This week we wanted to share some of the exciting information we released at Fan Faire about the new Chronicle Master system. After the release of Hoth: The Battle of Echo Base, SOE and LucasArts started discussing what the next "big thing" should be. We wanted something that could:

1. Draw on iconic characters and adventures
2. Be solo-able.
3. Be repeatable.
4. Be added to or iterated on in the future.
5. Be tons of fun for all our players!

The decision we arrived at was to revive a design that was planned years earlier but never brought to fruition: Star Wars Chronicles. Right from the start, we knew that we wanted the system to be easy to use, robust in the functionality, and offer a lot of opportunity for players to add a variety of new quests into Star Wars Galaxies. I have spent some time testing Chronicles and creating content, finding it very easy to pick up and play. As mentioned previously, I have included the information shared at this year's FanFaire along with screen shots of a basic walkthrough using the new Chronicles System—which you will soon get to test yourself!

Overview: Star Wars Chronicles is a player generated quest system. Players will be able to take on the new role of Chronicle Master. Chronicle Masters will create quests that can be burned to Chronicle Holocrons and then traded or sold to other players.

Creating a Quest: Player generated quests are built though the new Chronicle Builder.

To begin building quests, the Chronicle Master will need to obtain Chronicle Relics. Chronicle Relics are in-game items that have quest events or specific actions associated with them. Chronicle Relics can be looted, traded, or purchased. There are several different types of Chronicle Relics.

Once the necessary Chronicle Relics have been obtained, the Chronicle Master may begin building his/her quest. The Chronicle Master arranges the Relics in their quest, and customizes the text of the quest, to create compelling content for other players. Once the Chronicle Master is happy with the quest, it can be saved as a Chronicle Draft so that it may be used again or improved over time.

A crafted quest will automatically produce rewards and XP based on... How difficult the quest is. The variety of tasks within the quest. he length of the quest.
The Chronicle Master may also choose to attach a specific reward his/her own possessions, to sweeten the deal.

When complete, the Chronicle Master will burn the quest to a Chronicle Holocron that can be used by another player.

Playing a Quest: Our goal is to make playing a Chronicle Quest virtually indistinguishable from a developer created quest. Chronicle Quests are not like missions. Chronicle Quests will be visible in the Player Journal and Quest Helper. At the end of every Chronicle Quest the player may rate their experience. High ratings will result in bonuses to the Chronicle Master's XP gain. Other benefits may be included at a later date.

Iconic Characters As an added bonus, Star Wars Chronicles will give players the ability to create quests that feature iconic Star Wars characters such as: Darth Vader Han Solo Boba Fett Jabba the Hutt ...And more!

These iconic characters will be featured via Comm. Message Relics. Distribution of these Relics has yet to be determined.

Players will be able to customize dialogue for these iconic characters for use in their quests.

Over time, we hope to add other exciting ways for players to include iconic characters in their quests. Stay tuned for more information about the Star Wars Chronicles system as it becomes available. Make sure to look for Star Wars Chronicles release on Test Center if you would like to test the system and provide feedback to our team as we get closer to the release of this powerful system in Game Update 13.

See you in-game!

Click here to join the discussion on Chronicle Master

At the Galactic Gathering at the 2009 SOE Fan Faire, we announced the three finalists for each category and our winners were:

Rebel-Themed:

Preparing for the Storm Artist: Hazaz Server: Bloodfin

Imperial Themed:

Imperial Oasis Incident Artist: Lexx Yovel Server: Starsider

The Voting period ran from Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009, to Wednesday, August 5th, 2009.

Rebel-Themed Poll

Imperial-Themed Poll

This week's Friday Feature is a teaser on some of the new quest content made available through Game Update 12 released this week. We won't give you the walk through or the guide on how to complete it here but we will give you a sampling of the content and encourage you to go experience the quests first hand. In Game Update 12 we introduce a new quest series for players around level 50.

The Corellian Droid Factory

Agent Taarna will now point you towards the Corellian Droid Bunker when you finish the last of the quests on Talus.

If you've completed the last of the legacy quests, talk to Agent Taarna in Nashal to start the new quests. The quest works if you bypass that NPC and go direct to the droid bunker (-6369 341 Corellia) and talk to the NPC's inside you can pick up their quests. Now it's time to investigate the underground Droid factory and help CorSec end the droid threat.

Background
A recent mishap has resulted in a previously hidden and deactivated droid manufacturing facility in reactivating, producing a number of battle and super battle droids. CorSec have received reports of clone war era droids patrolling the area and offers to pay the player to investigate, and if necessary take steps to end the problem.

The player is told to contact the CorSec agent at the entrance to the dungeon. The follow images are placed as teasers to as well as to give small tips as to what to look for when you arrive at the location.

After climbing the steep hill of the cave you make your way in and meet Jornel Savas. Jornel Savas will provide you with your first set of instructions.

You head down deeper into the cave and into a hall way of twists and turns until you enter a dimly lit room filled with scrupulous looking characters.

You find that some of these indviduals really don't care for your presence. Once you deal with this situation you will meet and talk with the following people:

Leutenant Varias

Druno Kener

Seageant Mener

At the end of the last quest it will be revealed who was behind the reactivation of the factory. After completing The Corellian Droid Factory quest you can set out to meet Wernell Covington and find out the root of his anger.

Vengeance

Opening Scene: A wealthy, old man, Wernell Covington, living in the Rori city of Narmle.

Many years before (around 25 to 30), Wernell Covington's daughter, Felicia, was kidnapped and held for ransom. Despite attempts to pay the ransom and the best efforts of law enforcement officers, the entire ordeal went badly. Felicia was killed and was jettisoned into space from the starship on which she was being held.

From that moment on, Wernell Covington has dedicated his life to finding and destroying the people who did this. He has spared no expense in tracking down the kidnappers one by one. And he has personally stuck the killing blow each time one was found. All of the original kidnappers are now dead, except for two. In recent times, age and a dwindling fortune have compelled Wernell Covington to seek assistance in his quest for vengeance; you.

We hope that you enjoy the new quest series and our sneak peak into the new quests added in Game Update 12.

Join the discussion on the new quests found in Game Update 12 here already in progress.