Star Wars: The Old Republic Random Question/Discussion thread - F2P

[Anoat]

Developer stream on the storyline if you want to watch it: http://www.twitch.tv/swtor/v/38252097
And the recap if you just want the notes: http://dulfy.net/2016/01/28/swtor-ja...estream-notes/

Spoiler: show

KoTFE Recap

Storytelling in games has the unique of challenging of having players able to see and know the villain without placing players in the same room as them as they would be dispatched quickly by the player.You need to get the villains upclose to the players to be a significant presence in their life. It would be hard to imagine Star Wars Ep4 told from only Luke’s perspective. Vader would just be a random Tie Fighter pilot.
Vaylin is an unpredictable villain. She is difficult to pin down, you never know what she is going to do next. You got lots of serious figures like Arcann being very stoic. So seeing her and Arcann act entirely different despite being raised by the same family that is really interesting to explore. Family in general is a cool theme in Star Wars in general. KoTFE give us an opportunity to explore that we havn’t been able to in the core game. Their family is not united by any means, but they do have a shared foundational beliefs and goals, even though each of them have a different way of pursuing them. This is in contrast to the Luke/Vader family who are polar opposites.
Both Vaylin and Arcann almost don’t you see you as a player, they see Valkorian in you. It presents an interesting dynamic in the hero-villain relationship. This brings up an interesting potential drama as the player begin to show them that the player has something to bring to the table as well. We will explore this more in the later chapters.
Koth is a fun character to write. He is a normal person in an universe of space wizards with laser swords. He is a veteran, fighter, and pilot but he is never going to be this force user, general commanding a grand fleet or an emperor. He is just a normal guy trying to mix in.
Theron was originally a character created by Alexander in Old Republic The Lost Suns comic. He was taught and raised by a Jedi but has no Jedi powers himself. This left him with some personal issues. He eventually joined Republic and became a SiS spy. Drew then picked up the story and presented it in the Annihilation book. He still incorporate some Jedi things into his life even as a galactic superspy.
Scorpio – You feel she can kill you in your sleep anytime but she never really tip that way. She is is a centuries old A.I. She starts off as a villain in the agent story and then works along with the player. She is not a droid or mad computer that isn’t interested in organics. She finds organic life form interesting like scientists finds lab rats interesting. She is interested in interacting with players in a charismatic way, making her seems almost human. We have some cool plans for her going forward.

Chapter 10

Kaliyo is a violent con-artist. She is your most exciting friend you ever had. She is a manipulative people user. In terms of loyalty she is incredibly independent and she also have a background as an anarchist. This provide an interesting contrast to the the imperial agent who start off as a very loyal subject.
A lot of players have a love-hate relation with Kaliyo. A lot of players would go I would never romance this woman but she provides a strong emotion and make her stand out.
In KoTFE we see Kaliyo in a darker, lower place than in the agent story. That changed her way of looking at the world and give her some personal goals. She is also now armed with techniques learned from spending with the galaxy’s greatest spy.
Having lost everything, she is quite vengeful and playing the role of an anarchist in Zakuul. This provide an interesting play with the player, who also lost everything. This can provide a feedback loop between the player and Kaliyo.
In Chapter 10, she is introduced to us as a terrorist on Zakuul who has been doing it for a long time. That in a tightly controlled utopian society like Zakuul is quite a feat and can bring something to the roster.
She brings an dilemma for light side characters like Jedi Knight on how to deal with her. Imperial agents have a different dilemma with her. At the same time Kaliyo is trying to feel you out as she isn’t the type of character to join the first alliance that comes along.

