Chat corner 46: KOTOR

[annathecrow]

Welcome to this week’s chat corner!

Optional prompt

The prompt for this week is the two-part computer game series “Knights of the Old Republic“. (Am I abusing my mod powers by choosing something I know? Possibly!)

Opinions on canonical storyline vs your playthrough? Favorite team member? Who has the best backstory? (I missed about 2/3 of the content and I’m so confused when I read fanfic!)

Mod note: Do we have any Legends afficionados here? I have ran out of Relevant Legends Things in my memory and have resorted to the very scientific method of opening Wookieepedia’s “Timeline of Legends media” and looking for things that I recognize. Which is… not a lot. XD I still have a few months’ worth of material, and I figure we can live with a slower week once in a while (it’s an optional prompt after all), but I’d love some tips if you have them. (Same goes for canon media as well, btw! Topic requests are good.)

Comments

[annathecrow]

The Dark Side post, the place to go when things get too negative or controversial for the main discussion, is a thing that exists.

[kittywhite]

I’m in the unpopular position that I actually don’t like KOTOR and think it’s omg greatest thing ever like the rest of the fandom but I acknowledge that it has a special place in many people’s hearts so I always try to be respectful to that.
(I actually recently replayed it in December last year and found my feelings hadn’t changed)
For its time it was very ambitious and me not liking it doesn’t mean I think it’s poor quality or bad but I have issues with some of the writing and much prefer the sequel and MMO.
I’m actually looking forward to the remake because I want them to change things up so maybe I can enjoy it more then.

[annathecrow]

Would you share your thoughts (on the dark side post, if need be)? I'm curious!

[kittywhite]

I’ll go Dark Side soon, it’s gonna be a long one so I’ll need to be at a computer not a phone.

[astromech1138]

I don't know KOTOR! I'm not much of a video game person, if only because I know if I start I will do nothing else but play ;)

WRT Legends: Have we had a discussion prompt about Splinter of the Mind's Eye? That could be interesting, for a lot of reasons. Not Legends, but could be cool to have BTS prompts (deleted scenes, making of books/film documentaries, etc.), or even relevant actor projects like The Princess Diarist, too.

Off topic: I finished my selective watch of Rebels and season 4 was so good! I'm really glad I decided to watch all episodes in the last season, because the list I was working from told me to skip the two most emotionally impactful (and plot significant) episodes. I also loved the end of season 3. Hera is the coolest--I hope we get her in live action--and I loved Ezra and Sabine's friendship. It made me look forward to the Ahsoka show, because I'm sure some of them will appear.

[annathecrow]

We haven't done Splinter yet! I'll add it to the list. And I love the "related media" idea! So much has been written and filmed about SW.

Do you have any tips? Or fleurviolette, you've mentioned a few things already...? I haven't dipped into this end of the fandom yet.

[fleurviolette]

Splinter of the Minds Eye, aka the lower budget cancelled sequel to Star Wars if it didn’t became a success at the box office… I’ve read mixed reviews about this book, yet I remain kinda curious to read it.

[astromech1138]

You should! It is very...strange, even in context. But also awesome. And I think the origin of the kyber crystal?

[fleurviolette]

Interesting. We’ll see. I have Allegiance and Choices of One on my reading list.

[astromech1138]

I love Carrie's books, Wishful Drinking is awesome, but The Princess Diarist is the most closely tied to SW (I think). It's the diary she found a few years ago chronicling her time on SW ('77), and her commentary.

Some classic documentaries about the OT:

Empire of Dreams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-ux9jn1tRU

From Star Wars to Jedi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUczUdIYMyM

The Making of SW ('77): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-9BIDgEdKQ

I've been reading but haven't finished Rinzler's Making Of books. They are amazing, with great photographs and images. They are pricey, though, although the digital versions are cheaper and have audio/visual bonuses.

I really liked the biography George Lucas: A Life.

There were a couple of other bios/bts books put out contemporaneously--Skywalking, the two BTS books for ESB and RotJ--but I haven't read them yet.

Just a couple of ideas ;)

Oh! And there's also The Empire Striketh Back, which I've been meaning to read for forever. https://www.starwars.com/news/the-empire-striketh-back-shakespeare-meeteth-a-galaxy-far-far-away

[fleurviolette]

A while back, I bought the Star Wars Archives book of the original trilogy. It’s nice seeing early drafts of the script and concept art.

