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Play seems a little slow right now, due to various commitments- as much from me as anyone else. So, to fill the time, I plan to do some fun activities in the meanwhile.We're a bit quizzed out right now, but I have a different idea now. I present to you... The Greatest Moments poll!

Vote for what was your favourite moment from my Star Wars game, either from personal experience, reading about it here, or hearing others ***** about it...

Aside from the poll itself, this is an excuse for a nostalgia exercise, in looking at some of the high points of the game.

Here are the candidates.

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THAT DAMNED VOLCANO


Situation: The pirate base at Jaglon Beta is built around a long dormant volcano. There are two parts- around the base of the volcano, the settlements for all the scum. Up in the carter at the top, the base for the pirate leaders- and Kuylen's base also. The two levels are connected by cable car.

The Jedi, led to Jaglon Beta by Master Kellan Gundark's vision, have found the base, and the existence of Kuylen. Not long afterwards, though, the pirates have tired of both Light and Dark Side, and turned traitor to the bad guys, and simple opponents to the Light. Not a spectacular career move for the pirates, attacking both Jedi and Dark Siders, but 'tis the way of things.

A slightly botched Jedi escape attempt from the upper levels led to their cable car being shot down. The Jedi cling to the steep slope of the volcano, confident that Master Gundark will soon find a way out...

Some three months (real time) later, they are still waiting.


Reason: Aside from being part of the first major action sequence in the game (although the Dark Side had a short one first), the sheer unpleasantness of the Jedi stuck on that volcano and their complete inability to actually find a safe way off of it, combined with Dark Side hilarity at their predicament, led to this event being seared into Gundark';s mind so much that she is still convinced that I am sneaking a volcano into every episode. Sadly, no players are still here from that time (though Gundy still pops in), but for a while, the 'That damn volcano' was basically code for anything I put into the game that was unpleasant. Which was quite a lot.

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BALEK- ACTUALLY QUITE DANGEROUS


Situation: In a grudge match duel in the upper levels of Faylar's
headquarters in K'rra Chi, Galder has finally become triumphant over his hated foe, Lance Windu. Before he can deal the death blow, however, Balek makes his first move against a character in-game. Well, Galder just beat a Jedi, so how much trouble can Balek be, right? Unfortunately, Balek's tailored anti-Jedi tactics are a new experience for our 'hero', and the fight does not go entirely well...


Reason: The first time genuine player threats were really being introduced into the game (the sabre bad guys hadn't really had a genuine outing yet), along with fights that were more about tactics than just wading in and hoping for the best- as true then as it is now, even though the rules were invisible in those days. Also notable because Balek was a pretty cool villain, and inventing all the various toys he used to fight with made the whole experience feel very Star Wars indeed.

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THE FANS GET WHAT THEY WANT- LIGHTSABRE DUELS EVERYWHERE...


Situation: The end of Episode III saw a three-way faction war on the planet Malastare. Kuylen's agents- Takuan, Chion and Galder- are there to nab the Astrolabe owned by businessman (and Force-Master-on-the-quiet) Kir Ascar (once the ex-Padawan Mal Sannan). They need the Astrolabe to navigate properly the Sith maps they recovered from Avalar. The Jedi (Gundark, Marcus, Mah and Xeth) hunting the Dark Siders on general principles (which turned out to be Darth Sidious' principples, but that's the Dark Side for toy) have cottoned onto the Astrolabe deal and have come to stop it. Meanwhile, Ascar's indisciplined and very much Dark Side pupils Persis and Majora have decided to nab the Astrolabe for themselves. After a load of betrayals, fake astrolabes and a pod race, the final confrontation takes place in the plaza around Ascar's headquarters. Persis is backed by his private security force, the Dark Siders by the elite Order of Miramar, and the Jedi by the local police. All three sides are packing small armies and Lightsabres, and only one side can come out on top...

