SWTOR: Your questions answered

The new Star Wars MMO ‘Star Wars: The Old Republic’ opened its gates to the early access players this week. Being an adult has filled my days with… well, adulty type things? Although I have played over two beta-weekends and this early access so I’ve built up a bit of knowledge and feel it’s only fair to pass that on to you.

After going through my top asked questions, I settled on answering these top 5 questions.

1. What class shall I be?

A tricky one and one that can only really be answered by saying ‘try them all and see which one you like’. If you did want a bit more info before you start, well here’s a breakdown of the Imperial classes, and advanced classes.

Sith Warrior – Warriors are one of the two force-using classes in SWTOR. As a DPS / tanking class, they generate force as they attack which is used to fuel other force powers. The advanced classes for the Warrior are Marauder and Juggernaut. Marauders wear medium armour and wield dual lightsabers, Juggernauts wear heavy armour and are ideal for tanking.

Sith Inquisitor – The other Imperial force-using class the Inquisitor, uses the power of the force to throw lightning, or perform brutal lightsaber attacks. They are also able to heal and support their allies. The advanced classes for the Inquisitor are Sorcerer and Assassin. Sorcerers concentrate on force lightning attacks and healing, Assassins wield a dual-bladed lightsaber with lethal efficiency.

Imperial Agent – The Imperial agents are a DPS/healing class that uses stealth and cunning to sneak up on their prey silently or strike at them afar with a rifle. The advanced classes for the Imperial Agent are the Operative and Sniper. Operatives are the experts of stealth and surprise attacks with invaluable field medic skills, Snipers use long-range rifles to eliminate targets from a distance.

Bounty Hunter – Bounty Hunters are a DPS/tanking class, using powerful weapons, such as flamethrowers and advanced armour to stay alive, using their jet-packs to escape and fire from the air. All Bounty Hunters wear Heavy Armour. The advanced classes for the Bounty Hunter are the Powertech and Mercenary. Powertech’s are the tanking class, Mercenary’s are primarily for DPS.

If you want to play Republic and not Imperial the distribution of roles among the classes will by the same, the methods may be different however. See below for the translation.

• Jedi Consular = Sith Inquisitor
• Jedi Knight = Sith Warrior
• Smuggler = Imperial Agent
• Trooper = Bounty Hunter

2. So when can I choose my advanced class?

The first time you visit your major city as part of your class quest-line, which will be around level 10. A quest-giver will ask you to speak to a trainer to choose your advanced class. Once you have chosen you will be given any extra equipment your class needs; an extra lightsaber for a Marauder, or a dual-bladed light sabre for an assassin.

3. When do I get my Spaceship and mounts.

You will be given your own spaceship once you have completed the prologue stage of your class quest line, which will be around level 15. Owning your own spaceship gives you access to visit any planet you want, complete space-combat missions, as well as providing you with an extra companion.

You are able to buy mounts at level 25, 40 and 50. They can’t fly, they just skim across the terrain, but you have your own spaceship anyway, right?

You also get sprint at level 14, which is a 35% increase in your running speed when not in combat.

4. How do I replenish my health? Do I need to learn a skill like medicine, first-aid, cooking, bandaging etc.

Short answer: Nope.

Longer answer: everybody has a skill which restores health, and force, or energy or what ever bar is used to fuel your skills. It has no cool-down and can be used when you are not in combat. The skill’s name changes for each class, but everyone has this skill. Of course if you need more healing, you can become an operative or Sorcerer, or learn the Biochem / Bio-analysis and Diplomacy crafting skills and make your own Health stims.

5. Can I skip the cut-scenes?

Yes, you can. Pressing the ‘escape’ key will abort the cut-scene but you will still have to listen to it at a later stage. If you press the ‘space bar’ instead then you push the conversation along a step at a time.

I’ll keep you posted when there’s some more nuggets of information about SWTOR. Until then ‘May the Force”¦’ ungh! No, I can’t do it. Sorry.

Oh but if you want to read my reviews on the beta-weekends click here for weekend 1 and here for weekend 2.