Q&A

Will we see more of Empire and Republic in the current state as chapters release in the future?
We will see more as the chapters release. Chapter 11 will give a peak at some of the Republic stuff. It is not the central storyline as we go through these chapters. The player alliance havn’t come to the full attention of the Empire/Republic in major way. They are still very much weighing their options and hanging back. They are not ready to commit yet. They won’t be interacting deeply with the player just yet but we have big planned that is going to be a major part of the story as we move forward.
Will Theron Shan play a key role?
Yes he will be an introducer for chapter 10 and later chapters. He is a busy man, he won’t be there for every event.
Mandalorians, will we see more of them?
Yes we have a future chapter planned where you can see what they are up to. Alexander wrote the Mandalorian chapter.
Will there be any conflict with previous romance love and new one?
For example if I am an agent and I have been romancing Theron Shan in KoTFE. Now I meet back with Kaliyo who I had a romance relationship pre-carbonite. Can I resume that relationship as we jump to Chapter X?
Really depends on the particulars of the character and where they stand. Kaliyo’s relationship with you has a substantial impact on your relationship with her. You are welcome to try and rekindle that. Whether she is in a place where she is interested to rekindle that is something you have to play and find out.
Will other characters know that I am resuming a relationship if I am able to do so with Kaliyo
Yes, it is a big alliance but people are still going to know if you are doing two romances at once. Other characters will notice if you resume your romantic relations with partners pre-carbonite and they may not react well.
Will Chapter 10 uses the classic cutscene style seen with Alliance Specialists.
No, our Chapters will always use the new cinematic storytelling cutscene style. There will be new classic story content and our alliance characters will still use that classic style when we reintroduce them. The character we are bringing back in Chapter 10 is Blizz.
How long is it going to take to get our original companions back?
It is tough to say. We want to be sure when we bring a character back, they get given their due. You get the kinds of interactions and the kind of continuation of relationship you would expect from a major character like Kira or Jorgan. You want to continue certain storyline or reference past actions with those characters . It is a big investment to bring one of them back. Another key factor of If we are bringing a character back is that we need to make sure they are tied deeply to what is happening so when you meet them you see why they are important or cool. We are not throwing a character back in for the sake of doing it. We want to be sure that it is very much tied to the storyline and feels appropriate.
When you meet them again, you want to learn something new about them. Bringing back a character after 5 years and revealing nothing new about the character is not satisfying.
The short answer is it will take time, but if when we do bring them back, you feel it is worth it.
Scorpio Romance?
It is really a question if Scorpio would romance you. Going back to the lab scientist and lab rat picture, it is kinda tricky. Scorpio did flirt with players before, but that was more an act of manipulation.

Also...YMMV but Gamestop is selling 60 day game cards for $7.97. Not available online, and there were none available in any stores near me.
http://www.gamestop.com/pc/dlc/star-...d-60-day/98601

[6souls]

Also...YMMV but Gamestop is selling 60 day game cards for $7.97. Not available online, and there were none available in any stores near me.
http://www.gamestop.com/pc/dlc/star-...d-60-day/98601

I'd be curious to see where they are available. Certainly not within 100 miles of me.

[Purrrfect]

Says there is low stock of them 60 miles from me or 75 miles in the opposite direction, in Virginia.

[Anoat]

Chapter X of KOTFE is available now if you were a sub on February 1st. Subs who weren't a sub on 2/1 have to wait two more days. I would give you a review but the servers are borked at the moment and I can't download latest update.

[6souls]

Slow patch is slow.

[6souls]

That was it for story? Cleared it in just over an hour.

[Rulke]

^I thought it was well established each chapter was about an hours worth of work. Hence why many people will just sub at the end to pick them all up.

In semi related news, I introduced my 12 yr old nephew to this game. Playing this along side him is going to be crazy. This is his first MMO and watching his reaction to everything is going to be a trip

[6souls]

I was expecting something more for a 3 month wait.

[Anoat]

I was expecting something more for a 3 month wait.

You get a jet pack mount, what else could a person possibly want?

[Rulke]

I was expecting something more for a 3 month wait.

I'm not a BW/EA hater or anything, but I am definitely on the ship that says this new expansion is pretty much as little effort as possible going forward. You're setting your hopes to be dashed against the rocks if you put much more than mediocre expectations into anything from the game these days.

