I've always been a big fan of RPG sourcebooks, starting with the great West End Games books. I think Wizards of the Coast has produced a lot of very nice books in the past and with their recent RPG books, they've found an acceptable balance between gaming and information (I don't play the RPG myself). These books never get any attention on SW.com which is very sad. But there is something that troubles me.

I must admit I'm concerned about the Wizards books for they do contain information that contradicts other official sources. Most of the time this is 'minor' information, such as Droids being produced by other firms, prices of items that differ, a ship that goes slower or faster or that can carry more or less weight than published before. I've noticed that the Wizards books don't always follow what has been established in books such as The Essential Guides, The Databank or DK Publications.

The new Galaxy at War contains a prime example of what worries me. The Flarestar-class Fighter (aka small Weequay Saucer) from the Clone Wars series was named in a webcomic and in Clone Wars: The Ultimate Battles. Why is it suddenly called Penumbra-class Attack Shuttle in Galaxy at War? And while The Ultimate Battles calls it a Surronian, Galaxy at War says Hoar Chall Engineering is building them. Other similar discrepancies are found with the A-Series Medical Droid (previously A4 Laboratory Assistant Droid) and the Corona-class Armed Frigate (previously - admittedly vaguely - known as the Surronian Cruiser) from the Clone Wars series as well.

I don't understand how conflicting material can be published. I know that Wizards publishes RPG books and that some stats may be altered to make is easier for the RPG but I don't see what this has to do with another name of a ship or constructor. I'm already holding my breath when the next book from Wizards will be published about Droids. I really hope somebody mailed Wizards of the Coast a copy of The New Essential Guide to Droids. If not, I fear the worst.

How does this happen? I'm not blaming anybody in particular but isn't there somebody who must check new publications for continuity errors? When he or she reads these books, surely those continuity errors must be noticed? I often hear the explanation that books are published at the same time. That's true but it's not an excuse. We don't live in 1804 anymore. There is something called e-mail to get in touch with the editors of the books to discuss the continuity in their books.

What should we do with this conflicting information? Is this something for another retcon? When will it happen? I'm confident that every author writes source-information with the best intentions but they should be (made) aware of what other people are writing at the same time to avoid conflict. We've all enjoyed The Essential Atlas but what's the point if another book will publish conflicting information in the future?

I really hope the future books of Wizard of the Coast will be checked better for any - even minor - continuity errors. I think this is the task of Lucasfilm Licensing and Lucasbooks to coordinate different publications that are being written and to make sure they don't publish any conflicting material.

It's funny but I have been a 'victim' of conflicting information myself. After I wrote my "What's the Story" entry of Maxiron Agolerga, the book 'Jedi vs Sith' was published that contained some information about the then still unnamed Agolerga. Since the book wasn't published yet, I wasn't aware of this information so I was unable to incorporate this into my entry. If I had known what 'Jedi vs Sith' would publish about this character, I could have adapted my story.