Star Wars: The Old Republic

Star Wars: The Old Republic, abbreviated asSWTOR, is an upcoming massively multiplayer online role-playing game based in the Star Warsuniverse. Currently in development by BioWareAustin and a supplemental team at BioWare Edmonton, the game was first announced on October 21, 2008, at an invitation-only press event. The video game will be released for Microsoft Windows platform on December 20, 2011 in North America and on December 22, 2011 in Europe.

At a cost rumored to be over $135 million, The Old Republic is one of the most expensive games ever created.

Species

There will be a range of playable species for the player to choose from. So far confirmed are Chiss, Human, Miraluka, Mirialan, Rattataki, Sith Pureblood, Twi’lek and Zabrak. Although Humans can pick any class available, other species have been restricted to only several classes each.

An E3 2011 gameplay footage video showed a Rattataki Bounty Hunter.

Classes

Each faction will contain different classes, each with a distinct backstory and a branching storyline affected by players’ moral choices.  Classes will also be exclusive to one faction or the other, however, the classes of one faction mirror the classes of the other (for example, Jedi Knight and Sith Warrior).Eight classes have been confirmed: the Bounty Hunter, Sith Warrior, Imperial Agent, and Sith Inquisitor  for the Sith Empire; and the Trooper,Smuggler, Jedi Knight, and Jedi Consular for the Galactic Republic. Although each class will have a distinct storyline, they will be integrated with the game’s overall arc.

Every class has also two specializations.

Republic

• Trooper; Commando and Vanguard
• Smuggler; Gunslinger and Scoundrel
• Jedi Knight; Guardian and Sentinel
• Jedi Consular; Shadow and Sage

Empire

• Bounty Hunter; Powertech and Mercenary
• Imperial Agent; Operative and Sniper
• Sith Warrior; Juggernaut and Marauder
• Sith Inquisitor; Sorcerer and Assassin

Ships

Each class will have their own starship in the game; each starship will serve as the class’/player(s) base of operations for the game. Bounty Hunter will have the D5-Mantis patrol craft. Sith Warrior and Sith Inquistor will have the Fury. Imperial Agent will have the X-70B Phantom. Smuggler will have the XS Freighter. Trooper will have the BT-7 Thunderclap. Jedi Knight and Jedi Consular will have the Defender.

Chiss

Species
Chiss
Homeworld	Csilla
Allegiance	Sith Empire

Chiss are blue-skinned humanoids from the planet Csilla in the Unknown Regions. They are one of the confirmed playable species, only available as Imperial Agents.

The Chiss Ascendancy has sworn allegiance to the Sith Empire. Their political independence has been largely preserved due to this alliance, as has their privacy. However, aside from this agreement, the Chiss Ascendancy has been known to conduct independent reconnaissance missions.

Human

Species
Human
Homeworld	Coruscant (generally accepted)
Allegiance	All

Humans are one of the species confirmed to be playable in the game and are currently able to play any class.

Humans are the galaxy’s most numerous and politically dominant sentient species with millions of major and minor colonies galaxywide. Believed to have originated on the galactic capital of Coruscant, they can be found anywhere, engaged in many different pursuits: spacers, mercenaries, smugglers, merchants, soldiers, assassins, farmers, crime lords, laborers, slaves, slavers, and many others, including Jedi. Since Humans are the most common sentient species, they are often considered to be a standard or average to which the biology, psychology, and culture of other species are compared.

Humans are currently able to be any of the eight classes in The Old Republic.

Miraluka

Species
Miraluka
Homeworld	Alpherides
Allegiance	Galactic Republic

Miraluka is a playable species for the Jedi Knight & Jedi Consular.

About

Though sharing a common genetic history with Humans, Miraluka have evolved into a significantly different species because they are born without eyes. On their homeworld of Alpheridies, the only source of light is a red dwarf star which emits light only in the infrared spectrum. Over the centuries, the Miraluka adapted and developed the ability to see their surroundings through the Force. Though they retain vestigial eye sockets, Miraluka wear decorative veils and generally have little trouble assimilating into human society.

Miraluka have lived primarily in isolation over the millennia, but because of their Force-sensitivity, they have had relations with the Jedi and some Miraluka have even joined the Order. That relationship has grown even stronger since Jedi Civil War when the Sith Lord Darth Nihilus destroyed the Miraluka colony on the world of Katarr. The only survivor of that attack — a Miraluka named Visas Marr — was known to have traveled with the Jedi Exile and later to have helped rebuild the Jedi Order.

