Haven’t created your character’s wiki page yet? Or perhaps it looks so bland compared to others that you tend to ignore it, hoping that people don’t visit it much? No matter what your situatution, this article is designed to spice up your character’s wiki page!

Step One – Create a Page

If you already created your character’s page, you can skip this part. If you have not, then this is where you should begin. Creating a page is very easy, you simply use the search box on the left side of your screen:

In this box, type your character’s callsign. For example, Riqimo is my callsign, so I put ‘Riqimo’ in the box. Then you can either press ‘enter’ or click the ‘Go’ button. (Note: Search will not allow you to create a page.

If the page genuinely does not exist, then you should see something similar to:

To start working on your page, click ‘create an article with this title’ and get right to editing.

Step Two – The Basics

Before anything else starts, you should be aware of the basics of wiki editing:

Making an Internal Link
An internal link is a link that takes a user to another page within the wiki site. To create one, simply put double square brackets arounf the text you wish to be an interal link. For example: [[Eclipse]] will display as a link to the wiki page ‘Eclipse’

Making an External Link
An external link is a link that takes the user to a page outside of the wiki, it is created with a single square bracket in the form: [http://link TEXT] You start with the opening bracket, then type or paste the link then you type a space before typing the text that you wish to be displayed as the link in the wiki article.

[http://blah.com Something Here] is a link that will display as ‘Something Here’ and when clicked will take a user to blah.com (Note: You MUST include the ‘http://’ part of the link)

Making Bold Text
You have two options to make your text bold, you can use normal html codes: Bold Text
Or you may opt for the special method on the wiki, surrounding your bold text with three apostrophes on both sides: ”’Bold Text”’

Making Italic Text
There are also two options, firstly html: Italic Text
Or yet another wiki code, this time using only two apostrophes on both sides: ”Italic Text”

Step Three – Standard Template Useage

Every character page should employ the ever useful Player Character Template. Mine for example is shown here:

This is using the Male Player Character Template, alternatively there is a Female Character Template, and the much more bland normal Player Character Template that most ordinary people use. Needless to say, the normal one has less options for your character.

To insert a template into your wiki page, use the following code:

{{Template Name|
variable1=Something|
variable2=Something|
etc….
}}

For the one shown at right, I used this code:

{{Male Player Character|
image=[[Image:Riqimo.jpg]]|
bgcolor=#ccc|
fgcolor=#000|
division=[[Stormtrooper Corps]]|
rank=[[Army Ranks#Enlisted Ranks|Sergeant]]|
name=Riqimo Pershaw|
callsign=Riqimo|
nick=Doc, Riq, Riqqi|
height=4’8″|
weight=96 lbs.|
species=[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Humanoid Human]|
age= 25|
eyes=Blue-Green|
hair=Light Brown|
facial= Trimmed Goatee|
skin = Well Tanned|
planet=[[Tadath]]|
}}

Step Four – Organization

Make your page Easier to read! Divide it into logical sections by using the easy use headers.

To make a header, you simply put equal signs (=) around the header name. Preference is to start with 2 equal signs on each side as the main headers and divide those into subheaders by adding another equal sign to both sides for further organization.

Examples

==Main Headers==

===Sub Header===

====Sub Sub Header====

===Sub Header===

==Main Header==

===Sub Header===

And so on… you can see a nice example of headers used at my wiki page.

Step Five – Images

Inserting Images is made simple with two templates to choose from, one that will right align:

{{Image|
image=Image Link|
bgcolor=#ccc|
fgcolor=#000|
topic=Image Title|
}}

And one that will left align:

{{Image2|
image=Image Link|
bgcolor=#ccc|
fgcolor=#000|
topic=Image Title|
}}

Step Six – Tables

Tables allow you to organize complex data into an easy to read format. They are also fairly easy to make!

{| cellpadding=”2″ cellspacing=”0″ border=”1″
! Column 1 Title !! Column 2 Title !! Column 3 Title !! Column 4 Title
|-
|A1 || A2 || A3 || A4
|-
|B1 || B2 || B3 || B4
|-
|C1 || C2 || C3 || C4
|-
|D1 || D2 || D3 || D4
|}

You are not limited to a 4×4 table, you can make tables inside tables, 1×1 tables, and extremely large tables holding tons of data.

Step Seven – Making Your Page Accessible

Although these are only recommendations, they make your page so much easier for others to find and use. They require little effort on your part and can go a long way.

