Star Wars: The Old Republic II: Hutts don't have feet!

[GungHo]

Inquisitor

Spoiler

Show

"I want to wear robes made of SOLID GOOOOOOLD!"

You'd think that'd be +15 for Khem. Apparently he dislikes overconfidence >.>

Khem Val is one of those companions that's a little less consistent as to how he'll react. Qyzen Fess is also all over the map. It's one of the other ways that Inquisitors and Councilors mirror.

[The Glyphstone]

Well, I finished the Trooper prologue.

Spoiler

Show

A Secret volcano base with a superweapon inside? Really? Really?

...Well, at least that cheesiness distracted me from the blatantly obvious 'plot twist'.

[HalfTangible]

Well, I finished the Trooper prologue.

Spoiler

Show

A Secret volcano base with a superweapon inside? Really? Really?

...Well, at least that cheesiness distracted me from the blatantly obvious 'plot twist'.

Spoiler

Show

Honestly? I thought they were gonna be dead on arrival at the hands of Act 1's main villian (whoever he/she may be)

I liked the volcano base thing. I mean it's not like the resistance appeared to be the most realistic bunch before then anyway. What annoyed me more is how they made a big deal about how you'd have to swim to that island when all you had to do was walk and get your boots a little wet...

[Squark]

Spoiler

Show

What annoyed me more is how they made a big deal about how you'd have to swim to that island when all you had to do was walk and get your boots a little wet...

Spoiler

Show

To be fair, if the game used realistic water physics and the Separatists used proper deployment, that approach could be a real nightmare at high tide. But that's a bit beyond the scope of the game (and anyway, realistic depictions of D-Day in video games aren't very fun).

[HalfTangible]

Spoiler

Show

To be fair, if the game used realistic water physics and the Separatists used proper deployment, that approach could be a real nightmare at high tide. But that's a bit beyond the scope of the game (and anyway, realistic depictions of D-Day in video games aren't very fun).

Kindly keep things that are in spoiler tags IN SPOILER TAGS.

[Neftren]

So... today's patch broke my headgear... again.

[Squark]

Kindly keep things that are in spoiler tags IN SPOILER TAGS.

My apologies. I just figured a minor quest in the prologue with no long term consequences didn't merit one. Fixed it.

[Sith_Happens]

Spoiler

Show

To be fair, if the game used realistic water physics and the Separatists used proper deployment, that approach could be a real nightmare at high tide. But that's a bit beyond the scope of the game (and anyway, realistic depictions of D-Day in video games aren't very fun).

Spoiler

Show

Frankly I find it ridiculous that any military strategists in Star Wars would even care about water, seeings as every vehicle worth its salt hovers.

[Philistine]

You know, the game's been out for 5 months now. We're about to the point where people really need to relax about "spoilers." Especially about things on the starter worlds, <10% of the way through the game. Even more especially about someone's idle musings about trivial details of optional locations on the starter worlds.

Anyway - if it's possible for spoilers to ruin a story, odds are it was a pretty weak story to begin with. Do you just never re-watch movies, re-read books, or re-play games?

[Jeivar]

So, while I am enjoying the Knight's storyline I am thinking of starting up an alt just to keep things varied. I'll probably leave the Consular for now, and I don't get much out of playing crazy evil murder bastard evil evil, so I guess that leaves me with a choice between Trooper and Smuggler.
I'm leaning towards Trooper if only because of Jennifer Hale, but it seems the story gets pretty dull after a while. On the other hand it seems Smuggler can make for frustrating gameplay.
Recommendations?

[mangosta71]

You know that you can play a light side Empire character, right? You aren't required to be a crazy evil murder machine if you play a Sith, bounty hunter, or agent. I mean, if you wanted to play "crazy evil murder bastard evil evil," as you put it, you could do that just as easily on the Republic side.

That said, I never found the agent to be particularly frustrating gameplay-wise (she was actually the most fun to play character I had), and I don't see why the smuggler would be different. Unless you opt for the pure dps advanced class, but I have no idea why anyone would ever do that.

[Philistine]

I think you'd find playing Imperial a pleasant surprise. You know how as a Jedi you have all those opportunities to choose LS or DS options? You get those regardless of what faction you play - so Impside isn't all about, as you say, "crazy evil murder bastard evil." Or at least it doesn't have to be.

