Expounded Universe – System Mastery

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Jef and Jon from the long-running System Mastery RPG review podcast, open up a different sort of archival of nerdly pursuits as they review the now-Legend Star Wars Expanded Universe.

System Mastery


    • Jun 3, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 4m AVG DURATION
    • 309 EPISODES

    4.9 from 61 ratings Listeners of Expounded Universe – System Mastery that love the show mention: jef, expanded universe, jon, piece, terrible, books, fans, god, laugh, old, review, funny, definitely, listening, guys, like, love, star wars eu, system masters.


    Ivy Insights

    The Expounded Universe - System Mastery podcast is a hilarious and entertaining dive into the Star Wars Expanded Universe. Hosted by Jon and Jef, this podcast offers a unique perspective on the often questionable quality of the EU books.

    The best aspect of this podcast is undoubtedly its humor. Jon and Jef have an incredible knack for dissecting and roasting the material in a way that is both informative and side-splittingly funny. They bring their own brand of nerd comedy to every episode, making it enjoyable even for those who may not be die-hard Star Wars fans. Their witty banter and sarcastic commentary keep listeners engaged throughout, ensuring that each episode is an absolute joy to listen to.

    Furthermore, the podcast provides a valuable overview of the plots and storylines in the expanded universe books. For fans who may not have had the opportunity to read all of these books or are interested in learning more about them, this podcast serves as an excellent resource. The hosts summarize the key events while injecting their own humorous commentary, giving listeners a taste of what each book entails without having to read them all themselves.

    However, one potential drawback of this podcast is that it may not appeal to everyone. While many fans appreciate the irreverent take on the EU material, some listeners may prefer a more serious analysis or discussion of these books. Additionally, those who are not familiar with or interested in Star Wars lore may find it difficult to fully engage with the content.

    In conclusion, The Expounded Universe - System Mastery podcast is a must-listen for any fan of Star Wars or those looking for some comedic relief from their favorite sci-fi franchise. Jon and Jef's humorous take on the EU books make for an entertaining experience that will have you laughing out loud while also providing valuable insights into these often ridiculed works. Whether you're revisiting your childhood memories or discovering new absurdities within the expanded universe, this podcast delivers hours of laughter and enjoyment.



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    Latest episodes from Expounded Universe – System Mastery

    304 - Don't Call it a Comeback

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2025 58:59


    That ended abruptly! Sure enough we get a chapter containing both Vader and Xizor, but... eh you'll see. Also there's some robots and some big-ish reveals, I suppose! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    303 - All I Need Is A Miracle

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 56:23


    Vader packs up and rides to join the party, Jax and company fight some crazy robots, and Xizor meets Nick Rostu, surely that's fantasic, right? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    302 - Here Comes a Special Droid

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 63:23


    Honestly, I-5 isn't even super important here, we just think it's so funny how he keeps having a module for exactly what the group needs every time. Really, this is the "Xizor Makes His Move" set of chapters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    301 - A Special Pinch

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 57:46


    Man is I-5 ever useful. But who's also a protocol droid with a weird gun hand that everyone wants to know about? I bet you all forgot about Bug Eyes, who is theoretically the MacGuffin of this production, and who JUST TURNED UP. Yeah! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    300 - Slut Plate Summer

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 59:53


    Well dang, this was episode 300? Then I guess we shall podcast in the shade. In today's episode Jax and the gang escape some droid police (DROID POLICE, BEEP BEEP BEEP) on flying Segways, while Rhinann whines and Nick Rostu... also kinda whines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    299 - Pardon My French, But Jax Pavan is an Asshole

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 66:14


    Oh hey, this book has act breaks! And we just found what might be the only one! You can tell because I-5 finally finds Jax Pavan. Who is an asshole about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    298 - Rostu on the Smuggle Bus

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 57:24


    This episode is a Jax-free space. We focus on Den, we check in with Nick Rostu, and somehow Kaird is still kicking around, but we aren't seeing what's up with Jax and Laranth. Also, Rhinan is making strong moves towards just ruining the Empire's public relations division. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    297 - Rokko's Modern Light

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 77:12


    Finally Laranth turns up, and she brings with her something we were missing last time we did this series, an explanation of what a Gray Paladin is exactly (besides the lamest D&D character that your lamest gaming buddy won't shut up about). Meanwhile, Dhur is a reporter and Nick is apparently a gambler, but good news! Joyous news! It's not sabacc! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    296 - Rostu to the Rescue

