Darth Hater

Please note that this guide will be continually updated as more information emerges and becomes ready for publication. Images will be added as they are available. If you see something we missed, feel free to chime in and add your thoughts in the comments section. If we use something you mention, we'll give you credit in the post.

UPDATE (8/17/12 3:00am EST):   The time-lock on quest "Another Lead" has been lifted and players can now pursue acquisition of the Plasma-Sealed Jar.

UPDATE (8/16/12 11:40am EST):   The Grand Acquisitions Race will draw to a close on Tuesday, August 21st, so get your missions done now if you're after a sweet bowcaster or Sand People costume:

Joveth Gonzalez

The Chevin Conglomerate has decreed that you will have until next Tuesday (August 21st) at 2AM CDT (12AM PDT/3AM EDT/8 AM BST/9AM CEST/5PM AEST) to finish up the Grand Acquisitions Race. They've also decreed that the Shady Dealer will remain for an additional week after the race ends, citing "feedback" as the primary reason.

Good luck!

UPDATE (8/16/12 3:00am EST):   The time-lock on quest "A New Lead" has been lifted and players can now pursue acquisition of the Black-and-Orange Sphere.

UPDATE (8/15/12 3:41pm EST):   Allison Berryman confirms that the Sand People Bloodguard vanity outfit associated with the event (as well as the Containment Officer outfit from the previous Rakghoul event), currently restricted as Bind on Pickup, will be changed to Bind on Legacy in the future:

Allison Berryman

I asked Systems Designer David Hunt why the Sand People Bloodguard outfit is currently bind on pickup instead of bind on Legacy, and he let me know that it will be changed to bind on Legacy in the future - this will also affect the Imperial and Republic Containment Officer outfits from the Rakghoul event.

UPDATE (8/15/12 3:00am EST):   The time-lock on quest "A Lead" has been lifted and players can now pursue acquisition of the Akar Kesh Meditation Mask (thanks DJThomas07).

UPDATE (8/14/12 1:30pm EST):   Joveth Gonzalez weighs in with a tip concerning resetting bonus missions associated with the Grand Acquisitions Race:

Joveth Gonzalez

Hi there! If you ever get frustrated and delete a bonus mission during the Grand Acquisitions Race's main mission, the easiest way to get it back is to reset the main mission for this event. You'll still retain all of your previous items and you will only lose the progress that you've made towards the current item that you're pursuing. Hope that helps!

The Grand Acquisitions Race is on! With this kind of World Event, it is important for us to share information as it comes in. To assist in this, we’re creating a work in progress guide that will document our progression through the event. A detailed recounting of the new quest line along with screenshots is contained after the jump. Video and further information is coming soon but for now, hit the jump to find out more.

Rewards

Each of the following items can be purchased from the Chevin Conglomerate's Shady Dealer vendor on Nar Shadaa, in the Lower Promenade area. See below for a map.

General Information

When you log into your character, you will want to make your way to your respective faction fleet. After making your way there, head over to one of the hallways near the elevators. You will notice the same holoprojector terminal used for the Rakghoul Plague Outbreak event. Go ahead and click on it. Following the video, you will receive a quest that will tell you to make your way to Nar Shaddaa’s Lower Promenade. 

Head to your ship and once on Nar Shadaa use the taxi. Upon arrival at the Lower Promenade, click the Chevin Conglomerate Message Center to activate the first part of the quest line.

After hearing him babble for a bit, the next tier will take you on an item hunt for the things listed below.

HOW TO GET STARTED

• Travel to Nar Shadaa (You can skip the initial quest from your fleet station, it's simply to alert players that the world event has begun).
• Take a taxi to the Lower Promenade, and activate the Chevin Conglomerate Message Center.
• After a brief video cutscene, you receive the mission The Grand Acquisitions Race, tasking you along a scavenger hunt across the galaxy for a laundry list of items.
• Additional quests will become available both through items looted during these missions and via clickable quest objects.

