SWAJ 15, last one in print

The reading of Star Wars Adventure Journal, Vol. 1, No. 15 (WEG, November 1997) is behind me. This one was a bit rough around the edges. Many of the old favorite pieces were missing, starting with the "Admiral's Communique" (a word-from-the-editor piece up front, setting the tone for the issue) to the "Galaxy NewsNets" feature. Both were, of course, written by the former editor Peter Schweighofer. Now we got a new guy ("...for Issue 15 and beyond.") There were numerous editing-related mistakes found within, from mis-spellings to double sentences and generally unclear wording. Very disappointing. Not a great maiden voyage, Steve Miller (formerly of TSR).

The issue has ups and downs, content-wise, as well. Kevin J. Anderson chips in an original story, wherein Luke meets a Jedi-singer/bard-wannabe for the first time. I guess I'd have to have read the Jedi Academy books to know who Tionne is. Still don't care. Patricia Jackson had me at Twi'lek dancing girl in her story "Laughter After Dark", about a smuggler and his ties to the Rebel Alliance. "The Great Herdship Heist" by Daniel Wallace was too long, but a fun enough romp in the end. Paul Danner contributed a capital ship heist story called "Two for One", and the Angela Phillips short tale "The Draw" was a good read.

Way too much, in my opinion, of this issue was taken up with the extra-long piece called "Tasariq: The Crystal Planet" by Tom Moldvay and Steve Miller. A decent initial idea, perhaps: develop an in-depth visit to a new world, new species, flora and fauna, etc. Certainly in keeping with the spirit of the SWAJ. This one did not interest me. I suspect Mr. Miller had some new ideas for how to lay out each issue, etc. Sadly, they won't amount to much, with the coming WEG collapse.

And with that, we bid adieu to the print version of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, as published by West End Games. Some great times were had, reading this magazine, over the 15 issues which made it to print. Some mediocre times, as well, struggling through subpar content. Not too many outright bad or boring times, thankfully, but they were present. I had to skip ahead only two or three times. Not a bad run, that.

SWAJ, you will be missed.

SWAJ 14

Just finished reading Star Wars Adventure Journal, Vol 1, No. 14 (WEG, August 1997). Available at your local B. Dalton booksellers, or via mail order (for four issues send $35, check or money order, to West End Games, Ltd., RR 3 Box 2345, Honesdale, PA 18431-9560).

A pretty good issue, I'll say. Barbara Hambly (Children of the Jedi and Planet of Twilight, neither of which I've read) wrote a piece about Gamorr called "Murder in Slushtime". In it, she does for Gamorrean culture what A. C. Crispin did for Hutts in The Han Solo Trilogy. Interesting. John Beyer and Kathy Burdette write a nice piece that ties into the SpecForce Handbook called "Special Ops: Drop Points". I liked the story by Charlene Newcombe and Rich Handley called "Crimson Bounty" (related to the cover image). The "Galaxywide NewsNets" feature by Peter Schweighhofer was also nice.

They don't yet know that this is almost the end. At least the don't let on anywhere in the issue. There is a note up front that Mr. Schweighofer is stepping aside as editor as of this issue. Steve Miller (formerly of TSR) will be taking over for "...issue 15 and beyond." Yeeeeah. About that...

I'll be sad to see it go, the good ol' SWAJ. Not even sure if they'll know it's going away in the last issue itself. As I have seen online, Vol.1, No. 15 was the last one printed. They did have a Vol. 1, No. 16 fully ready to go (and just didn't print it, as I understand) and they had something like a galley copy of Vol. 1, No. 17 in some stage of the process. You can find them all here:

http://d6holocron.com/downloads/wegadventurejournal.html

By the way, as I was looking for that link, I noticed a brand new pair of entries, both entitled "Star Wars Adventurers Journal". Looks like an unofficial continuation, not affiliated with Star Wars or Disney. One released on May 4, 2018. The next released on August 3, 2018. I will definitely be checking these out.

***

As a side note, as of the writing of this SWAJ issue, WEG as we know it is less than a year away from Shoe Company Bankruptcy (July 1998). The Star Wars RPG license will leave that same year, as WotC releases the first d20 version in November of 2000.

