Yesterday Lucas Arts and Bioware finally announced what we all knew was coming, a new Star Wars MMO called Star Wars: The Old Republic. From what we know so far the game takes place 300 years after Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and 3,500 years before the Star Wars movies. The only two announced classes so far are Jedi and Sith which should be available early on.
With this limited information it’s hard to theorize what the game will be like. But here’s some questions I have right now.
Q: Will there be any space combat?
A: I really hope so. The first thing I think of when I hear Star Wars are Jedi’s, then X-wings and Tie-Figthers. Granted this is way before that, but to me a Star Wars MMO has to have some space combat, it just wouldn’t feel like Star Wars without it.
Q: How are Jedi and Sith players going to affect class balance?
A: The first SW MMO made it very difficult to become a Jedi and when you did you had the unpleasant experience of perma-death if your character ever died. This is obviously not the same route SW:TOR will be taking. So if players can easily become Jedi or Sith will it make the other classes worthless? Or will Jedi/Sith be watered down so other classes have a fair chance?
Q: Too many Jedi/Sith players?
A: I really have no clue how Bioware is going to handle this. Seriously who wouldn’t want to be a Jedi or Sith? Are we going to see servers where a majority of players are Jedi or Sith? Will the other classes be based on different type of Jedi and Sith, like a Jedi Tank, Jedi Healer, Jedi with pet? This would certainly make balancing classes easier.
Well that’s the big 3 questions I have at this point. We’ll have to wait and see how it goes.
One of the biggest freakouts for people right now is the graphics… a very curious style. Almost cartoon-esque.
I’m not sure how an item-based dungeon game would work with SW:TOR so I’m really hoping for a sandbox style game-play. That’s really my only concern right now. Player-driven economies, accessibility to all skills(instead of archetype restrictions), etc.
If Jedi and Sith are playable, then outside of your lightsaber and the color of your clothes/robe, what kind of items would there even be? Magical gear does not make much sense for a jedi. You could stretch it for other ‘normal’ classes, like SWG did. But does not fit with Jedi/Sith.
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If there are defined classes, then maybe as a Jedi/Sith, you are not one of the elite. Not extremely strong in the force. Just enough to enhance your other skills, and not become a god. Might balance out for other classes like maybe a bounty hunter, etc.
I’m not a big fan of these cartoon graphics but if the gameplay is fun i’ll give it a shot