A Short Hyperspace Jump...

The adventures of Vincer Kaden continue in SWG Legends. This is a customized, post-NGE server with a fairly large population (compared to most other emulators I've looked into), an incredibly dedicated event staff, and an admin/dev staff that appears to be very committed to evolving the server.

Whether I return to documenting my (mis)adventures or not remains to be seen. My goal is to help promote the server in any way possible. If this method of communication helps, I might return. I know the kids use different forums now - there's this "Twitter" thing I've heard about - but I honestly don't have the drive I once did to learn all these newfangled technologies, terminologies and idiosyncrasies that come with these new territories. We had all these tools back in 1995, but nooo... we have to keep reinventing them to push out us old timers!

Enjoy your Twitter machine, kids. The next generation is already thinking up new ways to communicate digitally that you won't understand!

/salute

Back in the Saddle Again

So I find myself on a server called Basilisk and it feels like a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.

Basilisk is the official server for the SWG Emulator, a project run by a wonderfully talented and dedicated team that is restoring the pre-CU for us all to relive the magic that was the original Star Wars Galaxies.

They say you can never truly go home again, and they were mostly right. But sometimes you can settle for just surrounding yourself with all of the good things that made home... home. That's precisely what the SWG Emu is all about.

I started on Basilisk a few years ago, actually. That followed up with a quick break over which time my small houses exploded with all the things I had humbly collected. I wrestled with the idea of starting again (again). So in 2015, I did that. Again.

I played the heck out of my characters, splitting time between scouting, socializing and crafting, but mastering none of them. I was never one to rush. The journey is the point of it all.

And then I stopped again. I'm not sure precisely why. I had found some success, and sat on a very small fortune that I built up upon my return. Over the next year and change, I'd log in, look around, pay the maintenance and log back out.

When that small fortune dwindled into a small bit of pocket change, I decided to do a mission or two every few days just to pay the bills and keep the lights on.

A "mission or two" became several missions, several sessions, and finally a renewed focus on finishing what I started. I loved being a creature handler. And here I was - NOT a full creature handler; NOT doing what I loved so much of when the game was live. I had no good excuse as to why that was. And I found myself no longer needing any such excuse. I was playing SWG again!

Is it the same feeling and magic? No, of course not. But I am back to doing what I loved most about the MMO genre. I am back in that saddle.

The Repopulation

If you were a fan of SWG, then you may like the Repopulation. Check it out now!

Vincer and V Squad - Moving to Star Wars: The Old Republic

The SWG trip down Memory Lane has obviously derailed. The attempt was there, but the effort was too great, the journey too long, and the end result would certainly not be a happy one. While I never like to rule out the future, my Star Wars gaming efforts are now geared towards building a brighter future with Star Wars: The Old Republic.

I am attempting to restart V Squad in a new galaxy, even longer ago, but the same distance away. The recruitment process began in earnest at the end of September 2011 and will continue. An official V Squad site has opened and I'm hoping to find a few good players to share the new game with; to help each other out when needed, and to have fun no matter what the cost.

Do you have what it takes to be a squad member? Click below to learn more and see if you do.

Here is a sampling of other recruitment posters that have been used to promote the squad. You'll find them on the official site in larger sized format.

Follow the Squad on Twitter, check out the official site, and become a founding member of V Squad and earn the reward below.

You can also start up a dialogue in the public forums on the site.

For Victory! For the Republic!

Life Imitates Art

Out of respect for the awesome power of the planet we live on, I will take a brief step away from the V-Squad party to share another memory; one that is topical due to a large hurricane looming ever closer as I type these words.

Any trip across Dantooine was always perilous. From the native tribes, to the roaming flesh-eating creatures, any group of adventurers would be wise to travel light and smart.

But even the best prepared units would be powerless against the planet's elements, especially the rainstorms.

Travel may not have been literally impossible, but it was a virtual squad stopper for the sheer awe alone. The rain was thick and loud, reducing visibility to a few meters. It was impressive and - as far as could be told - a unique effect across the known galaxy.

Hurricane Irene is not an imaginary storm like those on Dantooine. So to all of the "squads" in the affected trajectories of this possible historic storm, do take care of yourselves and your families.

May the Force Be With Us All.

Things That Make You Go... BOOM!

The sun was setting over Corellia, but the V-Squad party was just warming up. Killdoran was keeping a close eye on the skies to know exactly when it was time to have the pyrotechnics.

"Everyone, let's go outside for the fireworks show!"

Killdoran had brought in a specialist to light up the Corellian skies. Most of us had never seen a fireworks show. We were looking forward to this. The best vantage point would be on top of the squad's hall, so we took the stairs to the roof.

Even the band members joined us; all eyes were focused on our fireworks specialist who was finding the right location down in the fields below.

Come to think of it, the Deevahs weren't with us. Hopefully our security expert Mileena was also keeping an eye on the kitchens. Our food stores were sparse enough without that hungry quartet hitting it up.

Finally, the show was ready to begin. The fireworks tech had his act together and setup a legion of rockets that must have made the moons nervous.

Yes, that's him in the middle of those sparking and smoking fireworks. He started launching them off to the "oohs" and "ahhs" of the spectators above.

It seems that the hired photographer was just as much in awe of the spectacle as he managed to only snag one picture of a firework erupting, and only the tail-end of it.

But we all remember the event to this day, I'm sure. All the credit goes to Killdoran for finding and hiring what must have been the best entertainers in the galaxy, from the musicians and dancers, to the bartender and pyrotechnics tech.

And if you can believe it, there was still even more to come: a Best Dressed Contest, a special surprise announcement from Vincer, and a finale on the stage that never happened before, and may never have happened since!

TO BE CONTINUED!

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

The party was in full swing by now. Ice was either broken or covered with Icon Ogel's special concoctions to help along the socializing. Killdoran was keeping an eye on the pyrotechnics specialist, as well as the sky outside to ensure optimum conditions for a fireworks show.

On the main stage, the musical acts were both the Deevahs and the Academy of Dance and Music. The night was shaping up to be an entertaining success.

Mileena had taken up the job of security guard during the festivities, never wavering from her post. She kept a watchful eye on all of the guests from start to finish. You might guess that she sacrificed her own fun to do this task, but knowing Mileena this was exactly how she would have preferred to spend her evening.

Guests continued to file in as the night wore on. Without any notice, Mileena was suddenly away from her post and tapping on the shoulder of a new arrival; a twi'lek dressed in a dark robe and hood.

"We don't want any Imperial trouble."

Mileena's intel revealed that this newcomer was a member of the Empire.

"No trouble. I'm just here to relax and enjoy the party."

Or so the exchange went. Mileena issued a warning to the girl, then kept a wary eye on her for the remainder of the night. Though the twi'lek was an Imperial, she was more the property of the Empire rather then a willing supporter.

Whether it was Mileena's warning or not, the girl caused no trouble. She removed her robe and took to dancing with everyone else.

Thoughts of the war were far from everyone's minds. Tonight, everyone was a celebrant of life and happiness. It was proof that with the right mixture of music and drink, people of all walks of life and loyalty could get together and raise the roof.

Or maybe it was because Mileena was just downright scary in a dress and holding a flamethrower.