Categories
If you are an Stormtrooper Corps Soldier, then you will wish to have your name shown here. At the bottom of your wiki page, add the code for that:

[[Category:STCMembers]]

Alternatively, if you are on the Navy side of things, you will want to be here by adding this code:

[[Category:NavyMembers]]

Comnet
You can also share your wiki page through your comnet signature. I suggest linking your name in the ID line directly to your wiki page.

Step Ziltch – Unable to Do It?

Riqimo will be more than willing to help you set up your wiki page, just send him a comnet message asking for assisstance.

On the 20th of each month, the VE Today will present an analysis of the current market and give a prediction of how the stocks will change in the coming month. This is the first of the Stock Analysis articles, the start of an entire series of informative articles designed to increase your profits!

 

Safe Pick of July 2007
ICS ~ Imperial Center Store

Steadily climbing for over a year, the Imperial Center Store has caterred to the needs of virtually every Imperial in Vast Empire space.  With the expanded wiki page for it, the ICS may see some a rise in its stocks, by making parts of its operations, namely the ICDF, public knowledge.

Although the ICS may grow profits slowly compared to many stocks, it does not take a roller coaster ride to get those profits, and more conservative inverstors tend to make ICS a staple of their portfolios.

 

Gambler’s Pick of July 2007
HNET ~ FES Holonet Stock (Thanks to Aeos for the suggestion)

The FES Holonet stock recently took a steady decline, flatting out for a while before engaging a very nauseating roller coaster ride that can drive the investors that fear the slightest drop in value insane.  If one times it properly and pays attention, it is even possible to buy the stock and sell it within 24 hours for a profit over 5 Imperial Credits per stock purchased.  The true potential of this stock however lies in the long run. 

With a large member count, the Holonet has its times when that it will make rapid gains before crashing once again.  It will be steady for a while then crash once again, to see this, view the two year chart at Imperitrade Financial.

 

Most Undervalued Stock of July 2007
DJBND ~ Dark Jedi Order Bond

Although it may have a hold period of 90 days, which tends to discourage many investors, the DJBND is primarily undervalued for the simple fact that it covers the most secretive organization of the Vast Empire.  There is no sure way to know the activity and membership of the Dark Jedi Order, at least there was not a way to do so.   Yes, their boards may still be hidden to the prying eyes of hopefuls, but with the introduction of the Comnet Statistics, one can see a general overview of the activity within the Dark Jedi Order.  At time of publication, there were 14 posts total made by six DJO members in the past seven days.  All 14 of these posts were on boards hidden from the public.  Looking at the chart for this stock, we can see that these 14 posts raised the stock approximately a quarter of an Imperial Credit.  Although this may not seem like much, the activity was once higher as can be concluded from the chart.  This stock should see some profit in the coming month, and even more before the 90 day hold expires.  I estimate at least 15% profit by 90 days.

 

Crash and Burn Stock of July 2007
CNET ~ Comnet

Perhaps an unusual choice to make for a crashing stock, the CNET is a popular stock to be kept for excellent, if not decent, profits.  However, the comnet stock seems to follow an interesting pattern, rising for a couple months, then falling for a couple months, before repeating the pattern all over.  The CNET has approached its alltime high and it is beginning to drop.  By August 20th, I predict a drop of 15 Imperial Credits (to about 115 ICs per share).

 

 

Suggested Portfolio of July 2007
With a mere 2500 Imperial Credits to spend, I decided upon the following porfolio for the month of July 2007:

• IMTF ~ 10 shares ~ 87.80 each = 878 ICs
• With the increase of attention towards stocks, IMTF promises a reliable profit.
• PPC ~ 9 shares ~ 84.53 each = 760.77
• Pay Per Click generally provides the shareholder the easiest way to improve his or her stock.  You simply click and vote, all while getting paid for the vote and helping the stock.  No purchasing, or writing involved.
• DJBND ~ 5 shares ~ 55.95 each = 279.76
• Although it is a 90 day hold stock, its low price and decent potential (see Most Undervalued Stock) make it a good choice for the investor that does not mind waiting three months
• HNET ~ 5 shares ~ 108.46 each = 542.3
• Though I normally tend to stay away from stocks that have a share value over 100 ICs, I also tend to try a little risk even in a conservative portfolio to try and increase my gains.  (See Gambler’s Pick)

TOTAL = 2460.82 ICs
Suggestion:  If you have more than 2500 ICs, say 5000 ICs, try doubling the amount of shares to fit your investment fund.

