Lore Update: Geonosis

While not officially announced as a playable planet in Star Wars: The Old Republic, Geonosis sits with Dantooine and Yavin IV on the list of possible additions. A promising candidate, Geonosis is mentioned in multiple forms of marketing: including the Timeline, Biography section, and even the Threat of Peace. Geonosis is an iconic location with an important role in the films and continued development in books. A closer look at Geonosis reveals some interesting possibilities.


History

At one point in time, Geonosis housed a plethora of native species. However, Geonosis's largest moon was struck by a comet, causing massive amounts of debris to rain down on the planet culminating in the killing 99% of all indigenous life. This event also created a ring of debris that continuously bombarded the planet's surface over millions of years, destroying much of the remaining life. Geonosis became an inhospitable, desolate world with life being forced underground due to extreme environmental conditions, including flash floods and solar radiation storms. Eventually, only the truly cunning, resilient, and merciless species were left alive; Geonosians being chief among them.



Once the Geonosians were able to contact other species, the Baktoid Armor Workshop constructed several droid and weapon foundries on the planet. In addition to this industrial infrastructure, Geonosis was known for the gladiatorial games held in the planet's many arenas. The combatants included Mandalorians, one of which rose to fame with the help of Imperial Intelligence. As a result of these Geonosian games, the champion declared himself the new Mandalore and allied the Mandalorians with the Sith Empire, striking a vicious blow against the Galactic Republic.



Mandalore the Lesser, as he is known today, blockaded the Hydian Way until forced to retreat by Hylo Visz and accompanying Republic forces. As a result, Mandalore the Lesser called the Great Hunt, only to have the winner challenge him to a duel, kill him, and claim the title of the new Mandalore. Using Geonosis as his base of operations, the new Mandalore consolidated power and thwarted an uprising by those who opposed him by supporting the Republic. Mandalore's status is described as secure in his place with the Mandalorians as they remain "cautious, well-paid allies of the Sith Empire."

Speculation

With the new Mandalore's base of operations on Geonosis, combined with the knowledge that he is looking for a new champion, we speculate that Geonosis may supply players with the opportunity to compete for such a place of honor. This feat could be accomplished through use of the arena system to battle other players and NPCs and/or the performing of various missions and quests.



The Mandalorians are currently working with the Sith Empire, however, we feel it would be wrong to assume that Republic players will be left out. Players from either faction may be able to support their respective causes, be it the continued servitude of the Mandalorians to the Empire or possibly working towards turning them to fight the powerful Sith. Warriors love battle, and manipulating these great Mandalorian combatants may be the story focus we see on Genosis.

In Act 2 of the Threat of Peace comic, a Sith guard says, "Fresh merchandise for the Geonosis slave market. Let's pick it up." This statement, while vague, can lead to the conclusion that the slave market on Geonosis is quite lucrative for those willing to venture into such trade. Slaves might be forced to fight in arena matches and perhaps even the Mandolorians use them to some extent. While this might be a simple fact on Geonosis with little player interaction, it is sure to be one of the main story elements of the planet.



The fact that Baktoid Armor Workshop constructed several droid and weapon foundries on the planet is also interesting to note; any area of war production would be important to the Sith and the Republic. Similar to our speculation on the industrialized Belsavis, players may be able to fight over these factories in PvP or PvE format; possibly even granting bonuses or access to the faction that is currently in control. Rewards centered around this technological war-machine could include weapons, armor, or even a droid companion or two.

Geonosis is certainly an interesting planet with a long history of fighting and destruction. By including Geonosis in Star Wars: The Old Republic as a playable planet, BioWare and LucasArts could offer the opportunity for players to carve out their own place on it's the blood soak arenas and barren landscape. Many have clamored for Geonosis to be included and only time will tell if it will and how its story might shape our future adventures.

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Sources
SW:TOR Timeline - The Empire Changes Strategy
SW:TOR Biographies - Mandalore
Wookieepedia

Comments

  • Immortal_Joker's avatar
    Nerf Herder
    • Posts: 1
    #19 Immortal_Joker Posted 8/18/2010 3:40:28 PM
    Ahh Geonosis the planet that sparked the Clone Wars. Cannot wait to visit this planet if it gets announced.
  • Siros's avatar
    Dark Councilor
    • Posts: 838
    #18 Siros Posted 8/5/2010 9:42:07 AM
    I'd love to have it in the game... imagine battleing in front of thousand Geonosians..., doesn't need to be PvP, can be PvE though or several categories.
  • Korithian's avatar
    Gamorrean Thug
    • Posts: 37
    #13 Korithian Posted 5/11/2010 5:27:59 PM
    Amazing work.