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2025 69:32


    No one new, and we'll still moving pieces into place, but hey Nick and Jax have met and headed off for a just-dudes sushi brunch, which if you think about it, Star Wars doesn't have nearly enough of. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    295 - The Den Dhur Bender

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025 71:07


    We've met almost everyone we know we need to now! Just Laranth to go! But hark, we're meeting a subvillain for the book this time, and he hates Xizor, and now we're hearing that old classic Xizor bragging. Feels good to be home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    294 - Smoggy Bottom Boys

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2025 69:32


    Oh right, I just remembered that as much fun as Den and I-5 and laughing at Aurra Sing were, Jax Pavan is a dude what sucks. It's all coming back. Yes, that's right folks, welcome back to Coruscant Nights, the noir Star Wars. We're meeting a few new to us names today. Even Piell, Nick Rostu, and of course Jax are all running around the bowels of the city planet having remarkably similar adventures, all things considered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    293 - Fatal Alliance Wrapup

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 78:53


    Your burning questions! Answered! Our final thoughts on this book! Given! And the next book? Announced, baby! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    292 - Avoid the Amnioid

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 68:08


    The Amnioid is Lema Xandret. Forget to say that in the episode, so it needed explanation here. Okay, we're wrapping it up! Another story in the can. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    291 - It's a Sebbadonomenon

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2024 59:07


    Definitely on the homestretch here, as some secrets are revealed and we start to see our Padawan/Sith Apprentice consider the merits of their respective other sides. Everyone's starting to unveil their big plans, but what of Dao Stryver? He's just flying around! What's that guy all about? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    290 - Sith Lightning Crashes

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2024 65:07


    Oh ho, so we've swapped masters and apprentices for a couple of little Jedi field trips, and the action is literally heating up with literal actual lava. Literally! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    289 - Ula Vii en Rose

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 66:18


    Look, I thought of that title like two months ago and I don't think we're ever gonna get it to line up perfectly, but I'll be damned if we don't use it! So in this episode Ula sort of takes control of the combine fleet, and that'll have to work! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    288 - Dao and the Art of Shuttlecraft Maintenance

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2024 57:38


    This book is starting to seem like a big sifter designed to force our main characters slowly but inexorably into one party, and this is continuing here as Mandalorian Dao Stryver finally starts calling shots about the next steps to stop the hexes. How long can Hetchkee stick around? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    maintenance shuttlecraft
    286 - What's The Buzz Satele Me What's A Happenin'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2024 55:01


    (Oh no, this one has sat a minute, my bad) Everyone must find their own way to figure out where the trail leads, and this episode is all about how they're doing it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    287 - Hex Based Space Combat

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2024 50:20


    And the action fires right back up! Is there something special in the space past where the books get better, because this is starting to remind us of Red Harvest with how much actual "doing shit" is happening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    285 - The Mojo Dojo Encaasa Bareesh

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2024 59:59


    Finally, a bunch of heroes get sent on a quest. Honestly this book is actually shaping up to match that Lucas quote about Star Wars rhyming like poetry, which is frankly wild. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    284 - Shigar, We're Going Down Swinging

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2024 54:53


    The grand battle plays on, though I think we're both getting fairly sick of Dao Stryver just being immune to absolutely everything. Meanwhile a few things are explained, a few folks are rescued, and we're seeing the seeds of our spy switching sides again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Expounded Universe 283 - Hex on the Breach

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2024 44:42


    Well well, we're already at a lightsaber fight. And get this, it's like three chapters of action sequence in a row! In a Star Wars novel this is considered something of an anomaly, as the middle of the books is normally utilized largely to introduce the identical cousins of background cantina characters or extending the page count. But not here! Here we're getting a fight! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    star wars breach expounded universe
    282 - Holy Stryver

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2024 77:47


    The streams have begun to cross, but gently at first, as Ula Vii the reluctant spy has met everyone's instant favorite, JET NEBULA. Meanwhile, Ax does sith stuff, Shigar does jedi stuff, and Larin is apparently quite hot. Good for her. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    281 - Rancor Ridin' Dirty

