Star Wars: The Old Republic announced

[Blackjack]

I'm a little worried already...almost every server is Heavy with most being Very Heavy or Full with 15-30 min queues.  And tomorrow's the big day when the majority of people join (pre-order wise).  I really hope they open a load of new servers or we'll all have an hour wait tomorrow night

The Cantina server finally eased up and they have added several new servers tonight. But like everyone I get attached to my first and it's just kind of hard to let go and move to another server.  

Although I think SWTOR looks better in motion than in stills, I did want to share this pic of bud Jaster (a trooper I did a couple Heroics with tonight):

It's the closest thing I've seen to a cool helmet at that stage (mid teens) of the game.  

We did a 4 player heroic and for a change we all did sort of work together. I'd slice one droid to take it out of play, we'd focus on other stuff, we'd avoid  using AoE in some situations to avoid "waking up" a sliced/stunned droid etc. We had a Jedi Consular and a Smuggler Scoundrel, so healing wasn't an issue.

[ydejin]

Are there many GT Sith players?  Are you all on the same Dreshdae Cantina server as Blackjack's GT Heroes guild.

I'm playing Republic with the Qt3 group on The Harbringer, but I was thinking perhaps I should have my Sith characters on another server, since they can't help with crafting anyway, and based on the fact that I've played through Mass Effect 5 times, I'm not sure having only 4 Republic characters and 4 Sith characters is going to be a realistic limit for me.

[Harkonis]

If I were playing, I would definitely be part of the Empire 

[Blackjack]

Are there many GT Sith players?  Are you all on the same Dreshdae Cantina server as Blackjack's GT Heroes guild.

I'm playing Republic with the Qt3 group on The Harbringer, but I was thinking perhaps I should have my Sith characters on another server, since they can't help with crafting anyway, and based on the fact that I've played through Mass Effect 5 times, I'm not sure having only 4 Republic characters and 4 Sith characters is going to be a realistic limit for me.

There's just a half dozen of us there at this point, including a pal from another forum. I totally expect to be playing Empire characters eventually but I really want to take my Smuggler to the cap and see how things go from there.   I'm glad to start some alts elsewhere if we want to branch out. I'm a realist -- I know lotta folks would rather do Empire, are on the West Coast not East, wanna do PVP or RP etc.

I'd give it some time before you assume you're going to play 25 alts. You may just like your class's storyline enough to find yourself sticking with one for a while.  

We'll have to see how launch day goes, but so far I'm very hopeful this is a long-term kind of game, and not a "Forum Effect Rush and then everybody abandons ship a couple months after release" thing. Only time will tell though, right?

[Blackjack]

Am I the last person to figure out those ATM-looking machines are Cargo Holds that you can access even if you don't have a ship? Duh?

*This is in Coruscant, bottom level at the end of the hall of vendors/trainers. I think someone here weeks ago had pointed out companions can access crafting stuff if you dump it in the cargo hold, but I thought you needed your ship first.

============================
Would be curious how other folks divvy up their hotkey binds. I'm still doing things a bit like I did in City of Heroes and LOTRO, where I was more comfortable assigning various letters on the left half of my keyboard. I'm not too comfy using numbers beyond maybe 6-7. I'll probably eventually use some F1, F2 keys etc.


-The "Z" key is a quick shot.
-The "T" key skill is a "buff" in preparation for firing Quick Burst (2).
-The "V" skill is the Pistol Whip melee skill, with B being a Dirty Kick (to crotch). I bunched those since I tend to use them quickly in succession and then back off.
-The R" key is to Slice a Droid (stuns target for quite a while if not attacked); my thinking was "R" = "Robot"  
-"Mouse 5" (it's a small, left side button on my Logitech mouse) is for an "only from cover" powerful attack (forgot name). Takes a few seconds to trigger.
-The purple icon is Sprint (available at 14). It toggles off automatically in-combat and then back on out of combat so I basically leave it on and don't mess with it (though there are some occasions you may prefer to walk).
-The "7" skill shoots a target's legs to stick them in place a few seconds. Useful if you wanna keep a melee type off you.
-"Mouse E" means the mouse wheel-as-button. That's "Cool Head," which quickly replenishes part of your energy in combat; it's a 2-minute cooldown so it isn't something you'll likely get to use more than once in a battle. The skill to the left of it immediately makes Cool Head available again (but has its own long cooldown).
-I've stuck with the default "F" for taking cover/dropping portable cover.