Event Quests Walkthrough

THE GRAND ACQUISITIONS RACE

• This mission seems to encapsulate the entire world event and begins in Nar Shadaa's Lower Promenade after interacting with the Chevin Conglomerate Message Center.
• You will be tasked with gathering 9 distinct items, spread throughout the galaxy, and will encounter myriad additional side quests along the way.

IMPERIAL (Completion)

• Once you get all of the items, you will receive a quest to either turn them into the Chevin or the Empire.
• Dropping the items in the Imperial Dropbox gives you 150 Light Side points and the title ‘Imperial Loyalist’. Dropping the items in the Chevin Conglomerate Dropbox awards you 150 Dark Side points and the title ‘Capable Sentient’.
• Both options additionally reward you 9,330 credits, x20 Token of Enrichment, and a Hagnoffarl pet.

REPUBLIC (Completion)

• Once you get all of the items, you will receive a quest to either turn them into the Chevin or the Republic.
• Dropping the items in the Republic  Dropbox gives you 150 Light Side points and the title ‘SIS Freelancer’. Dropping the items in the Chevin Conglomerate Dropbox awards you 150 Dark Side points and the title ‘Capable Sentient’.
• Both options additionally reward you 9,330 credits, x20 Token of Enrichment, and a Hagnoffarl pet.

Follow the links below for faction-specific walkthroughs for each item.

A MYSTERIOUS CONTACT

• This quest becomes obtainable via in-game mail after beginning "The Grand Acquisitions Race" in Nar Shadaa. Go to the nearest mailbox and click on the attached "Encrypted Code Cylinder" in the message you receive.

IMPERIAL

• Click the "Encrypted Code Cylinder" in your inventory after receiving it with the in-game mail from "Unknown Sender" to begin the mission.
• Head to the Cantina on Dromund Kaas.
• Find a "Secure Holoterminal" in the Cantina at ( -347, 32 ).
• Obtain quest "Questionable Motives."

REPUBLIC

• Click the "Encrypted Code Cylinder" in your inventory after receiving it with the in-game mail from "Unknown Sender" to begin the mission.
• Head to the Dealer's Den Cantina on Coruscant.
• Find a "Secure Holoterminal" in the Cantina at ( 2252, 693).
• Obtain quest "Dubious Motives."

QUESTIONABLE MOTIVES (Imperial Only)

IMPERIAL

• Interact with "Chevin Supply Crate" just outside of the city on the "Initiate’s Path" at ( -443,-24 ).
• Install the "Listening Device" on the "Chevin Field Holoterminal" just west of the crate.
• Use the "Secure Holonet Link" on the ground just outside of the Kaas city gates at ( -178, 43 ).
• After a few minutes you should receive mail from Gyden Kall directing you to the first item from  "The Grand Acquisitions Race" quest, the "Akar Kesh Meditation Mask." The attached item "Mask Code Cylinder" starts a new quest: "A Lead."

DUBIOUS MOTIVES (Republic Only)

REPUBLIC

• Interact with the "Phone Booth" just outside of the Senate building in the Garden of Justice on Coruscant at (-938, -4516).
• Install the "Listening Device" on the "Chevin Field Holoterminal" just outside of the Senate building in the Garden of Justice at (-975, -4508).
• Use the "Secure Holonet Link" on the ground outside of the Senate taxi pad, at (-1063, -4258).
• After a few minutes you should receive mail from Agent Reeho directing you to the first item from  "The Grand Acquisitions Race" quest, the "Akar Kesh Meditation Mask." The attached item "Mask Code Cylinder" starts a new quest: "A Lead."
• Travel to the "Nikto Sector" on Nar Shadaa.
• Locate the "Courier Dead-Drop" at ( -3512, 225 ) and interact with it to summon Derester.
• Defeat Derester and loot the "Chevin Data."
• Locate the "Secure Holonet Link" on the ground at ( -3815, 240 ) and check in with Agent Reeho.
• Travel to the "Club Vertica Casino" on Nar Shadaa, and work your way up the ramp along the wall to the "Emergency Vent Power" at ( -337, 1087 ).
• Activate the vent power and stand on the vent, then each subsequent vent to get boosted to successively higher platforms until you reach the "Secure Access Panel" at ( -354, 1106 ).
• Activate the "Secure Access Panel" to complete the quest, then activate the "Maintenance Hatch" to safely transport down to ground level.

