Artisan Archive
Thread: I'm asking anyone who's got a nack for story telling and 10 free mins to...
I'm not sure the Artisan section of the forums is an appropriate place for this, but here goes:
When I started (as a human artisan), I chose to be on Talus, mostly because it looked like a fertile planet and wasn't very famous. This way, I could explore a world that wasn't actually in any of the movies, and perhaps give myself a bit of freedom from constant lag times from overpopulated planets. Just before that is the introduction to the game that details how you do everything (moving, selecting items, combat, etc.), which doesn't take very long. After I landed on Talus, I wanted to get a feel of the place so I knew where I'd be going.
I'm still getting used to it! The areas are absolutely ENORMOUS. You think you're running forever as you travel outside the city, and when you check your planetary map you discover you haven't moved very far in relation to it.
The backgrounds are very pretty. Grass and flowers sway with the wind, trees and shrubs of intricate detail pop up here and there as you walk. You'll see different animals and people as you go by, each with a high level of graphic intensity. You can use your mouse's scroll bar to back the camera out behind you, or zoom all the way to a FPS view. Your cursor looks like a targetting reticle and won't go very far outside of an invisible "box" area around your character (it's easier to move this way). If you hit Alt, it turns into a mouse tab that can go anywhere on the screen. This allows you to hit keys on your HUD, but makes turning difficult as you have to reach ALL the way from one side of the screen to another in order to turn your character.
As you move around the city area, you'll see people standing around talking, droids moving from place to place, and NPCs ready to have you take up missions for them. You'll also encounter plenty of other players, mission terminals, bazaar terminals, and bank terminals to assist you with your financial needs.
You can use a lot of emotional actions like those of a MUD, and your character will respond with an actual movement. For example, if you say "OK," your character will nod. If you say "lol," your character bellies over with laughter. You can also do other emotional commands by putting a / in front of them, such as /bow, /blowkiss, /puke, andothers, which your character will act out as soon as you do it.
Without visuals, that's all I can say for you now.
Not to sound harsh, but the system requirements have been posted for a few months. I understand if it was a financial thing, but if I'd had the money and needed to upgrade, my new hardware would have arrived at least 2 weeks before the game.
Having said that, I will do my best to relay the character creation process to you, though I don't believe it's something one can appreciatevicariously.
Once you get passed the logo screens you'll be met with the requisite and wonderfully familiar Star Wars scroll. As it floats by you learn that you are (were) the captain of a freighter which has unfortunately been captured ,and even more unfortunately, destroyed by the Imperials because they suspected you were carryingcontraband. They do graciously offer to reimburse you with a generous sum of 250 credits during the tutorial though. After the intro it's character creation time.
The very first thing that stood out to me inthis process is the ability to customize so many aspects of your character's appearance. Everything from eye shape, size and angle to freckle pattern. From weight and age to nose length and width. It could be better of course, but I believe it allows for a lot of variance (plus they have to leave something for the image designers.) I spend about 30 - 45 minutes per character at this stage making sure they look just so. Next you choose your starting profession and then it's off to the tutorial (I'll let someone else cover that if it has not been already.)
The name's Azvirz. I'm a Trandoshan with a shady past that I would rather forget. My history begins when an Imperial cruiser intercepted the cargo ship carrying myself and a handful of other refugees. I was already indentured by service to work the gladiator circuit on Tatooine... I'm not much of a fighter, but Trandoshans areknown for their toughness and strong constitution.This event gave me a new opportunity... and a new hope for the future. My captors were immediately arrested for smuggling contraband in their cargo holds - apparently the fleshtrade was not lucrative enough for them. But that is but a memory.
An armedescort took me to a shuttle transport terminal and I was informed that for my destination, I could pick anywhere in the galaxy... complementsof the Empire. The meager 200 credits they doled out to me in compensationshook loosely in my pockets.After browsing the star charts, I chose Corelia. It was earmarked as a hotbed of Rebelfaction activity and the Imperialofficer helping me strongly warned against it... which made it all the more appealing to me.
It's hard to describe what it feels like to take that first breath of air as a free man. Stepping off the shuttle bay platform in the early dawnis like nothing I have ever experienced. The memory of that moment still persists... even as I write this as my fourthclone (The life of a brawler is a perilous one...) All around, people of every race one could imagine.Languages familiar and foreign waft through the air in a slurry of noise and chatter. Occaisionally thedin isbroken by the soundof blaster duels in the street, but aside from that, Citylife is fairly safe.
It's not easy making it out here without some basic social skills.One needs the help of medics to heal one's wounds, entertainersto unwind from battle-weariness and stress, artisans for equipment and supplies... that's the beauty of my first few days out here in Corelia.While everyone's got their own objectives and motives, we all seem to need one another to survive. As aOutdoorsman and Scout by trade, I have already established my own network of warriors and marksmen to accompany me on difficult missions and hunting excursions. I've picked up some training in resource surveying as onedayI hope to make a living as a surveyor of rare and scarce resources... perhaps a hired gun on retainer by skilled artisans in search of the materials they needfor their craft.The future seems bright, and all that matters is that there isonly one destiny that I need worry about... mine own.
Well, my 10 minutes are up. If you'reever onCorelia in the Bria star system, look me up and I'll take you out on one my hunts for fun and profit.
Azvirz
Outdoorsman/Scout
Bria:Corelia
Firstly (sp?) - thank you for your time - I cannot wait for the computer to arrive and yes I know it's the wrong board but the thing is I'm going to be an artisan... hmm should have put that in the original post but aww well - and yes it is a financial thing I'm 15 and couldn't get a job till the summer which means i couldn't get cash untill about a week and a half ago... thanks to the three of you - anyone else want to put in your 2 credits?