In most games we start out as 20-somethings or younger trying to find our place in the world. It really is a great age range, if you think about it. For most people, it's a time of discovery. People have settled on what they are good at but have yet to find what that skill does in the great scheme of life. It is also the time where our intelligence and physical prowess are fairly equal. Plus, we are now adults. No one can tell us what to do for the first time, and we can make decisions for ourselves, right or wrong.
That being said, this does not limit the age of our characters in MMOs. We can be any age we want. We are not limited by what the story dictates. In fact, most MMOs -- and from what I have seen, this includes Star Wars: The Old Republic -- have age adjustments in the character creator. In today's Force Reflection, we want you to think about age. How old will your character be? Why did you pick that age for him or her? How would the story be different if he or she were 10 years older or 10 years younger? Let us know in the comments below.
Baraslan and Shaddoe were apparently busy and made us wait a bit for this episode (kind of like how we made you wait for this review article), but we all get busy and fortunately, this episode was worth the wait. Once gain the two give us their own take on a number of RP issues as well as game development, including the new flashpoint made available in the recent 1.1 game patch. (Don't worry, No spoilers.)
Also covered in this episode were a few new RP locations to enjoy ("The Shining Star Cantina" and "The Dune Sea"), an RP based player bounty system (which is a really great idea and we encourage everyone to check it out), and finally introduce the prototype of a new segment called 'Beyond the Grind Theater' which takes fan-written stories and turns them into a 'radio theater' type of presentation. Baraslan is looking for stories now, if you're interested in having your fan-fiction be given the 'Beyond the Grind' treatment.
Also, if you'd like to leave them commentary on their episodes, they now have a new domain name of 'beyondthegrind.org', so leave these guys some feedback or ideas if you have time to pop onto their site.
Approximately seven hours ago, Republic vessels crossed into Imperial space attacking a squadron of Dreadnaughts. Grand Moff Rycus Kilran, Commander of the 5th Fleet, intercepted the Republic attackers. However, one Republic vessel did escape the skirmish: a Thranta-class warship named the Brentaal Star. According to initial unconfirmed reports, the Brentaal Star was carrying key cargo from Imperial space.
Thankfully, the Gage-class transport Black Talon was within range to intercept the Brintaal Star. Although we are unable to reach the captain of the Talon, Revinal Orzik, to confirm, we received word that passengers aboard the Talon assisted in retrieving the stolen cargo.
Much of the information regarding the specifics of the cargo, as well as the condition of the Black Talon crew, are classified. However, reporters from INBN witnessed Communications Officer Ensign Hetter and Security Coordinator Ensign Brukarra leaving the Talon’s transport shuttle on Dromund Kaas. Unfortunately, neither were available for comment. However, Kilran commented, "This is only one of the many operations we are now conducting around the galaxy. Citizens of the Empire should be proud. It’s a new beginning to the war. With one step on Dromund Kaas, you will see what we are fighting for.”
We are unsure what Kilran’s cryptic message means, but rest assured INBN will be there with the latest on this breaking story.
After a holiday break and much-needed Star Wars: The Old Republic play time, our guys from Beyond the Grind are back with a vengeance -- maybe not with a vengeance, but certainly with style and tips for roleplayers making their way through the world of TOR. Baraslan of the Mantell Syndicate and Shaddoe from Massively and Gamebreaker.TV discuss the intimate details of roleplaying in our favorite MMORPG.
Our dynamic duo cover the best and worst in the game so far from the perspective of a roleplayer; also, they tell us about their favorite out-of-the-way roleplay venue. Lastly, Shaddoe says his final good-byes to the MMO that kick-started his love of roleplay: Star Wars Galaxies.
If you're new to roleplay or love to discuss the intricacies of making your roleplay better, then you will not want to miss a single bi-weekly episode of Beyond the Grind.
We know in game mechanics that "red = ded," right? However, in real life, it is a little more complicated than that. Sometimes in war the enemy is not always dressed in black with a nice symbol floating above her head signifying that she is, indeed, the bad guy. As any adult is aware, sometimes the enemy is actually most friendly to you.
In Star Wars: The Old Republic, it will be hard not to know which faction Troopers, Jedi, and Sith are working for, but that still leaves three classes whose allegiances are a bit more ambiguous. It is also highly suspected that there will be non-faction clothing for purchase from social vendors. So how will we know who our enemy is in the Velvet Pearl?
However, let's take, for instance, that you find out that the woman you have been dancing with is actually an Imperial Agent or a Smuggler working for the Republic. How will your character react? Is he the type who would shoot first and ask questions later, or is he a little more complicated than that? What will your character do when he sees the other faction in SWTOR?
[Render by Aphrodite-NS. Click on the image to see the rest of incredible work]
We know that story is a huge draw of BioWare games. It's even in the company mission statement to make the most immersing roleplay games possible. The dialogue wheel is BioWare's real claim to fame. We always know that the paragon choice is at the top; the neutral one is in the middle; and the renegade answer is at the bottom. These choices are the driving force behind BioWare's immersion. They make the game feel more personal.