Note this quest grants x40 Token of Enrichment.

A LEAD

IMPERIAL

• After completing the quest "Dubious Motives," receive the "Mask Code Cylinder" via in-game mail. Clicking "Mask Code Cylinder" in your inventory begins the quest.
• Find the "Droid Storage Crate" at ( -1093, -29 ).
• Now available, see guide below for more.

REPUBLIC

• After completing the quest "Dubious Motives," receive the "Mask Code Cylinder" from Agent Reehoo via in-game mail. Clicking "Mask Code Cylinder" in your inventory begins the quest.
• Travel to "The Works" sector of Coruscant.
• Locate the "Bloodhound Droid Crates" at (995, 4468).
• Follow the "BD-R1" droid to an ambush at (941,4423) and defeat the mobs.
• Interact with the "Broken Down BD-R1" to repair it, and continue to follow it to (988,4418).
• Loot the "Akar Kesh Meditation Mask" from the shelf.

Note this quest also rewards 3,228 credits and x5 Token of Enrichment.

ANOTHER LEAD

IMPERIAL

• Use the 'Jar Code Cylinder' you receive in the mail from Gyden Kall to activate the quest.
• Locate the 'Imperial Slicing Droid' at (1897, 2630).
• Go to (1656, 2561) and steal a 'Dilapidated Speeder Bike'.
• After defeating the spawned mobs, proceed to (2002, 2553) on the dilapidated speeder bike and ride off the ramp.
• When you arrive at the Forgotten Taxi Pad, use the crate to receive the Plasma-Sealed Jar. (Notice: Drive off the ramp, DO NOT JUMP. If you jump, you will die when you arrive at the Taxi Pad.)
• Use the Emergency Shuttle Transponder next to the crate to return to the Network Access Taxi.

Note this quest also rewards 3,228 credits and x5 Token of Enrichment.

<REPUBLIC

• Locate the Republic Slicing droid in Shadow Town (2523,2907).
• Go to (2711,2966) and steal a 'Dilapidated Speeder Bike'.
• After defeating the spawned mobs, proceed to (2555,2669) on the dilapidated speeder bike
• When you arrive at the Abandoned Taxi Pad, use the crate to receive the Plasma-Sealed Jar.
• Use the Emergency Shuttle Transponder next to the crate to return to the Network Access Taxi.

A NEW LEAD

IMPERIAL & REPUBLIC

• After completing the quest "Dubious Motives" (Republic) or "Questionable Motives" (Imperial), receive the "Sphere Code Cylinder" via in-game mail. Clicking "Sphere Code Cylinder" in your inventory begins the quest.
• Locate the "Hutt Observation Droid" on the Lower Promenade of Nar Shadaa at ( -920, -682 ).
• Locate and activate the "Race Controls" a few meters adjacent to the Observation Droid, at ( -941, -676 ). There may be a large number of players attempting this and it is on a short respawn timer, so keep trying if you can't get it to activate.
• You have approximately 30 seconds to complete the next two objectives.
• Locate and interact with the "Electromine" along the blue colored race track, just left of the "Race Controls" at ( -945, -646 ). (Note only one player needs to do this per race; someone may have done it for you already)
• Locate and interact with the "Electro-zapper" along the inside of the race track, at ( -958, -660 ). (Note only one player needs to do this per race; someone may have done it for you already)
• Wait for Sapaaga's droid to successfully finish the race.
• Return to the "Hutt Observation Droid" at ( -920, -682 ).

Note this quest also rewards 3,228 credits and x5 Token of Enrichment. 

The Grand Acquisitions Race Quest Items Walkthough

Akar Kesh Mediation Mask

IMPERIAL

• After completing the quest "Questionable Motives," receive the "Mask Code Cylinder" via in-game mail. Clicking "Mask Code Cylinder" in your inventory begins the quest to find the mask.
• Locate the crate at ( -1093, -28 ). (The crate is on a short respawn timer; wait 30 seconds or so if it is not available)
• Click the crate, it will start an event. Once started, a robot will lead you to the mask.
• You will be ambushed along the way and will have to repair the droid.
• Droid guide ends at dirt pile at -1206, 418, click to obtain mask.