[Jeivar]

Yes, I know Imperials also have LS/DS choices, I just figured it was more of a choice between "Godfather Evil" and "Leatherface Evil".

[Calemyr]

Yes, I know Imperials also have LS/DS choices, I just figured it was more of a choice between "Godfather Evil" and "Leatherface Evil".

Light side is loyal to the Empire, but not evil. You can be a good person and strive to live with honor and improve the lot of your people and still wear the Imperial crest.

[Squark]

Yeah, LS Imperial charactes are very viable. The Bounty Hunter a little less so, I think, because you get thrown at the Republic more often (the other classes deal a lot more with internal politics, so you can assume the moral highground most of the time). And the republic's not perfect either; You can find a lot of evidence of really horrible things *cough* Belsaivs *cough* the Republic has done.

[Philistine]

Yes, I know Imperials also have LS/DS choices, I just figured it was more of a choice between "Godfather Evil" and "Leatherface Evil".

No. Really, really, no. That's just -

Do you find all Republic DS/LS options to be choices between "pragmatic good" and "idealistic good"? Or are Republic DS choices actually, you know, dark? And if Reps can be Dark, why wouldn't Imps be able to be Light?

[Sith_Happens]

You know, the game's been out for 5 months now. We're about to the point where people really need to relax about "spoilers." Especially about things on the starter worlds, <10% of the way through the game. Even more especially about someone's idle musings about trivial details of optional locations on the starter worlds.

Anyway - if it's possible for spoilers to ruin a story, odds are it was a pretty weak story to begin with. Do you just never re-watch movies, re-read books, or re-play games?

While I agree it probably wouldn't hurt to loosen things for the origin and capital worlds, as well as for minor sidequests, anything of real importance post-prologue (i.e.- class/world quest details) should still be tagged. Some people just plain don't like having spoilers dropped on them, and it's not that hard to spoiler-tag something.

[GungHo]

I'm leaning towards Trooper if only because of Jennifer Hale, but it seems the story gets pretty dull after a while. On the other hand it seems Smuggler can make for frustrating gameplay.
Recommendations?

Trooper if you want easy mode. The story does get old after Act 2 and 3, but the gameplay is consistent and rewarding, mostly because you don't have to worry about being set up before a fight.

And, Smugglers can be frustrating, but it really depends on what you're playing. If you're playing a scoundrel, it's probably easier to solo as a scrapper. While it's easy to get caught out during some fights, you can always pop your instant cloak and set up again. For a gunslinger, I only have experince with a Marksman, but some folks say that Saboteur is good fun. Their story isn't a hell of a lot better than the Trooper's though. It's just more consistent in it's averageness (though a lot of comedy).

Do you find all Republic DS/LS options to be choices between "pragmatic good" and "idealistic good"? Or are Republic DS choices actually, you know, dark? And if Reps can be Dark, why wouldn't Imps be able to be Light?

It's kind of a wash, honestly. Some of the "light"/"dark" options aren't all that light or dark on either side. Republic dark side for the Trooper, for instance, is more Jack Bauer than Animal Mother except for a few choices. Jedi Knights, on the other hand, are either boy scouts or completely ruthless.

[Valaqil]

Personally, I'd take Trooper over Smuggler. Smuggler probably gets better lines, more snark, but I really liked playing the Trooper for a while. It was a solid tank, with a decent story in the beginning. (I still haven't finished Act One, but I heard that it goes downhill a bit in the later Acts.)

I'd also like to throw in a couple of words about the Empire. Imperials do have LS choices, but they're more for the good of the Empire, citizens and soldiers, than personal gratification. I made several LS choices as a Warrior because I thought of him as more of a soldier, honorable warrior archetype. So, for instance, I chose courses of action that focused on strengthening our army and helping our citizens if the DS option was something short-sighted and self-defeating. I reached Dark IV, but I have several hundred (a thousand or two?) LS points. And on my Imperial Agent, I'm taking a more grey path. It's "Get the job done, quickly and efficiently." If bribing/cooperation/persuasion works fastest, let's do that. If we're getting nowhere, THEN I'll hurt someone. A lot. There's still plenty of choices to be a good guy, or at least not be crazy-butcher-evil.