(Trading fees are ignored for simplicity)

Note
The VE Today, its authors, the Vast Empire, and any asociated party of the Vast Empire, henceforth refered to as ‘advisors’ are not responsible for any loss of credits, personal possessions, life, or any boredom that may result from tracking stocks daily by any who follow the advice given in this article, henceforth refered to as ‘those wanting advice.’
Those wanting advice accept all risks, stated, implied, and non-implied in following advice given by the advisors.  Under no circumstances may the advisors be attacked, verbally or physically, threatened, lynched, hung, or hassled in any form due to the advice they gave in this article.
Thank you and have a good day.

“Your thoughts betray you, father. I feel the good in you … the conflict.”
“There is … no … conflict!”

But that lends great depth to a character. Conflict. Whether internal, against another person, against an entire planet, against his or her siblings … according to cinematic and theatric tradition, development comes fundamentally from conflict, and the resolution of that conflict. Consider Revenge of the Sith (Episode III) and the aftermath of Anakin’s slaughter on Mustafar. We have these horrific scenes, bodies lying everywhere, and then we move to Anakin, looking out over a sea of lava, his eyes full of rage, a triumphant master of evil … and then that wonderful, wonderful slight movement of his head which reveals the glint of tears on his cheeks. Look at Return of the Jedi (Episode VI) — Vader after he meets Luke again, outside the AT-AT. Think of Vader’s slouched, helpless stance as he says that melancholic, almost wistful line”

“Obi-Wan once thought as you do … “

then clenching his posture again, and that bitter, agonised line

“You don’t know the power of the Dark Side … I must obey my master!”

This is not necessarily a call to make your characters angsty or constantly bewail their existence; it’s simply an indication that with conflict there is usually a desire, or at least an impetus, to resolve that conflict. Luke, innocent farmboy, the epitome of “The Good Guy,” is in conflict pretty much throughout all three films, too: In A New Hope (Episode IV) he’s in conflict against the Empire. He’s also in conflict with Han — a conflict which is resolved in spectacular fashion by Han saving his and the Rebellion’s collective butts! In Empire Strikes Back (Episode V) he’s in conflict with his own loyalties: does he complete his training, or does he save his friends — which brings him into conflict with Yoda, his own teacher. In Return of the Jedi (Episode VI), he’s obviously in conflict with himself — can he kill his own father (which brings him, interestingly, into conflict with the ghostly Obi-Wan on that.)

So my point is: Look for conflicts!

What’s your character’s relationship with his or her parents? Brothers or sisters? Squad? Friends?

How do your character’s goals fit in or cross paths with other characters?

And most importantly, look for conflicts not just for the sake of having them, but as wheels upon which to drive your characters forward.

Remember, the purpose of the development is the resolution of conflict, not the conflict itself!

Another method of development can be your character’s personality. What sets two gamblers, thugs, or other more-or-less identical character types apart and makes them individuals are their personalities? Even little details about appearance and mannerisms can help your players not only to visualize two otherwise identical characters but also distinguish between them- even though two characters may have exactly in anyother perspective.

The three basic tools for individualizing personalities are appearance, mannerisms, and motivations. if you even assign one distinct quality from each of these categories, and then play these characteristics up in your portrayal of the character, you can bring a character alive in the readers’ minds. Fortunately, it doesn’t take any preparation- improvisational comedians have been doing this sort of thing for years 😉 In fact, the only tough part is remember how you portrayed a character previously, but with a few quick notes, you’ll have enough of a memory jog that you can quickly recall the character and play him again at almost a moment’s notice. (The wiki is most excellent for this)

It can be as simple as a few quick notes:
(“basso voice, acts superior, cracks knuckles when angry”)

Or some short headings:
(“Appearance: basso voice; Personality Traits: acts superior; Mannerisms: cracks knuckles when angry”)

With these simple tips, you will be on your way to better writing in no time at all!

