Star Wars Galaxies: Player Spotlight: Ishka

Real Life First Name: Linda
Forum Handle: _Ishka_
Main Character Name: Ishka
Server: Valcyn
Player Association: Valcyn Roleplayers (VRP)

Where in the real life world do you live? I live in Brisbane, Australia.

How long have you been playing Star Wars Galaxies? I would say close to 4 years now, with a couple of small breaks in between.

What other MMO's have you played? EverQuest (was my first ever), Guild Wars and World of Warcraft.

What type of work do you do? Umm, is playing SWG considered work? ;)

How long is your typical gaming session when playing Star Wars Galaxies? I would say in most cases anywhere from 4 hours and up, I have even been known to do the all night stints now and then.

What does a typical day of Star Wars Galaxies consist of for you? That is actually a difficult one as no one day for me is the same as the next in most cases, sometimes I spend the day role playing with my friends, other times I might spend the day crafting on my tailor, other days I might do a long stretch of hunting. It all depends on what I find everyone else is up to when I log in.

What was the race and profession of your first character? Another difficult question as this was sooo long ago now and so much has happened since! But my earliest memories would be of creating Ishka (my main character). I believe I started out as an artisan with the intention of going tailor - but never quite made it that far on her as combat peaked my interest rather quickly. However before that I do remember my first priority, as soon as I saw those player houses around the universe I just *had* to have one for myself no matter how long it took the save up the credits to place down my own little spot in the game! Oh yeah she is human by the way.

What got you in to gaming and what sort of games do you like the most? I am going to show my age here aren't I? It was probably my friends who really got me in to gaming - my best friend (who is still my best friend even today) had an atari console and I loved it we would play regularly whenever I was over visiting, from there it just grew. My first ever game console was actually a Nintendo - followed a few years later by my first PC. My favourite types of games would have to be RPG's (that includes MMORPG's of course) and Strategy games - but really I play a little of everything.

What other hobbies or activities do you take part in, other then playing Star Wars Galaxies? There are other hobbies and activities!? No one told me this.

What is your highest character level in Star Wars Galaxies? CL 90.

What race and profession is your main character? Jedi 98% of the time. Entetainer (more specifically dancer) the other 2%. I have been known to respec between the two several times as I actually used to have her as a Jedi/Dancer spec prior to the NGE.

What do you like the most about the profession you have chosen for your main character? Everything. But probably more the challange of role playing a Dark Jedi and keeping as in line with the current time line as possible.

What faction is your main character? Imperial.

What is your favorite player owned ship? My Imperial Guard Interceptor which was actually a gift from a friend, along with a lot of help to equip her nicely. :)

What is your favorite ground vehicle? I honestly can't say that I have one favourite as such as several different vehicles serve a purpose for me, when I am out soloing my BARC speeder or my AT-RT (which were both also a gift from a friend), duo I love my AV-21. I also use it a lot when transporting one other player around while role playing and I love the musty skiff for group role playing and/or hunting.

How did you choose your main character's name? That is a rather interesting question - it actually came from my original role playing character name on IRC which was "Kas", basically what I did was jumble the letters from Kas around a bit and add a couple more to come up with an entirely new name.

Which current professions in Star Wars Galaxies have you NOT played? Oh, you know I actually had to load up the profession screen on the web site to answer this one to see if there was a profession I haven't tried yet - my answer would be commando. I don't recall ever having tried it under any of the systems (I might have to do something about that!). There are also a couple of trader professions that I don't think I have tried out either, mainly engineering.

What is your favorite expansion? Trials of Obi-Wan.

What is your favorite planet? Endor, anyone for Ewok pie? A lot of good memories of role playing on Talus also where a couple of our cities have been located.

What is your favorite NPC? To be honest I am really bad with names! But I have to say that I love the dialogue on many of the pilot trainers, more specifically the sarcasim some of them have I find to be highly amusing.

Which expansion do you like the least? I honestly can't really say any as there are parts that I like about all of them, I have probably spent the least time over all on the Rage of the Wookies content but I definatly don't dislike it.

Which planet do you like the least? Hrmm well if I need to pick one then I would have to say Tatooine because I am not a huge fan of well.... miles of dirt or sand in my eyes.

Which NPC do you like the least? Luke! Only because I can't kill him ;) I am sure he would toast me if I was able to try anyway and then I would like him even less.

What is the most credits you have ever spent on purchasing a single item for one of your characters? About 15 million I think, which was on a cloak for my boyfriends Jedi. I must admit I am a bit stingy sometimes, I really hesitate on paying that much for a single item!

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? Too many to list! Most of them because they were gifts from friends over the years, anything from weapons to ship parts to custom named crafted items - if it was a gift it stays no matter what.

What do you like best about Star Wars Galaxies? Well right now I would have to say collections! But seen as how they are a new addition my longer standing likes for Star Wars Galaxies would have to be housing and player cities and the fact that these features enhance role playing a great deal and looking at the creativeness of many of the decorators out there.

What do you get out of playing Star Wars Galaxies? Meeting a lot of great friends and people both past and present whom I never would have met if it weren't for SWG as well as endless hours of entertainment.

Describe your best experience playing Star Wars Galaxies. There are many of these as well! But if I have to choose one particular moment then it would have to be the day I completed aurillia and began the padawan trials to finally hold that lightsaber in my characters hands that was a rush that I will never forget and I love the fact that aurillia is back now with the storyline for it advanced - I really enjoy stories in games that move forward over time like that.

Do you run or work for a Star Wars Galaxies Fan Site? I don't actually run any Star Wars Galaxies sites myself but I do visit many regularly (so many have done a lot of great work on them) and I also participate in a couple of SWG related forums that we use to post our in game role playing stories to.