Of all the planets set to appear in Star Wars: The Old Republic, the moon of Nar Shaddaa is the easiest one to find an analogy for in the real world: Las Vegas. Nar Shaddaa is the over-the-top fictionalized Sin City of the Star Wars Universe. In this article, we will explore Nar Shaddaa, its history and its place in Star Wars: The Old Republic.
Nar Shaddaa, frequently called "Little Coruscant" or "The Smuggler's Moon", is an ecumenopolis, or a planet made up of one all-surface encompassing city. If Mos Eisley is a "wretched hive of scum and villainy" as Obi-Wan Kenobi stated in A New Hope, then Nar Shaddaa is the shining jewel of scum and villainy. Earning this description not only through its brilliant upper level adorned with "neon towers and floating pleasure palaces," but because of its absolute lawless nature.
In stark contrast to the upper levels, Nar Shaddaa's lower levels are even more seedy and miserable then those of Coruscant. This "Undercity" consists of run down, decaying, urban squalor long since forgotten and built over. Consequently, the remains of the Evocii race came to inhabit this area after the Hutts exiled them from their home world of Nal Hutta.
The Hutts developed the moon using the Evocii as slave labor. They started by building various ports and docking bays across the moon's surface. These access points quickly spawned cities that eventually covered the entire moon.
The moon's location by galactic trade route fueled its growth, eventually making Nar Shadaa comparable to Coruscant in importance to trade. However, around 4,000 BBY trade routes throughout the galaxy began to shift. This left Nar Shaddaa with little relevance to greater galactic trade interests. Criminal enterprises took over, turning the it into "The Smuggler's Moon."
The moon became the destination for bounty hunters, smugglers, spice dealers and other criminal enterprises. An examination of the large corporate presence demonstrates the extent of the lawlessness and criminal control. Corporations on Nar Shaddaa develop many of the most advanced technologies in the galaxy. The utter lack of regulation and law means corporations can perform testing and experimentation that would be outlawed anywhere else in the galaxy.
Nar Shaddaa enjoys a relative popularity in modern Star Wars video games that began with the Dark Forces series. "The Smuggler's Moon" went on to appear in the Jedi Knight series, The Force Unleashed series and the Knights of The Old Republic series. It is a good bet that Star Wars: The Old Republic will use the moon more than past games.
In The Old Republic, Nar Shaddaa is a neutral planet and will probably become familiar to players choosing Bounty Hunter or Smuggler as their class. In fact, it is easy to see why it may become a favorite to players of all classes. Nar Shaddaa's potential to become a popular social space, similar to its real world counterpart Las Vegas, is undeniable. Just remember, whether you're a regular to the floating pleasure palaces, or visiting for a quick smuggling mission, what happens in Nar Shaddaa...
Sources
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Nar_Shaddaa
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Nar_Shaddaa's_Undercity
http://www.swtor.com/info/holonet/planets/nar-shaddaa
http://www.starwars.com/databank/location/narshaddaa/index.html
http://www.giantbomb.com/nar-shaddaa/95-778/
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Posted 2/24/2011 4:52:48 PM- View User Profile
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Posted 2/24/2011 3:00:40 PMI know this has nothing to do with the topic but...Ive seen youve never closed "" in text. I.e.: "Little Coruscant or "The Smuggler's Moon. Also, some other ones are written.
Again, well done!
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Posted 2/24/2011 6:19:08 PM- View User Profile
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Posted 2/24/2011 6:40:20 AM- View User Profile
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Posted 2/24/2011 5:28:51 AM- View User Profile
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Posted 2/24/2011 4:57:33 AM- View User Profile
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Posted 2/27/2011 11:17:39 PM- View User Profile
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Posted 2/24/2011 5:45:39 PMForgive us, bright lights fascinate our human minds.:P
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Posted 2/24/2011 1:17:04 PM- View User Profile
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Posted 2/25/2011 12:33:05 AM- View User Profile
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Posted 2/24/2011 3:50:05 AM- View User Profile
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Posted 2/23/2011 7:50:34 PMSince it is listed as a neutral planet, I can easily agree with Thergood that it has the potential to be THE social hub for both sides.
One area where I hope to see some integration of the factions is in the gambling.
I'm pretty sure gambling, on the capital world cantinas, will be faction specific. Maybe you gamble against NPCs or other Republic/Empire players, depending on your respective faction. Nar Shaddaa, on the other hand, could be the place to go in order to gamble with opposing faction players. I'm hoping that maybe we'll even be able to duel in, and gamble upon, fights with opposing faction players there if BioWare adds PvP blood sports into the game.
There is so much potential for this place. I can't wait to see it in its finished state.
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Posted 2/23/2011 11:57:18 PMAs far as the social hub stuff goes i still think Coruscant will be the main one. I don't see why they wouldn't put casinos and other social bits in there for cross-faction fun times.
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Posted 2/23/2011 10:58:15 PM- View User Profile
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Posted 2/24/2011 4:30:01 AM