Search Results for: Jedi Academy

The Guild Sphere: The Order of the Sith Lords

Soeren Kamper

This week I sat down with some awesome people from The Order of the Sith Lords, a RPPvE guild that looks to be a lot of fun, hope you all enjoy.   Where did your guilds name come from? Well Vandin and I as huge SW fans took the name from Bane’s Sith legacy. A lot of people started to make fun of when we first started but hey, we are still here haha.   Can you give me a quick 2-3 sentance description of your guild? Our guild mainly wants to focus on the PVE aspect of the game, we have a lot of members with a past when it comes to raiding. On the other hand we are also HUGE nerds and we will be doing a lot of RP events with other guilds.   How did your guild come about? Vandin and I had been following SWTOR…

Read More

The Guild Sphere – Prime Defense

Soeren Kamper

This week I sat down with some of the leadership from Prime Defense, a PvE focused Republic guild with close ties to their guildies. Hope you enjoy the Interview. Where did your guilds name come from? Our guild name consists of two words. Prime as in top quality, best or perfection and defense as in defenders of the galaxy. Can you give me a quick 2-3 sentance description of your guild? Prime Defense is an active and tight knit community filled with members from around the world. We strive to provide a relaxed environment where members can hang out and get to know each other while still retaining a serious attitude in game while running PVE instances or participating in tactics based PVP. How did your guild come about? Our guild was born from another community that went under the name The Royal Echani. During the summer of 09, the…

Read More

How Stuff Works: Valley of the Dark Lords

Soeren Kamper

The Valley of the Dark Lords, also known as Valley of the Sith Lords was a valley and burial ground of Korriban’s Sith Lords. The Sith Great Temple was located in the valley. A number of different layouts and appearances have been given to the valley in various publications. This is, in the case of video games, mostly due to memory restraints and practicality. For instance, its appearance in Knights of the Old Republic lends itself to being easily traversed and places less demand on hardware than a full scale valley. In Darth Bane: Path of Destruction it was found that the road from the Academy to the Tombs was actually quite long and the area that the actual Valley was barren and harsh, hard to travel through for even the Sith Lords. In Jedi Academy, on the other hand, the valley is designed similar to the appearance of the…

Read More

Holiday Sale on KOTOR

Soeren Kamper

Hey Star Wars Fans, do I got great news for you.  http://Store.steampowered.com/app/32370/ is selling Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic for 4.99 that’s 50% off.  That is a great deal for all of you that spent 20 to 30 dollars on the X-Box version recently or if you had to spend 40 bucks on the Star Wars Pak.  Except for the pak there is no hard copy of KOTOR for the PC anymore but I’m assuming it’s a holiday special price. ( It’s on Amazon though) I never really played the PC Version but I hear with the DC you get to were your old robes, probably not the best fighting wear but it is still awesome to run around the Jedi Academy looking like Darth Revan. I love the KOTOR games always making difficult decisions on what to slay next, well unless you liked being on the light…

Read More

Know your legends: Marka Ragnos

Soeren Kamper

Marka Ragnos was a half-breed Dark Lord of the Sith who was immensely powerful, both physically and in the Force. He defeated Simus in combat, proving himself worthy of the mantle of Dark Lord. The tomb of Ragnos on Korriban appears in the games Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy. However, the tombs in each game are dissimilar to the other. This was likely for reasons of game structure, rather than a suggestion of the tombs being at different locations. The same phenomenon is seen with the Valley of the Dark Lords as a whole. Another theory is that his tomb underwent a renovation after being desecrated by Revan and his followers. While a figure of importance in Sith history, Marka Ragnos has actually never appeared in a story in which he was alive, much like another influential Sith Lord, Freedon Nadd….

Read More

Know your Lore: Atris

Soeren Kamper

Atris was a female Jedi Master and Jedi historian who sat on the Jedi High Council during both the Mandalorian Wars and Jedi Civil War. She viewed the Jedi Order as a symbol of light, justice, and perfection. All this changed, however, when the Jedi Exile defied the council and participated in the Mandalorian Wars alongside Revan and Malak. Having one whom she cared about defy everything she believed in shook Atris to her very core. During the First Jedi Purge, Atris arranged a Jedi conclave on Katarr in the hope of drawing out the Sith. The plan failed, and many Jedi died. She went into seclusion, surrounding herself with those who could not feel the Force. Influenced by Sith holocrons she had been collecting, Atris gradually fell to the dark side. She was eventually confronted by the Jedi Exile, and after a heated lightsaber duel, Atris was defeated. The…