[6souls]

Well I guess when this was first announced it was supposed to be a new chapter each month. Now it's looking like a WotG release schedule.

[Anoat]

Chapter 11: Disavowed drops on March 10th

http://www.swtor.com/info/news/press-release/20160218

BioWare™ and Lucasfilm today announced the release date of the next chapter in the episodic expansion story, Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ – Knights of the Fallen Empire. Disavowed follows the Outlander’s story beyond Anarchy in Paradise and re-introduces a familiar face, Major Jorgan, the commander of the elite soldiers of Havoc Squad. Starting March 10, Jorgan joins the Alliance and battles alongside the Outlander in a deadly mission deep behind enemy lines. It’s up to the Outlander to determine how far Jorgan and his soldiers are allowed to go in the war against the Eternal Empire.

Subscribers of Star Wars: The Old Republic can join and play at the center of their own Knights of the Fallen Empire story for free* during their subscription period. Players who subscribe by March 1, 2016 will receive 2-Day Early Access to Disavowed and the HK-55-inspired in-game Helmet which gives players a legendary likeness to the iconic Assassin Droid**.

New players can jump right into the Knights of the Fallen Empire story as the Outlander, creating a new Level 60 character. Joining at Level 60 offers an accessible story-driven starting point where players can begin building their Alliance in the action-filled Star Wars™ epic.

During its first 2 months, fans of the Knights of the Fallen Empire expansion logged more than 900 million minutes fighting the Eternal Empire and made more than 27 million player-driven Light and Dark side choices that shaped their story. The rich storyline will continue to expand this year with the introduction of intriguing new characters and difficult choices as players lead the fight to save the galaxy.

[Rulke]

Lemmi know when my girl Jaesa is back, then I will think about re-subbing.

[Anoat]

Technically you can have her back now if you wanted, there just won't be any story associated with it. Use the companion console inside the commander's quarters in the base to retrieve her.

[Rulke]

^Yeah, I know. Tbh that work around is one of the most blatant "lets just shut the player base up" I've seen. No need to have a companion debate/discussion here so I'll leave it at that.

[6souls]

The discount for multiple item packs in the cartel market has been lowered from 15% to 5% making the monthly allowance worth even less.

[Anoat]

http://www.swtor.com/info/news/press-release/20160317

BioWare™ and Lucasfilm today announced details of the next chapter in the episodic adventure, Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ - Knights of the Fallen Empire.

In Visions in the Dark, releasing April 7, players will venture deep into the savage wilderness of the planet Odessen to face the immortal Emperor Valkorion for the first time since becoming the Outlander. As part of the confrontation, you will uncover dangerous secrets about your destiny that bind you to your dark enemy. For those that can master the challenge, there is a great reward waiting – a powerful new weapon inspired by some of the greatest Force™ users in the galaxy. Meanwhile, your Alliance will risk everything in a life-and-death mission to strike at the very heart of the Eternal Empire – this intense battle offers the chance to shatter Arcann’s forces forever.

Subscribers of Star Wars: The Old Republic can play the Knights of the Fallen Empire story and unravel the truth of their destiny in Visions in the Dark for free* during their subscription period. Players subscribed by April 1 will receive added firepower with the bold new HK-55-inspired Weapon Set that includes in-game items such as HK-55’s Sniper Rifle, Blaster Pistol and Vibrosword.**

It’s a great time to jump into Star Wars: The Old Republic to experience the entire Knights of the Fallen Empire story from the beginning of Chapter 1 and continue your saga as new chapters release monthly. As the Outlander in Knights of the Fallen Empire, players are able to start a new Level 60 character to get right into the game and begin building their Alliance.

To learn more, visit www.StarWarsTheOldRepublic.com/Fallen-Empire.

[Zetanio]

Played through the latest chapter in what felt like an hour or less. Pretty brainless. Got a mount for doing the HK-55 quest.