God help me if I stop playing this a few months and revisit it. I'll never remember all this stuff, as with LOTRO.   The optional Cover Bar (pulls out non-cover-fire skills and shows only-cover fire skills) is both nice and confusing -- cause you'll often see two of the same skill on your bars and go "huh?" I still have some of that.

I do feel we could use one more low-center hotkey bar but I assume Bioware thinks that would clutter the screen too much. I just don't find the side bars all that useful on a widescreen monitor. I'm not a squirrel, and I can't really see the bars out that far in the heat of combat well. 

[Harkonis]

I think the worst game to leave and come back to was CoX for me.  I had binds that loaded other text file binds on use and a folder with a few dozen of them in it.

[Covenant]

I'm starting to decide what classes I'll be trying out but I don't really know much about the details and the broad descriptions don't help me much, so I have a couple questions. What would be the class types to match the following playstyles? I put the WOW equivalent in parenthesis.

1) Ranged DOT/Drain combat (warlock)
2) Ranged burst combat (mage)
3) Single target tank (warrior)
4) AOE tank (paladin)

[PR_GMR]

If I were playing, I would definitely be part of the Empire 

I have a good friend that's playing Empire. I'm actually considering skipping The Wanderers Republic guild and just joining my friend's evil Empire guild. hehehe

...

Game is halfway downloaded for me. Hopefully, by the time I get off work today, I'll be ready to join the masses online.

[Harkonis]

I guess I'm playing after all, arm got twisted.  Will be setting up shop on a pvp server as an Imperial.  Anyone is welcome to join the Dynamic Duo of Kato and Hark.

[USMC Kato]

I guess I'm playing after all, arm got twisted.  Will be setting up shop on a pvp server as an Imperial.  Anyone is welcome to join the Dynamic Duo of Kato and Hark.

Dark side FTW 

[Teggy]

Great, now we get to hear Hark complain about how much he doesn't like the game

[Harkonis]

Great, now we get to hear Hark complain about how much he doesn't like the game

you won't hear it, you'll be too busy listening to you light side quest dialog

[Teggy]

Great, now we get to hear Hark complain about how much he doesn't like the game

you won't hear it, you'll be too busy listening to you light side quest dialog

My trooper is definitely a goody-two-shoes, but I decided that my Consular is going to be the biggest douche in the universe

[Blackjack]

I think the worst game to leave and come back to was CoX for me.  I had binds that loaded other text file binds on use and a folder with a few dozen of them in it.

Oh yeah, definitely.   I liked that in City of Heroes it was also relatively easy (I had to dig through the strategy guide) to append text phrases to a power button, etc. I don't know if it would be much help in SWTOR unless they add caption balloons at some point. Right now that seems to be in as an "undocumented feature," so maybe it's in the cards for later.

imho, greater than the sum of the parts, SWTOR's total is.   My Yoda-ish way of saying I could still complain about various small things, or things I wish are in the game some day, but the sum of the parts has proven painfully addictive to me to this point.
===========

I have on occasion just chosen the "screw that (kill so-and-so)" response. Being Republic doesn't mean you can't just say "what the hell" from time to time. Although I'm not sure it necessarily makes much sense to thoughtfully step through a conversation and then BOOM, DIE!  