Read More

Know your Lore: Vandar Tokare

Soeren Kamper

Vandar Tokare was a male Jedi Master who was the head of the Jedi Enclave on Dantooine during the Mandalorian Wars and Jedi Civil War, holding a seat on both the Jedi High Council and the Council of the Jedi academy during this time span. He was friends with fellow Council member Vrook Lamar, usually having the last word in their frequent disagreements, most notably on the choice to train Revan once again in the ways of the Jedi after his fall to the dark side of the Force. One of the attendees of the Conclave on Katarr, Tokare was killed during an attack from the Sith Lord Darth Nihilus in which the entire Miraluka colony and many of the survivors of the First Jedi Purge were lost. Biography Tokare took Derrica Praji and another person as Jedi Padawans and trained them on Ossus. In 4,225 BBY Tokare and his…

Read More

Know your lore: Brianna (The Last Handmaiden)

Soeren Kamper

Brianna, also known as “The Last Handmaiden,” or simply “Handmaiden,” was a half-Echani fighter, and illegitimate daughter to the famous Echani General Yusanis and Jedi Master Arren Kae, who both fought in the Mandalorian Wars. She later served along with her five half-sisters as a handmaiden to Jedi Master Atris in the period following the Jedi Civil War. During her service to Atris at the Jedi Academy on Telos IV, Brianna met the Jedi Exile, and was subsequently tasked with accompanying her on her mission to seek out the Jedi Masters who survived the First Jedi Purge. As the Exile’s companion, Brianna helped battle against numerous adversaries, including the resurgent Sith. During the journey, Brianna trained the Exile in Echani techniques and eventually received Jedi training from the Exile in return, becoming one of first new members of the Jedi Order after the Purge. In accepting such training, however, she…

Read More

Know your lore: Kreia

Soeren Kamper

Kreia is one of the most complex and fascinating characters in the Star Wars universe, standing out not just for her deep philosophical insights but also for her intricate ties to key events and characters across the galaxy. From her mysterious origins in the Old Republic era to her enduring influence in the Star Wars Expanded Universe, Kreia remains a character shrouded in both mystery and wisdom. In this article, we’ll explore the lore surrounding Kreia, her connections to Revan, her pivotal role in Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (KOTOR II), and her lasting impact on the Star Wars universe, including more recent appearances in comics and books. Chapter 1: Kreia’s Origins and Early Life Let’s talk about Kreia—because when it comes to mysterious backstories in the Star Wars universe, she’s got one of the best (or most frustrating, depending on how you look at it)….

Read More

Black-and-white portrait of two filmmakers with headline text

Marcia Lucas, Oscar-Winning Star Wars Editor, Dies at 80

gingetattoo

Marcia Lucas, the Academy Award-winning editor whose work helped shape the original Star Wars into one of cinema’s most enduring adventures, has died at the age of 80. According to the Associated Press, Lucas died in Rancho Mirage, California, after metastatic cancer. For Star Wars history, her name belongs among the essential behind-the-scenes artists who helped turn George Lucas’ space fantasy into something mythic, emotional, funny, fast, and deeply human. She was often introduced through her marriage to George Lucas, but that has never been the full story. Marcia Lucas was one of the key creative forces in the editing room where Star Wars found its rhythm, its tension, and, in many ways, its soul. The Editor Who Helped Shape Star Wars Marcia Lucas won the Academy Award for Best Film Editing for the original 1977 Star Wars, sharing the Oscar with Paul Hirsch and Richard Chew. That credit matters…

Read More

Header image for Star Wars: The Arcade Game (1983) showing an Atari arcade cabinet beside a neon vector-style Death Star trench run scene.

Star Wars: The Arcade Game (1983): The Cabinet That Let You Blow Up the Death Star

Soeren Kamper

Before Star Wars games got big enough to swallow entire weekends, before they started chasing cinematic storytelling, RPG choices, or multiplayer wars with patch notes and balance drama, there was a much simpler fantasy: sit down, grab the controls, and blow up the Death Star yourself. That is the magic of Star Wars: The Arcade Game. Released by Atari in 1983, it turned the final act of A New Hope into a first-person vector-graphics shooter and, in the process, gave Star Wars one of its earliest true gaming classics. And this is exactly why it feels like the right next stop after Star Wars: Battle for Naboo (2000). That game showed how polished and expansive Star Wars vehicle combat had become by the N64 era. The Arcade Game shows the raw original spark: the point where Star Wars game design realized that “you are in the cockpit now” was already…

Read More

Editorial Star Wars header image of a Mara Jade-inspired woman with the headline Mara Jade Represents the Star Wars Future Fans Lost

