PAX Prime: Day 3 Developer Presentation Live Blogs

PAX Prime: Day 3 Developer Presentation Live Blogs

The final day of PAX Prime is here. We'll have a liveblog of the 11a Q&A, and complete coverage of the 2p panel, Star Wars: The Old Republic: The Force is Strong with This One. We were informed that there wasn't a Q&A scheduled for 5p, and that was a misunderstanding we apologize for.

Just a note about live blog accuracy: sometimes initial reports are paraphrased and not exact quotes. Some items are reported incorrectly occasionally. Don't panic until after we get the audio or video, review and transcribe the session, then update the live blog with full quotes.

If for some reason you can't access the liveblog, be sure to follow @realdarthhater on Twitter for up to the minute updates.

Some highlights from the panel: Beta testing weekends begin September 2, work has begun on post-launch content, and Ilum is an open world PvP planet.

We have some paraphrased excerpts from the panel past the jump.


  • We have already begun exploring the next content that's coming after. Obviously it's going to take a while, but what we're promising you guys is if you're coming here, and you've admitted to us, we are truly the dream we've always, to be an eternal BioWare MMORPG, to do those stories, to have the content to take those characters and give them, forever, and we're here to tell that's exactly what we've done.

  • We announced that we are expanding game testing weekends in September, and what do you know that's right around the corner. As of next weekend, the first weekend of September, we are greatly expanding the testing program and we're bringing in a whole new group of invitations to a random server, so make sure you guys are signed up for testing, and we'll continue to expand that as we go through-out September. So we're going to turn some knobs, poke some switches as we learn some stuff, and then do it all over again, and we'll continue to build and build testers and actually have you guys tell us how to create the biggest launch that we can. What I can say is that if you are signed up for testing, even if you don't get in next weekend, you should be getting in very soon.

  • All of you know that you can pre-order the game now, I just want to talk about real quick, if you've heard about the idea of limited pre-orders, that is true, I just want to make sure you understand, the reason behind that is because we want to make sure our on-going experience in the first few days goes well, so the reason we restrain the number of pre-orders is literally so that we can have the best launch we possibly can. Arguably, possibly, we'll have the biggest MMO launch ever so we realize that and if you haven't pre-ordered yet, please pre-order now.

  • We've talked about how we'll have open world PvP, we're going to have obviously PvP servers, various planets where you'll be able to fight each other, and on top of all that, open world PvP objectives. And, the first one we're talking about today is, welcome to the planet of Ilum. Ilum is a high-level planet. It is where, some of you might be familiar, the crystals that make lightsabers are, a valuable resource for the Empire and Republic and they have a vested interest in the planet, and so we have territory control going on. Now, so we have two different bases, each of these bases have various PvP defenses... armaments, you can take them and take down PvP defenses like turrets... and ultimately destroy the enemy's base.

  • Now, philosophically, when you've got open world PvP and you've got an objective, and you've got 200 people going up against 100 people, who's going to win? Two hundred right? So we've been really careful designing open world PvP objectives to support the guerilla style, run-and-gun style fight, and so you saw some clips there of getting a bazooka and taking out turrets, defense mechanisms. Once you do enough of that, the airship can take out the base, so we're testing, we're iterating on it, these are some of the different things, of course there's screenshots of some of the other stuff we've got going on in there, but what's really important is that we make sure this is fun and enjoyable for everyone so we're taking this seriously, and the player, the side that gets control and takes out the base, obviously they're going to get valor and bonus rewards and they'll get lots of that kind of stuff. So territorial control, battle of Ilum is the first one we're showing, and we're working on future ones and more. Now, like I was saying, open world PvP, PvP servers, various different hotspots, Hoth, Tatooine, etc. Players can go fight, they can earn rewards in all those different areas, all different planets, 11 different planets, 11 different areas, earn Mercenary commendation, Warzone commendations. Together they get you the PvP gear. Now of course Warzones for Warzones and Mercenary for open world stuff, if you're a fan of one more than the other, you can exchange them to get those gears.
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Comments

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  • #105 Lyianx
    If the only thing PvP rewarded commendations are for, is PvP gear (copied from WoW) What good are they, or what is the motivation for people to keep playing in PvP areas once they have every peice of gear the commendations can buy? Why follow the lame WoW system instead of going with something more cumulative like a PvP skill set that is earned more slowly over time (similar to Darkage of Camelot's Realm skill system)?