[USMC Kato]

Great, now we get to hear Hark complain about how much he doesn't like the game

you won't hear it, you'll be too busy listening to you light side quest dialog

My trooper is definitely a goody-two-shoes, but I decided that my Consular is going to be the biggest douche in the universe

Kinda sad I won't be able to gank Teggy

[Harkonis]

Great, now we get to hear Hark complain about how much he doesn't like the game

you won't hear it, you'll be too busy listening to you light side quest dialog

My trooper is definitely a goody-two-shoes, but I decided that my Consular is going to be the biggest douche in the universe

Kinda sad I won't be able to gank Teggy

indeed

[Harkonis]

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/police-arrest-man-accused-light-saber-assault-toys-162829995.html

BJ taking the game too seriously?

[drifter]

Some freinds of mine and I are on Ajunta Pol an RP-PVP server; we are Republic players.  With the way the Empire is and what I saw in beta most of the Ass-hats will play Empire.  You can go light or dark from either side.  We ran the heriocs with our Smugglers and when we freed the pirate guy I didnt like his attitude so we fragged him; felt good too.  Went like this:

Pirate -  about time you punks got here and set me free, you gonna escort me out of here or what?  Me - Oh hey is that a highly explosive barrel right next to you?  Oh my trigger finger slipped on my blaster BOOM.

We did a two man run through the Esseles with our Smuggler-gunslingers and it worked pretty good with our Corso companions.

A third friend came online and we did it again with our Jedis; two knights and my Counselor-sage.  Every piece of gear that dropped was Counselor gear.  I got an Orange level Jedi robe, blue gloves, blue boots, and a blue saber from the end guy.

What is really nice so far with this game is that we are much more interested in progressing the story lines than blasting through things and getting too a higher level.

[Harkonis]

Some freinds of mine and I are on Ajunta Pol an RP-PVP server; we are Republic players.  With the way the Empire is and what I saw in beta most of the Ass-hats will play Empire.  You can go light or dark from either side.  We ran the heriocs with our Smugglers and when we freed the pirate guy I didnt like his attitude so we fragged him; felt good too.  Went like this:

Pirate -  about time you punks got here and set me free, you gonna escort me out of here or what?  Me - Oh hey is that a highly explosive barrel right next to you?  Oh my trigger finger slipped on my blaster BOOM.

We did a two man run through the Esseles with our Smuggler-gunslingers and it worked pretty good with our Corso companions.

A third friend came online and we did it again with our Jedis; two knights and my Counselor-sage.  Every piece of gear that dropped was Counselor gear.  I got an Orange level Jedi robe, blue gloves, blue boots, and a blue saber from the end guy.

What is really nice so far with this game is that we are much more interested in progressing the story lines than blasting through things and getting too a higher level.

I would prefer an east coast server

[Harkonis]

Ven Zallow is where it looks liek Immagonnabe

[Hotfreak]

I guess I'm playing after all, arm got twisted.  Will be setting up shop on a pvp server as an Imperial.  Anyone is welcome to join the Dynamic Duo of Kato and Hark.

I could use someone to guard me as my frame rate drops through the floor in pvp.  You're hired!

j/k

my preference has always been pvp server, empire side, so I will holler at you when I get in.

edited because my ability to read the immediately preceding post is horrendous....

[USMC Kato]

I guess I'm playing after all, arm got twisted.  Will be setting up shop on a pvp server as an Imperial.  Anyone is welcome to join the Dynamic Duo of Kato and Hark.

I could use someone to guard me as my frame rate drops through the floor in pvp.  You're hired!

j/k

my preference has always been pvp server, empire side, so please post where you guys are.

East Coast Server: Ven Zallow RP-PVP

[Covenant]

Soooo close.  People preordering on the 14th are reporting they are in now.  I preordered the 15th so hopefully the next wave of e-mails should do it.  Actually looking forward to checking this out now.

[Bcarle]

Just got my invite!!  Preordered on the 13th


bob

[Blackjack]

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/police-arrest-man-accused-light-saber-assault-toys-162829995.html

BJ taking the game too seriously?

