Sorry I’ve been away for awhile all. So here is my Star Wars Galaxies update. As you all know the release date has been pushed back to who knows when. And if  you didn’t see this coming your crazy, but as we all know Q gives up something that boosts are spirits about the push back. He tells us that the Beta 3 disks are at the duplication house and being replicated. He still doesn’t know the release date yet, but they have a revised schedule for Beta 3. He says, “When we start Beta 3 (which should be soon) were going to invite in another 5000 people first. We’ll test stability for a wee or so then add in more, ultimately ramping our number up to 50,000 people selected from this site.” He also tells up that there are going to be three disks to Beta 3, and an installer for DirectX 9. The artwork on the disk is the same Danato cover that ! was used for Beta 1, besides the fact that Beta 1 was monochromatic, Beta 2 was two-toned color, and Beta 3 is full color.

Q also said, “As for what is currently going on in Beta 2, we’ve stepped up our pace of interaction with the Beta testers. Holocron is posting regular posts indicating what our highest priorities are and what testers should be focusing on. We’re working on more frequent updates. In fact, except next week’s Beta Update to talk about tester reactions to Han Solo’s home world.”

He was also kind enough to give us a tester thread. So here it is:

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Mattt's Expedition Outpost

First, I want to begin by saying that last night was not only the most fun I've had so far but the most fun I've had since my UO days, years ago. Before I begin, I also want to apologize to Shug Ninx for stealing the name of his idea.

Last night, I received a few messages outside of the game (tells are not working all the time!) from some friends that they were joining the Force Sensitive Sheep. Wanting to seek the knowledge of the Sheep, I headed to the coordinates to join up with them. Once I arrived, I was greeted by friendly members of the PA and accepted into it. I took a look around the PA hall first. It was very big!

There was a group forming outside; they were going to go hunting. I joined up with the group and went out to explore Tatooine. One of the first fights we got in was easily one of the best gaming experiences I have ever had in my life. There we about seven of us facing probably ten or more NPCs: almost everyone had blasters. A huge firefight erupted; blasters bolts were flying in every direction. I thought to myself, "Now THIS is Star Wars." After the last NPC fell, we all cheered for our victory. There was some damage done to us but we were mostly all in good shape.

We continued on, hunting for more things to kill. I was certain to make use of the moods; I spent most of the time being bloodthirsty. We came upon a nest of dragonets. We had to be careful or they would overwhelm us. At one point, they did seem to overwhelm us; however, our team pulled together and triumphed. One of us was incapacitated but not killed. After resting up a bit, we were ready to continue.

For about an hour, we fought group after group of NPCs or creatures. Everyone fell to our blades or blasters in the end. It was getting late, so I had to logout but I knew what I'd be dreaming about that night.

Near the end, I realized that I had made quite a bit of experience. While group experience is said to be bugged, I really didn't care; I was having a lot of fun. The latest Q's Query asks how the developers can get the players' minds off "the grind." Well let me tell you: grouping is the answer. When you get a really good group going, you don't even remember there is such thing as experience. You just play the game. It is more than that. You are in the game.

And a response to this post from one of the group members

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/agrees with Mattt 100%

Last night was an absolute blast. We were all having so much fun, we had to make a vow to not let Holo find out.

That blaster fight Mattt referred to cannot be understated. Ten of us engaged about 20-25 armed NPCs, and the blaster bolts were flying in every direction for a good five minutes. Everyone of us at one point said "Wow" or "How cool is this?:

By the end of the night our tactics were down pat, and we were fluid on who would pull, when to fire on the lair and when not to, everyone was utilizing /assist properly, and we looked like a battle-hardened unit prepared for the coming PA War.

I was having so much fun, I was completely unaware of any such thing as a grind. I reached Advanced Rifle and Advanced Camp in Scout, and made it half-way to Advanced Ranged Combat Specialist without so much as noticing I was working for xp. I even got to enjoy the glory of making a camp entirely out of the hides and bones of the dreaded dragonets that laid me low.

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One of us was incapacitated but not killed.

When a man leads his troops into battle, he must be prepared to give his life for them. I think I was the only person incapped more than once the entire night.