Real life first name: Laura
Forum handle: Sandarie
Main Character name: Sandarie
Server: Starsider
Player Association: Rebel Squadrons PA (RSPA), supporter of Rava Avis

Where in the real life world do you live? The official middle of nowhere! Actually, I’m smack dab in the middle of Kansas. Once a little girl took out her ruler and map and determined we were the middle of the United States. That year we got a fly over by some really incredible Air Force Jets in celebration at our own personal national holiday, All Schools Day. This is a national holiday because almost no industry or business is open that day!

How long have you played Star Wars Galaxies? I started playing SWG one week before The Trials of Obi Wan was released.

What other MMOs have you played? EverQuest, always will be my first love. After NGE hit I tried EverQuest 2, World of Warcraft, and now I’m dabbling in Vanguard. However, SWG keeps calling to me. I can’t wait to try Beast Mastery!

What type of work do you do? I run an IT department for a nursing facility.

How long is your typical gaming session when playing Star Wars Galaxies? When I play, it’s easily a 4-5 hour session. More on the weekends.

What does a typical Star Wars Galaxies day consist of for you? It depends on what my objectives are. One time it will be spent running all over the galaxy trying to find resources until I can’t stand it anymore. Most other times are spent in some type of roleplaying. Well, until the new Entertainer upgrade. Now I get on Sandarie and buff folks a lot!

What was the race and profession of your very first character? She was a petite, red headed human on Nauritus. She was a Creature Handler/Pistoleer. You can read about her if you dig through some of my Galactic Tales offerings.

What got you into gaming and what sort of games do you like the most? My son actually started me on MMOs. It was a 2-D game called Conquer. I’ve always loved video games. I’m gonna tell my age here, but I played the original Pong in pizza parlors when it was new! Prior to that, my stepdad was a computer engineer before there were PCs, and he’d take me to his office on weekends and let me play an incredible version of Star Trek. It was pre-DOS and great fun. I was hooked on gaming. I love games like Ages of Empires, but also I’m into MMOs because I like people, being with them, and getting to know them. I’m just a social butterfly, I guess.

What other hobbies or activities do you take part in, other then playing Star Wars Galaxies? I spend time with my three sons. They are all in their late teens and early 20’s. Actually my oldest is in the Army right now, so that doesn’t happen very often. I watch Battlestar Galactica with friends, then discussing who the cylons are and currently who the last cylon will be. I love science fiction. Reading is a huge part of life, as well. Asimov is my all time favorite.

What is your highest level character in Star Wars Galaxies? All my girls are 90.

What race and profession is your main character? My main is a beautiful blue female Twi’lek Entertainer named Sandarie. Although, after Beast Mastery, Sarriah is likely to become my main.

What do you like the most about the profession you have chosen for your main character? An entertainer allows me to be whatever I want role-playing wise. She was an intelligence gatherer in her early days and she was good at it. Now, she’s an entrepreneur with her own cantina, and *whisper* don’t tell the Imperials, but she runs supplies on her freighter for the Rebels.

What faction is your main character? Officially, my main character is freelance…although I’ve been running her through the pilot squadrons, so she’s a Rebel at the moment.

What is your favorite player owned ship? Ohhh, I adore my Vaksai! *pouts* I can’t fly it right now, though, as I’m a Rebel pilot, but that will change. However, my YT-2400 is amazing. A friend decorated it (I’m a lousy decorator). I’ve role-played on it many times. It’s got a galley, a place for cargo, crew quarters, so it’s wonderful! Okay, my Imperial Decimator is a close second, that’s on my Imperial toon, Suuzanne. She’s kinda… well, not a nice person so we don’t talk about her much.

What is your favorite ground vehicle? I’m not very particular, but I do like my Barc. But the cliff jumpers are a hoot! I know they aren’t exactly a vehicle, but they are great!

How did you choose your main character’s name? In EverQuest, I was Sanderu. A friend of mine had a toon named Legdarie and I liked, it so I put the two names together and got Sandarie!

