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.

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.

The Old Republic’s portrayal of the Sith Warrior and the Jedi Knight brings with it the use of lightsaber forms. Each advanced class has the opportunity to specialize in some of these forms, each with its own benefits. Though the game gives us no visual difference between the forms, each fighting style brings its own style that can say a lot about a character’s personality. Iconic characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker had styles that mirrored their own personalities. Your Sith Warrior or Jedi Knight’s style can often say more about your character than their back story can.

Jump past the to see how some of these lightsaber styles can form a great foundation for a new character.

Players of MMORPG’s can oftentimes take the act of healing for granted. Whether it be in roleplaying or simply in-game, the fact that another person can be healed with a few presses of a button and that overall health is represented by a linear green bar can easily skew a person’s view of how difficult the process can be. Even in the Star Wars universe wounds take time and work to heal, whether it be through the power of the Force or through carefully applied kolto and a droid surgeon.

In fact, there are many miraculous and interesting types of medical technology available to both the Republic and Sith. Jump past the cut to learn more.

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.

What do a noble race of feline humanoids, a horned red-skinned species and a species known for its intricate head-tails and orange skin have in common? The potential for new races in The Old Republic. These three species fit the criteria of being humanoid enough for Bioware to consider including them, unlike the Wookies or Trandoshan, and are also featured in the game heavily enough to warrant consideration.

Jump past the cut to explore a bit about each of these races, and how they might be included. Minor spoilers as to the names of companions will be below.

“I’m looking for a great warrior.”
“Wars not make one great.”

The Old Republic places us in a setting that is on the brink of war. The Treaty of Coruscant keeps the Sith Empire and Republic at bay, but each side is itching to be at each other’s throats.  As a roleplayer creating a character in this environment, there are many things to consider about how this war would affect how they think. Nearly every part of the known galaxy was touched by this war, from the Outer Rim to the Core Worlds.

Jump past the cut to explore what it means to have a character grow up in a culture of war, and how you can use this to help flesh out your own.