REPUBLIC

• After completing the quest "Dubious Motives," receive the "Mask Code Cylinder" from Agent Reehoo via in-game mail. Clicking "Mask Code Cylinder" in your inventory begins the quest to find the mask.
• Travel to "The Works" sector of Coruscant.
• Locate the "Bloodhound Droid Crates" at ( 995, 4468 ) and interact with it. (The crate is on a short respawn timer; wait 30 seconds or so if it is not available)
• Follow the "BD-R1" droid to an ambush at ( 941, -2292 ) and defeat the mobs.
• Interact with the "Broken Down BD-R1" to repair it, and continue to follow it to ( 988, -2272 ).
• Loot the "Akar Kesh Meditation Mask" from the shelf.

Black-and-Orange Sphere

REPUBLIC & IMPERIAL

• After completing the quest "Dubious Motives" (Republic) or "Questionable Motives" (Imperial), receive the "Sphere Code Cylinder" via in-game mail. Clicking "Sphere Code Cylinder" in your inventory begins the quest.
• Locate the "Hutt Observation Droid" on the Lower Promenade of Nar Shadaa at ( -920, -682 ).
• Locate and activate the "Race Controls" a few meters adjacent to the Observation Droid, at ( -941, -676 ). There may be a large number of players attempting this and it is on a short respawn timer, so keep trying if you can't get it to activate.
• You have approximately 30 seconds to complete the next two objectives.
• Locate and interact with the "Electromine" along the blue colored race track, just left of the "Race Controls" at ( -945, -646 ). (Note only one player needs to do this per race; someone may have done it for you already)
• Locate and interact with the "Electro-zapper" along the inside of the race track, at ( -958, -660 ). (Note only one player needs to do this per race; someone may have done it for you already)
• Wait for Sapaaga's droid to successfully finish the race.
• Return to the "Hutt Observation Droid" at ( -920, -682 ).

Collected Writings of Tiethiagg

IMPERIAL

• Head to the main building of Lord Grathan’s Estate.
• Take the elevator down to the second level  and head to the ‘circular room’ at ( -558,-93 ).
• Solve the puzzle by aiming the laser to bounce off of the two mirrors and hit the panel on the back wall. This is accomplished by using the Laser Direction Control, Firing Control and the two panels that control the individual mirrors.
• Loot the  Collected Writings of Tiethiagg from the crate in the center of the room.

REPUBLIC

• Click on the Sequence Activation Device in the Silent Sun Cantina.
• Use Light Controls to solve puzzle (hint: look at the lights on the floor in front of the secure crate).
• Loot the Collected Writings of Tiethiagg

Fossilized Krayt Dragon Pearl

IMPERIAL & REPUBLIC

• Make your way to the Duros sector (Imperial) or Red Light Sector (Republic) of Nar Shadaa where you will happen upon a secured container. Click on it for now to get the quest, but you’ll need three parts of a code in order to unlock it.
  
• Once you have the quest, make your way to the three markers below to get the pieces of the code you need. Be warned, when clicking on the terminals mobs will spawn and you will have to defeat them to receive the associated piece of code.

(Imperial)

(Republic)

Plasma-Sealed Jar

IMPERIAL

• Use the 'Jar Code Cylinder' you receive in the mail from Gyden Kall to activate the quest.
• Locate the 'Imperial Slicing Droid' at (1897, 2630).
• Go to (1656, 2561) and steal a 'Dilapidated Speeder Bike'.
• After defeating the spawned mobs, proceed to (2002, 2553) on the dilapidated speeder bike and ride off the ramp.
• When you arrive at the Forgotten Taxi Pad, use the crate to receive the Plasma-Sealed Jar. (Notice: Drive off the ramp, DO NOT JUMP. If you jump, you will die when you arrive at the Taxi Pad.)
• Use the Emergency Shuttle Transponder next to the crate to return to the Network Access Taxi.