~Doc

Simply put, I usually stay away from those that requires a certain hold time period, in case there was any sudden drops in prices, it won’t hurt me a lot. But occasionally, it would be smart to buy certain division stocks such as navy or army when you know that there’s going to be a period of high activity coming up, i.e.: ESC. Those are almost guarantees that the prices will go up. But when those times come around, those stocks go fast, so you gotta buy fast, else they’re gone before you know it. Another thing i watch out for is the actual prices when I buy them. I try not to buy anything that’s over 100 ICs, unless there’s a good reason for me to. Much less ones over 200. There are very little growth on those stocks that are that high. The idea is to buy them when they’re low and then sell when they’re high. The Quotes section provides very good information to how the stock has been doing in the past. If a certain stock has always been high, and it suddenly starts dropping, then that would be a good time to start watching it, and once it flats out, that would be the time to buy it. I would usually give a stock a week or so to make sure that it actually does flat out instead of keep dropping after a couple of days. The same goes for when to sell the stocks. Given that it’s a 0 hold time stock, it’s a good time to sell it when it flats out for more than at least a week.

Firstly and most importantly of this multipart series, it might be wise to outline some suggested methods as to how you may be able to increase the quality of your posts, your Vast Empire experience and the quality of your interaction with other players and/or characters.

Before I continue, I’d like to make a note that these are my own personal opinions. As such they might not be shared or widely accepted by our fellow members at the VE. My intention is to provide advice. Whether or not that advice is adopted is another matter entirely. The choice is ultimately yours. It is my sincere hope that suggestions such as this will not be ignored, but rather taken to heart and used as a reference to growing as a trooper or pilot.

If you’re just starting off and you’re unsure as to how to post in stories, don’t be afraid to ask some of your fellow troopers for advice and/or tips. I’m sure that most, if not all, would be willing to take some time out to help someone in need.

Good Writers are made, not born. Just because someone else might be better than you at writing, it doesn’t mean you can’t do the same thing. With time and effort becoming a Veteran writer is quite an easy task.

Most importantly don’t be intimidated by your fellow troopers/pilots. Watch and learn from them. They can often teach you more than you’d be able to learn if you were alone.

Never give up. While in some cases there might not seem to be solutions, facing defeat is something you’ll deal with sooner or later. It’s how you deal with that which is important. You always have a new story coming or even a storynet thread that would welcome you to learn from the mistakes you made in the past.
One of the most important pieces of all, is to remember it is a game. You are there to have fun and to interact with other characters and writers. Don’t take things too seriously and remember to always enjoy yourself.

Ever wanted to create 3-D graphics, but was always held back by the high cost of software? If you actually had several hundred to invest in one software package, imagine what you could do! Design a building that a mission will take place at, make your own starships, weapons, etc…

Before you rush out to purchase a full powered, and highly priced 3D modeling application, consider a FREE alternative. I discovered Google Sketchup about three months ago and here is a sampling of what I have managed to make:

Google SketchUp is a fast, flexible, and fun 3D modeling application that allows you to quickly mock up designs of objects, buildings, or anything else you dream up. Being Google, you can expect the interface to be very user-friendly. Google even broadens the power and novelty of this program by enabling you to share your creations with the public online; just upload your designs to Google’s 3D Warehouse Web site or drop them into Google Earth. In turn, you can view models made by other SketchUp users all over the workd and save them to integrate into your own designs.

You can download this mere 19.11MB app for free (here) to a PC running Windows 2000 or up with at least 128MB of RAM (512MB is recommended). Installation took me just a few minutes on a Windows Vista computer.

Most 3D software is complex and confusing for newbies, but immediately after loading the free Google SketchUp, I swiftly mastered the basics by finishing its three short tutorials. There’s not a drop of difficult CAD terminology, and you can leave open a neat, context-sensitive, animated Instructor panel for additional help if you need it.

Google SketchUp’s no-frills interface consists of a large, central canvas flanked by a single toolbar containing most of the icons needed to build models, with the rest of the features available from the Main Menu atop the screen. This compact setup leaves maximal space for drawing; however, if you wish, you can display up to 12 floating task-specific toolbars, such as those for Drawing, Construction, and Camera.

SketchUp is intuitive; just drag around the mouse to draw rectangles, arcs, segments, or circles, then select the Push/Pull tool to extend shapes into the third dimension. The tools do most of the heavy lifting for you. For example, as you draw freehand, with straight lines, or with the pencil tool, SketchUp guesses where you want endpoints to meet and snaps them shut for you. SketchUp even highlights the edges and the centers of shapes when the cursor passes over them, making it painless to draw with accuracy. Similarly, guidelines appear when you cross the cursor over another line, so you can visualize how your object relates to the rest of the scene. Unfortunately, you can’t easily push or pull curved surfaces to produce rounded objects, such as a TIE cockpit.

