Preface, Frequently Asked Questions

UPDATED AS OF 04/17/09

What's with the title?
No, it has nothing to do with the MMO that must not be named. Over ten years ago, Dark Horse, the official Star Wars comic house, came out with a new ongoing series, titled simply Star Wars, taking place during the prequel film trilogy. It ran for 46 issues until its name was retroactively changed to Star Wars: Republic. Then three issues later it was branded as the official Clone Wars comic, though the Republic name still stuck until Dark Horse revamped the into Dark Times, which is on hiatus at the moment. In any case, since I enjoyed the Republic series, and since the name Knights of the Old Republic was already taken, I simplified the title to Old Republic, and here we are.

How does this relate to the Knights of the Old Republic series by Dark Horse?
Well, there's no easier way to say this... think of Old Republic as taking place in a separate but parallel universe to Knights of the Old Republic. There are many similarities, and while I won't show the events of the KotOR comics, I'll reference them from time to time. However, there will also be some major differences which will come up from time to time. You'll have to read to find out exactly what that means.

Who's the main character? Revan? Malak? Exile?
Well, no one. That's one of the things I liked about Republic - instead of following the same character, or group of characters, the series featured several characters, all interacting with each other throughout the series. It made the universe feel more real, and it kept things interesting, since each story arc typically focused on a different character (or characters) than the last arc.

So yes, Revan, Malak, the Exile, and a bunch of characters from the games that we all know will appear - but they won't be alone. Check out the Characters page over in the Writer's Room for more details, if you're interested.

When do the comics take place?
I've already drawn up a brief outline elsewhere; basically Old Republic starts shortly before the First Battle of Onderon, which is when the Mandalorians directly attack the Republic for the first time - in other words, when the Mandalorian Wars get interesting. The Knights of the Old Republic comics by Dark Horse begin a month or so before this, and I've included them in the outline.

The First Battle of Onderon is on the first day of 21.037 AFR, or 3,963 BBY. Technically the comics begin a day or so before that; there's one issue on Nar Shaddaa, then the next is on Onderon - you'll see when they're out.

The comics will continue on throughout the Mandalorian Wars, Jedi Civil War, and the aftermath of both. After that, we shall see. I have a few ideas in mind for how to cover a sequel to the games, but that is a long, long, long ways away.

What's AFR?
If you've never heard of it, it's for good reason - I invented it. It means "After the Foundation of the Republic", based on one of the Roman systems (since the Republic itself was based on Rome, but never mind that).

The "official" Star Wars system is BBY/ABY (Before/After the Battle of Yavin), sometimes BSW4/ASW4 (Before/After Star Wars Episode IV). And of course it makes precisely zero sense in the context of the Old Republic (or really in any context... the in-universe use of it kind of sucks, but never mind that either). Since the Powers That Be haven't developed a sensible system that works for the Old Republic Era, since for the most part they've ignored anything outside of the movies, I decided to make one myself, and here we are. (Actually there are a couple more, equally lame systems, but guess what - never mind those either.)

The foundation of the Republic has been established as roughly 25,000 BBY. Since we have nothing better to go with than that, 25.000 AFR is equal to exactly 0 BBY/ABY.

Old Republic begins in the year 3,964 BBY, or 21.036 AFR.
Knights of the Old Republic is set in the year 3,956 BBY, or 21.044 AFR.
Knights of the Old Republic II is set in the year 3,951 BBY, or 21.049 AFR.

Oh, you mean the Star Wars: The Old Republic game

But, I knew all of this - sort of.