• Column: OpsCom (12/4/12)

    This is OpsCom, where we bring you a weekly dose of Operations and PVE related content from the world of Star Wars: The Old Republic. Here you will be able to get the latest news and developments along with highlights of the big issues in the PvE community and the occasional ranting of the writer. Check back with us each week for the latest and greatest from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

  • PvE Basics: Getting an Early Endgame Belt

    As you start to get gear from Hard Modes, you will find that there are no available endgame belts that drop. That’s because there are no Tionese belts and the Columi belt can only be received through the token dropping in Karagga’s Palace, an Operation which you probably won’t be geared enough for until you get some Columi set pieces, or from a random set drop against mini-bosses in Hard Mode Flashpoints where you have no control which type of belt will drop. However, there is a quick solution to get a decent and role-appropriate belt early into your PvE adventures. Hit the jump to find out more.

  • David Hunt Details New Tier Gear

    As you may have heard yesterday during the EA Press Conference, Terror from Beyond is on its way to Star Wars: The Old Republic next month. With that, many expected a new tier of gear as a part of the new Operation. Well, it appears we are getting a new tier of gear for PvE as well as weapons for PvP.

    Allison Berryman

    I talked to David Hunt (Systems Designer), and he shed some light upcoming gear. He said that (for PvE), Terror from Beyond's Hard Mode will include a new set of gear that is a sub-tier of the larger tier that started with Campaign gear. It will also have non-slot restricted armornings. Nightmare Explosive Conflict will speed up the acquisition of the new set and provides new challenges for Operation groups.

    For PvP, new mainhand and offhand items will become available from the PvP vendors when Terror from Beyond is released. These will be included so PvP players don't feel the need to get the hilts and barrels from PvE items to get the highest weapon damage in some cases. The rest of the set will release when Ancient Hypergates becomes available. We also have plans to release a new Recruit MK-2 set.

     For the thread in full, visit the SWTOR forums.

  • Column: OpsCom

    This is OpsCom, where we bring you a weekly dose of Operations related content from the world ofStar Wars: The Old Republic. This column will serve as an inside scoop on new content, developer feedback and community gossip. Stay tuned in the coming weeks, and we will keep you up to date on all the news you need to stay on the cutting edge.

    This week, we take a look at a very rational community appeal to leave the difficulty of content just where it is, and how the community feels about it. We’ll also have a look at the “Looking for Group” tool as it pertains to lower level characters, and what BioWare might do to entice them into using the tool more often. And as usual, we’ll have all the latest news ready for your perusal. For the full story, hit the jump.

  • Level 50 PvE Starter Guide

    The euphoria of reaching the level cap for the first time is often followed by a great uncertainty: what happens now? A whole host of new game features open up at level 50, features that the leveling process does little to prepare players for. The options can be daunting and bewildering. Just what are “daily” missions, and what is so great about them? Should I focus on Hard mode Flashpoints? I am not in a guild, should I join one? What are Operations, and can I eat 12 hours before I attempt one? Fear not, new level 50 reader — all of these questions and more will be addressed after the jump.

  • Guide: Trooper Commando

    The Trooper is a very tactical class, with an exceptional amount of tools available to take down opponents, mitigate damage and heal allies. The Commando advanced class makes use of the Assault Cannon, an over-sized blaster that requires two hands to wield, for both damage and healing. We have created a guide detailing this advanced class, its roles and how to play them most effectively after the jump.

    Note: Audio quality on the following videos is not ideal. Companions list could possibly be deemed spoiler territory, if that's a problem, don't scroll down to the bottom of the post.

  • Guild Interview Series: Shards of Alderaan

    If you were in general game testing for any length of time, then you probably heard of the clear of Eternity Vault by Republic Justice, or encountered them in Star Wars: The Old Republic's Warzones. Known as Shards of Alderaan (guild site) for release, the Republic guild originally formed in Star Wars Galaxies and today's membership comprises of various MMO backgrounds. Darth Hater continues its Guild Interview Series (Ensidia, Afterlife) with Republic Justice / Shards of Alderaan members Air, CJ, Rookie, and Nyan to disccuss their overall impressions of testing endgame, and PVP class balance.

    DOWNLOAD

  • Darth Hater on the Four Force Users

    Arguably the greatest rift in the Star Wars: The Old Republic community came from the possibility, now reality, of four of the eight classes as force users. This discussion spawned shortly after the Sith Warrior was released and described as a melee focused class, and only grew in intensity. Having nearly a month to think about this design choice, we felt it was important to weigh in with our opinion.