SketchUp helps you color in your models instantly via a Paint Bucket tool or by choosing from the more than 100 swatches, including vegetation, glass (yes, transparent), and metal, in the Materials palette. Once you draw, say, a small three-flat building, you could detail its red bricks, ivy-laced walls, and gravel driveway in a matter of minutes.

Want your design’s blue-sky setting to evoke high noon on Tatooine? The Shadow Settings palette is especially cool: just use the sliders to set the time of day and the month to add the properly angled shadowing effect to an object. Other neat features include the ability to display a transparent version of your model, inspect hidden geometry, walk around or orbit the scene, and rotate objects in all directions.

Once you’ve finished your model, you can upload and share it with other users, thanks to the unlimited, free storage space at Google’s 3D Warehouse Web site–where you can also grab other people’s models (I dropped the Taj Mahal into the center of the Pentagon 😛 ).

Google SketchUp’s support Web site offers a searchable knowledge base, FAQs, and a contact link to reach technical service via form e-mail. A user group and detailed video tutorials provide extra assistance should you still need help.

The simplicity of the free Google SketchUp makes three-dimensional drawing possible even for those who lack knowledge of design or perspective.

I hope to see some of our creative minds here at the Vast Empire share their creatins with the rest of us, maybe even use some of their designs as Competition Entries.

Just to get you started, here are some Star Wars Source Files you might like to use (designed by myself):

(click for zip file)

~Doc

Sabacc is a card game played with a deck of 76 cards in the Star Wars Universe. The odds are that if you talked about playing it in your posts, you probably don’t know how to play it. If you did, think of how your posts might be able to be expanded into much higher quality and detail!

Basically, there are four suits: Staves, Flasks, Coins and Sabres.

Each suit has 15 numbered cards. These are:

• 1-11
• Commander (12)
• Mistress (13)
• Master (14)
• Ace (15)

As well as these, there are 16 ‘face cards’, 2 of each. They are:

• Idiot (0)
• Queen of air and darkness (-2)
• Endurance (-8)
• Balance (-11)
• Demise (-13)
• Moderation (-14)
• The Evil one (-15)
• The Star (-17)

RULES OF PLAY:
The object of Sabacc is to get the highest total equal to or below 23, or above negative 23 (-23) Getting a hand above 23 or below negative 23 or 0 is called a bomb-out and requires the player to pay a penalty to the Sabacc Pot. He must equal what is currently in the hand pot and put it in the sabacc pot.

There are two pots in the game of Sabacc: the hand pot and the Sabacc pot. The hand pot is won whenever a player wins the round. The Sabacc pot is only won when a player’s hand is a ‘pure Sabacc’ (which is a hand totaling 23 or -23 exactly) Note: In case of a tie, 23 beats -23) Another Sabacc pot winner is an Idiots array or Literal Sabacc which is the Idiot card and a two of any suit and a three of any suit, (ie 0-2-3). By having one of these hands or any other special hand due to certain rules, the player wins both pots.

At the beginning of each round, The dealer deals out two cards to each player, who then must ante by placing a credit into both the hand and the Sabacc pot. (Only to the sabacc pot if it is empty ie someone won it last hand.) The person to the left of the dealer starts first and he goes through all phases of his turn before it is anyone else’s turn. After each hand, dealership moves to the left.

PHASES OF A HAND:

• BETTING HAND: The player whose turn it is has the choice to bet. If he doesn’t the game moves to the next phase. If he does bet, then all other players must meet the bet or drop out in which they must pay the Sabacc pot two credits to do so
• CARD PHASE: The dealer then asks each player if they would like an extra card (Just like Black Jack) The players can refuse, but if they except, they cannot trade it or throw it back – they must keep it. If they bomb out then they out of the game and have to the pay the bomb out penalty.
• POKER PHASE: (note this only happens once) The next player has his/her turn for the two phases and so on until all players have done the two. Once the last player has finished the card phase, the dealer then asks all the players if they would like to trade any cards. The players may trade any cards but cannot simply give some back. Once this phase is complete, it never happens again in the hand.
• CALLING PHASE: After the poker phase, they player whose turn it is, asks if any player would like to call the hand. When the hand is called, everyone has to place their cards right side up on the table and declare what they have. A player can only call during the calling phase of another player, not their own. If the person who called the hand does not win the hand, he must pay a penalty of two credits to the Sabacc Pot. If no one calls the hand, then the game returns to the betting phase and the game continues (excluding the poker phase)
• WINNING A HAND: When a hand is called, the person with the highest card value wins the game. The player can also win if all other players fold In which the player only gets the hand pot. If two or more players are tied, they must compete in a sudden demise in which the dealer hands each another card. Which ever hand is the closest to 23 (or -23) without bombing out wins. If they have the same after a sudden demise, then they split the pot.
• WINNING THE SABACC POT: To win the Sabacc pot, a player must have pure Sabacc or an idiots array. An Idiots array beats a pure sabacc, but if two or more players have the same special hand, then a sudden demise commences like above. (note: that a special hand, like any other, can only be declared when a hand is called.

RULES:

Besides the standard rules, there are different versions which alter small parts of the game. You don’t have to play them, but if you do, you must obey the instructions given. These rules are also used for Random Sabacc. (note for all the special hands, your hand can only have the number of cards involved in the special ie you cannot hold four cards if you want to win the force array (three cards), it is not allowed) All special hands must be below 23 or above -23.

• Rebel Alliance Rules: -During the poker phase, you can trade no more than two cards. -During the card phase, you can only take two cards. -The special hand is called the Force Array and consists of A master of any suit and any two cards of the sabre suit. (must be below 23) Queen of air and Darkness = 5 Endurance = 10 Balance = – 3 Demise = – 7 Moderation = -15 The Evil one = -12 The Star = -8
• Imperial Rules: -During the poker phase you can trade three cards only, no more, no less. -During the card phase, you can take only one card unless you have the evil one, then you can take two. (you must prove to all players that you have the evil one) -The special hand is called the Death array and must have the evil one, demise and any 12 – 15 card. The Queen of air and darkness = – 11 Endurance = -8 Balance = -5 Demise = -18 Moderation = -2 The Evil one = -14 The Star = 5
• Corellian Rules: -During the poker phase you can trade any number of cards you wish. -During the card phase you can take one or three cards -The Special hand is called the Profit Array and consists of Endurance and any two cards of the coin suit The Queen of air and darkness = -8 Endurance = -5 Balance = -7 Demise = -2 Moderation = -5 The Evil one = -11 The Star = -2
• New Republic Rules: -The Poker phase and card phase are the same as normal – The special hand is called the Justice Array and involves Balance, a sabre and a commander The Queen of air and darkness = -9 Endurance = 8 Balance = 5 Demise = -11 Moderation = -14 The Evil one = -2 The Star = -13
• Corporate Sector Rules: -During the Poker phase, only one card can be traded -During the card phase, you can take one or two only -The Special hand is called the Monarchy Array and consists of the Queen of air and darkness, The Star and any coin card. The Queen of air and darkness = -4 Endurance = 7 Balance = -9 Demise = -10 Moderation = -13 The Evil one = -14 The Star = 5

RANDOM SABACC:
Random Sabacc is the same as Sabacc except that at random time intervals, the rules change, from what they were to something else i.e. standard to Corellian. It is a game of chance because A winning hand one moment will become a bomb-out the next. If the rules change while the hand is being called, all hands must change to the new rules.

If you are playing Sabacc in your next story, be sure to draw the ‘Idiot’s Array’ and win a nice starship, or maybe a planet. Best of luck, and may the cards be with you.

During the making of the three Star Wars films a few slips, cock-ups, and tricks made it into the films. Next time you’re watching any of the films, look out for the following.