Reason: Well, everyone likes Lightsabre fights, and picking are pretty slim in the PT due to the restricted number of combatants. Here, the bar was pushed as far as it reasonably can. Episode III was the first episode that the game really hit its stride in, and the interposing of Persis in the way of both Light and Dark Side contributed to making the game very good indeed. Ascar's manipulations were highly amusing but hard-wired into the plot; this final fight, however, could have gone anyone's way. There were four seperate lightsabre fights going on- one involving four combatants, a genuine two vs. two duel. Neat. Historically, this event also has significance, as the bad press the Jedi got for starting a small war on Malastare was the birth of the Bureau plotline, whose legacy lasts into the OT game, with the current story, and will continue in the PT game for some while.

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DUEL OF THE ILL-FATED

Situation: From looking at lots of sabre duels to focussing on one... well, what was the best duel of them all? Kuylen's fights were never lacking in drama, but he was superior to the point where they were somewhat wanting for tension. Galder's fights against Lance? Sadly, never progrssed into the later game where they could have really bedded down. Galder losing an arm? Well, that was a fight that really didn't seem to go very well for Galder. The fans were upset- they wrote in and complained. So in my opinion, the best sabre duel was... Roan and Galder. it had to be Galder, of course, in this one.

Roan and Galder meet at the door way to the Tomb of Demnos, within the Mausoleum that has caused so much death and hardship- and still yet bears disappointment. As Chion's insanity reaches its height. the energies from the Vengeance Device feed back into the Mausoleum, tearing it apart. Amidst this chaos fight Galder and Roan, as the room disintegrates around them, great chunks of the floor lifting up beneath their feet- and both sides certain that the future of the Galaxy depends upoj the victor

Reason: Sheer drama and tension. What more is there to add? Also was generally observed to be a favoured duel as the time

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WE CAME ALL THIS WAY FOR THAT?


Situation: The culimnation of an entire campaign, a target that has been on people's lips since the middle of Episode II, confirmed as the crux of the story in Episode III. For over a year, a thread hangs at the top of the Star Wars RP area, to discuss the true meaning of the Mausoleum of Demnos... and what truth lies within the mythology of his Cult. And now, finally, the time for revelation has come. Dark and Light alike enter the tomb- the Dark in greater numbers- to see the dark secret of Demnos that has caused this destructive rampage across the Galaxy.

It turns out that a day at the races would probably have been of more use to both sides- at least you can only lose money there, not the entire reason for your existence.


Reason: The end of a campaign. The end of Kuylen's tenure. The culmination of plots lain in place for years. The sheer triumph of actulaly starting this Star Wars RP at KMC and actually making it through to a conclusion which all the players had a stake in.

But above all... just to pull the Blake's 7 twist on a new generational group of gamers- and not just to watch it, but to experience it first hand... call it cruel, mean, deprecating, even pointless... but all in all, it made for one hell of a story. And absolutely everyone, from me as the game runner, to tpt as the newest player, could learn from it. The biggest moment of the game there has ever been, maybe the biggest it will ever see. Does that make it the best or most favoured moment though? We'll see.

PIGS. DOZENS OF THEM.


Situation: Whether desperately traipsing after their old master, or as new Dark Siders keen to see if there are any new juicy opportunities on offer, the Dark Siders go to find Kuylen now he has shown up. There is no Kuylen there- just the Bureau, the forerunners of the Empire. But accompanying the Bureau, as they go about their business of eradicating all non-Jedi force users from the Galaxy in advance of the original Trilogy, are their chosen hunters- the Osokans... and on the planet Demarus the Dark Siders are about to find out how dangerous these piggies really are!


Reason: We are so suffused in them now, it is hard to remember that there was a point in the Star Wars game where the Osokans did not exist. Well, their introduction into the game was sure as hell hardcore! The introduction of the Bureau was the first of several steps designed to, basically, totally emasculate the Dark Siders (figuratively, in Rianna's case) in advance of the Serpent storyline. The Dark Siders had to feel like shit before that story started, just so it could give them a tiny ray of hope, so that that hope could then be totally annihilated in turn to provide that real emotional. burn that was the first Dark Side storyline. The Osokans provided the sharp edge of that emasculation. Again, figuratively, of course- mind you, a few neurowhip strokes to that area would take care of the kids issue forever. The Osokans seared onto the stage with a burning intensity and have not left it since. It wasn't that they are indestructible- they are just hard to kill. It's not that they outfight sabre wielders- they are simply too good to just dismiss. It is not that they are unbeatable warriors- they just work too well as a team. It's not that they always know what you are going to do- they just work to a logical plan that often catches out the random whims of the Dark Siders. All in all, they are not an unbeatable enemy- they are simply never worth the fight. And to fight-obsessed Dark Siders, this makes them the ultimate foe.