  • To instance, or not to instance... That is the question

    Well, I will finally go there, one of the big questions... Instancing, how will it be handled?

    Call them Flashpoints, Dungeons, Raids, or Instances, what it means is it's CLOSED for you and your party, without interruption. Who wouldn't like the option to go into single player-esque mode? You are minding your own business, until a lightsaber is shoved through your stomach, or someone thinks that it's a great idea to kill the quest giver (assuming the possibility). Sure, you run into those that choose to disrupt your game time, rather then lend a hand, but what about those who are playing to make friends?
    ca_20081226_holoprojector_full


    Instancing, the closed world, single player, leave me alone time. You can get a lot done in this time, without worrying about anyone bothering you, or needing to rely on your buddy to log on and give you a hand. But if this is what you want, why not play a single player game? You will get the same immersion, and do not have to pay a monthly fee. But without a monthly fee, the game you are playing will hardly be updated, and you might possibly be bored in no time, which comes to a predicament: Switch to MMO, or deal with it and wait for another big game. I have had my fun in single player games, but I usually try to zoom through them as fast as possible, so I could justify my purchase by beating it, but I fight through a lot of the boring game play. I guess I am just MMO oriented now.
    SWTOR_Trooper_ss3.preview


    But what about those who are interested in the MMO portion of the game? The non-instanced, mass amount of players in sight, ask for help anywhere anytime. From the footage we have seen, the flashpoint of the Sith and Bounty Hunter, they are in a flashpoint. Which could be a major story quest, in that case my opinion is that it SHOULD be closed. Major Quests, certain party quests, raids, some but not all dungeons, should be instanced. Those parts most likely offer massive information in your class quests. But a good bulk of us are looking forward to an open world to have fun and meet people in

    So my question is, how do you think instancing should be handled? My statement of the major quests, raids, etc. Or do you want a more closed game?

  • Companion characters: Helpful cohorts or massive burden?

    Companion characters have always been a trademark of Biowares games. From KOTOR to Mass Effect, companion characters have given players someone to give them support, loyalty, and romance (for all you lonely guys and gals out there). After Petes interview with Leo, we definitely know that companion characters will be in SWTOR. This formula has worked throughout Biowares long history of single-player RPGs, but how will this transfer to the MMO stage?

    In a typical MMO there is a progression of quest difficulty, which ranges from simple solo-able quests, to harder group quests, to raid quests, which are generally the most difficult. Companion characters would be a massive help in solo quests, but when you get in a group situation is when things get tricky. In a group that would mean double the people to heal, and more micromanaging for players. If anyone has ever done a simple instance you know that if one thing goes wrong in a pull everyone can get screwed. The same goes for raids: the more people and NPCs the harder it is to coordinate during a big boss fight.

    Companion characters could not only have an effect on PvE but on PvP as well. If each companion is different with different abilities, it seems that Bioware would have a lot more work on balancing.

    Bringing in companion characters isnt all a bad thing; they bring a whole new level of depth and meaning to your story. If you kill the captain, not only will his family hate you, but your companion could be horrified at your actions and leave you forever.

    So whats your view on companion characters? Should they be there for the whole game, or only for leveling? Or they should be there for PvE, and not for PvP?

  • Poll: What area of the game are you dedicating yourself to?

    The question that boggles the mind of casuals and hardcore alike, "What do I wish to do once I am max level?"

    [poll id="4"]

    It seems from what we are told, is that the PvE (Player Vs Environment) content will be stuffed full of shiney exploding goodness, but we have not been told much about the PvP (Player Vs Player). Will the raiding be enough to keep the hardcore players playing the content weekly, or are they looking to push them to do the, GASP, WoW thing, where you roll an alt when you get to bored. But I am not afraid to roll an alt, knowing that we are being given 200+ hours of story per class, but I do want some end game raiding And with the recent information given to us at Comic-Con, it appears classes will be able to get alignment towards the Light Side, and the Dark Side, for new abilities and what not, which could add more bulk and time to the story.



    The the PvP comes in, "What if I want to PvP and not reroll? Will I be forced to reroll due to lack of people or objectives to complete?"

    I do not think we need to worry, as interviews have stated, "This is Star WARS" So I am comfortable with myself knowing that BioWare is working on giving us a great PvP experience, the real question is, "What depth of conflict?" Many questions are out there and we are waiting for them to be answered, will there be PvP Planets? Objectives? Quests? Special Abilities? Titles gained through PvP? Vehicles? Spac---, nope, won't be opening that Pandora's Box. Time will tell, time will also answer these questions. I am sure BioWare will show us all these in due time, and we will all be happy.