Star Wars: The Old Republic

by saltwaterdiode

Yes it’s that good. What’s better than being a part of the force? When SWTOR first came out people bought it up (they even invested in it before it was released). Fans played through the content so quickly that the game development teams couldn’t fabricate enough new missions to keep players employed and then people got bored. In addition to being bored they started to feel ripped off since the game came at a cost of $15 per month. At $15 per month your game had better walk on water. So EA threw together some things and enticed players back by programming the game into a micro-transaction based MMORPG with no subscription fees. I say aloud from the highest mountain-the amount of time and thought that went into the conversion to a free to play model of an already active MMORPG is worthy of a place in the server memory of video game development and production-immortalized forever. All hail the mighty servers!

Other reasons for a spot in the server memory of video game development are the outstanding combat mechanics, visual effects that generate love, and ocean filling sound effects that give identities and expressive power to abilities. The game is very like a complex tapestry of classes and powers that you master in order to pull apart or hold together. There are 4 classes each having 2 advanced classes. The classes are Jedi Consular, Jedi Knight, Smuggler, and Trooper on the republic side and Sith Inquisitor, Sith Warrior, Bounty Hunter, and Imperial Agent, on the imperial side. So in true Bioware fashion, you get to choose to be really evil or really good. And don’t think that because you are a part of the empire you can’t be light sided, you can. The Sith get increasing visual corruption on their faces as they descend into pure evil. The advanced classes are chosen at level 10 so choose wisely because there is no going back. The advanced class initiates the talent points game. Talent points do everything from raising stats to adding new abilities. It’s one of the most important game functions. Once you are level 55 and you have all the points possible, unlearning and replacing points, experimenting with builds, can give you competitive advantage in PVP or allow you to switch from a DPS role to a healing role for 16 man operations. The talents are organized into trees with stronger abilities at the top and in order to reach the top you need to invest a certain amount of points in the lower branches. You only have enough points to reach one top tier ability. As fatherly advice from someone who has been playing since the game emerged, consider hybrid builds. One end ability at the top of a tree isn’t always worth it. Sometimes only going hallway up on one tree and halfway up another tree produces a freak build that is synergistic power ruling the cosmos from your keyboard/mouse.

There are 3 ways to level in the MMORPG. Firstly, following your class missions (which lead to other missions). At level 16 the class missions supply you with a ship in order to follow the class missions to other planets. Secondly, queuing for flashpoints on the fleet. Thirdly, queuing for PVP warzones at level 10 and on. There are some players that enjoy PVP so much that they level up completely by running player versus player warzone matches. You get valor points, warzone commendations, XP, and credits from playing warzone matches. There are also weekly and daily missions that give you additional rewards you can use for gear or crafting schematics. In addition to the PVP missions there are also flashpoint versions, operations versions, and even achievement versions that provide everything from ultimate commendations to vehicles as rewards. If you aren’t into PVP then following the class storyline through to the end and picking up additional missions along the way is for you. The story arcs are intriguing and immerse you in the role of hero or villain.

Speaking of immersive, there is also a vast amount of crafting to be done. It’s endless and if you choose to level everything up to the highest then you can make some of the most desired items on the galactic trade network. Synthweavers can make augments that increase the power of your equipment by increasing the stats. Everything you equip can be augmented. The augments can be removed after inserted for a credit fee. Biochem crafters can make stims that do not disappear when you die and are some of the highest selling items in the game. Companions do the crafting for you. You don’t have to be at a crafting station and you can send up to 5 off at once. I have an artificer and I haven’t been that excited about what they can make. The really great ones are synthweavers and biochem. They craft items that really get you a lot of money on the GTN.

The free to play version seems really lacking because there is a limit to everything even how much in game currency you can amass. I can’t help but think of GW 2 and how they are not a subscription based MMORPG that makes income from transactions from their online market. Players can buy in game currency using real money or buy experience boosters. SWTOR could use with a little more coming with the free to play version.

MMORPGs make me suspicious of the grinding time because the subscription based game is earning money for producers so the temptation to draw stuff out seems hard to resist. The cost of servers and server maintenance has fallen a lot since the first MMORPGs came out so unless they are pumping out content at a dizzying rate or walking on water it seems unfair. SWTOR does not feel like a grind at all. If you’re are seasoned player who is tired of the dialogue storylines and has several level 55s you can completely level knew characters doing PVP. There is enough to do to appeal to new and seasoned players. If you love RPGs and are a fan of KOTOR I and II and are still new to SWTOR you will not be able to put the mouse/keyboard down for months.

Looking for players to group with is accomplished by using the group finder tool. It makes things easier to find groups wanting to do flash points and some operations. My problem with it is that some operations aren’t listed on the group finder so getting 16 person groups together for operations is frustrating. This needs work better because operations have the hardest bosses and have the best loot. Wanting to start a 16 person group to do one shouldn’t involve having to go to the operation entrance on other planets and then shouting in general chat for anyone interested when most of the interested players are all over the universe. If they could list themselves as interested in doing the operation in the group finder it would make it possible to form a group no matter where they are. When a group formed they could be immediately transported into the start of the operation.

SWTOR is an amazing game. Even with some of the minor dislikes I have, it soars. There are a lot of MMORPGs out there and they all take a big investment of time to master. SWTOR is worth every minute you invest in it and you won’t feel like you’re grinding away at endless jobs with no real dialogue or way to immerse yourself in the story. It’s a compelling game with a lot to offer anybody at any stage of the relationship.