Trooper: Armor Customization

Troopers have always remain a great pillar of strength in the Old Republic. Ranging from fierce Vanguards who hold the front lines to the crafty Commandos who carry out their mission with supreme discipline and precision, troopers have always been the Republic's reliable source of defense. These unsung heroes not only fight out of a sense of duty, but are well equipped to carry out their tasks. Looking at the various armor sets in the Old Republic, specifically the Trooper's, we can assume there will be myriad of customization options available to them.

After watching the Class Video, there are few examples of what types of armor a Trooper can wear. Although there is a distinct white that is prominent throughout their uniforms, there are other distinguishing features from the Troopers during the Old Republic. The first of these features are the color patterns which is seen in various armor sets. We know that these colors may represent a role the Trooper plays in combat but may also be customizable based on the player's choice. Like with Mass Effect 2, Bioware may opt to allow players to adjust these color patterns in their armor. Here are a few examples of trooper armor with different color patterns to show the variety in look:

   

   

Although these color patterns are from a more recent time in Star Wars (see Clone Wars), it seems that the similar types of designs were used back in the Old Republic as well. Another prominent feature in Trooper armor lies with their back story. As you being your adventure in The Old Republic, you will assigned as a new recruit to the infamous Havoc Squad. If you recall, Havoc Squad is the very same squad that defended and drove back the Sith from Alderaan in the very action packed Hope cinematic trailer. Being a proud member of their squad, you will be able wear their insignia wherever you go. This not only lets people recognize you right away, but also will be customizable. From the class trailer, there is clearly evidence that the look will be prominent in your look, but is not consistent in the place it will appear. See below:

If the ability to place where the logo is there, this further supports the evidence that the patterns on the Trooper armor may be available. The last factor to take note of when talking about customization is individuality. Even if patterns and colors will not be customizable, Bioware does not every Trooper at level 25 to look exactly the same. Hence, there will be various armor sets available at all levels. Furthermore, armor sets for both the Vanguard and Commando advances classes will increase the variety of looks available to the player.

Commando Armor

Vs.

Vanguard Armor

Hence, for those who are worried about individuality of look for the Trooper class, worry not. From the information so far, there seems to be quite a number of ways Bioware can offer customization with armor. Either through offering different armor sets per level to the possibility of customizable patterns, colors, and logo location, it seems that the Troopers of the Old Republic will have a lot of ways to stand out.

Quest Videos Compilation

With the release of the Jedi Knight/Jedi Consular quest video, I decided to link all the quest videos shown so far. If you compare the latest release with those from E3 2010, you can see how far the game has evolved visually and acoustically. Plus, some of these videos are rare on the internet so you may have miss them the first time around. Please give your favorite class' video a look and enjoy more epic Bioware voice overs in the upcoming The Old Republic.

Jedi Knight/Jedi Consular

 

Smuggler/Trooper

Sith Warrior/Sith Inquistor

Imperial Agent/Bounty Hunter

Heroic Figure: Grand Master Satele Shan

Jedi Grand Master Satele Shan may just very well be the greatest Jedi Grand Master of all time. Being the youngest Grand Master ever, Satele has helped the Jedi rediscover their home world of Tython and helped relocate the Jedi after sacking of Coruscant. Master Satele Shan's greatest may not be obvious at first but with  closer examination prove that she is a very capable leader of the Jedi and one who has a very prominent role in The Old Republic.

Satele has been confirmed to be the descendant of the famous Bastila Shan, who not only helped take down the Dark Lord Revan but also refocused him as a Jedi that would ultimately save the galaxy from Darth Malak. Unconfirmed, it is widely suggested that Satele also has the blood of Revan himself, whom Bastila would come to love and care for. Hence, as a Padawan, there was much expectations from her and questions on rather she inherited Bastila's powers of Battle Mediation. However, it wasn't until the Threat of Peace comics we really got to see Satele in action.

 

During this time, Satele was confronted with the struggles after the unfair signing of the Treaty of Coruscant after the sacking of the city by the Sith. Without giving too much away, Satele has to come face to face with her Master who was driven to the Dark Side. Although tempted herself, Satele managed to restrain herself and held her ground against the Sith.

The next glimpse of Satele appears in the novel, Fatal Alliance, where she has now been granted the rank of Grand Master. Although shorter than even her Padawan, Satele "radiated an indomitable sense of self" and can move about as if to "appear out of nowhere" , masking herself well with the force. Here, she is a pinnacle of what it is to be Jedi Consular: wise, calm, thoughtful, yet strong. It was here we had a chance to see her diplomatic talents as well as battle skills when convincing both the Sith empire and the Republic to work together into stopping a greater threat. In battle, she was fast and graceful, able to crush or blow up enemies with just a mere gesture. Here is a passage from Fatal Alliance to provide some insight in her battle techniques:

"The Grand Master had impressed with more than her telekinetic and telepathic skills. Her speed and decisiveness in combat were unbelievable--but she never once made a sound.Her face was calm, almost serene, as she slased and hacked through the [enemy]. There was tranquility about her, almost a blissfulness, that spoke of an intimacy with violence [she] had not expected.

