Star Wars Galaxies: Player Spotlight: AarunLightseeker

Real Life First Name: Robert
Forum Handle: AarunLightseeker
Main Character Name: Aarun Lightseeker
Server: Intrepid
Player Association: League of the Grey Council (LotGC) It is displayed in-game as "Grey Council League" (due to too many characters) ;)

Where in the real life world do you live? I live in northern New Jersey.

How long have you played Star Wars Galaxies? I've been playing since July 2003.

What other MMOs have you played? I tried Matrix Online, City of Heroes/Villains, World of WarCraft, Dark Age of Camelot, and EverQuest II. I currently only play SWG and sometimes Vanguard.

What type of work do you do? I own New Moon Comics, LLC in Wayne, NJ. Besides my love of Star Wars since I was 9, my other love has always been Comic Books. I opened my store in 2004 so I get my geek-fix on a daily basis. :)

How long is your typical gaming session when playing Star Wars Galaxies?  Depends on the day, to be honest. When I'm off work on Tuesdays, and don't have "New Moon Comics" business to attend to, I spend most of the day in-game. But currently I've been assisting a few friends in-game and have been spending at least 2-3 hours online between all of my accounts/characters.

What does a typical Star Wars Galaxies day consist of for you? For Aarun, it is checking the city; make sure any guild/city requirements are taken care of. See who requested what, and then take care of my citizens/guild mates. Also, follow up on things going on-on the forums. Reading the GALACTIC TALES submissions (Some great stories there!), and sticking my nose into things. :) My other accounts, I play on whichever character needs attention. :)

What was the race and profession of your very first character? My original account had a Wookiee on Gorath - he was a marksman and brawler. I was working my way to smuggler with him, but the final planning stages for my store got in the way of my gaming time. When the store was all settled and opened in April 2004, I just decided to create a new account (Aarun) and made him a Zabrak. I worked my way to Master Brawler and Master Marksmen, and Master Teras Kasi, to the final Master Smuggler; I also mastered pistoleer, carbines, and commando. But I always kept smuggler. I guess it was the "Han Solo" in me. :)

What got you into gaming and what sort of games do you like the most? I started gaming with the old pen-and-paper RPGs (D&D, Traveler, GURPS, etc.). I've played tons of games in my years - flight simulations and FPS. When I heard about SWG from a friend, I had to get involved! I'm more of a science fiction fan than fantasy. I can enjoy games like EQ or CoH - and I still enjoy Vanguard and look forward to Pirates of the Burning Sea. But any game that allows me to play in the Star Wars universe... Well, that is going to get my vote every time!

What other hobbies or activities do you take part in, other then playing Star Wars Galaxies? As a business owner, 'personal time' is limited. But I play in several gaming groups within my store. D&D RPG, DragonLance RPG, and I am the GM of our Saturday night D20 Star Wars Saga Edition RPG.

What is your highest character level in Star Wars Galaxies? I think the best question for me is what is the lowest (CL14 Spy on Sunrunner), but all of my main characters have hit CL90.

What race and profession is your main character? He is a Zabrak smuggler.

What do you like the most about the profession you have chosen for your main character? I'm a smuggler! I mean, how cool is that!? I can be my own version of Han Solo! Except I role play Aarun as his 'own man' not a copy of Solo... But we love ya' Han! :D

What faction is your main character? Aarun is apart of the Alliance to Restore the Republic (sometimes called "The Rebel Alliance"). :)

What is your favorite player owned ship? My Heavy X-Wing - I just wish I had the weapons and engines that LOOK like the movie versions. :)

What is your favorite ground vehicle? I was talking about this to a guild mate not too long ago; there was a time that my AV-21 was the ultimate accomplishment (the jetpack was not even on my radar at that time), then my jetpack was my goal. But with the BARC (regular, non GCW), and AT-RT being in game and quite easy to obtain, the whole 'prestige' of having the AV-21 has gone away a bit. I still love the AV if it is just me and a friend driving around for missions or whathaveyou - but the Desert Skiff rules the day for large group transport!

How did you choose your main character's name? Aarun Lightseeker was the name of my original West End Games (d6 RPG) character back in the day... I was happy I was able to get the name on most servers. :)

Which current professions in Star Wars Galaxies have you NOT played? I have not played officer.

What is your favorite expansion? I t is a tie between "Jump to Lightspeed" and "Trials of Obi-Wan". Both added something to the game that was completely new. Space and lava!!

What is your favorite planet? Naboo, which is funny, since our player city is on Lok. :)

What is your favorite NPC? Nym! I only wish there was more with him! The character is just too cool!

Which expansion do you like the least? Rage of the Wookiees to some degree due to all of the problems (bugs) with the missions, and the inability to just travel on the planet without hitting hidden walls. Plus all too many of the quests made being a high-level pilot a requirement.

Which planet do you like the least? Rori (But that's a moon!) :) I think it has some great places to see, but the darkness of the world is somewhat depressing. :)

Which NPC do you like the least? I have to laugh at that question since I can not name one specific character. There are several on Lok, and a few on Dantooine that I can't stand - they are "boss level" NPC guys that just beat the snot of you for no reason! When I was hunting on Dantooine for the first time way back in the day, I thought I got turned overt and it was a player (Jedi) that took me out with one hit -buffs and all! Now I know where they are, and to avoid them. But I enjoy getting small groups together to take them out. :)

What is the most credits you have ever spent on purchasing a single item for one of your characters? I spent 60 million on a jetpack for a guild mate (a good friend in this game for over 4-years). I consider myself a philanthropist; I'll spend credits on myself but I honestly enjoy helping my friends and guild mates more! :)

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 such items! My old (original) armor and some clothing and weapons. I keep them because it reminds me of how great this game was, and how much I still love it now!

What do you like best about Star Wars Galaxies? I get to play in the Star Wars universe. The sounds, the music, the blaster fire, the screams - what's not to love!? (Sorry HK-47, please forgive me for stealing your line.) And this community! Let's face it, the majority of us are not MMO players, we're Star Wars fans!!! We have the most talented and passionate community members I've ever had the pleasure of meeting! And the community is the one thing that this game is honestly about!!

What do you get out of playing Star Wars Galaxies? SWG is my recreation! It is what I do to relax and have fun. Currently, I've been welcoming back some old friends and working with them as much as I can. It's my hope that everyone will re-enter this game with an open mind, and see that the fun is back! (The XP on mission terminals has increased our guild hunting! We're social again, and having a blast!)

Describe your best experience playing Star Wars Galaxies. Over the years, there have been so many! It is difficult to pick one event above another. And in some cases it's hard to say without others thinking that I'm "longing for the old days". But every time I complete a quest, or play with a great group of players that work together to complete a high level mission/quest for a friend or myself, or help someone level up in some way. Or assist my guild mates or citizens in anyway I can... These are the things that are the best experiences I take with me.

This game, unlike other MMO's out there - is about the community, it's about "sitting around a campsite swapping stories" and laughing at something that went wrong or amazingly well - or just swapping old tales of the days gone by...

Do you run or work for a Star Wars Galaxies Fan Site? No, but my company website does host an incomplete page or two for our city/guild. Once I have the free time to give it proper attention, I'll be happy to share it with everyone. :P