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 | Guide to the Grand Army |
 Hi Everyone,
"Who is this guy?" I'm Ryan Kaufman, and I'm a writer for Star Wars Insider, the Clone Wars Adventures comics, and the former Continuity Supervisor for LucasArts. I've known Bonnie for awhile now and I'm jealous of how awesome her blog is, so I decided to start one my ownself.
I wanted to start off by announcing that Karen Traviss (author: Republic Commando series, and Legacy of the Force, as well as her own stellar original wess'har novels) and I have written an article for Star Wars Insider # 84 called "The Guide to the Grand Army." The "GGAR" will reveal some unknown details about the Grand Army-its structure, its numbers, and its heroes. Plus we've thrown some light on the whole Order 66 question, which I know has been a source of controversy and puzzlement for a lot of fans.
Writing this article was like a a dream come true for me. I've become intensely interested in the clones since I worked on Republic Commando for LucasArts, and then with Karen at length on Republic Commando: Hard Contact. RC showed me how wicked cool the clones could be; and then Karen showed me how human they could be. Her novel brought the soldiers into three-dimensions for me, and I've been a clone junkie ever since. Armor, weaponry, background, genetic quirks, language, you name it... I love it.
Now we've been allowed to explore and explain a lot of the units you've seen in ROTS-why they're different and what they do. And with Karen's military background and knowledge, we've attempted to create a clone army that makes sense from a practical standpoint too.
I think you'll really enjoy it, so keep an eye out for Insider # 84.
As I go forward, I'll post more about clones... as well as memories and easter-egg stuff from my time at LucasArts and general stories about working for LFL. And stories about Bonnie, too... oh yes...
(p.s. in the future I'll try to be funnier than this deadly boring post. I swear. I may hire some writers or something.)
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http://blogs.starwars.com/RyanKaufman/1 |
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Korpil
A Verpine's blog
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date Posted: Aug 25, 2005 10:05 AM
Excellent, Ryan! and Welcome to the blog world!
Great, another reason to keep awake waiting for my Insider #84 to arrive.
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General Tarfful
The Kachirho Daily Journal
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date Posted: Aug 25, 2005 12:07 PM
"Deadly boring"? Bah! It's great to hear that the GGAR is coming next issue. Keep up the great work -- I look forward to reading your future blog entries and articles.
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RyanKaufman
Look, sir! Zombies!
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date Posted: Aug 25, 2005 1:06 PM
>>now what's this I hear about zombies?<<
For a later post, my favorite Space Golden Girl...
Thanks for the comments, everyone!
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Joser Kyind
Joser Kyind's Jedi Holocron
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date Posted: Aug 26, 2005 2:26 PM
So you're the infamous Ryan Kaufman Karen Traviss is always talking about...
I'm really looking forward to GGAR. Wait, did you write the kick-butt Republic Commando story in Clone Wars Adventures Volume III? That was absolutely the best story in that issue.
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jarjarsmeagol
The Otoh Gunga Times
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date Posted: Aug 27, 2005 9:03 PM
Abel G. Pena said in his blog that he was writing the story of General Grievous for Insider #84. Will that be included as well?
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Joser Kyind
Joser Kyind's Jedi Holocron
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date Posted: Aug 28, 2005 3:02 PM
Let me see, Story of General Grievous, GGAR, and the return of holonet news. I definitely chose the right time to subscribe.
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RyanKaufman
Look, sir! Zombies!
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date Posted: Aug 29, 2005 10:38 AM
Tasty Taste : "Matt Wood, now Ryan. Long live the legacy of the LEC ex-Testers!"
You KNOW it, man! We're gonna take over someday, slowly seeding Star Wars with our loyal ranks. I'm waiting for Mark Cartwright to give me Order 66.
Joser Kyind: "Wait, did you write the kick-butt Republic Commando story in Clone Wars Adventures Volume III? That was absolutely the best story in that issue."
Aw, hey man, thanks for saying so. I enjoyed writing it. Soon, I will blog about writing that piece, and why Karen Traviss cried and then whacked me upside the head when she read it. 
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RyanKaufman
Look, sir! Zombies!
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date Posted: Aug 29, 2005 10:39 AM
jarjarsmeagol: "Abel G. Pena said in his blog that he was writing the story of General Grievous for Insider #84. Will that be included as well?"
Heh. Great name, by the way. Yes, it will. And being in an issue next to Abel is a huge honor for me. I was blown away by his Kyle Katarn piece and his Mandalorian piece. Man, that guy is the best!