Tangentially related, I felt more free to _roleplay_ on the Imperial side. On the Republic, I _really_ want to be the Hero, LS and pure. Especially when you see so much corruption running amok. On the Imperial side, I feel more like the expectation to be evil means that I can actually choose whatever I want. There, LS is okay if you can still get the job done, and DS is actually desired. (Well, slightly less freedom to play it LS if you're Sith because the Darths wouldn't like it.)

[Sith_Happens]

(Well, slightly less freedom to play it LS if you're Sith because the Darths wouldn't like it.)

Of course, half the point of both Sith stories is to advance yourself to the point where it doesn't matter what the Darths think, because what the heck are they going to do about it?

[Valaqil]

Of course, half the point of both Sith stories is to advance yourself to the point where it doesn't matter what the Darths think, because what the heck are they going to do about it?

Oh, absolutely! But, if we try to avoid "metagaming", I didn't think it would be a good idea to step out of line too far, or often. That's how the other apprentices get killed.

[Neftren]

Does anyone know if there are any craftable orange (i.e. augmentable) gloves or boots that aren't from PvP schematics? I've tried asking around and nobody seems to have a definite answer on my server, or the schematics for that matter.

[Squark]

Does anyone know if there are any craftable orange (i.e. augmentable) gloves or boots that aren't from PvP schematics? I've tried asking around and nobody seems to have a definite answer on my server, or the schematics for that matter.

Not yet. About 70 or so of each are coming in 1.3, though.

[stabbybelkar]

Oh, absolutely! But, if we try to avoid "metagaming", I didn't think it would be a good idea to step out of line too far, or often. That's how the other apprentices get killed.

Who cares about the other apprentices? Obviously they were week minded fools who deserved to die.

[Sith_Happens]

Not yet. About 70 or so of each are coming in 1.3, though.

Well, technically Campaign gear is researchable, but that might take a while.

[Katana_Geldar]

As a Sith Warrior, I've found it rather hard to solo of late, and for some reason my class quests are more than my level can handle, which is odd as I arrived on Tatooine around level 26.

Ghosts of the Desert, perhaps one of the most interesting side quests I have seen so far, is extremely hard to complete as the cursed Palawa have that annoying rally power that I can't always interrupt. Maybe now, at level 30, I can finish this quest.

Should I be level 30 on Tatooine?

[Wilhelm Scream]

What's your gear like? I just did that quest as a marauder at level 28 and had no problems with it.

[Katana_Geldar]

Pretty good, it's all been from drops as I still don't quite get crafting yet.

What are you meant to do with the found artifacts?

[VanBuren]

It should come as no surprise that BioWare Austin is prepping a v1.3 content patch for Star Wars: The Old Republic, and thanks to a reveal interview on IGN with lead game designer Daniel Erickson, we know exactly what to expect from it. Server transfers, adaptive gear, and augment tables are the only major bullet points, which may irk some players looking for new content to chew through:

IGN: The armor customization system has undergone quite a few changes over the past few months, what are some of the latest for 1.3?

Daniel Erickson: 1.3 brings a couple of big changes. First off is Adaptive Gear, which causes each piece of social gear to scale to the armor needs of the wearer. That means a heavy armor Sith Warrior can finally wear that slave outfit into a high level raid. In that same spirits of letting players wear what they want, the second big change is Augment Tables. Now any outfit in the game above green rarity can have an augment slot added to it via an Augment Table and a crafter-created kit.

...

IGN: What about the crafting system, will there be any significant alterations made for 1.3 or beyond? What are some of your priorities for crafting right now, and how do you see the system developing beyond 1.3?

Daniel Erickson: The most significant 'crafting' feature in 1.3 is the addition of Augment tables that allow players to add Augments to any items. These augment slots were previously only available as a result of 'crafting crits'. This is significant for crafters because it allows the itemization team to finally fully balance the game so that crafted gear is deeply tied to, and balanced firmly against, the gear you can get from other sources, including operations rewards. The fact that crafters are the primary source for augments also gives them a new crafted good that will suddenly be high in demand.

As for moving forward, we're pretty firmly committed to keeping our crafting system viable and competitive. Players will find that almost every patch that introduces gear with power upgrades will also introduce ways for crafters to remain competitive and useful to the economy. As for larger improvements -- let's just say we have big plans.

[Jeivar]

Speaking of patches, whatever happened to the same-sex content I heard about a while back? Did they drop that idea or is it still in development?