    Personally, id prefer to get ability's or something over a longer period of time that STAYS with my character, rather than something that is made obsolete by the next big patch, forcing me to re do everything in a lame PvE manor.
  • #108 Lord_Paladin
    You can. Commendations are for buying PvP gear. But you also get Valor from PvP. Valor Ranks are like your PvP level, and Valor is your PvP experience. The people who designed this PvP system are the ones who made Dark Age of Camelot
  • #103 Mrkizzy
    My beef with was with the Q&A from Day 2. Where they said "Loot Bags" for Reg modes and possibly a different system for Hard Modes. I have no problem with a Hard Mode giving better loot (As was stated). Its (HARD) and you should be rewarded. But what is with this reasoning that we need some (DKP, EPDKP, or Loot Council)? I dealt with all the systems in WOW. I have no problem with if you want that system. I dont like it. I would say allow the option for those who want that system. If you want a GM or Officers saying you what you can and cant have (For a game your paying for) be my guest. But at least leave an option for Pugs or other players who want to keep "Loot Bags" in (Hard Modes). My personal view is being elite has nothing to do with loot distribution. I dont feel like my guilds ability to take down and instance boss reflects less coridination or skill based how we function with Loot Distro. I am not slamming the Guilds who want to (Master Loot, GDKP etc.....) but dont penalize me for not agreeing with that system.
  • #106 Jaramukhti
    I agree.

    I hope, in the end, loot bags stay an option for those who want to use them for loot distribution. I realize some guilds love having DKP and other loot distribution systems, if only to have a greater control of how loot is handed out. Loot bags eliminate a great deal of the negative aspect of loot distribution.

    Having said that, since I have no idea what the system they are testing entails, it would be premature to denounce the thing. It might even be something, philosophically, right along the same lines as loot bags, but tweaked to allow for the raid to decide for themselves if they want a more in-house loot system. Until we get some clarification on this new system, all we can do is guess.
  • #109 Chronx6
    Yea. Guilds (and groups) should be offered all of the loot options. Perhaps even with a short vote at starting the op. Options are good it makes people feel like they are in control and can get the experience they want.

    But we need more details before being 100% on anything.
  • #99 abner_ford
    http://www.askajedi.com/2011/08/28/pax-2011-open-world-pvp-announced/

    Ask a Jedi posted a video from the panel, complete with some off-screen cam footage of Ilum in action.
  • #102 AgentOP
    What a beautiful planet!!
  • #100 Convertible
    I think DH is still partying hard with the BioWare guys. :D
  • #104 Misenus
    :)
  • #101 abner_ford
    It's 6:30 am over there! They're entitled to sleep in a little hah.
  • #98 FaerieFyre
    Here's a good question for the BioWare peeps:

    Okay, the SGRAs. It's a poll/big-ticket-thread since the inception of "SWTOR.com" started having forums. I don't care the reasoning for not including them in the game. Be it business decision (time, VO, animation, etc.) or be it just a design flaw (not likely), I couldn't care less. Corey Butler should NOT have been the one answering the question whether they're in or not. There has been backlash about how poorly he handled the situation and his crass disregard for the LGBT fans of this game.

    Why hasn't someone made a public statement about this? Why is it being swept under the rug on the forums?

    My suggestion: Let James or Daniel handle this one. They're much more sensitive to the fans than Corey Butler seems to be. Mr. Butler, you get an @$$ hat!
  • #89 Frostbites
    So you can have pvp q system but not a pve q system that doesnt require to give or take an interview? Kinda dumb imo.
    I most certainly hope the pvp planets have some sort of incentive or else its gonna get old if sever balance between the two factions if one side is 5-1 or more.
    I wonder what they have on these pvp planets that will keep players attention an wanting to go back an do them. An what is the point in destroying each others bases? Does it have a operation unlocked after you have taken total control? Does it have a timer before the next battle or is a endless battle that will drive players up the wall because their faction isnt online?

    Also just in case I missed this does pvp gear have dmg modifiers? Or will I be doing the same damage on an operation boss to a player?
  • #82 DarthDreagus
    soooo was there any new reveal? or just that there would be open world objective pvp
  • #86 PCas81
    This. I thought there was supposed to be a big reveal at PAX? About companions? Maybe Ive read too much into things.
  • #84 nexzo
    if there wasn't it was a pretty lame event. lets hope the folks at darth hater have some sweet inside info for us.
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