Which professions in Star Wars Galaxies have you NOT played? I haven’t played Commando, Spy, Smuggler, Officer, and Bounty Hunter.

What is your favorite expansion? I’m not picky. I just wanted them all so I could be sure to not miss anything with my friends.

What is your favorite planet? Ack, tough question. I think it’s a tie between Tatooine and Naboo. Tatooine feels the most (forgive me Halyn) Star Wars-y and iconic. Think about it! When I watch A New Hope and Ben and Luke are looking at Mos Eisley from a distance, I can go to that spot and see the same thing. When they enter Mos Eisley I’ll say, “I’ve been there! I know that place! I’ve met that alien! I know Wuher personally!”

Naboo is gorgeous and I love to relax there. What I enjoy most about the planets though is the weather! A good sandstorm on Tatooine or rainstorm on Naboo just can’t be beat. Oh there’s also the snow on Corellia, and the purple sky!

What is your favorite NPC? Chewbacca. When I discovered Han and Chewie were in the Lucky Despot and I couldn’t see them until I’d done the Star Map run, you can bet I took care of that! You just gotta love a big ol’ Wookiee hug.

Which expansion do you like the least? Can we call NGE an expansion? I hated it because it took many of my new friends away just weeks after I found SWG. I won’t even go into my thoughts about the navigation system. It’s been restored, so I am much happier

Which planet do you like the least? Talus, there are some role-playing memories there of a certain Rebel General and his captivity that makes it a place I just don’t like to frequent.

Which NPC do you like the least? Hands down, I can’t stand Lady Viopa! Gah, every time she calls me dear or sweetie, I cringe inside (sorry Leaph, I know you adore her). A close second is the chauvinistic pilot trainer that starts the Havoc Squadron’s training.

What is the most credits you have ever spent on purchasing a single item for one of your characters? If I remember, it was 2 million for an anniversary pen and ink drawing of one of the ships. However, when I first started in SWG, you could always find me in a mall. I loved malls. I still do it, I love to find a good bargain or find something from the early days I’ve never seen before. If I could, I’d get a Nightsister bracer some day. That’s not very likely to happen, but it’s a dream and we all need dreams!

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? *grins* My wanted poster of Han Solo. I don’t have the perfect place for it yet, but I could drool over that man!

What do you like best about Star Wars Galaxies? Role-playing. I’d never role-played before and a guild took me in when I didn’t know a soul on Starsider. The guy that was a friend from EverQuest kind of disappeared and there I was, a blue Twi’lek Entertainer in Mos Eisley. I loved listening to the stories people told. I was amazed how many had lost their memories or were orphaned. When Kova and Vado found me, I was so lost. They role-played me into their small guild, took care of my myriad of questions, and gave me a love for role-playing that’s never died.

What do you get out of playing Star Wars Galaxies? Friendship and creativity. I’ve flown starships, ridden on huge animals, tamed babies and raised them. I wrote my first role-playing stories and even won a prize for one of them. My creative side has been expressed more here than it’s ever been in any other activity. One of my girls, Allanna, has a story being written about her by Halyn, called “X-Wing Cadet.” He just couldn’t stand that I had a character without a personality. Her evolving story is on the Pilot boards at the moment. Sandarie is a minor character in it.

Describe your best experience playing Star Wars Galaxies? You know that Talus incident I mentioned above? It was my first real role-playing scenario that grew into some lasting friendships with people. It was fun, it was intense, it was daring. It led me to create some of my own role-playing events and work with other guilds for bigger functions; it was eventually the reason I made my own cantina. SWG made me want to read the Star Wars X-Wing series. No one can bring you to tears, then in the next moment have you laughing like Aaron Allston can.

Do you run or work for a Star Wars Galaxies Fan Site? Not really; I participate in lots of guild forums, but not a specific fan site. Although, Ten Ton Hammer hears from me about SWG on a fairly regular basis!