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Drew Karpyshyn is living proof of how a strong narrative can be the heart and soul of role-playing games. He’s been bringing us unforgettable tales since he first joined BioWare at the turn of the century to help finish Baldur’s Gate: Shadows of Amn. Quickly recognized for his abilities, Karpyshyn was picked to work on Throne of Bhaal, Neverwinter Nights and Jade Empire, later being promoted to lead writer for KOTOR and the Mass Effect series. Yes, this man is a seemingly inexhaustible fountain from which our most memorable moments in gaming have flowed.
Today, BioWare has revealed the title to Karpyshyn’s newest work, which ties certain events of the KOTOR series to the upcoming Star Wars: The Old Republic MMO. Officially announced, “Revan” explores the events surrounding the mystical Sith lord after the conclusion of KOTOR, following his path to the time period in which SWTOR takes place. How has this legendary figure managed to hold on to power for so long?
Karpyshyn recently sat down for a quick Q&A session at the BioWare website; here are a few things that he had to say:
Q: How much time do the events of Revan span? And where does it sit in relation to the other Star Wars: The Old Republic novels?
A: The story picks up right after the end of the first Knights of the Old Republic and continues through and beyond KOTOR II — a span of roughly five years. There are allusions to the events of KOTOR II, but my focus was on the story taking place before, between and after the games — I didn’t want to rehash a story fans already knew.
Because we’re set in the same time period as the KOTOR games, we’re roughly 300 years earlier than the other The Old Republic novels… though the events of this book have a major impact on shaping The Old Republic universe.
Q: What other characters from Knights of the Old Republic and Knights of the Old Republic II might we expect to see?
A: You can’t tell a story about Revan without also exploring his companions; they were such a key element of the KOTOR experience that it wouldn’t feel right without bringing some of them back. Of course it would be impossible to include all of them in a novel in a way that would make a cohesive and fulfilling story, so I focused on those who felt most directly relevant to what happened to Revan after the KOTOR games. I don’t want to give too much away, but Canderous, T3-M4, the Exile and Bastila Shan all have significant roles to play in the novel (along with some significant characters who appear in Star Wars: The Old Republic).
Check out the full post for more remarks from Drew Karpyshyn and further details on the upcoming Revan Star Wars novel.