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BREAKOUT FROM THE GHOST CITADEL

Situation: A thievery operation months in the planning. A huge and varied backdrop that was never even fully explored in game. The sheer variety of stuff to do, and ways to carry out the goal. The memorable characters all around. The Dark-Soide twisted drug-induced flashbacks, looking deep into the personalities of players. And it all came down to the final Heist- as the Dark Siders attempt to steal the Sith tablet from the Ghost Citadel of the Golden Serpent. With half a dozen named characters around to oppose them, plus any number of mooks and various dangerous enemies between the named and mook level, it's a damn good job the Dark Siders have a perfect and infallible plan.

Isn't it?


Reason: The Jedi had their own enormous battle at the same time, but in keeping with the vibe of the times, the Dark Siders seemed to be having the better story in the early part of the Second campaign. The Ghost Citadel itself was a backdrop that paid off extremely well, and both name and concept had that Flash Gordon/Buck Rogers vibe that Star Wars is really all about, which made this feel- despite being about a bunch of near-leaderless, clueless Dark Siders without a cause in a morally void backdrop- exactly like Star Wars. Just pushed a tad more into the post-watershed category.

For the reasons listed above, the Ghost Citadel was a good set-up for a fight, But even better, the planning turned into a disaster, and the fight that resulted was perhaps the most utterly desperate there has ever been, where the sheer Dark Side will to survive, to live, to exist no matter what had to strain itself to its most dramatic maximum- and final success.

DOON AND OUT


Situation: The victorious Dark Siders carry their trophy back to their
saviour and their link with Kuylen- the highly talented Melkus Doon. Kuylen is dying, and the rendezvous is desperate. When they get there, all their remaining questions will be answered. Even the mystery of Demnos may have some light shed on it. And then, the ever re-assuring Melkus can tell them what to do next. Because Melkus is a man who always knows what to do. He's a smart man, is Melkus. And it looks like he's been too smart for all the players.

Reason: The 'Melkus' story is so in-depth that I cannot possibly summarise it here. But I am sure you players remember it well. This deception lasted a full year, and was painstakingly crafted one tiny bit at a time. And there was no sudden revelation, no joining of the dots. Just one final random element thrown in by the Force, in roder to give the players a chance to reflect. And have a look a tad more CLOSELY at the events of the last year's worth of story.

That something was wrong was quickly established, But what could it possibly be? What WAS this story, after all? Two whole episodes dedicated to this one thing after all! The mystery was so big, the Light Siders wanted in on it- and it was eventually tp who cracked it, out of game, of course. This was the ultimate in-game deception. The Mausoleum of Demnos was a promise, an ambition, that was in fact a dead end. This was worse, more direct- a bald faced lie, constructed so convincingly (heck, an entire Episode dedicated to making it credible, with me having to pretend there were other reasons FOR that episode) that the players themselves, rather than just their characters, were fully immersed in the experience. That's what good role-playing is about, and I was never sure it could pull off on-line. Oddly enough, it was an on-line only story, never played before, never even conceived before, written especially for you guys by my brother. The very fact that on-line it took a year to build, rather than a few weekly gaming sessions, made it work all the better. A vindication of the entire on-line gaming medium, perhaps? Well, at the very least, proof that the internet isn't an unsurpassable barrier to an emotional hit in a game.

The slow realisation and piecing together of the mystery was the final, perfect part of an idea that had gone very well indeed- as well as could have been possibly hoped, and with so many places where it might not have worked! And with the springing of this beautiful trap, removing the last possible bitof motivation and morale from the Dark Siders, there followed the gift, where the Dark Siders could, at last, have their due crack at victory. Never has it been so sweet.