Mara Jade Represents the Star Wars Future Fans Lost

Soeren Kamper

There is a reason the Mara Jade story blew up harder than a lot of bigger Star Wars headlines this week. On paper, it was simple: Claudia Gray said Lucasfilm had told her no when she asked about using Mara Jade in canon, and Timothy Zahn said he had asked too and gotten the same answer. That is not a trailer. It is not a casting leak. It is not even an official Lucasfilm statement. But the reaction online made one thing very clear: for a lot of fans, Mara Jade is no longer just a character they miss. She has become a symbol for the version of Star Wars they feel slipped away. That is why the Reddit discussion got interesting so fast. It did not stay focused on whether Mara Jade is “cool” or whether Lucasfilm should bring back more Legends characters. The argument turned almost immediately into…

Read More

Robert Duvall and George Lucas tribute image highlighting Duvall’s role in THX 1138 and his legacy as Lucas’ first leading actor

Robert Duvall, George Lucas’ First Leading Man, Has Passed Away at 95

Matt "ObiWaN" Hansen

Hollywood has lost one of its most legendary actors. Robert Duvall — a towering presence in film for more than seven decades — has passed away at the age of 95. And while many will remember him for The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, and Tender Mercies, Star Wars fans have a unique reason to reflect on his legacy: Duvall was George Lucas’ very first leading man. Before lightsabers, before the Death Star, and long before a galaxy far, far away took over pop culture, there was THX 1138. George Lucas’ First Leading Man Released in 1971, THX 1138 was George Lucas’ first full-length feature film and a bold, experimental entry into science fiction cinema. At its center was Robert Duvall, who played the film’s titular character — a worker in a dystopian future society stripped of identity, emotion, and freedom. The film wasn’t a mainstream blockbuster, but it became a cult…

Read More

Awards trophies on a table with headline about Kathleen Kennedy’s Lucasfilm era awards history

Kathleen Kennedy’s Lucasfilm Era Was Polarizing — But the Awards History Is Hard to Ignore

gingetattoo

Kathleen Kennedy’s time as president of Lucasfilm will probably be debated forever — mostly on the internet, mostly loudly, and mostly with way too much confidence. But there’s one angle that cuts through the noise: Awards. Real ones. Industry ones. The kind you don’t win by having a loud fandom. And according to a new breakdown, the Kathleen Kennedy era at Lucasfilm has built a pretty serious awards track record — across Star Wars films, Disney+ series, and Lucasfilm’s broader output. So whether you view her as the architect of modern Star Wars or the reason your group chat still argues about The Last Jedi… This is what the awards history actually looks like. ✅ TV Shows — Total Awards Wins & Nominations (all award bodies) Here’s the scoreboard — total award wins and nominations across all major bodies during the Kathleen Kennedy era: TV Show Total Awards Wins Total…

Read More

Star Wars saga movie posters promoting theatrical screenings in Los Angeles during winter 2026

A Month of Star Wars Mornings Is Coming to Los Angeles — And the Timing Matters

gingetattoo

There’s a quiet, deliberate kind of magic in watching Star Wars on the big screen before the year really gets going. No hype cycles. No spoilers. Just a darkened theater, a familiar score, and a story you already know—but somehow still want to revisit. That’s exactly what’s happening in Los Angeles this winter. Starting Saturday, January 3, 2026, the Ted Mann Theater on Wilshire Boulevard is hosting a steady run of Star Wars theatrical screenings—one film per week, all beginning at 11:00am. It’s a simple idea, executed well, and it lands at a very specific moment in the franchise’s timeline. What’s Screening, and When The program opens with The Empire Strikes Back on Saturday, January 3, followed by Return of the Jedi on January 10. From there, the schedule moves backward and forward across the saga: Every screening starts at 11:00am. No evening rush. No marathon fatigue. Just a consistent…

Read More

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Introduces Its First Lightsaber with a Comedic Twist

Skeleton Crew Scores 17 Children’s & Family Emmy Nominations — A Huge Win for Star Wars Storytelling

gingetattoo

The Force is definitely strong with Skeleton Crew. Lucasfilm’s coming-of-age Star Wars series has officially been nominated for 17 Children’s & Family Emmy Awards, making it one of the most recognized shows of the entire season. For a series that blends Amblin-style adventure with Star Wars spirit, this level of acclaim is a huge moment — not just for the show, but for the future of young-audience storytelling in the galaxy far, far away. Here’s a breakdown of the categories Skeleton Crew was nominated for — and why each one matters. A Full Breakdown of the Nominations Skeleton Crew racked up nominations across nearly every major category, including: • Best Young Teen Series• Best Lead Actor – Jude Law• Best Younger Performer – Ravi Cabot-Conyers• Best Writing for a Young Teen Series• Best Directing for a Live Action Series• Best Cinematography• Best Editing• Best Sound Mixing & Editing – Live…

Read More

Star Wars The Clone Wars 2002 Xbox game cover featuring clone troopers, gunships, and LucasArts logo

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Video Game Was Released on This Day in 2002!