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Joser Kyind
Joser Kyind's Jedi Holocron
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date Posted: Aug 29, 2005 7:08 PM
Just out of curiosity, was the last commando standing in the comic story supposed to be one of the guys placed in Omega Squad?
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RyanKaufman
Look, sir! Zombies!
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date Posted: Aug 30, 2005 9:22 AM
Joser Kyind: "Just out of curiosity, was the last commando standing in the comic story supposed to be one of the guys placed in Omega Squad?"
Nope. That's Sarge. He's his own guy. His RC designation will be revealed in Clone Wars Adventures Vol. 4.
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Tracyn
Hoo-ah, RCs
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date Posted: Sep 06, 2005 4:31 AM
I have a question: when does Insider #84 release? This month?
Anyway, great idea with the GGAR, really lookin forward to it and the new clone artwork by Chris Trevas 
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Jedimasterone1
Jedimaster1's Bantha Fodder Mess
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date Posted: Sep 13, 2005 1:13 PM
Republic Commando was awesome -- sequel anyone??? Anyway, look forward to the story. I am a Karen Traviss fan, especially after Hard Contact, so I know I will enjoy your guys' little backstory regarding the clones (and amybe the answers to Order 66).
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TK-8252
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date Posted: Sep 26, 2005 8:52 PM
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RyanKaufman
Look, sir! Zombies!
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date Posted: Sep 27, 2005 9:05 AM
No problem, Nadroj. I do that all the time. 
TK-8252! Hey! Nice call sign... There's been a fair amount of interest in Cody's special troopers. We originally wanted to address them in the GGAR, but alas, not enough space.
But I'm sure that some future publication will revisit the "beehive" clone troopers. Don't worry.
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Jedi Power - Galactic Voyage
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date Posted: Sep 27, 2005 11:07 AM
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TK-8252
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date Posted: Sep 27, 2005 1:18 PM
http://www.starwars.com/hyperspace/member/insideronline/84/img/p2_2_bg.jpg
That's a member of the 501st Legion, the elite Clone Troopers who stormed the Jedi Temple. There's two named 501st members, Sergeant Fox and Commander Appo. They each look just like their own troops so it's impossible to know exactly who's who, but Fox was the one who persuaded Bail Organa to leave the temple.
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TK-8252
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date Posted: Sep 27, 2005 1:18 PM
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TK-8252
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date Posted: Sep 27, 2005 1:21 PM
http://www.starwars.com/hyperspace/member/insideronline/84/img/p2_4_bg.jpg
Ah, that's one of Commander Gree's troops in the 41st Elite Corps in standard Phase II armor. They're the guys who fight on Kashyyyk, only with special camouflaged scout armor that is later adapted and decolorized by the Imperial Scout Troopers. You can see them in their Phase II armor when Yoda arrives at the Coruscant military base.
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TK-8252
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date Posted: Sep 27, 2005 2:04 PM
I just had to eliminate an intruder. Pesky Jedi.
There's no way he survived that fall, though.
/MotS
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Pfluegermeister
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date Posted: Oct 17, 2005 7:15 PM
Dear Ryan,
I have a quick continuity-geek question about the Mandalorian hawk you mentioned in your interview on the official website. In that interview, you called it a jaig'alaar, from which the "jaig eyes" symbols were derived to be painted on clone trooper helmets. But in the GGAR article in the Insider, you have the pilot that shoots down Plo Koon named Jai'galaar or Jag. I'm assuming the pilot, CT 55/11-9009, named himself for this Mandalorian hawk, but is there a reason for the slightly different spelling? And which is the "official" spelling? I'm assuming it's the first version, jaig'alaar, but what does the author say?
Hope you can clear this up. Best regards!
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RyanKaufman
Look, sir! Zombies!
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date Posted: Oct 18, 2005 9:31 AM
Jai'galaar is the official spelling. What you spotted was a typo. Whooops!
And yes, the pilot was named after the hawk.
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Lord__Sidious33
The Revelation of Sidious
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date Posted: Dec 02, 2005 12:23 PM
Hey Ryan, You left LucasArts in 2005 or 2004? I want to know if you helped make KOTOR and KOTOR II? Great Games, They Are. If you did help, did you meet Ed Anser?
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Lord__Sidious33
The Revelation of Sidious
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date Posted: Dec 02, 2005 12:24 PM
Sorry about the late entry. I couldn't find a blog to put it on. You could e-mail me at racer33@mac.com and also, it wasn't a boring blog! Great entry in Insider Issue 84!!
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