Star Wars Galaxies: Player Spotlight: BaconHeadIthorian

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Forum handle: BaconHeadIthorian
Main Character name: Ieheeloonea Gaivee / Corvalis Mierdrym
Server: Ahazi
Player Association: Shadow Squadron

Where in the real life world do you live? Kansas City, Missouri

How long have you played Star Wars Galaxies? I've played for a little over 2 years.

What other MMOs have you played? I've played very few. I came to this game as a Star Wars fan, not an MMO fan. I am much more of a flight simulator junkie. That's why I like Jump to Lightspeed so much. Though it is not technically a flight simulator, it has elements of the two things I love: flying and Star Wars .

What type of work do you do? I am working on a master in political science and work as a creative consultant for an advertising agency.

How long is your typical gaming session when playing Star Wars Galaxies? My guild members and fellow Ahazi pilots can attest that my characters Corvalis OR Loonee (Ieheeloonea) are usually signed on at any given time. Often, however, I am either away from the keyboard, advertising events, or simply sitting up in space relaxing in the Nova, Yacht (or Loonee's prized YT-1300, The Manollium Flame). I would say that I typically stay on for an hour or two at a time, when active.

What does a typical Star Wars Galaxies day consist of for you? When I log on, I check in on the pilot's lounge voice communications to see who is on and I also check my friends list in-game as well. I typically check the forums and follow up on any posts and/or in-game mails regarding our weekly events. Then, I attend Squadron business - whether that's making sure flight rosters are set, uniforms are handed out to the appropriate pilots or simply answering questions. Also, I look in on the SFC (Ahazi's "Star Fighter Chat"), which has become, due to so many pilots' efforts, the largest and most active chat channel on the server. I usually get into conversations there ranging from the typical space grinding or PvP and loadout questions, to discussions about movies, to WWII history. It's really an eclectic group of people there and we are lucky enough to have mostly mature and respectful people in our "space community". Then, of course, we head up for some PvP action in Deep Space or help newer pilots with missions.

What was the race and profession of your very first character? Ieheeloonea was my first character and no it is not a generated name! I actually had this game for some time before I played it and it was my 6 year old cousin, Aaron, that got me to create a character. I read and told him about each race, and he said, "I want that baconhead-looking one". The rest...as they say...is history. I credit Aaron for the term Baconhead being used almost colloquially on Ahazi to mean any Ithorian.

What got you into gaming and what sort of games do you like the most? I prefer flight simulations and WWII combat games such as IL-2 Forgotten Battles and Call of Duty II. Like so many of our older pilots, I absolutely LOVED the X-wing, TIE Fighter, and X-wing Alliance series of games. I was very much a fan of X-wing v TIE fighter too, though it was a bit ahead of its time with the online play.

What other hobbies or activities do you take part in, other then playing Star Wars Galaxies? I am a political junkie (hence the studies), a fencer (swords not boards), and a history buff (especially WWII and the Revolutionary War). I also enjoy writing and have always been involved in art (many mediums-- mostly oil painting and charcoal drawing). I love horseback riding, golf, football (American and European), and reading in many genres from political non-fiction to the Star Wars Expanded Universe. I love music of all kinds, Asian food, and midnight strolls on the beach with lovely Ithorian women...wait...scratch that last part.

What is your highest level Character in Star Wars Galaxies? Corvalis is a lvl 90 Officer (he achieved that level almost entirely through space combat).

What race and profession is your main character? I consider Ieheeloonea and Corvalis to be my main characters. They are separate accounts and I am on them both about equally. Since I've already discussed Loonee, Corvalis is an officer as stated and a human male -- though in appearance and in the continuing story "Out of the Shadows" (Tales from the Stars), Corvalis is a near human Firrerreo as seen in the Star Wars EU novel "The Crystal Star" by Vonda N. McIntyre.

What do you like the most about the profession you have chosen for your main character? Honestly, I picked Officer back before the publish that allowed us to wear any armor we liked. I picked Officer because I thought Corvalis looked spiffy in rebel recon armor and his rebel ace helm. I guess if I had to pick a feature I like best, I'd say Orbital and Aerial strike. It lets me pretend I am calling my squad mates down to make strafing runs (although I REALLY wish we could have an X-wing graphic for rebel officers...hint hint).

What faction is your main character? They are Rebel, obviously.

What is your favorite player owned ship? Oh wow! Why not ask me my favorite food? Okay, I'd have to say this is a toss-up between the A-wing, Heavy X-wing, KSE Firespray, or YT-1300. I will say, that by a hair, the YT-1300 wins as it is the VERY first ship I purchased the VERY first day of Jump to Lightspeed. Even though I couldn't use it at the time, the thought of it inspired me to master pilot in 10 days. To this day, the original Manollium Flame still flies with little to no decay damage.

What is your favorite ground vehicle? I'll say the BARC Speeder.

How did you choose your main character's name? My little cousin babbled out the nonsense word Ieheeloonea and I typed it. At the time, I had no clue people would have to type it so much! Blame the 6 year old. I'm not sure how I got Corvalis. I have never been to the town in Oregon, but I guess I just kind of liked the name.

Which professions in Star Wars Galaxies have you NOT played? There are several I haven't played, actually. I have never been a Trader, a Commando, and I am one of the few who has never been, nor will ever be... a Jedi.

What is your favorite expansion? Jump to Lightspeed

What is your favorite planet? My favorite planet is Tatooine, where it all began! This is where our current city is...and the desert air is good for you.

What is your favorite NPC? This is a tough one, as there are no fun NPCs in Space yet. I'd have to say Jabba. His palace is fun, mainly because Loonee can land there.

Which expansion do you like the least? That would be Trials of Obi Wan because of no space content.

Which planet do you like the least? I like Dathomir the least. I rarely ever go there and when I do, I can't see anything. It's much too dark, too hilly, and there's nothing really fun to see.

Which NPC do you like the least? I'd have to say that the Gungan Space Station controller in Rori space is what I like the least. Meesa want to pwna him. Big-badaboom!

What is the most credits you have ever spent on purchasing a single item for one of your characters? I once paid 60 million for a 106.7 speed QID engine. My pilot friends understand that completely.

Do you have an item you no longer use but keep around for nostalgic reasons? If so what is it and why do you keep it? I have many. My original Maroj Mellon is in a display case on Loonee's yacht, The Tafanda Bay. Hey, he's an Ithorian; it wouldn't do to display a gun.

What do you like best about Star Wars Galaxies? I like space, plain and simple. I sign off every night conflicted, hoping for more space content like the old X-wing games, but also desperately praying that no major changes are made to the space game for fear of ruining such a wonderful thing. I think I can speak for most of the space community when we say we want expansion -- not a reworking of what we all love so much.

What do you get out of playing Star Wars Galaxies? I get to partake in several of my hobbies such as writing, flight simulators and Star Wars . I get to share these with a large and diverse group of people that make me laugh on a daily basis.

Describe your best experience playing Star Wars Galaxies? You know, this is even harder than the favorite ship question. There have been so many. A few that come to mind are exploring Tatooine in the early days before we even had speeders, creating our multiplayer ship Conga line orbiting Kashyyyk station, liberating Libria with my Shadow Squadron brothers and sisters, and basically every event in our weekly "Continuity Event" series.

Do you run or work for a Star Wars Galaxies Fan Site? I do not yet, but stay tuned pilots! The Ahazi Pilots Association Website is in development right now. We will have a calendar of events, forums, a player association, squad information, and integrated voice communications in addition to fraps video and screen shot portfolios of Ahazi's greatest pilots and most entertaining moments!