Matt "ObiWaN" Hansen

Before The Clone Wars became one of the most beloved animated series in Star Wars history, it was a video game that let fans jump into the chaos of the galactic conflict firsthand. Released on October 28, 2002, Star Wars: The Clone Wars arrived for PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox, giving players their first taste of large-scale Republic vs. Separatist warfare long before the TV series expanded the saga. A Forgotten Gem from the Early 2000s Developed by Pandemic Studios (the same team that would later create Star Wars: Battlefront), The Clone Wars video game dropped players into the cockpit of iconic vehicles like the AT-TE, Republic Gunship, and Speeder Bikes, as well as letting them take control of Jedi heroes such as Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Mace Windu. Unlike many games of its era, it focused heavily on vehicular combat and large-scale battles, making players feel like they…

Read More

Scenic digital artwork of Tython from Star Wars: The Old Republic, featuring ancient Jedi temples, lush valleys, and twin suns in the sky.

Patch 7.7 Shakes Things Up: Dynamic Encounters Get Ranked and Ruled

Matt "ObiWaN" Hansen

If you’re returning to the galaxy of Star Wars: The Old Republic, patch 7.7 just added a galaxy of fresh content—and one fan dragged out a ruler to rank them all. A recent post at SWTOR Commando lays out a definitive list of the planets hosting 7.7’s dynamic encounters, splitting them into “capital worlds”, “starter planets”, and the icy realm of Ilum. Capital Worlds Take the Crown: Dromund Kaas and Coruscant Dromund KaasTopping the chart is Dromund Kaas. Why? It’s the variety champion. With over 20 unique dynamic encounters, this Sith capital pulls off themed chaos—from lightning-spired attacks to spaceport meltdowns. One cheeky NPC even shouts “What is Xarion hiding?”—a nice nod to timeline lore. And with encounters conveniently placed along travel routes, grinding out those conquest points becomes more a joy ride than a chore.Minor gripe: a few encounters—like “Shock and Awe”—feel over-tuned, and some voice lines play out…

Read More

SWG Legends Empire Day and Remembrance Day 2025 promotional banner with Galactic Empire and Rebel Alliance symbols

SWG Legends Empire Day & Remembrance Day 2025: Loyalty, Legacy, and Laser Blasts

Matt "ObiWaN" Hansen

Empire Day. Remembrance Day. Two sides of one galaxy-sized coin. One celebrates the iron grip of the Galactic Empire and its glorious propaganda machine; the other remembers the billions lost to tyranny and the hope that rebellion still kindles in the dark. In the SWG Legends 2025 Empire/Remembrance Day Friday Feature source, the devs serve up a month-long spectacle full of badges, speeches, combat quests, and shiny new rewards for both Imperials and Rebels alike. Whether you’re raising a glass to the Emperor or throwing sabacc dice with Princess Leia, there’s something here for every alignment. Let’s dissect both halves of the event like a proper protocol droid. Empire Day: Glory to the Emperor 📍 Location: Theed, Naboo (-5469 4410) Celebrated across the galaxy, Empire Day marks the rise of Emperor Palpatine and the fall of the Jedi Council. It’s the Empire’s biggest PR moment—complete with propaganda posters, statues, and…

Read More

5 Star Wars Characters That Would Be Right at Home in Feudal Japan

5 Star Wars Characters That Would Be Right at Home in Feudal Japan

Soeren Kamper

Because some Jedi were already halfway to samurai. As we continue our 5-part series leading up to Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025 (happening April 18–20 in Tokyo), we’re diving into the cultural and visual DNA that connects Star Wars to Japanese history. The connections run deeper than lightsabers and robes—at its core, the galaxy far, far away shares archetypes, values, and mythologies with the world of feudal Japan. The Jedi echo the discipline of the samurai. The Sith carry the tragic pride of fallen warlords. Even the Force itself resonates with Zen-like duality and cosmic harmony. This time, we’re going full speculative fiction: imagining iconic Star Wars characters reimagined as figures from feudal Japan. If George Lucas drew from Kurosawa’s lens, let’s step all the way through the torii gate and recast the galaxy as if it were ruled by shogun and shinobi. We’re not just swapping outfits—we’re reinterpreting these…

