Last week, an interesting GameSpy article caught the eyes of a few SWTOR players. Why? Because it critiqued SWTOR in a way that not a lot of press articles and critics are talking about– it critiqued its “fluff”. Fluff, when used to describe MMO features, often refers to the social features that stand out to roleplayers in particular, but every type of gamer can get enjoyment from fluff.

Collectable items, vanity pets, cool mounts, roleplay events held in taverns and cantinas, achievements, mini games, tradeskills, and holiday events can all be constituted as fluff, and if game developers are smart, they use these social features both as a lure for players and as a way to simply show off the game world. Fluff is immersive, which is why it speaks to so many players. It lets MMOs become a virtual home to us instead of just a virtual place to shoot bad guys. SWTOR’s problem, according to the article? There’s too much shooting, and not enough fluff– which is pretty disappointing given the universe it’s based off.

As more and more MMOs’ release, it is evident that World of Warcraft’s success has been an anomaly. Remember when SWTOR was strutted as the next “WoW killer?” But ultimately a large exodus occurred, and layoffs followed. Many have since begun questioning the success of any subscription based MMO to follow. If Bioware is struggling with a subscription model when they have the biggest IP you can attach to an MMO, what hope is there for any other MMO that follows the same model? Essentially, Bioware needs to convert to the Free-to-Play model if they want to increase their profit and player base.

In light of server transfers headed our way in the near future, I thought I’d take the time to highlight one very cool-looking roleplaying SWTOR guild that’s currently looking for additional soldiers to add to their ranks. Yeah, you heard me right. Ranks. Trooper ranks!

Alpha Company is the name of the guild, and they are a Trooper-based roleplaying guild on the Jung Ma server. They also accept Scoundrel Smugglers. They’ve made some very cool recruitment videos that are worth taking a look at even if you’re not a Trooper! Click “continue reading” to find out more.

In sharp contrast to the Jedi and Sith who exist separately from the militaries, the armies of the Republic and the Empire have no mystical force to rely on. Their prowess and cunning come from training, discipline, and oftentimes a willingness to do things that a Jedi would cringe at. These front line troops have far more to lose than their Force wielding counterparts, and they know it. Whether they enlist for patriotism or power, to walk onto a battlefield and know that facing down a Jedi or Sith is a possibility takes courage that many in the galaxy don’t have. To come out victorious is an even bigger task.

The men and women in the militaries of Star Wars find themselves facing Rakghouls, Sith and almost every terror the galaxy has. Jump past the cut to learn more about these incredibly soldiers.

What use is it calling yourself the “Protectors of the Galaxy” if you keep yourself from fighting? How can a galaxy at war train a Jedi to learn of peace and knowledge with the threat of impending doom over their heads? While the Jedi Order portrayed in The Phantom Menace and the beginning of Attack of the Clones was one that had flourished in peace, the Great Galactic War breeds an entirely different mindset for these paragons of the Force.

Jump past the cut to read how war can turn a philosopher into a warrior, and if the Order can really uphold its standards while fighting a brutal war.

The legacy system has many fantastic features in store for the game, from new emotes to strange race/class combinations, but the idea that all of your characters must be related has caused a stir amongst the roleplaying community. Sure, the dev blog video has revealed that you have the option to list your character as allies as well as relatives, but inventive roleplayers may see the opportunity to create some of the epic family legacies that Star Wars is famous for. The tools that this system gives us can allow us to create epics of our own. Jump past the cut to see how family matters in a galaxy far, far away.

Among the coming update 1.2 changes, one of the additions currently most debated is the Legacy system. Many players are looking forward to the new fluff abilities and cool ways to approach alt leveling. Many others feel that BioWare should prioritize other things before new emotes, sparkly abilities, and character family trees. Both sides of the coin have decent points in the argument, but it’s a little too late to argue either side. The Legacy system was intended to be in for launch.

Are there issues that seem more important than fluff abilities? Sure. Are some of the largest issues also being dealt with in 1.2? Yes. UI customization is the first that comes to mind, as well as the fixes for important issues like class-based ability delays and graphical issues. And let’s not forget, of course, that major new content is being added. The best thing BioWare could have done is exactly what they did with update 1.2– produce a little bit of everything.

Since the introduction of the bumbling duo, C-3PO and R2-D2, the Star Wars universe has shown fans a fantastic world of machines capable of thought, emotions, and unique personalities. The title of this article (a tagline from The Essential Guide to Droids) only gives a small taste of what these automatons are capable of. The Old Republic in particular gives players quite a few droids to interact and journey with, and incorporating them into roleplay stories can be challenging at times. What are they capable of? How are they seen by the citzens of the galaxy? And could they be dramatic heroes and villains on par with any organic?

Jump past the cut to explore their machinations.

This week’s “The Galaxy is Yours” is the conclusion of the exploration of lightsaber forms in The Old Republic. Last week spotlighted Shii-Cho, Soresu and Ataru forms as well as the kinds of characters who would be attracted to using those forms. This week covers the final two in the game: Shien and Juyo. Jump past the cut to continue the journey.

It is no secret that Star Wars has captured the imaginations of millions of fans across the globe. The plight of the Rebel Alliance, the noble Jedi and vile Sith, and the exciting dog fights in space all contribute to a sci-fi universe that spawned more books and video games than most intellectual properties can even dream about. The Old Republic, for example, only uses the basic framework of the universe and sends us far into the past, yet it still captures the heart of what Star Wars is.

Roleplayers use this setting and take it to the next level by creating their own stories within it. With such a wide open universe, there is plenty of room for these stories. But what makes Star Wars such a fantastic setting for roleplayers and non-roleplayers alike? Jump past the cut to find out how.