[astromech1138]

Would you say it's worth it? I've had my eye on it.

[fleurviolette]

Yes!

[astromech1138]

Cool! I do love reading early script drafts.

[fleurviolette]

I’m not super into KOTOR, though I watched cut scenes. The concept of exploring the old republic is neat. However I’m still attached to the main six films first and fore most. Tho I do know some friends who are very knowledgeable of the classic EU. They have their own opinions on Bantam era but they have favored NJO and The Han Solo Trilogy, besides Zahn and Stover’s works.

I finally got around to start reading Allegiance.

[annathecrow]

I think most SW fans ignore the KOTOR era, tbh, if they even know about it. KOTOR+SWTOR feels like its own fandom, in a way. Especially nowadays, when it's the only active Legends "property".

[annathecrow]

Okay! KOTOR! I've finished the second game very recently. I don't have the energy to give a coherent opinion, but a few notes. (Also, probably pointless because the games are ancient, but SPOILERS ahead!)

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I enjoyed both games a lot! I play for the story, and both games were satisfying on that front. I liked the first game better I think, but that might be because I like to RP and the protagonist of KOTOR2 is a bit all over the place. (Some notes on that here.)

It's a very BioWare game, in the sense that one of its strongest suits is the relationships you build with your teammates. These people are all so fun, I love them (even the ones I absolutely ignored in-game - sorry, Canderous!)

Ugh, I wish these games got made in a time when queer romance options are more common in games. I was robbed of Female Revan/Bastila and Female Exile/Visas! Robbed! And give me the Handmaiden you cowards, I don't care about whatshisname!

I adore Mission. One day I want to write a crossover between TCW and KOTOR that will put her together with Ahsoka, that would be co cute. (Shippy or not, I haven't decided yet.)

I've started reading fanfic and promptly realized I've skipped over a crapton of content, especially in the first game. Some of it intentionally (again, sorry, Canderous!), some of it because I didn't know it was there (the bits you get when you take specific characters to specific planets with you). It makes for a very confusing experience. Almost makes me want to replay the game, but since I'm not self-destructive, dammit, I will just go to Wkp and do some remedial reading.

Also, it took me way too long to figure out that "Meetra Surik" is the canonical version of the Exile. XD

And speaking of canon, Revan is always going to be a woman for me, no matter what the canon says. :P

Favorite location: Dxun. The Mandalorians are fun, and the rain ambience is so soothing.

Least favorite location: also Dxun, specifically the tomb of Freedon Nadd. I took Visas, Bao-dur, and the Mandalore and I had the ABSOLUTE WORST TIME. The final fight was a nightmare. (Also, the internet seems to hint that it might even be an optional part??? No, don't do me like that...)

[extrapenguin]

The games were my introduction to Star Wars! I got spoiled for the first one and picked it up because I wanted to see how it handled the thing, and I wasn't disappointed! I'm currently more into the prequels era, though the KOTORs will always have a place in my heart, slightly clunky that they might be. Though I hope the remake is a bit more of a remix (improved dialogue options etc) and less of a graphics update.

[annathecrow]

I hadn't known a remake was in the works, and now I'm cautiously excited about that! Something more than a reskin would be great. I'm a shipper gremlin so I'd love some same-sex romance options, and more nuanced dialog choices between ZOMG EVUL and "Jedi Council is always right!!!" would be wonderful.

Also, I am extremely intrigued whether that will mean KOTOR gets reabsorbed into current SW canon. I mean probably not, since SW:TOR is firmly Legends and clearly okay in its alternate universe, but if this is aimed at new players, wouldn't it be too complicated to explain that no, this actually isn't canon anymore?

(I mean, I'm not invested in KOTOR being canon, it's just interesting.)

[extrapenguin]

I think they already said it'd be Legends continuity? I hope that status gives them more wiggle room to deliver something satisfying, though Force knows that there will be a horde of fans screeching at them if they change anything (or even if they don't).

[annathecrow]

Might be, I've only read Wookieepedia and a single article. As for the other... well, it's SW, there's always screeching XD