Biggs' Zone

A Geek's Cogitations, Conjectures and other Cortical Experiences

Category: SWTOR Page 4 of 5

SWTOR: Tips to Get You Started

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On December 11, 2011

In Gaming, SWTOR

As I alluded to in a previous post, I decided to put together a list of tips and tricks for SWTOR. Some of these tips you will want to use after you have experienced more of the content. Also, be aware that some of these may not actually work when the game goes live.

  • Spacebar Helps the Long Winded – I highly recommend that you don’t skip any of the conversations when you are picking up quests for the first time. The stories in the game are very rich and listening to the NPC conversations helps bring the game to life. However, if you start to level another toon and you want to get through the dialog of the common quests, use the space bar to speed up the conversation.
  • Companions Add Value – Before you pick up your crew skills, make sure that you read about your companion. All companions have a bonus to some crew skill and it might help you decide which one to pick if you are torn between two. Remember, you can only have one crafting skill.
  • Class Story Is Paramount – Every class will receive companions at different times as well as their space ship. Completing the quests associated with your class story is the key to unlocking companions and ships. So you want to focus on the completing those quests the most.
  • Fulfill You Destiny – I’m sure you know that level 10 is when you can pick up your Advanced Class. Make this choice carefully, you cannot change it. You will not be able to pick up the quest until you get to Kaas City or Coruscant and an NPC along the way to your trainer should have the quest for your AC.
  • Always The Last Place You Look – Just like any other MMORPG there are some quests where the NPC gives you an item you need to use in order to complete the quest. You may often find yourself searching your bags trying to find the item you were given. Your inventory has a separate tab for quest specific items.
  • Sexy And They Know It – You can change the gear of your companion too. Make sure you take note of what kind of armor they wear so when something drops you don’t pass on an item that your companion could have used. Also, keep in mind that proper etiquette might dictate that rolling Need on an item for a companion is probably uncouth especially if someone needed the item for their character.

I think that’s enough to get you all started. If anyone has some additional tips they would like to add please feel free to post a comment with your tip. Good luck to everyone that will be playing Star Wars: The Old Republic and May The Force Be With You!

SWTOR: The Home Stretch

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On December 7, 2011

In Gaming, MMORPG, SWTOR

Well the SWTOR beta testing has ended and now all of us have to sit and wait for the live release of the game. I really enjoyed my time in the beta, although I stopped logging in when Bioware did the big beta weekends. I decided that since I had been in the beta since April that I would give up my spot on the server for someone else who hasn’t had as much time as I did. I’m sure it helped a little bit considering all of the queuing issues they had.

I’m thinking about putting together a tips and tricks post about the gameplay for some people, maybe it will help improve their gaming and leveling experience. If I come up with enough content I think I will do that.

The soothsayers are predicting the fall of WoW because of this game. I hardly think that will happen. Blizzard has enough money by now that even if they lost half the accounts they could still keep the game going for many years. The predictions, at this time, are still under 2 million. As far as my plans are concerned, I will be playing both games. I know many of my friends are insisting that I won’t be able to keep up with two games. While I appreciate their advice, I grew up on console games; splitting allegiances is second nature to me.

So for now we are playing the waiting game. Only a week now before the first day of the preorder early access and the question still remains … will I be “sick” on the 15th? 🙂

Cheers!

SWTOR: Bioware’s Launch Plans

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On October 29, 2011

In Gaming, MMORPG, SWTOR

One of the things I’m concerned about is how Bioware plans to handle launch. The way I understand it, and anyone please correct me where I’m wrong, is that Bioware plans to limit or control the number of players that can log in at launch so they can manage the server traffic. I don’t know how the pre-orders fit into that plan as we are suppose to be allowed in early (though how early hasn’t been announced yet).

I understand why they want to control the traffic on launch. This game is one of the most highly anticipated MMOs, everyone will want to be able to log in on the first day, hundreds-of-thousands in the first hour. I remember when Aion started, the lag, the login queue, the crashes, it was brutal and Aion didn’t have nearly the following as SWTOR has. On the other hand, I know how upset players will be if they can’t get in right away on launch day. I’m really curious how Bioware plans to handle it.

The criticism will be harsh no matter what they do. Players who can’t get in will be complaining incessantly. If Bioware lets everyone in from the moment they stand the live servers up, then players will be complaining because of the latency and login queues. It’s probably a lose-lose for Bioware no matter what they try to do because gamers are some of the most impatient users.

The harshest criticism will come from people who haven’t a clue what its like to be involved with a major software release but are suddenly experts on the subject. I guarantee you that the developers, server administrators, and production support staff will have slept less than the obsessive gamers who will hit level cap within the first 3 days. As someone who has been involved with many software launches (some large, some small) I can tell you that the unexpected will happen. Murphy will make sure his influence is known. I admire Bioware for trying to create a smooth launch and I wish them luck because I hope it works.

I know we all paid for the game, and we pay monthly to play the game, but cut Bioware some slack during launch day and the first week. They want things to go smoothly just as much as the rest of us (if not more). Ripping on them because you aren’t allowed in right away, or because the lag is bad, or the server crashed or the million-and-one other things that could go wrong will not stop these things from happening nor will it expedite finding a solution.