We all want Star Wars: The Old Republic to feel like our own personal story. However, journalists and fans alike question just how unique the individual player story is going to be. The journalist from PC Gamer UK pointed out that during the Bounty Hunter story, Nem'ro the Hutt could only champion one person in the Great Hunt, but obviously thousands of players are going to play out that storyline.
So here's the question for the day: Are you going to use that storyline to help develop your character? In other words, will your dialogue choices stick? Let us know why or why not in the comments below.
Here at SWTOR-RP, we've had countless Force Reflection's pass through the front page. The very first Reflection was posted in April of 2011, and we've had one every weekday since. You do the math, but the numbers for the amount of Force Reflection questions we've asked the community would be up in the hundreds. In honour of our earliest days since the move to Enjin, we're kicking off Archive Week. We'll be pulling out some of the earliest questions ever asked to our community members. And to kick it off, here is the very first Force Reflection ever posted. Throughout the duration of Archive Week, be sure to let us know if any of your ideas and thoughts have changed since these early questions. Enjoy!
Part of what we would like to do for you on this site is to help you improve or at least think about your roleplay, perhaps in ways you have never considered. Today, we are starting a daily devotion, if you will, that hopefully gets you thinking a bit about what you are going to do in Star Wars: The Old Republic. We call this Force Reflection. We will cover everything from characters, classes, other roleplaying games, to lore -- whatever gets you thinking.
Today's question is rather simple on the surface, but there is some complexity to it. We want to know which class best suits your character? There are many factors to consider, some of which have not been revealed yet. However, we do know enough to at least get you thinking in the right direction.
In the comments below, let us know which class you're going to play for which character, and let us know why you have chosen to go that direction.
A question to start: How many years have you been waiting for Star Wars: The Old Republic to launch? Personally, I have been waiting longer than three years, since the rumor that BioWare was working on a new MMO. I didn't even know that the MMO was Star Wars. When I found that out, I knew I would would be playing the game for a long time. Seriously, no one can beat the combination. Literally, hundreds of thousands of gamers have been waiting as long as I have.
Roleplay and roleplayers exemplify the very best of what MMORPGs can offer, and this site exemplifies the very best of what roleplayers have to offer. We are a large diverse group from all parts of the world, and there is not a style of roleplay that is not represented. The rule-based, heavy-canon RPers have found a home here, yet so have the loose RP-PvPers – and everything in between. We know that you, too, will find a home here as well.
For launch, we have a forum for each server to develop its own culture and style. We have a team of writers watching and waiting for RP event posts to report on the front page of the site. We have a wiki for you to write your own personal story and roleplay guides. Lastly, we have Guides to assist any newcomers to roleplay to find a home.
Down the road, we are looking to expand everything we currently do. We have carved a great niche here, and you are all an integral part of this site's success. We are always looking for volunteers to help us out; there will always need to be a need to be fulfilled. Maybe you are the person to fill it.
Have a great time in the game, and I hope to see you in-game. I have a character named Tziena on every RP server, but if you don't see me online, send me a PM here. I want to hear what you have to say, and I appreciated positive input.
I also want to issue a huge thank you to all the staff of this site. You have given up so much of your time to make this site as successful as it is. The growth we see could not have happened without your vision and hard work. Thank you.
[Lastly, thank you to Sriin for the custom new background for the site. Check her other work on her blog; it is all simply amazing.]
On this unofficial holiday, Imperial citizens -- especially the military -- remember the life of Grand Moff Odile Vaiken. The 1,200-year-old legend stands as a beacon for the accomplishments of the non-Sith among us. Of course, we all lean on the wisdom of our Sith rulers, but for the vast majority of Imperial citizens without the blessing of the Force, we have heroes like Vaiken to look up to. Yesterday, on the same day the first Star Destroyer launched 1,200 years ago, members of the military gathered at the station named after Odile Vaiken. An Imperial fleet of Star Destroyers, the scions of Vaiken's original designs, encircled about it.
To the surprise of many present, a handful of purebloods made an appearance at the central bar. Although most were perplexed by the Siths' presence at a celebration commemorating a human, a few patrons believe it was the ruling class's way of approving the occasion. Of course, we are unsure of who the Sith were at this time, but perhaps we will hear more of them later.
Episode 21 of Beyond the Grind: "The Pureblood Smuggler Legacy" is now available. (Actually it's been available since last weekend, but it's been a busy news week.) Join Baraslan and Shaddoe, as they once again provide a rolelayer's insight on the latest news from Bioware and The Old Republic. This Episode covers the Consular progression video, the Bioware free soundtrack giveaway and the controversial "Legacy System" as well as a small reveal from the latest round of beta testing. Shaddoe also provides comprehensive lore about the Pureblood Sith for those interested in roleplaying them or simply understanding their role in the Star Wars universe (and why they seem to frequently have an air of arrogance and entitlement).
This episode is sponsored by the BTG9000 Legacy Improbability Transcorder - Don't worry about illogical and genetically impossible family legacies - let the BTG9000 do that for you!