REPUBLIC

• Locate the Republic Slicing droid in Shadow Town (2523,2907).
• Go to (2711,2966) and steal a 'Dilapidated Speeder Bike'.
• After defeating the spawned mobs, proceed to (2555,2669) on the dilapidated speeder bike
• When you arrive at the Abandoned Taxi Pad, use the crate to receive the Plasma-Sealed Jar.
• Use the Emergency Shuttle Transponder next to the crate to return to the Network Access Taxi.

Preserved Colicoid Queen Egg

IMPERIAL

• Datapad at ( 990, 62 ) in the Dromund Kaas spaceport reads: “A shipping manifest detailing the delivery of an exotic egg. The last entry in the log states that the cargo was lost in transit to a suspected Revanite camp”.
• Find the ‘Half-Eaten Crate’ southwest of the Revanite camp at ( -975, 14 )
• Defeat the waves of K’lor'slugs
• Kill the K’lor’slug Devourer after the wave event, and loot the Preserved Colicoid Queen Egg from its corpse.

REPUBLIC

• Data pad laying next to the Senate Plaza Bind Point (-1150,-4159) reads: "A shipping manifest detailing the delivery of an exotic egg. The last entry in the log states that the cargo was lost in transit deep within the Migrant Merchants' Guild territory.”
• Click on the Broken Smuggler's Crate in the Migrant Merchants' Guild Headquarters are of the Old Galactic Market on Coruscant (2578,1436).
• Defeat the waves of Mercenary Looters.
• Loot the Preserved Colicoid Queen Egg from the defeated Guild Recovery Specialist.

Rakata Eating Utensils

IMPERIAL & REPUBLIC

• Head to the Upper Industrial Sector (Imperial) or Lower Industrial Sector (Republic) on Nar Shadaa.
• Head east to the Republic Research Division (Imperial) or Imperial Intelligence Gadget Warehouse (Republic) ( Note: this is a contested area on PvP servers ).
• Imperial players take the "Systech West Elevator" in the southeast area of the map ( -1683,-1454 ) to the Network Security District.
• Republic players take the "Systech East Elevator" in the southeast area of the map (-1671, 3000) to the High Security Lockdown.
• Find the "Disturbed Crate" at (1679,3252).
• Watch the cutscene and your quest objective will update with "Follow the bounty hunter."
• Walk down the ramp and behind it to find the passage heading east, at (1814, 3231).
• Continue down the hall until you see a green circle labeled "Point of Interest" on the ground at (1852,3107).
• After watching the second cutscene, head to (1852,3107) to find a group of  "civilians" standing underneath a pillar with a second "Point of Interest."
• After following the breadcrumb trail of points of interest (1681,3156) and (1606,3091); jump on the crates at (1721,3086) and click the final PoI. Kill the Bounty Hunter and loot the Rakata Eating Utensils from his corpse.

Shard of Harterra

IMPERIAL

• Click the Smuggler’s Crate in the Dromund Kaas Expansion District located at ( -954,7 ). 
• Defeat the waves of Mercenary Looters. You have use of a player-operated turret.
• Loot the Shard of Harterra from the Smuggler’s Crate.

This event gives x5 Token of Enrichment.

REPUBLIC

•  Click the Smuggler’s Crate in the Starlight Towers area of the Justicar Territory on Coruscant located at (845,4610)
• Defeat the waves of Mercenary Looters. You have use of a player operated turret.
• Loot the Shard of Harterra from the Smuggler’s Crate.

Vandrayk’s Tuning Apparatus

• Throughout Nar Shaddaa’s various districts, you can find Smuggler Crates that yield bonus tokens and also sometimes quest objectives, i.e. Vandrayk’s Tuning Apparatus. These Smuggler Crates spawn on random intervals and do not have set spawns so keep that in mind.  Some advice: think Easter egg hunt: look behind crates, gutters and large equipment. BioWare stuffed a ton around random objects that obscure the vision of typical player paths.