Now I am all for complete customization in your character, however, we have to remember that this game is supposed to be very different than your typical MMO. I think that it might be best described as a RPG/MMO Hybrid. Remember, there is a storyline with each character, and while I am giving BioWare a crapload of credit for all the work they are doing, I think that complete and total customization of your character is just not possible if that plan to have a storyline for each character. The amount of audio options that would have to be created for each character would boggle the mind.

Here is another random thought. If we are going to, obviously, be able to name our characters, what are all the NPC going to call us? Will you go through the entire game and only hear yourself being refered to as "Sir", "M'Lord", or "Hey you"? Somehow I don't think that "PwnMaster L33towitz" was recorded in their audio sessions.

My guess is probably. Madden has name recognition for created characters, or used to anyway. But, that was for names already in the game from the other football players. As for PwnMaster L33towitz, well, I'm praying for RP servers so I don't have to see that crap.

Restricting races to specific classes, in my opinion, would make the game expierience a little akward, since when you see a race you would know class they are. So when you see another player you would think "Hey theres a twi'lek so he must be a smuggler" or something like that. This is why I dont think Bioware will make too many restrictions, the exceptions being of course species like the sith pureblood. It would be cool to play as a zabrak jedi like eeth koth.

Pure speculation on my part, but I'm expecting the voiceovers to be at best class or race specific. So we would likely be trooper/jedi/human/etc

If so that could be another reason they would restrict classes and races somewhat just to cut down on the combinations of race and class that would need to be recorded or edited together.

Personally I'm not going to be extremely disappointed as long as there are at least a few options of race for each class. It will just be part of the decision process to find a class/race combo that I would enjoy playing.

I'm still iffy on that part. While I really don't want to have to deal with some of the names people managed to pick out for their character (Supa1337Killah{CaPaCoP}) for example, I don't know if I want to play on an RP server. I wasn't a huge fan of them in WoW, mostly because I couldn't keep a straight face when in conversation with random people. But that's just because it was Warcraft.

Well, my guild isn't full on RP, we're casual. And so far, most of the RP guilds in the pre-launch community are as well. We're hoping for a RP/PvP server too. Also, RP in Star Wars wouldn't be as weird as RP in WoW, no Olde English nonsense to deal with.

Not to derail, but in response to stefan140's post, I understand that BioWare wants a certain level of ease to tell a class by a few obvious features, which is part of why there will be lightsaber restrictions; one of the only two or three things I have personal disagreements with at this point.

I can't see it being incredibly strict, or one alien species per class (it would obviously cause outrage, much to their overall disadvantage) when they could easily have overlaps where it would be appropriate. Still, I really don't care all that much from my own stand, since I'm probably going to be human, generally (xenophobia for the win).

As far as name recognition, it would be interesting if there was a way for it to work so that one's character can be addressed by name, but I would hardly get in a knot over it not being there. Besides, I like the title "Lord".

Bioware:"Okay Frank just 30,000 more combos to record. You need another glass of water?"
Frank: "No I'm good. Ahem here we go. Corpsecamper, Sarlaccmyballs, teabag4u, yourmom, yourdad, yourgrandma, yourgrandpa, vaderraider, vaderraider2, vaderraider 3, vaderraider 4....."


Seriously I think they are probably writing the dialog much like they did KOTOR 1 before plot elements revealed who you were pre-amnesia. I mean I named my guy Jago Bonita when I played recently (because the World Cup was on) and it didn't pose a problem. They will probably refer to you by rank often, sir, ma'am, or simply you _race_ scum.

I'm still interested to see how the companion system works out. I mean, is every Sith Warrior going to have Murple the Kath Hound? I'm intrigued to see what distinguishes one player's companions from the next. (And yes, I do know that you can swap out any and all armour pieces with armour on your companions.)

Well we know the Sith Warrior's companion is Vette, the Twi'lek Pirate. However, in a cantina, it won't say Vette over every twi'lek companion's head. It'll say Kamri's Companion, for example. Besidels, when has a bunch of hot female twi'leks in a bar been a problem in Star Wars. A *edited* load of Dashades on the other hand...eek!

EDIT: OMG...Too funny, I wanted to say S#!^ load and they have the profanity filter set to cover it with *jarjar* That's awesome! Best use of that name ever.

2nd EDIT: We're probably getting a little off topic here and since this is for the podcast, let's help Zach and Brooks out by refocusing on the topic. Cheers.