Clearly MY favourite moment, this, but don't let me bias you. Certainly,
though, a huge moment for the game, second only to the Mausoleum, and even then, only because this was a Dark Side only plot.

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I'LL NEVER BE LIKE KUYLEN

Situation: Roan carries the torch of the first campaign onwards, stepping
into the shoes of a story meant for Gundark- a brave man indeed. With echoes of the first campaign all around him- Charnellians, ancient history, a man named Kuylen... even if not quite the same man... Roan has to deal with the first story that took a serious look at the Jedi's diplomatic rule, and ended with the participants convinced the whole Galaxy around them was pig-shit dumb. Often the way, with negotiation...

Roan and associate Jelena are about to meet their match in the form of the agent of The Lady. But dramatic as that fight was (even though as a set-piece it was cut short due to time constraints), the sinister nature of The Lady was better revealed by her subtle manipulation of the situation on the planet, as everyone's Dark Side emotions were slowly, cataclysmically, drawn to the surface.

The final sting was when Roan finally went from Jedi, to casual murderer- and for the first time, someone lost their character in-game. Luckily, only briefly, and before the damage went too far.


Reason: Carefully woven into the game, as I slowly assumed more and more control of the Jedi, making it look like a dictat of how they were feeling at the time, but actually a representation of them losing their emotional control, this plot was a truly chilling one for a Star Wars game. It also hammered home the value of good Foresight, and calm, clear thinking- the twin weapons of the Jedi.

As the game switched to an Empire Strikes Back kind of mood, this story did not end well for the Jedi. But harsh as the final fight had been, the sheer 'wtf?' factor as Roan lost control and even calm Jelena turned into a screaming maniac was a great RPing moment. It's only a shame that not many other people were paying attention at the time!

I loved these CII EIII Jedi plots very much. The Golden Serpent beats them, for me, simply because of the sheer time and effort put into it. But I rated these stories very highly indeed- and both were the start of something bigger, unlike the Serpent which was enclosed as a story. Oh yes, talking of 'both', onto the other...

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"ARE YOU THREATENING ME, JEDI?"

Situation: As ever the unintentional parallels between this game and the Star Wars films bite...

Acolyte Gallagher knows that he is now the vital pivot in great Galactic events upon which the lives of billions depend. On an undercover mission trying to expose drugs smugglers, he has in turn uncovered a plot to kill the kindly Abbot Sienar, important man in a Light Side force cult, a man who has saved millions already, but without his help in the coming famine crisis in the poorer quadrant of the Galaxy, those billions may go. Poor Sienar is desperately affected by an incurable fungal wasting disease, and only his sheer spirit and determination is keeping him alive to complete his work. In this place of healing- albeit a place of questionable morals- Gallagher and recently assigned Knight Andro try to prevent evil killers from taking down the Abbot, as they clearly intend to do, though Gallagher cannot discern why or when. He's gone through a lot of trouble to protect the Abbot. Even the discovery of the heartless butcher of thousands and thousands of cryo-frozen patients has not distracted Gallagher, only hardened his determination to stop this evil.

So imagine his... disappointment? When he discovers the source of evil IS the Abbot, the others merely his lackeys, and the only targets for death being the nosy players who misunderstood what they were hearing. Even more surprise when Sienar turns out to be a Dark Side master with the powers of the Sith Lords of old. Even MORE startling when it turns out Gallagher has met this person before, that his life once revolved around him, the man who arranged the death of Gallagher's sister- albeit harder to spot with his unintentional , though Dark-Side-style-stylish, horrific disease. As for the fact that this guy has been so big and influential and powerful that he has featured in several other storylines and backdrops already- he just hadn't been noticed... well, Gallagher was too busy volunteering to join and protect Sienar to worry about all that...

Reason: For one character alone, probably the best plot we have had yet. Also the introduction of the best villain since Kuylen, and you've barely seen any of him yet. A fantastic revelation only slightly marred by being irritatingly similar to how they revealed Palpatine in ROTS, which managed to get shown shortly before this revelation was made... bastards... still, it all 'rhymes', eh?

