Lore Update: Dantooine

Although Dantooine has not been officially announced as a planet in Star Wars: The Old Republic, we repeatedly see it crop up in the marketing: namely within the Threat of Peace webcomic. With the recent influx of planet reveals, we thought it would be a good idea to reevaluate other locations we may see in future updates. Since BioWare is known to give hints to unreleased content, we feel it is in the community's best interest to take a closer look at one of the first known planets of the Star Wars universe.


History

Like the majority of planets, Dantooine was subject to Rakata rule in the long forgotten history of the galaxy. It wasn't until the Old Sith Wars that the Galactic Republic began the colonization and new history of the planet. Although there was no military presence, the Jedi Order protected the settlers and, around 3,997 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin), a Jedi training enclave was established by Master Vodo-Siosk Baas. Although Revan is the most famous one who fell to the Dark side, many Jedi who attended the enclave did the same.

Like many former Rakata planets, Dantooine contains several ancient structures. One housed the Star Map, which remained intact by the time of the Jedi Civil War. Revan used the Star Map to locate the great Rakatan artifact called the Star Forge, which allowed him to wage war against the Galactic Republic.



In 3,956 BBY, Revan returned to the enclave to undergo training in an attempt to redeem himself. Soon after Revan completed his training and left the planet, Darth Malak arrived to bombard the enclave and the Rakata ruins. This attack caused the settler farming community to decay; a contributing factor to this decline was the Republic's inability to provide assistance to the remote Dantooine. Until the collapse of the Sith Empire, Dantooine was occupied by the Sith, who executed almost all local leaders.

From 3,956 to 3,951 BBY, settlers began to rebuild their community by constructing the outpost of Khoonda. However, the planet was largely infested by mercenaries and salvagers who terrorized the settlers, while at the same time attempted to pillage the remaining Jedi relics.

In 3,951 BBY, the Republic nearly lost Dantooine to the Exchange, who tried to use Dantooine as an outpost. The Exchange attempted to force the settlers off-world, resulting in several skirmishes that eventually led to the Battle of Dantooine. It wasn't until the Jedi arrived and forced the Exchange off the planet that the Republic finally decided to defend Dantooine.

Shortly after, the Jedi enclave was rebuilt and even housed the Jedi Council until Darth Traya killed the council members. Interestingly enough, underneath the deserted Enclave was a hidden facility where Jedi ran cloning experiments.



According to the Threat of Peace comics, both the Sith and the Republic have military bases on Dantooine.This was the reason for the confrontation between Dar'nala, Satele, and the Sith lords Angral and Baras, as the republic commander on Dantooine refused to retreat. The comic ended with the Republic commander agreeing to leave, leaving the status of Dantooine unknown at the current time.

Speculation

Since Dantooine previously housed the Jedi enclave and the ruins are mainly still intact, it wouldn't be a stretch to assume that someone could still use the cloning facilities to run experiments. If true, then they could be added to bacta (or kolto) as a lore based justification for how players will be able to return to life after they are defeated in-game. This could be applied to the entire galaxy as it also wouldn't be unlikely that the Sith stole the available research information and copied or perhaps altered what was learned.

The intact Jedi enclave could also be refurbished and returned to use as a Jedi outpost or training ground. Or possibly the Sith took over to use the ruins as an outpost or training ground, as the dark side has caused numerous deaths to those who once inhabited these grounds.



Dantooine always seems to be a site of conflict between those in power and those trying to settle. As such, it would be safe to assume that the remaining settlers were left to their own devices after the Republic withdrew from non-essential worlds. Perhaps the settlers put together a militia in an attempt to protect themselves from the Sith, who may now control the world.

Nothing is completely set in stone when it comes to Dantooine and BioWare is known to surprise everyone with their attention to detail and story. If Dantooine is included as a playable planet for Star Wars: The Old Republic, it will definitely not be one that is easily forgotten. After all, those who played Knights of the Old Republic 1 and/or 2 already spent time on the planet, and their experiences and feelings will only help to shape the story that we all are apart of.

Sources
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Dantooine
http://www.swtor.com/media/webcomic/act3?comicpage=1

Comments

  • Seyenne93's avatar
    Jawa Trader
    • Posts: 84
    #38 Seyenne93 Posted 12/19/2010 5:10:34 PM
    It would be really nice to see Dantooine again if BioWare would make it a playable world in The Old republic. It was one of the few planets I liked in KOTOR.

    Imperial Agent: Check, Trooper: Check, Bounty Hunter: Check, Smuggler: Check!!