SWAJ 13

Just finished reading Star Wars Adventure Journal, Vol. 1, No. 13 (WEG, May 1997). A decent read. Includes parts 3 and 4 of the serialized short story "Side Trip:, written by Michael A. Stackpole and Timothy Zahn. A couple of other notable short story/adventure ideas are featured, including "Special Ops: Shipjackers" by John Beyer and Kathy Burdette. Always like the "Galaxywide NewsNets" and the olden days reports on upcoming Star Wars fare. The first novel in A.C. Crispin's Han Solo Trilogy, entitled The Paradise Snare, is set to come out in June of 1997.

In the "ISB Intercepts" segment, wherein WEG personnel answer burning questions from the readers, we learn a couple of cool things. One: WEG does not have a website, yet, but it does have 3 different AOL email accounts. Two: some products (like the Jedi Sourcebook) have been shelved indefinitely, as WEG does not want the content to be invalidated by the upcoming Prequel Trilogy. Ah, what a time to be alive in Star Wars fandom. The world is your oyster; Jar Jar and midichlorians do not yet exist, and hope is ever present.

Please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to our Honesdale, PA home office. Pablo Hidalgo will be happy to answer your inquiries.

As always, you can check your Yellow Pages for a B. Dalton nearest you!

SWAJ 12

I have been working through Star Wars Adventure Journal, Vol. 1, Number 12 (WEG, February 1997), on and off, for quite some time. There are some nice parts; including "Side Trip, parts 1 & 2". Part 1 is by Timothy Zahn. Part 2 is by Michael A. Stackpole. Nice!

A good article about Imperial Garrisons and a few decent short story/adventure ideas are included.

Onwards to lucky number 13!

SWAJ 11

Hit a snag in my readership of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, in that Vol.1, No. 11 cannot be found on the second-hand market. I have searched high and low and this is the only issue where I have run into a brick wall, so to speak. I finally relented and read the issue in PDF form.  It is strange this one is so seemingly rare; I have the other 14; most were trivial to collect. The only other somewhat hard to get issue is the last one, No. 15. I will keep searching for the last piece of my SWAJ collection, however.

After all that horsing around, the issue is not the greatest. Love the cover picture. This issue is from November, 1996. To set the scene, The New Rebellion novel has just come out, along with Tales of the Bounty Hunters, and Tyrant's Test (book 3 of the Black Fleet Crisis). Look for them now, at a B. Dalton's near you! The Tales of the Jedi sourcebook is also new from WEG in this issue. I don't know that story line, but I might wish to pick this book up sometime as it purports to be a complete collection of the Force powers for D6 Star Wars RPG. Check the Yellow Pages for the Waldenbooks nearest you!

A new Zahn story entitled Command Decision starts us out. This is the sort of Thrawn story in which Thrawn confuses his underlings, even to the point of near mutiny, only to have them come to realize that he knows what he is doing and they do not. Nice read. The rest is a bit blah, in my opinion, including a long, poorly written piece by my new frenemy, Pablo Hidalgo.

I liked the Platt's Smuggler's Log feature. A long piece by Bill Smith thoroughly discusses the Star Wars Rules Upgrade. This covers the changes to the RPG as they moved to the Second Edition, Revised and Expanded.

This was not my favorite edition, as the book had very strange art direction. Filled with screen shots from the movies juxtaposed beside bad drawings, it did not work for me.

SWAJ 10

Just finished reading Star Wars Adventure Journal, Vol. 1, No. 10 (WEG, May 1996). A decent entry into the genre. In this issue we learn of the death of Brian Daley (The Han Solo Adventures, 1979, National Public Radio Dramatization Original Trilogy scripts, 1981, 1983, 1996). As the WEG team says, Clear Skies, Mr. Daley. 

We also learn of the upcoming release of the second X-Wing novel by Michael Stackpole, the forthcoming Star Wars RPG, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded (pictured below. Not my favorite edition from WEG; I prefer the blue book 2nd edition or the 1st edition books. This was the start of glossy pages and a mixture of real photos side by side with mediocre art...which somehow serves to underline the sometimes sketchy (pun intended) quality of some of the artwork).