Hey I'm a dual blasters guy who doesn't like to hurt people in real life -- so more likely I'd go nuts with a couple of those Nerf-projectile pistols, firing from cover.  

Besides, 33 years old, man? Damn, I only wish it was still 1998.  
=================
So what are you guys (once you've reached the point of crew skills) trying so far crafting wise? I'm trying armstech but early on, can't really seem to make anything as good or better as what I've already gotten from quest rewards for my smuggler or his companion.

I've heard the biochem crafting is pretty useful if you're not a healer type (longer lasting stims, lots of useful consumables of this and that), and I'm thinking that might be more useful to my smuggler as I advance further into the game and fights get a little tougher.

I don't know if I grasp how to get better at armstech. I'm not sure if making a bunch of the initial weapons you can make is improving Corso's skill or if he's just spinning his wheels.  

[rshetts2]

I'm starting to decide what classes I'll be trying out but I don't really know much about the details and the broad descriptions don't help me much, so I have a couple questions. What would be the class types to match the following playstyles? I put the WOW equivalent in parenthesis.

1) Ranged DOT/Drain combat (warlock)
2) Ranged burst combat (mage)
3) Single target tank (warrior)
4) AOE tank (paladin)

I havent played too many classes yet but the one I can tell you about is the 2) Ranged Burst (mage)   The Empires Imperial Agent sniper class would fit that.  they are a lot of fun to play and have an awesome quest/story line.

[Blackjack]

I'm starting to decide what classes I'll be trying out but I don't really know much about the details and the broad descriptions don't help me much, so I have a couple questions. What would be the class types to match the following playstyles? I put the WOW equivalent in parenthesis.

1) Ranged DOT/Drain combat (warlock)
2) Ranged burst combat (mage)
3) Single target tank (warrior)
4) AOE tank (paladin)

I havent played too many classes yet but the one I can tell you about is the 2) Ranged Burst (mage)   The Empires Imperial Agent sniper class would fit that.  they are a lot of fun to play and have an awesome quest/story line.

Cov, you might find the 1UP character class guide I mentioned in the other thread helpful too (it's to the point):
http://www.1up.com/features/star-wars-old-republic-character-class-guide?pager.offset=1

*I don't know if there's an easy one-to-one comparison with those classes because the SWTOR classes have a fair amount of diversity/flexibility. So far my Smuggler has very little AOE attack (almost everything is about high damage to a single target, although the grenade attacks will "awaken" stunned targets near to where it hits). Honestly, everything is fun and versatile.  I'm hooked on my Smuggler but I wouldn't hesitate to try everything.

You might well go in thinking you'll want to be one class and then find out something completely different best suits your play style. I didn't expect to like the Sith Inquisitor much but I still think that'll be my first Imperial class. Being a light saber class with a variety of ranged lightning attacks just felt very cool and flexible for different situations. 

[TK-421]

OK, this is a silly question but I never thought about this during the beta and I'm days away from being able to join yet so I am wondering:  Can you name/rename your ship once you get it?

[Harkonis]

I would think Sith Sorcerer would be pretty mage-like 

[The Grue]

I got my game key from Origin today and registered it, along with signing up for 6 months worth of game time.  I love the game and know I will get at least that much out of it.  I also set up the mobile authenticator for my iPhone today.

[The Grue]

I'm a little worried already...almost every server is Heavy with most being Very Heavy or Full with 15-30 min queues.  And tomorrow's the big day when the majority of people join (pre-order wise).  I really hope they open a load of new servers or we'll all have an hour wait tomorrow night

The Cantina server finally eased up and they have added several new servers tonight. But like everyone I get attached to my first and it's just kind of hard to let go and move to another server.  

Although I think SWTOR looks better in motion than in stills, I did want to share this pic of bud Jaster (a trooper I did a couple Heroics with tonight):

It's the closest thing I've seen to a cool helmet at that stage (mid teens) of the game.  