Maybe unfair to vote on a plotline not done yet... but actually, as a gaming moment, this was pretty hardcore, and definitely up among my favourites.

---

So, that's it then. Vote as you like. In the meanwhile, will we see the following as options in future?

THE BATTLE OF LANZAR

GENERAL TAM?

SIENAR'S GAMBIT

THE REVELATION OF THE DESERT OF STONES

Sweet,
I have come to the conclusion that I am an awesome person, simply because I have held the torch in 3 favorite moments!
Roan vs. Galder (to which my vote goes, what a trial by fire that was...)
teh Doon conspiracy, (which I cracked, and thusly take credit for)
and the last bit on Ciallis, wich I think comes a CLOSE second for best moment that shit had us all going CRAZY.

I likewise vote for my fight with Roan. It was a highly impressive fight for both combatants, and far more impressive that it was Roan's first fight and that Galder felt he had earned his victory. That, and I love being called a member of 'The Best Duel of the First Campaign Between Players.'

The introduction of the Pigs is my second runner up, due to the spectacularness of Galder running away. It wasn't just running away; it was running away while shouting 'You bastard bacon-pieces!' and hacking things up and jumping and nearly dying several times.

Third is the Ghost Citadel breakout, fourth is the Three-way firefight on Malastare, five is my fight with Balek...grr, that bastard...

I voted for the last one...my situation.

I feel honored to have been the star of that plot.

Meanwhile, I'll obviously want to hear about Sienar's Gambit.

I voted for the three-way firefight. I had fun in that four-way duel with Mah against Majora and Persis.

General Tam? I like the sound of that. Who do I get to annihilate in the name of justice?

Thanks Ush, I feel pathetic now. Not even a minor part of any of the "greatest moment" candidates.

I think I'll go cry in my corner on the ceiling...

I'd vote for one, but I don't have enough experience with any of them to make an educated choice... though I'm leaning toward the whole Doon thing...

Vote 'General Tam?' for the unveiled secret, since I'm pretty much the only person who's going to anyways.

Others will get their turn, I am sure...

The Sienar revelation was the best moment, it was even more surprising than Doon`s machinations, greatly cinematic, and deeply personal for Gallagher. It was like very good quality writing from the point of observer. I might have felt diffrent if I paticipated in first campaign, but objectively I think that the entire Gallagher-Sienar arc will be the pinacle of roleplaying experiences in those games.

When did TPT seen through the Donn deception and to what extent, bu the way? I remember being the first Darksider to point that Doon likely cooperates with Jenna.

We had a long series of MSN convos...
and some others stuff...

It was towards the end, a bit...all off-KMC convos.

Well, as I've just NOW noticed this thread (thanks for someone telling me it existed since I was kinda gone while it was made!)....I'm going to vote for the bit with Doon, where we finally pieced everything together and then went on a mass killing spree (and I got to off Helkin in the process, yay!), even though now when I look back at that it's painful how clueless we were and how long it took us to get it all together....and I remember that I was sitting in class while all the fun little revelations were being made! Safe to say I did not pay attention in the least that day.

Second favorite of mine was escaping from the Citadel, even though you guys made me all want to kill you due to the fact that everyone conveniently forgot to make sure I could escape....but hey, it was a fun fight. And I beat Rex in our little competition to see who would end up killing more enemies by the end

I want to know what's up with the desert of stones!!! Stupid visions!!!

My vote goes for Doon as well, and second, the escape from the Citadel.

I was here for the Mausoleum, but I didn't really do much, seeing as I was the only one not in a duel.

I haven't been here long enough to vote, I don't think.

So, when do we get those revelations on upcoming games?

Well, I am having thoiughts about timing, wondering whether to run Matrix instead oif the next SW story, and then return to SW afterwards.

Aside from the dwindling plot available for SW, it must be said I am quite committed on games as it is.