This issue includes the Galaxywide NewsNets (a flavorful source for idea snippets), some Cracken's Rebel Field Guide entries, an article about TIE fighters, two or three decent short stories/adventure hooks, some references to Waldenbooks and B. Dalton's. Those were the days.

SWAJ 9

Ahh, now that's better. Reading this issue, Star Wars Adventure Journal, Vol 1, No. 9 (WEG, Feb. 1996), was quick and enjoyable, unlike the relative clunker of last issue.  

Peter Schweighofer's opening note (entitled Admiral's Communique) points out an important idea from the Star Wars Expanded Universe: 'Not Everyone's from Tatooine'. He encourages us to spread our wings and explore far flung places we've never heard of before. He reminds us that the best in the EU, like Zahn, add significantly to the shared setting. In the case of Zahn's Heir to the Empire, for instance, 10 new planets are seen (in addition to creating Rogue Squadron, the Skipray Blastboat, naming Coruscant, and tons more).

This issue had a couple of nice pieces of fiction, a few cool adventures, and some nice articles about used starships and smuggling best practices (and tips for running Imperial Customs officers for the GM). Another nice installment of Galaxywide NewsNet, too. A very satisfying read, overall. I am quite pleased SWAJ returned to form. Onward!

Number 8

I have been reading this issue, on and off, for quite some time: Star Wars Adventure Journal, Vol. 1, No. 8 (WEG, Nov 1995). Picking at it, really, between other reading tasks. Months go by. I did not make a whole ton of progress. Suffice it to say, I think this was the least interesting (personally) issue to date. There were a lot of very long, somewhat boring, entries in this issue. Big walls of words to hack through. I finally skipped ahead a few times and called it quits.

Some highlights: I am always a fan of the Galaxywide NewsNets articles. Two pieces of fiction stood out: "A Certain Point of View" by Charlene Newcomb and "Uhl Eharl Khoeng" by Patricia A. Jackson. 

I also love the unavoidable time-capsule nature of these old books. When this one came out, the following was happening for the first time in the Star Wars Expanded Universe:

*you could "Check the Yellow Pages for the nearest Waldenbooks" in order to pick up the new WEG supplement Galaxy Guide 12: Aliens.

*the massive, multi-platform "Shadows of the Empire" media and product blitz was just around the corner (slated for spring, 1996). All Star Wars licensees were in on it, all with something to contribute. Very exciting!

*Star Wars trilogy with remastered THX sound released on VHS

*Bantam books was set to release two exciting paperbacks: in December 1995 it was "Tales from Jabba's Palace", and in January 1996 it was "X-Wing: Rogue Squadron" (the first of Stackpole's novels).

*As always, you were reminded that you can pick up the Star Wars Miniatures Battles Starter Set at any B. Dalton Bookseller near you (check the Yellow Pages for locations).

Lucky Number 7

Now that was an awesome issue! Star Wars Adventure Journal, Vol. 1, No. 7 (WEG, August 1995) included short stories by Timothy Zahn (Mist Encounter, a Thrawn tale later re-printed in the novel Outbound Flight) and Michael A. Stackpole (Missed Chance, a preview of sorts for the X-Wing novels Stackpole was set to release in 1996...and the first ever appearance of Corran Horn!).

Also included was an interview with Stackpole about the Rogue Squadron work, a nice article by Pablo Hidalgo about R-series Astromech Droids, a couple of pieces of nice fiction by Laurie Burns and Charlene Newcomb, and a notable segment called "Into the Core Worlds" by Paul Sudlow. There's even an adventure co-written by Timothy Zahn & Peter Schweighofer, and, of course, a few words from Platt Okeefe. Very nice. Glancing ahead, we will see more of Zahn and Stackpole and the Rogues in later issues of SWAJ. I can't wait!

Adventure Journal 6

Finished reading Star Wars Adventure Journal, Vol. 1, No. 6 (WEG, May 1995). A nice story about shooting Ranats, written by Kathy Tyers. The conclusion, I think, to Charlene Newcomb's story of Alex Winger, young rebel. Some material about Swoop Gangs. a couple of nice short stories, and the Galaxywide NewsNet feature.