A NEW HOPE

• Cut and Droid
  When Artoo first gets put into the Jawa’s Sandcrawler he looks around at the array of creatures there with him. Look carefully as he turns and actor Kenny Bakers face can be seen inside the bubble on Artoo’s head.
• C-3PO robot self-abuse
  On Tatooine, Luke is trying to clean up Artoo. An excited C-3P0 is seen staading behind them. What is he doing with that rag?
• My Aunt Beru is a Ventriloquist
  Have you ever noticed that when Luke’s Aunt Beru speaks her lips aren’t in synch? George Lucas had her lines dubbed because the real Beru’s voice was “too deep”.
• Drink problem
  Just after Ben and Luke bargain with Solo and Chewie for transport aboard the Falcon, the camera fixes on a pair of Stormtroopers walking their way. In the middle of the screen a “mousy” alien lifts a drink to his mouth. Unfortunately, he misses and hits his chin instead.
• Greedo?
  By freezing the frames right before Han blasts Greedo to pieces in the Cantina, you see the actor who plays Greedo replaced by a really bad dummy that explodes. It’s thinner and taller than the actor, has a different jacket, and isn’t holding a gun!
• Cardboard awards
  At the end of the film when our heroes (Ahem – their heroes ~Doc) receive their medallions, there are rebels on the extreme left and extreme right of the screen who don’t say much. They are all cardboard cut-outs.

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

• Four seasons in one day
  During the outdoor scenes at the battle of Hoth, the weather miraculously changes from shot to shot As the battle progresses the sky is blue and cloudless, then clear with some clouds, then very grey and overcast.
• Who left that bloody thing there?
  When Luke blows up the AT-AT, watch its rear left leg. Just before it falls, a stick pops up from the ground to send the entire thing crashing to the ground.
• Spud missiles
  The special effects crew often placed little ‘inside jokes’ into the film that were too small to be seen in the final cuts. In the asteroid belt sequence – when Han rushes up to the cockpit of the Falcon – fans claim one of the asteroids is actually a potato.
• See-you 3PO
  On Bespin, after C-3P0 has been dismembered and his parts are spread on the conveyor belt, Chewbacca enters the ‘junk’ room to collect his remains. In the close-up scene of Threepio on the conveyor belt, you can see the camera and several of the crew reflected in his head.
• I’ve got one just like that!
  After Lando announces on the public address system that the city is under Imperial rule, chaos breaks out and people run everywhere. The man with a light brown tunic who runs by is carrying an ice-cream maker belonging to George Lucas.

RETURN OF THE JEDI

• ttuH eht abbaJ
  Just after Artoo plays Luke’s hologram at Jabba’s palace the film is actually running backwards. If you look closely you can see the smoke from Jabba’s pipe moving downwards and back into the pipe. The bubbles in his ‘bong’ are also moving downwards.
• See what I mean?
  After Luke grabs the plank and jumps back onto the skiff, he flips in the air, and then grabs his lightsabre, which Artoo has shot over to him. Watch Han in the background. He is supposed to be blind after being frozen, but he seems to be following the action very closely.
• Can you feel the force?
  During the scene when Leia gets shot outisde the Imperial bunker, she leans back, and Han rushes over to see if she’s alright. But while pushing Leia out of the line of fire, his hand accidently clutches her left breast. Oops!
• Lando butts In
  Just after Chewie is taken away by the guards in Jabba’s palace we see Lando. Just before he pulls his mask down to show viewers who he is, he hits his head on the ceiling and his head jerks backwards.
• Space walk
  An enduring legend of the Star Wars trilogy is said to happen somewhere in the space battle above Endor. Many have claimed that during the tedious shooting of the complex space battle, special effects jokers brightened up their day by secretly adding a rogue tennis shoe to the rebel fleet.

(Pulled from numerous sites)

~Doc

The VE Today has agreed to allow the Vast Empire main page to syndicate it’s web content. This will bring more exposure to the VE Today and hopefully bring a larger reader base.

The VE Today will only show up to three of the most recent news stories on the VE main page. This will still allow for the VE to publicize it’s own news on the VE main page.

The VE Today is still accepting new members for it’s news services.  Just like our motto says: “When News Breaks, We Duct Tape it Back Together”.

The VEA has been in a downfall of inactivity during the past 4 weeks. The Galactic Games has confused many returning members and new ones. For that matter, posting in the Galactic Games has become a burden.

Now VEA is trying to get themselves organized, and updated. Company Commander Colonel Rizzit Blackheart is trying to get the VEA back up and running again. As the only Platoon Commander Active in the VEA, is hard to get things together without any help from an adjutant. However, as determined he is, the VEA will shine once again into the activity spotlight.

The VEA thanks to Colonel Rizzit Has gone into an overhaul. A period of Adjustments and repairs has begun. The shift of squad members, and Updated roster changes will set the VEA into a period of durability and organization. Along with new trainees graduating from drill squad, The VEA will take pride among the rest of the VE organization.

 -Presented By New’s Reporter Typex3