    Who needs force powers when you got a Blaster at your side. Cool

  • Roshido's avatar
    Nerf Herder
    • Posts: 10
    #37 Roshido Posted 5/16/2010 1:51:37 PM
    Great work on this Zenkei.
  • SithPippin's avatar
    Nerf Herder
    • Posts: 20
    #35 SithPippin Posted 4/27/2010 5:14:27 PM
    Please for the love of George Lucus, please, please, PLEASE bring back cloning stations from SWG. Corpse runs in WOW are just stupid and a waste of time.
  • permacrete's avatar
    Spice Runner
    • Posts: 118
    #30 permacrete Posted 4/22/2010 12:32:57 AM
    Where does this "cloning facility" come from? I've never heard of it.
  • GreenT's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #27 GreenT Posted 4/21/2010 7:30:30 PM
    Dantooine is too remote to make an effective SWTOR location. But don't worry they will present some new and exciting planets soon enough.

    :)
  • darthuser593's avatar
    Spice Runner
    • Posts: 169
    #28 darthuser593 Posted 4/21/2010 7:45:21 PM
    haha, nice.
  • darthuser593's avatar
    Spice Runner
    • Posts: 169
    #26 darthuser593 Posted 4/21/2010 5:33:37 PM
    Although BioWare has been dropping hints of possible planets through information it releases (like webcomic and such) there have been clearly other examples where BioWare has totally surprised us, rather than prepped us. For example, there was no real mention anywhere of Voss, Dromund Kaas, Belsavis, and Taris (you could even argue Tatooine almost too) and they came in as a total surprise. So who knows what they really have in store for us or if they are really dropping hints at all at times. I hope BioWare keeps surprising us so we have new lore and places to explore, but I am not going to lie I love reminiscing and feeling like I know my surroundings because I get that "wow, I am actually here now" feeling. Good job though DH putting this together
  • darthuser916's avatar
    Gamorrean Thug
    • Posts: 48
    #24 darthuser916 Posted 4/21/2010 1:45:39 PM
    Ahhhh.... the good ole days of grinding Bols in SWG on Dantooine.

    Lovely planet. Hope it's in.
  • SithPippin's avatar
    Nerf Herder
    • Posts: 20
    #36 SithPippin Posted 4/27/2010 5:17:18 PM
    Don't forget Quenker's. :) Or on Dath. LF Rancor group. Ah those were the days. I miss them.
  • mikeamendola's avatar
    Spice Runner
    • Posts: 103
    #18 mikeamendola Posted 4/21/2010 6:11:42 AM
    Honestly im kind of sick of Dantooine we played it in both Kotor games. Now I keep hearing about Yavin 4 and that looks like an interesting planet plus we have never seen it in any movies or games. Besides what it looks like from space.
  • r2d2arm's avatar
    Dark Lord
    • Posts: 440
    #19 r2d2arm Posted 4/21/2010 6:43:09 AM
    First, Yavin IV is a moon. Second, it was the location of the Rebel Alliance's base in A New Hope, aka the one that the first Death Star almost blew up. It has been realized in Star Wars Galaxies and in a smaller scale with other games like Jedi Academy.
  • Bzrk's avatar
    Jawa Trader
    • Posts: 80
    #21 Bzrk Posted 4/21/2010 7:48:38 AM
    So? A moon is a planet in my book. Secondly, the Massassi temple was built in 3,996 BBY, so it's totally plausible if Yavin IV is in.

    Other than that, I hope Dantooine is too. I always loved that planet one way or another. :)
  • r2d2arm's avatar
    Dark Lord
    • Posts: 440
    #22 r2d2arm Posted 4/21/2010 12:44:45 PM
    "Secondly, the Massassi temple was built in 3,996 BBY, so it's totally plausible if Yavin IV is in." Obivously, you missed my point there. Korrick claims it hasn't been in a movie.
  • mikeamendola's avatar
    Spice Runner
    • Posts: 103
    #29 mikeamendola Posted 4/21/2010 8:51:12 PM
    No I did not claim it was not in a movie i said besides what it looks like from space. Which I meant we have only seen what it looks like from space we have not been able to walk around on it.

    Its kind of obvious it was in the movie since everyone refers to the time BBY. Read the comments before you reply. The games I am referring to is the Kotor series because this game is based on them. Im not one of those people who read all the books and play every game ever made so forgive me.
  • r2d2arm's avatar
    Dark Lord
    • Posts: 440
    #31 r2d2arm Posted 4/22/2010 1:38:44 PM
    There are a few shots of the surface of Yavin IV in A New Hope(not just from space - http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/File:Y42.JPG and http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/File:The_Rebel_Base.jpg). The main characters have walked on the moon, but not out in the forest as seen on Endor's moon in Return of the Jedi. You may be confusing it with Yavin, which is a planet and the gas giant seen from space only. Gas giants aren't the kinds of planets you walk on :p
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