A number of decent adventure ideas. I like the focus of this issue on New Republic stuff (in the adventures and stories and whatnot). Nods to the Thrawn trilogy abound, and building on the OT, of course. It is interesting to hear snippets (in the letters to the editor) about the upcoming prequel movies, and the ban on writing about the Clone Wars. What a different time in Star Wars history. As Nate's earlier post suggests, WEG was keeping the dream alive during the 1990's, along with the novels and comics. Still much to like about this era in SW gaming. I particularly enjoy the care and attention to detail that results in a more fleshed-out fictional world.

SWAJ 5

Just finishing up Star Wars Adventure Journal, Vol. 1, No. 5 (WEG, February 1995). Another fine issue, to my mind. Some highlights include and interview with Bill Smith (who was editor of the WEG Star Wars line at 26 years old) wherein he describes writing the 2nd edition of the Star Wars RPG. He joined the company in 1990, had written the 2nd edition rulebook for a 1992 release, and had just celebrated his 4th year working a WEG as of the time of this interview. A solo choose-your-own-adventure where you play a protocol droid was fun. An interesting recap of the "Star Wars Summit", a get-together for all Star Wars licensees hosted in November 1994 at Skywalker Ranch, included some of the earliest information on two major announcements: the Shadows of the Empire multi-media release, and the future plans for what would become the Prequel Trilogy. Exciting times, back then!

The fun continues with a cool little adventure on a gas giant (not Bespin, but similar). We are treated to another installment of Charlene Newcomb's ongoing story about the rebel activity on Garos IV. The Galaxywide NewsNets snippets are interesting, and we get another story/comic at the end, describing a Rebel operation against an Imperial target.

Adventure Journal 4

Just finished reading Star Wars Adventure Journal, Vol. 1, No. 4 (WEG, November 1994). A decent issue, I would say, overall. A couple of nice fiction pieces, an article about Gamblers, a continuation of the serialized story of Alex Winger and the rebellion on Garos IV, a nice little "Smuggler's Log" piece from Platt OKeefe, two or three adventures, a "Wanted by Cracken" entry and "Cracken's Rebel Field Guide" entry. I also like the HoloNet news headlines feature.

I have my eye on a No. 5 on eBay, and will likely be getting that in the next week or so.

Adventurous

Star Wars Adventure Journal, Volume 1, #3 (WEG, August 1994). The least inspiring one so far, in my opinion. A cool article about cartoonist Al Williamson who drew a syndicated newspaper strip from 1981 to 1984. Apparently Dark Horse Comics collected these into a collected, edited, and colored comic book in 1993.

Another good tidbit was entitled "The Business of Bacta". It seemed like less adventures and more "wall of text" background stuff and/or short stories in this issue. Onward to #4!

The Adventure Continues

Star Wars Adventure Journal, Vol 1, #2 (WEG, May 1994). Another fun read. I like to see the old advertisements in these things (as well as in the Rogue Squadron comic books). Great cover, who wouldn't like to see the rancor?

This issue of the Adventure Journal had more great content: a continuation of the story of the rebellion on Garos IV, an interview with some folks from Dark Horse comics, 3 or 4 good adventures, a nice article on running a Rebel Privateers campaign, a couple of short stories, and some information on Coruscant and the Core Worlds just after the fall of the Emperor. Some good material in here for my imagined Tierfon campaign featuring all fighter pilots a la Rogue Squadron.

A really good value for its original $12 cover price (286 pages of content!). I already have Vol 1, #3 in hand, and will begin reading it soon.

Old and Good Books

Just finished reading my copy of Star Wars Adventure Journal, Vol.1, #1 (WEG, Feb. 1994). I love these old books, and plan to buy all 15 of them (#2 is en route via eBay). What's not to like? 287 pages filled with old ads, adventures, fiction, and background info. This issue had a couple of nice short stories plus two adventure ideas I wouldn't mind running back to back.

I couldn't quite get into the short story featuring an Ewok member of the Rebel Alliance, however. Novel. Cute. Not quite right for my refined SW tastes. Makes me want to play d6 Star Wars again. Or at least try to re-purpose some of this material for the "modern" game.