Read More

A dramatic panoramic scene blending the aesthetics of feudal Japan and Star Wars. In the foreground, a Jedi and a samurai stand side by side on a misty ridge at sunrise—one holding a lightsaber, the other a katana—both in contemplative poses. Behind them, a futuristic skyline merges with traditional Japanese architecture—Jedi temples rising next to pagodas, starships flying above tiled rooftops. Cherry blossoms drift through the air, while distant twin suns cast a soft glow. The atmosphere is reverent and epic, symbolizing the timeless bridge between samurai tradition and the Star Wars galaxy.

Top Star Wars Moments That Feel Straight Out of a Samurai Movie

Soeren Kamper

From Kurosawa’s Shadow to the Edge of the Outer Rim As we gear up for Star Wars Celebration Japan (April 18–20, 2025), we continue our 5-part editorial series exploring the roots of Star Wars in Japanese culture. This installment is all about what you feel when watching a lightsaber duel unfold in silence, when a Jedi lowers their blade instead of striking, or when a warrior stands alone against impossible odds. These moments aren’t just cinematic choices—they’re spiritual, philosophical, and visual echoes of samurai storytelling. Drawing deeply from Akira Kurosawa’s films, Bushidō ethics, and Zen Buddhist principles, these scenes resonate with the ancient traditions of Japan. Let’s examine the most powerful Star Wars moments that feel straight out of a samurai movie—and why they still hit just as hard today. The Samurai Legacy That Reached Hollywood Before we dive in, it’s worth remembering that Star Wars didn’t emerge in a…

Read More

Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall to Be Honored at the Oscar Wilde Awards

Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall to Be Honored at the Oscar Wilde Awards

gingetattoo

When it comes to shaping blockbuster film history, few names command more attention than Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall. This powerhouse couple has had a career trajectory that feels like a Hollywood script—except in this case, it’s real life. Now, their immense contributions to the entertainment industry are being celebrated with an honor fit for legends: they’ll be receiving recognition at the prestigious Oscar Wilde Awards on March 1, 2025. Let’s talk about why this matters, especially for anyone who’s ever experienced that “galaxy far, far away.” Who Are Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall? You’ve probably seen Kennedy and Marshall’s names in movie credits even if you didn’t realize it at the time. Kennedy, as the current president of Lucasfilm, is responsible for leading the Star Wars universe into its latest chapters. Yes, that includes blockbuster films like The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker. She…

Read More

George Lucas and the Bantam Era: Shaping the Expanded Star Wars Universe

George Lucas and the Bantam Era (Part II)

gingetattoo

he Bantam era of Star Wars publishing (1991–1999) wasn’t just about storytelling—it was an intricate balancing act between creativity and approval processes. George Lucas, the creator of this sprawling galaxy, maintained a curious relationship with this era. While Lucas wasn’t directly involved in every project, his shadow loomed large over the Expanded Universe (EU). As we continue this exploration into the Bantam era, Part II delves deeper into the creative processes behind some of the most notable works of this period. The Approval Gauntlet: Lucas at the Helm of Outlines For every novel published during the Bantam era, an outline had to go through rigorous scrutiny. As noted by Michael P. Kube-McDowell, author of The Black Fleet Crisis trilogy, no story could move forward without Lucas’s blessing. This process ensured that each book stayed aligned with Lucas’s vision of the galaxy, even if that vision sometimes seemed… opaque. “Lucas Says…

Read More

Star Wars Outlaws Hits a High Note: DICE Awards Nomination for Outstanding Music Composition

Star Wars Outlaws Hits a High Note: DICE Awards Nomination for Outstanding Music Composition

Matt "ObiWaN" Hansen

The galaxy far, far away has delivered countless unforgettable moments, from epic space battles to deeply personal stories of redemption, rebellion, and revenge. Now, Star Wars Outlaws—a highly anticipated video game—has hit a high note in an entirely different way. It’s been nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition at the prestigious DICE Awards! Yes, the Force is strong with this one, especially in the music department. A Score Worthy of the Stars Creating a memorable soundtrack for the Star Wars universe is no easy task. With legendary compositions like John Williams’ iconic scores setting the gold standard, the pressure to craft something original yet familiar is immense. Star Wars Outlaws rises to the challenge with music that evokes a sense of adventure, tension, and grandeur while standing confidently on its own. The nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition at the DICE Awards isn’t just a nod…

Read More