    But I really hope it doesn't get put in. The Old Republic runs the risk of looking like BW or EA wanted to make SWGs2 and couldn't get the licence. So they opted for the old republic and then we find instead of a game set in the old republic we end up with a game that wants to be set in the clone wars but isn't exactly there. So Star Wars fans are constantly reminded of the films only to find the game keeps pulling up short. ToR needs its only feel and to run with that rather than being something its not.
  • Macabrie's avatar
    Jawa Trader
    • Posts: 69
    #14 Macabrie Posted 5/11/2010 5:51:03 PM
    I can see where you are coming from with this statement. However, I do not think that BioWare is running the risk of creating SWG2. Enough information has been released to cement a broad line of seperation between TOR and SWG. Planets such as this, speculated to be used as an arena for the Champion of Mandalore quest line and home-base to Mandalore, coincide with the storyline and time period.

    If there are side quests that involve Geonosian driod factories, there would be more credit to your concern. But as this speculation stands, it sounds like activity on this planet is going to be centered around gladiator-style PvP fighting.
  • GoHann's avatar
    Dark Lord
    • Posts: 295
    #16 GoHann Posted 5/12/2010 2:24:17 AM
    And regardless of the concern, all thought personal fears etc are valid. I think enough lore can be brought about to avoid the feeling of the CW time etc.

    I don't really see a problem with the planet being involved. BioWare has shown enough in the past to set my fears to rest.
  • Neko399's avatar
    Dark Councilor
    • Posts: 705
    #11 Neko399 Posted 5/11/2010 3:34:11 PM
    Never been a fan of Geonosis, nor the Geonosians. Tantooine is my 'desert' planet preference.
  • Sin's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #15 Sin Posted 5/11/2010 7:09:23 PM
    Ya I am with you there. But there always has to be 2 desert type area's in MMO's

    LOL

    Sinphonic -GM- Infensus Obscurum
  • r2d2arm's avatar
    Dark Lord
    • Posts: 440
    #8 r2d2arm Posted 5/11/2010 5:45:41 AM
    If Geonosis is in, then I also would expect arena battles. Bioware has already done arena-type duels in KOTOR I, so extending that over to TOR would make sense.

    Good article. I don't know when we'll find out the last few planets. Bioware has changed up their content update schedule due to E3.
  • JediCosmin's avatar
    Dark Lord
    • Posts: 287
    #9 JediCosmin Posted 5/11/2010 1:50:47 PM
    I agree. Geonosis practically screams arena. Both in Ep.2 and in the Timeline.
    I just hope we aren't forced to fight for some smiling Hutt:P
  • Altyrell's avatar
    Jawa Trader
    • Posts: 86
    #6 Altyrell Posted 5/11/2010 5:08:11 AM
    I think that it would be interesting to see Geonosis as it was during TOR Era versus how it was shown both in the Movies/Cartoon and how it was shown in the Republic Commando Game and a few other games
  • Drenarb's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #5 Drenarb Posted 5/11/2010 4:54:46 AM
    Not to mention the Mandalore's base of operations in on Geonosis.

    Very nice write up, though. Good speculation there. I hadn't thought of the arena style PvP battles and how that could play into the whole "galaxy/world" story going on outside your personal story.

    It'd be neat to interview the voice actors for TOR to get some ideas of what their scripts covered. You could piece a lot of the game together just from the scripts alone. :P
  • r2d2arm's avatar
    Dark Lord
    • Posts: 440
    #7 r2d2arm Posted 5/11/2010 5:41:10 AM
    They probably have an agreement that does not allow them to divulge that type of info. Could possibly get a few more character names from those types of interviews!
  • Drenarb's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #10 Drenarb Posted 5/11/2010 2:01:47 PM
    Yeah, I'm fairly certain they signed an NDA of their own. Just saying it would be cool to hear from them what it was like working on certain characters. :)
  • Macabrie's avatar
    Jawa Trader
    • Posts: 69
    #4 Macabrie Posted 5/11/2010 4:49:59 AM
    The speculation surrounding the arena rewards sound a mix between Wintergrasp and Arena gear from World of Warcraft. Although the possibility of winning various droids sounds like it could be either vanity items (akin to pets) or companion characters.

    Nice speculation guys.
  • theforceiswtihu's avatar
    Nerf Herder
    • Posts: 1
    #3 theforceiswtihu Posted 5/11/2010 4:46:07 AM
    I like the whole concept of arena and pvp that could be present within Geonosis. It reminds me of the titles in WOW for the top % of arena players who were called gladiators and such. It would be interesting to have a similar system but instead be called "Mandalore" for achieving a high arena/pvp rank... hmmm... bioware could sure do a lot with this ;)
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