Let them do their jobs because I assure you they will be losing years off their lives trying to get the software to launch and run smoothly right out of the gate and during the whole first week. Complaining only makes you sound impatient and ungrateful.

Cheers!

SWTOR: Beta Blues

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On October 28, 2011

In Gaming, General Cogitation, MMORPG, SWTOR

I have the beta blues. Why you ask? Because they are implementing a new build and all the servers are offline. It has been like that for a couple weeks now. I’m withdrawing. I need my SWTOR fix!

I know what the rest of you that aren’t in the beta are thinking …

“Oh boohoo for you!”

Yea, I probably deserve that but I’m still withdrawing. I keep obsessively checking the Game Testing forum hoping for some good news only to have my hopes bashed to pieces. I just read today (October 28th) “the new build will not be available this weekend.” Those tragic words are more harsh than a beating by a Mantellian Savrip.

I am working on some more SWTOR topics, I have hit a writers block. I hope to come up with something before I complete the next MMO Times post so I can have more separation between those posts. If you have anything to suggest, please leave a comment. The topic doesn’t necessarily have to be SWTOR related, most of you that know me know that I play other things.

Cheers!

Bioware Has Blizzard Scared

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On October 23, 2011

In Gaming, SWTOR, World of Warcraft

So I have been watching Blizzcon to see all the new things Blizzard is introducing with their various gaming franchises. I think the biggest news from Blizzcon this year is the concept of the World of Warcraft Annual Pass where anyone who commits to keeping WoW for a year will receive Diablo 3 for free and a guaranteed entry into the Mists of Pandaria beta.

I thought that was a pretty bold move by Blizzard and then it occurred to me, I think this is a tactic to combat the release of Star Wars. I think Blizzard is actually scared about losing players to Star Wars. So much so that they want players to commit to playing their game for a year, and if you do, they will let you play their other game for free. I know that quite a few of the Blizzard employees are Star Wars fans, they have made many comments during other Blizzcons and there is the various Star Wars references in the game (ex: an NPC named Landoo). So I know they have been following the development of SWTOR just as much as the rest of us have been following (obsessively?) it.

I don’t know if any of you watched the in-depth coverage of Mists of Pandaria but some of the Monk abilities seem to have a Star Wars influence. The Monks have a Holy Power-like resource called Dark/Light Force and the Death Knights are getting a new ability called Asphyxiate. Asphyxiate is a new silence ability where the Death Knight chokes the target while lifting them in the air … seems blatantly obvious.

Perhaps Blizzard is trying to increase the Star Wars influence in the game to keep players from going to SWTOR. I’m sure that’s just wild conjecture but its hard to deny suspicion when some of these mechanics are “lovingly” ripped off from Star Wars.

Despite their best efforts, World of Warcraft will never be Star Wars. I’m sorry Bilzzard but no matter how close a Gamorrean is to an Orc, the two will never be the same. If Star Wars fans want to play SWTOR, they will play SWTOR regardless of the fact that a Death Knight can do a Force Choke.

Cheers!

SWTOR: Don’t Think I’m a Clone Now

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On October 20, 2011

In Gaming, SWTOR

I have been following along all the reviews of SWTOR as it makes its circuit to all of the gaming and geek conventions. Knowing what I know from being in the beta it’s fun to see what speculation and theories people craft from the morsels of details they glean from short demos and time boxed test drives.

I really don’t get some of these impressions and comments that are suppose to be taken in the context of “negative reviews”. Some are claiming the story is poor. How can one make that assertion from a short test drive. I have been playing the beta since April. I have tried nearly every class and a couple classes I have played through their starting zone a couple of times. I can tell you that the story is NOT weak! Don’t believe these half wit neophytes that know nothing about the lore. The character stories for all the classes are rich and engaging. All the quests and the dialog is extremely well written. Granted there are some dull quests, but the dulls ones are the ones not linked to the story, they are just XP fodder.

Don’t believe the critics that say the story is weak, it’s simply not true!

Ok, now that I have that out of my system, let’s talk about the thing I keep seeing more and more as a negative mark against SWTOR. Some critics are calling it a WoW clone.

Now I’m not saying it is a WoW clone, but for the sake of argument let’s say they’re right … But why is that a bad thing?? WoW is six years old and still has over 10 million subscribers. If you are going to model yourself off of something, why not pick the one with the best results? I understand wanting to differentiate yourself but that may now always guarantee great success. I mean, look at all the other MMOs released recently where that approach has worked …

So here is my reason why it’s not a WoW clone. Yes, you start at 1 and level, chronologically, up to 50 by picking up a quest and completing a quest. Yes, you get talent trees and you have gathering and crafting professions. That’s about all they have in common and in my opinion (with the possible exception of talent trees) those similarities exist because they are basic MMO mechanics. By the way, the fact that you have class specific quests throughout the leveling experience differentiates this game enough from the questing mechanic in WoW.

Professions barely qualifies because the process of crafting is very different in SWTOR. The work is done while you are questing. You don’t have to stand at a forge for 15 minutes with 25 cloth bracers queued up. You put your companion to the task and you go out and quest some more. Also, I think the third type of profession, mission, is quite interesting and can be very useful for leveling and increasing your dark/light side points.

Ok, so time to end this rant. SWTOR is not a clone of WoW. It shares a few basic mechanics but it has plenty of its own “special modifications” to make it unique.

Cheers!

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