the same godd*** thing! And I swear i didnt read yours first, when i clicked post it there were only 2 replies, then when i entered there were like 15, including yours! Great minds think alike, eh?

[Lacan]

Cool. If I had to guess, I would assume the party member that can use hand-to-hand combat. Never caught her name, though.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They all can

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Have no familiarity at all with this universe, so don't laugh, but they mentioned Handmaiden has a hand-to-hand specialty.

[kumquatq3]

The HandMaiden is a HtH specialist, I'm guessign her

[Darth_Gandalf]

Perhaps it's that pansy-looking dicsiple...

[Fettforce88]

Mandalorians, Echanis... about the Irchidorian guys?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Oh yeah Chris any Iridorian armor in the game? That guy looked pretty sweet on Manaan in the Cantina!

 

Revan: "Im going to go now"

Iridorian: "Yes I'm not suprised. There are few who feel.....comfortable.....in my presence"

[jaguars4ever]

when i clicked post it there were only 2 replies, then when i entered there were like 15, including yours! 

I know, tell me about it. By the time you read this, another 15 will pop up....either that or this message will self destruct. :ph34r:

 

Great minds think alike, eh?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They sure do, my friend. ^_^

[BC83]

Finally another rambling.  Thanks Chris.  By the way who is this Echani party member?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I doubt he'll tell us, it might ruin part of the story.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

You never know. It could happen.

[Ivan the Terrible]

The Echani rely heavily on hand-to-hand combat and personal shield technology, and they had their asses handed to them by Revan during the Jedi Civil War, because, not surprisingly, there weren't many people able to face Revan across a battlefield and survive the encounter.

 

*shakes head in disbelief*

 

Jesus, if I'm right, someone has done his homework. There's only about one mention of the Echani and Revan in KOTOR (namely, the Yusani's Brand description about Revan killing an Echani senator and Yusani confronting him before being squished into jelly by the Sith Lord, implying a move by the Sith against the Echani.)

 

If the fate of the Echani was derived from enough research to get to that item description....well, I'm very, very impressed. Even I, a complete neurotic when it comes to finding out storylines, missed that the first few times I played.

[Laozi]

/ Begin Echani rambling:

Echani are a culture that communicates through battle, and there are many fighting rituals they use when dealing with their own people - and perhaps your character as well. If you wish to gain influence with them, engaging them in sparring matches or combat can earn their respect, their trust, and perhaps more.

/ End Echani Ramblings.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Its good to see some of the *culture* of starwars seep into gameplay