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2024 70:07


    Okay, this one I remember. Our characters one by one begin to converge on Nal Hutta, the current homeworld of everyone's favorite big slug gansgters. No one meets anyone else yet though. We're saving that for sweeps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    280 = The Toxic Moxla Avenger

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2024 63:25


    Okay, apparently I forgot to post this very important episode for a while and a half, between work trips and some ongoing medical drama, it just slipped my attention. I officially apologize. Also, I have no idea what happened in it. I don't even know what a moxla is anymore. Some sort of venomous thing, I trust. Please enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Expounded Universe 279 - Cinzia Been Gone!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2024 70:32


    Welcome back to Star Wars! Specifically that special brand of Bioware-era Star Wars (like, they got their own era) set 4000 years before New Hope! Meet a bunch of new characters with forgettable fantasy names and also JET NEBULA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Expounded Universe 278 - Shadows Rising Wrapup

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2024 71:35


    What did we think? What did you want to know? What are we doing next? The elements? We answer all the questions! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    shadows rising expounded universe
    277 - Bwon with the Wind

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2024 63:58


    The climax is reached, can this book actually change anything or move any of the in-game story along? Will Bwonsamdi survive? Who rides what mounts? The elements? You better believe it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    276 - Nick at Nite Reference

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2024 57:29


    The penultimate episode dawns! A race begins as the Zandalari and Horde fight to stop the Widow's Bite from killing Bwonsamdi. You know what all those words mean, right? I sure do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    bite widow horde nick at nite zandalari bwonsamdi
    275 - Anduin Jereks It For Stress Relief

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 29, 2024 64:13


    Well, I'd love to tell you things are coming to a head, but we still don't know what that would look like. We are getting mentions of actual Shadowlands content though! That's neat! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    274 - That Girl is Poison

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2024 58:17


    Well, we know Shaw is still alive now, and meanwhile we settle the debate from the end of the last episode (Jef was right, weird) and see what's going on with Thrall and Ji now that they've arrived on the insurrection-torn shores of Zuldazar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    273 - History Would Prove Them To Be Roommates

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2024 70:01


    Okay so I may have lost this episode for a few weeks. And that definitely means I forgot what's in there, besides that there was definitely some fairly intriguing Matthias Shaw romance. So hopefully you're into that! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    272 - A Loa Down Dirty Shame

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2024 62:48


    In this installment, we finally do what WOW must do, devote way too much time to Thrall. After he meets with the other people the game frankly could abandon for six expansions and everyone would be happy (obviously Tyrande and Malfurion), it's time for Zul'More Trolls (Hah, remember that? I'm so old) in Zuldazar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    shame thrall down dirty tyrande malfurion
    Expounded Universe 271 - Press F to Torture Human Dad

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2024 71:10


    I'd like to say that this is the start of a depressing trend of torture in this book, but at least the book seems aware of it, and it's just Alleria and Turalyon both times, so maybe it's part of the story and will be dealt with. We can hope it gets fixed instead of getting the 24 treatment. Meanwhile, Mathias Shaw is sailing along with Flynn Fairwind, who is actually from the games! And Nathanos is meeting up with Apari the Blood(?) Troll again for various dark purposes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    blood troll torture apari press f turalyon expounded universe
    270 - Right Click to Torture Orc Mom

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2023 57:56


    Yep, it's one of the classic staples of the WOW genre, That kind of justified torture that your favorite heroes just can't help but do, because of the greater good. Oh and also Zekhan meets Bwonsamdi and ... I'm sure there must have been a third thing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    269 - Zekhan A Mission From God

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2023 65:11


    In which we figure out who's likely to be our primary Horde protagonist, we send him on his way to adventure, and also Anduin continues to fret in well-known locations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    268 - The Flame War of the Trolls

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2023 57:34


    Sheesh, I thought we knew some stuff about World of Warcraft but we're completely in the weeds here. We don't know about Battle for Azeroth era trolls, and that's what we seem to have blundered into. Oh well, at least Bwonsamdi is cool. We're meeting some maybe-important Blood Trools, hanging out with Talanji, and meeting WOW's ultimate wife-guy energy man, Nathanos Blightcaller. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    267 - Where Was Anduin When the Westfall Fell?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2023 60:08