We did a 4 player heroic and for a change we all did sort of work together. I'd slice one droid to take it out of play, we'd focus on other stuff, we'd avoid  using AoE in some situations to avoid "waking up" a sliced/stunned droid etc. We had a Jedi Consular and a Smuggler Scoundrel, so healing wasn't an issue.

My trooper has a cooler hat, but I haad to be 19 to wear it.

[Exodor]

Random question - how many characters can you create?

I kind of liked WoW's nearly unlimited character creation (I think the limit was 50 across all servers).

[Roguetad]

While the smuggler story is pretty good (just hit 14 last night), the empire class stories that I've played are more interesting.  I like the voice acting for the imperial classes better too.  Just personal preference for me.  I can't stand the emotionless jedi code, so if I played one, I'd be a terrible jedi. 

 

[Blackjack]

Random question - how many characters can you create?

I kind of liked WoW's nearly unlimited character creation (I think the limit was 50 across all servers).

In SWTOR it's 8 characters per server. I assume there's some overall limit, but I've been unable to find anything official. People throwing the 50# around for SWTOR too, are probably just assuming it's similar to WoW's limit.

While I wanna eventually try everything for me it's more likely a slow burn. Soak up a class to or near the level cap, rather than try to set some record for the most characters on the most servers. I like keeping in touch with folks and I don't think I can do that if I create 3 dozen alts and log on differently 5 times a day (something like City of Heroes' "global chat system," to keep in touch with someone regardless of his character in use, might be helpful on that). To each his own though.  

P.S. I had to run home early to help my mom with a "locked herself out of her house" emergency... My SWTOR CE edition arrived! Talk about big honking boxes.... I thought "what the hell did I order from Amazon that's so huge?!"... more on that later.  

NOTE: Yikes, reading a lot of reports of damaged CEs, including broken statues and authenticators. Wish me luck tonight when I open it.   Doesn't sound like they used enough bubble wrap or foam peanuts or an environmentally friendly equivalent.

[Exodor]

Thanks Blackjack.  I want to create a few characters on the GT server and on another server but didn't want to limit myself too early.


This "CrewSkillz" looks like a nice intro to crafting.

[Exodor]

Has anyone put any time into figuring out crafting?

I'm trying to decide if it's feasible to have my main as a gatherer and a few crafter alts produce the items.  I don't know if crafting levels are restricted by character level - in WoW you had to be a certain character level to be able to advance in crafting.

Are crafted items mostly BoP or BoE?

I've read that you can find rare patterns with some of the gathering professions - are those BoE or BoP?


Thanks to anyone who knows more than the tiny bit I know. 

[Arclight]

I thought only the companions can be the crafters. We choose what we want, missions,gathering,fabrication,and the rest is done by companions upon our orders? No?

[Exodor]

I thought only the companions can be the crafters. We choose what we want, missions,gathering,fabrication,and the rest is done by companions upon our orders? No?

Yes but you can only learn 3 professions per character - one crafting and two gathering/mission.  Your companions do the crafting/gathering but the "crew skill" is tied to the player.

OCD types like me tend to make crafting alts.  Killjoys like Blizzard put level requirements on crafting to discourage crafting alts.

[Blackjack]

Just opened my CE package. Everything's intact. In fact, the statue was packaged like Fort Knox (solid styrofoam, taped shot).

The metal Darth Malgus statue is totally awesome!   I'll have a few  photos to share after dinner. It's very stout, very heavy, solid base. Long metal pegs on the feet holding it in place. The glossy base ships with a protective film on it.

Yeah when we talk about crafting, we just mean your companion's doing it but you're directing all that. So basically you're crafting, the companion system just takes the drudgery out of it, imho.

[Arkon]

Really disappointed with how Amazon packed the CE.  The top of my box is all scratched and quite a bit of ink is missing.  I haven't checked the contents yet.