Ehh, Go Matrix... Thats my opinion.
And Rex? Next time...Your toast.
If we had to do the duel again, I would beat your ass so fast... I made some stupid mistakes...

You wish. I'll beat you down any time.

I think over a year waiting for the PT Episode 4 is enough.

True, it is.

But then Matrix has been years, and people never let me forget it.

Think of it this way. The longer break we have from PT, the less breaking we'll do later during Episode IV and V.

In this case I am joining the Matrix game, though I prefer the Star Wars setting. But Philosphy Path from last game seemed to be a great experience, so I am looking forward to it.

Originally posted by Ushgarak
True, it is.

But then Matrix has been years, and people never let me forget it.

Nope!

Oh, and I blame you for the fact that now everytime I look in this thread and see the name Balek in the poll, my brain thinks 'Dalek'...

I kinda would like to get back to PT soon but at the same time, there's only so much I can keep track of at once, and with Matrix starting...well...I'm being very impatient for the game to start there. Hehe.

...though I still really want to know what the Desert of Stones thing is. Damnit.

Well, basically, it is a Desert, and it is full of stones.

...


Exterminate!

The final battle against the Imperials is quickly becoming one of the greatest moments, in my opinion.

Especially when we defeat Drakkon and win

Yeaaaaa...
When that happens, call me.

Oh, it will. Just you watch.

Whenever I do crazy insane shit it works out, so I've no reason to believe it won't this time!

Well, we all know what happens if the Imperials win- Drakkon killed/arrested, Rebels on the run, Osokans murdered/enslaved- but what happens if the Rebels win?

Osokans will be slaughtered anyway- if Coll is down Commisar will make sure of it- he is really pissed off right now.

Imperial performance in that battle has been god-awful, must be said. Just about everrything that could go wrong is- you've used the wrong basic strategy and you've entirely failed to co-ordinate, and now you are shooting each other.

The Imperials appeared to be wedded to the idea that you could stand off a way back from Drakkon and snipe him out. God NO. Gave him the initiative, and it was also a very slow tactic giving the Rebels all the time in the world to snipe you guys out. Then Janthis tried to go up there alone, which was the right idea but unsupported it was actually worse than not trying at all.

The lure of the Big Gun has badly distracted some players there too, wasting valiable frames from all but Arvus, who is very good with it.

In contrast, stormtroopers are very vulnerable to heavy weaponry so Eerin's use of it was better.

If the Imps wanted Drakkon they should have gone for him- a determined attack could have rboken through to the top of the Piit.

You're never going to get Drakkon now, you're all too knackered. It's just survival now.

Originally posted by Ushgarak
Imperial performance in that battle has been god-awful, must be said. Just about everrything that could go wrong is- you've used the wrong basic strategy and you've entirely failed to co-ordinate, and now you are shooting each other.

The Imperials appeared to be wedded to the idea that you could stand off a way back from Drakkon and snipe him out. God NO. Gave him the initiative, and it was also a very slow tactic giving the Rebels all the time in the world to snipe you guys out. Then Janthis tried to go up there alone, which was the right idea but unsupported it was actually worse than not trying at all.

The lure of the Big Gun has badly distracted some players there too, wasting valiable frames from all but Arvus, who is very good with it.

In contrast, stormtroopers are very vulnerable to heavy weaponry so Eerin's use of it was better.

If the Imps wanted Drakkon they should have gone for him- a determined attack could have rboken through to the top of the Piit.

You're never going to get Drakkon now, you're all too knackered. It's just survival now. You know oddly enough I was expecting some kind of help when I charged up ermm

Originally posted by Newjak
You know oddly enough I was expecting some kind of help when I charged up ermm

Must have forgotten you were an Imperial.

I didn`t think that the battle went that bad until now- still, regarding Drakkon- how can he escape, even if he gets Coll?

And I am sorry Newjak, you were playing well, you just went out of luck. If Janthis is dead, than it is first death in Ush`s games I remember.

Originally posted by General Kaliero
Must have forgotten you were an Imperial. And backstabbing Paid Scum who don't follow orders

I think Janthis' ghost is about to return and help the rebels ermm