    And we're back! Our new scene is set, it's split between Westfall and Ogrimmar, in which an author must deal with the dizzying array of world leaders available in the Battle for Azeroth era of a game at least a bunch of us were already starting to forget. You'll never forget such luminaries as Kiro, Caravan Leader of the Vulpera, right? I sure won't. Anyway, we barely even get an idea of what's about to happen here. Something about the elements being angry? You know how these are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    266 - Rogue Planet Wrapup

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2023 83:22


    All your questions answered! All our thoughts explained! And of course the next book, announced! I, uhhh, I let Jon pick again. I will always vote for the chaos option given the choice, you know this. What horrors are we due? You'll soon find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    265 - That Can't Be Right

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2023 57:39


    The end is upon us! Or at least of this book. Once again a massive amount of stuff needs to be handled in just a few short pages, and this time, well, it kind of isn't! Do we at least finally figure out specifically what the deal is with Zonama Sekot? No! What fun! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    264 - Anakin and the Amazing Technicolor Sekot

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2023 63:22


    A new character has entered the arena, though we've been hanging out on them for a while now. That's right, it's time to meet Sekot proper, unravel some secrets of the past, and set up for the last 20 pages, where apparently, almost all of the stuff will happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    263 - Wiping at Magister's Terrace

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2023 65:07


    And, as must happen in all these books when there's like 40 pages to go, the action kicks into high gear. Anakin, Jabitha (are we sure) and Ke Daiv are in one ship, Shappa Farr and Obi-Wan in another, and all the while our petulant pal Raithe Seinar is up in space being lorded over by Tarkin. All in all, a good time, with a good moment even! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Episode 262 - Tarkin Back Sunday

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2023 59:32


    Tarkin arrives, Seinar fumes, Obi-Wan and Anakin finally encounter that most regular of EU traditions, the eleventh hour info dump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    261 - Crashing the Ke Party

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2023 59:49


    Man it has been a JOURNEY to get this thing to air. The ship is built and Ke Daiv attacks, I don't remember the rest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    260 - Great Balls on Fire

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2023 57:52


    The shipbuilding begins! As Jabitha (that can't be right) leaves our heroes at the gate of the great factory, they meet new characters just in time for Anakin to start making it weird. Meanwhile, Seinar hangs out on his ship, and we hear about the comic misadventures of Ke Daiv, currently trying to buy a Sekotan ship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    259 - Jabitha Hutt

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2023 63:07


    In this episode Anakin meets a little girl roughly his age, Obi-Wan is bored enough to start getting crabby, and Raithe Seinar is just having big old sips of other people's anger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    258 - Balls on Parade

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2023 66:46


    Our heroes emerge from the unexpected ball bath covered in the winnings of victory, which of course are more balls. Then a bunch of ball-related stuff happens. Luckily Seinar breaks in for one chapter to ... well sadly he just maintains that he is still heading towards the story from a distance, but at least he's not doing a ball thing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    257 - Rogue Planet

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2023 65:22


    In an attempt to give Anakin some more depth, we introduce... more whines of his? I guess now he loves spaceships but hates spaceships. Anyway he's still a kid, we can let that slide. Our heroes slowly explore the city of Middle Distance, while Seinar begins his own set of dastardly contingency plans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    256 - Zonama be Startin' Somethin'

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2023 58:47


    It's weird to be reading a book that is ostensibly full of weird surprises and decisions that necessarily go nowhere after Attack of the Clones came along and changed them, yet still keep running into stuff that is somehow important all the way to the Yuuzhan Vong crisis. But let's do it anyway! Today we finally land on Zonama Sekot and meet a couple very grumpy cult people. Also Raithe Seinar pouts a little but gets a cool new uniform and that cheers him up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Episode 255 - Anakin's Got Crabs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2023 63:02


    Another episode about shifting pieces into place for a story to happen, but still there's something here that's working for us. Not sure if it's the gay from space billionaire villain Raithe Sienar, the crazy polychaete alien Charza and his tidepool bioship, but something's just clickin' here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    254 - Tarkin What They're Given Cause I'm Wormin For a Livin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2023 63:14


    Okay, so now we know the bad guy of the hour! Raithe Seinar, starship engineer and generally rich weirdo, is apparently the right man for this job! Meanwhile our heroes absorb some info on Vergere before getting on a worm's tidepool spaceship. Honestly, respect for this guy's willingness to go crazy with the aliens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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