To the Sith, violence was an art form. To Master Satele, it seemed like life itself."

This is definitely a great Grand Master and my sources tell me you will get a chance to meet her in The Old Republic should you travel down the path of the Jedi. Hopefully, you will be inspired to follower her and get to see her in action on the battlefield. For now, please read more about her adventures in Threat of Peace online comic as well as Fatal Alliance, available in bookstores now. Support your Jedi Grand Master for she is the one who will give you hope and bring peace to the galaxy.

Class Analysis: Jedi Knight vs. Jedi Consular

Over the past week, there has been tons of previews of the two Jedi classes from various sources: G4, Gamespot, and Darth Hater.With the floodgates of information opened, I would like to examine the differences between the two class, their respective advance classes, and why you should play each. For those who are new, know that the Jedi have different rolls in which they play which are given proper titles for their positions. With that being said, let us analyze the both the appeal and demeanor of the Jedi Knight and Jedi Consular.

The Jedi Knight, classic perennial hero of the Republic, is a symbol of hope and peace for the entire galaxy. These valiant heroes are the ones leading the charge on a enemy base or in the front lines of a defense. Either way, they are fearless warriors who are not afraid to leap into a fight with their lightsabers blazing. The Jedi Knight is designed for players who want to rush into the fray immediately, striking the opponent down with righteous justice delivered through flurries of slashes and strikes.

 

Being in the front lines, the Jedi Knight is granted Medium Armor proficiency to be able to withstand a certain amount of damage. If a Knight wishes to be the center of attention and "tank" for the group, he can advance onwards to become a Jedi Guardian. With heavy armor, the Jedi Guardian shall be the protector for the rest of the team, tanking any incoming damage from enemies through a threat generation heavy move set. On the other hand, those who wishes to dish out insane amount of damage can prestige into a Jedi Sentinel. With the ability to use two ligthsabers at once, the Sentinel deals heavy damage in quick slashes that will surely dismantle anyone in their way. The Sentinel is recommended for those who love quick decisive melee victory.

On the other end of the Force, we have the wise and tactical Jedi Consular. Represented by both Yoda, and the current Jedi Grand Master, Satele Shan, the Jedi Consular is a Force filled individual who excels in the knowledge of the Force, drawing on its power to ensure victory. Either through Force Powers or cunning, the Jedi Consular is designed for those who like the tactical experience of destroying their enemies from or through surprising strikes. In order to focus their minds and their range mastery, the Jedi Consular is given Light Armor or elegant robes to wear onto the battlefield so that their movements and concentration will not be hindered.

For those who like to Force Push your opponents with such power and grace from afar, this class is definitely for you. With enough training, the Jedi Consular can advance his or her knowledge onwards to become a Jedi Sage. As a Sage, you will be able to channel the force with such clarity that even allows you to revive allies in battles or keep enemies suspended through the use of Force Stasis. Conversely, a Jedi Consular wanting a more face to face approach and develop into a Jedi Shadow. Jedi Shadows are masters of the Lightsaber Staff and spring surprising attacks from stealth. By using the Force as their ally, they can hide themselves from sight and empower their sabers with brilliant energy that with decimate their enemies through powerful finishing moves. If keeping out of sight and surprise attacks are your cup of tea, the Jedi Shadow is for you.

For a more in-depth look at the differences between the two classes and their personal stories, please view the following Class Video on "Designing the Light Side" posted by our great developers at www.swtor.com:

IGN's Demo Impressions

Hi guys! IGN just posted a video impression from a recent demo play session. It offers some very cool insight into the Jedi Knight Class as well as emphasize how large of an impact story and presentation are going to be. Please check it out and have hope for this game being simply stunning.

A Reason for Hope

Greetings all,

Seeing as the release of Star Wars: The Old Republic approaching in the Spring of 2011, I've decided to start a blog spotlighting the game. Unlike other community websites such as TOROcast or Darth Hater, this blog will focus on the game systems and what positive and innovative influences they may have for the player as well as fans of both Star Wars and Bioware. I make no excuses here for my editorial posts since the goal of this blog will be to spotlight the great things about the game and get everyone "hyped" about playing The Old Republic. In addition, since I personally am fan, I will be incorporating some Star Wars trivia once in awhile as look for others to do so. In the end, I hope that this game will live up to the expectations of fans worldwide and will do my best to show others there is a great reason for hope in its success. Please join me and together we will explore this unknown galaxy in The Old Republic.