[Anoat]

Chapter 13: Profit & Plunder drops on May 5th

http://www.swtor.com/info/news/press-release/20160414

BioWare™ and Lucasfilm today announced the next chapter in the episodic storyline of Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ - Knights of the Fallen Empire. The Profit and Plunder chapter will be available on May 5 along with a new multi-level Eternal Championship challenge that requires increasingly more courage and skill as you progress.

The newest chapter in Knights of the Fallen Empire gives the Outlander an opportunity to turn the tides against the Eternal Empire in a clandestine heist to plunder Arcann’s secret treasury. In a high-risk mission to recover the Eternal Empire’s vast riches, players will partner with the galaxy’s most infamous thieves: the suave Bounty Hunter, Gault Rennow, and the female Twi’lek pirate, Vette. Prepare to risk everything as you embark on a covert mission against all odds to take back the Empire’s stolen wealth!

Players of Star Wars: The Old Republic can join and play Knights of the Fallen Empire beginning with Chapter 1 through the current chapter, Visions in the Dark, for free* as a Subscriber. Plus, as part of the Subscriber Rewards Program, players subscribed by May 1 will also receive a special HK-55-themed Ship Droid Companion customization reward.**

In the new Eternal Championship challenge, players brave enough to enter will face the most notorious and skilled warriors Zakuul has to offer with the chance to earn exciting rewards. Those who conquer all ten bosses gain the ultimate opportunity to convince the Wookiee gladiator and fan-favorite Companion, Bowdaar, to join their Alliance.

Also launching Eternal Championship, a solo PVE style battle arena http://www.swtor.com/info/news/blog/20160414

Welcome to the Eternal Championship, a new daily experience that will pit players against some of the galaxy’s most notorious fighters. Below Zakuul’s sparkling exterior lies The Arena Grand, a decadent venue where citizens of the old world indulge their basest desires as spectators of brutal gladiatorial events. One such event is Mayhem, where beginning with Game Update 4.4 “Profit and Plunder” players may compete to earn the title of Eternal Champion.

The Eternal Championship is a solo-able PvE experience that will be available to all players who have played up through Chapter IX “The Alliance” of Knights of the Fallen Empire. By traveling to the Platform 6 Cantina on Zakuul and speaking with fight master Dominaire, players may enter Mayhem at the Arena Grand. There they will fight through multiple rounds of increasingly difficult enemies, accumulating rewards with each completed round. Only those who are skilled and diligent enough will work their way towards the final round in hopes of unseating the Eternal Champion.

Each round of Mayhem will pit the player against a new boss NPC, each more challenging than the last. These fights are only designed for a single player and their companion of choice, but as the difficulty increases, perseverance will be required to attain the Championship. Upon defeating a boss and completing the round, players will be offered the chance to continue to the next round or exit the competition and claim their rewards. If defeated themselves, players may attempt the round again, but rewards are only handed out once the player decides to leave the competition or if they are victorious all the way through to the final round. Rewards for each round accumulate, so winning round 3 will get you the rewards for rounds 1 and 2 as well.

In addition to the mission to compete in the Eternal Championship, there will also be a collection of Weekly Missions specifically targeting the defeat of some of Mayhem’s most challenging round bosses. These Weekly Missions will offer tokens that can be turned in to new vendors located in the Platform 6 Cantina on Zakuul for new gear and other exciting rewards. Finally, we’ve added a collection of Achievements targeting The Eternal Championship, providing new challenges and new rewards as well.

So tune up those blasters and lightsabers and make sure your armor is in good repair, the crowd grows restless and the Eternal Championship is upon us!

[Rulke]

Ehhh, I did like Vette. Didn't romance her but she wasn't as annoying to me as many people feel her to be. I'm still plugging through the 1-50 content with my nephew. We'll probably sub a month after this is all out so he can have all the expansions to do.