In the years of the Great War, Alpheridies has remained an independent system, but many Miraluka have rallied to the Republic’s cause. Those who have joined the Jedi Order have proven to consistently be strong in the Force and exceptionally skilled in the martial arts. Some masters speculate that it is precisely because of their trust in the Force rather than their eyes that they fight so fluently with lightsabers. Regardless of where and how they serve the Order, the presence of the Miraluka within the Jedi ranks has been a boon. Many Sith Lords have learned the hard way to see that Miraluka can be dangerous foes.

Mirialan

Species
Mirialan
Homeworld	Mirial
Allegiance	Galactic Republic

Mirialan are a Near-human playable species for the Jedi Consular, Jedi Knight, Smuggler, and Trooperclasses.

Mirialans are a religious species who only hold a weak understanding of the concept of the Force. They believe that a person’s actions contribute to their destiny. A geometric tattoo is often placed on their face or hands to signify that an important milestone has been reached. The number of tattoos is thus a good indicator of a Mirialan’s age and/or experience.

Mirialan children are taught early to maintain a calm and reasonable attitude, giving the species a reputation for great skill in negotiation.They also believe that each person’s actions not only affect the individual’s destiny, but also influence the fate of their people. From this view, a Mirialan’s efforts to improve personally are also a contribution to the entire race.This motivation prompts them to intense mental and physical training: an upbringing that helps Mirialan youth excel when considered for Jedi training.

Rattataki

Species
Rattataki
Homeworld	Rattatak
Allegiance	Sith Empire

Rattataki are a near-human species that is playable for the Bounty Hunter and Sith Inquisitor.

Description

For eons, the Rattataki have been constantly battling themselves and their fellow inhabitants. Mostly isolated from the outside galaxy, the Rattataki quickly created new ways to kill each other. This penchant for violence has made the species infamous for seeking out any reason to fight. And when dealing with other enslaved species, most Rattataki find it easy to overlook their own persecution and difficulties, instead taking a stance of superiority.

Sith Pureblood

Species
Sith Pureblood
Homeworld	Korriban
Allegiance	Sith Empire
Notable members	Exal Kressh and Naga Sadow

Sith Pureblood is a confirmed playable species for only the Sith Warrior.

Background

Descendants of the original Sith species, the red-skinned Sith Purebloods inherit a legacy long intertwined with the dark side. The ancient Sith were warlike, competitive, and ambitious, and they performed arcane rituals to create powerful Force artifacts. For those Sith in whom the old blood still flows strongly enough to be seen, there exists a strong current of innate darkness, making the rate of Force sensitivity among purebloods near one hundred percent. They are extremly powerful.

Three thousand years ago, Dark Jedi, fleeing Republic space after the Second Great Schism, discovered the Sith species on Korriban. They were surprised to find that the comparatively primitive species displayed knowledge of the dark side that the Jedi themselves had never encountered. The Dark Jedi resolved to subjugate the Sith and wrest their knowledge from them. Though the Sith struck back in an attempt to protect their dark side secrets, they were ultimately outmatched by the superior training and technology of the invaders. The Sith were enslaved by their dark Jedi overlords.

Over hundreds of generations, the two groups intermingled. The Dark Jedi found that Sith society and culture suited their philosophy well. Before long, the elite ruling class of Korriban consisted almost entirely of hybridized offspring of the Dark Jedi and the high priests of the Sith. This hybridization resulted in an ambitious, ruthless race with a natural strength in the Force.

Genetically speaking, the term “pureblood” is a misnomer, as all modern Sith are hybrids, a product of the unions between the ancient Dark Jedi and the original Sith race. However, the term is useful in distinguishing those who carry enough of the blood of the ancient race to still be evident in their features.

Twi’lek

Species
Twi’lek
Homeworld	Ryloth

Twi’leks are an omnivorous humanoid species originating from the planet Ryloth. Their distinctive features include colorful skin, which varies in pigment from individual to individual, and a pair of shapely prehensile tentacles that grew from the base of their skulls. The tentacles, called “brain-tails,” “lekku,” “tchun-tchin,” or “head-tails” are advanced organs used for communication and cognitive functions. Twi’lek females are often used as slaves or dancers because of their beauty.

Currently the playable classes for the Twi’lek are the Jedi Consular, Smuggler and Sith Inquisitor. The Companion Character Vette is of this species.

Zabrak

Species
Zabrak
Homeworld	Iridonia

Zabraks, also known as Iridonians, are a humanoid that live on the harsh planet Iridonia. They are a playable species for the Jedi Knight, the Jedi Consular, the Sith Inquisitor and the Trooper.

Posted in: game zone, hacking software