This week we get back to the classic style of MER, breaking down the latest news and getting to the heart of community conversations. We get caught up on all the details for Space Combat and the new Jedi Knight advanced classes, and take a good look at the four new playable species. The community really brought their A-game for this week's discussion topic, and they helped us dissect the concerns surrounding class restrictions. Also the mail bag has gotten significantly lighter, and we'll continue to answer our backlog of emails in the next couple of shows.

We want to offer a big thanks to Rel82aStarkiller, Mesirav Darkcrest, Kathy from Corellian Run Radio, camensmasher, Robhellboy, Lordhammer from Guild Umbra, Timsobuff, Xavier, and Sebastian0 for taking the time to leave us reviews on iTunes.

Music for this show was provided by General Fuzz. Check out more of his work at generalfuzz.net


News from the Galactic Republic
8/17 - PC Gamer article covering space combat in The Old Republic
-Space combat is NOT going to be a sim like X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter
-Buzz word used at the press junket was “Tunnel Shooter”
-Combat will be accessed via unlockable “hot-spots” that you interact with similar to the glaxy map in ME.
-Combat is single-player at first, plans to implement PVP and Co-op in the future

8/13 - Jedi Knight Advanced Classes
-Advanced Classes update at SWTOR.com
-New video with in-game footage of Jedi combat
-Advanced Classes: Guardian and Sentinel
-Also introduced to the first companion for the Knight, the T7-01 Astromech
-Lightsaber forms at Wookiepedia

8/6 - New Timeline Holorecord covering the Mandalorian War
-Timeline Video at SWTOR.com
-Focuses on the Republic’s struggle and how Revan and Malak turned the tide
-Their acts ended the war, but also lead to their fall to the dark side
-Next Timeline will investigate even more dark side influence over the war, specifically Exar Khun

8/6 - Four new playable species announced
-Species update at SWTOR.com
-Sith Pureblood confirmed for Sith Warrior (Wookiepedia)
-Miraluka confirmed for Jedi Knight (Wookiepedia)
-Mirialans confirmed for Jedi Consular (Wookiepedia)
-Zabrak confirmed for Sith Inquisitor (Wookiepedia)
“There are combinations we haven't confirmed. James recently talked on this subject at Comic-Con International, though, and announced that there will be some restrictions. For the time being, the combinations we have announced you can count on. What other combinations will there be? That's an update for another day...” - Sean Dahlberg


Stories From the Outer Rim
Community Discussion - Class Restrictions

Listener Questions
GoodRevan - Do you think there will be expansion packs released to keep things with TOR new and up to date, or do you think that this is a one off deal? And if there are expansion packs, do you think that they will add new planets, or weapons, etc?
Couldn’t find an official word from Bioware, but it’s very likely there will be expansions

Mads from Denmark - I've been wondering for a while now, how much of a role the companion characters will play in the end game play of swtor. I loved them in both Kotor and Mass Effect and I wonder how much different they are going to be in this game. Specifically if you lose a character, lets say a healer-type, because they don't like the way you do things, does that mean that you have a disadvantage in endgame? Are more than one of your companions capable of filling a certain role?

Sergio - Do you guys plan on making a guild in SWTOR?

Tygran - One major theme in most SW movies/books/games is redemption and the fall from grace. Do you think they will allow players to switch sides? Such as a Jedi losing his way and switching to Sith. Not sure how that would work for the other classes. If they did this, I would hope it would come with a cost such as a long quest chain and loss of abilities while you learned new ones.
No faction swaps. Ever. - James Ohlen, Lead Designer

KondorHawx - Once the game comes out and we're all enjoying the wonderful universe of Star Wars, what are your plans on the occurrence of the show? Weekly, bi-weekly?

Community discussion was quite fun, I must say. Loved listening to the podcast guys, terrific one. Naturally, now that it's over, I can't remember all of the comments I made while listening that I was intending on putting in my response. Oh well

EDIT: Btw, there was a Wookie Jedi Master http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Tyvokka

Thanks for another great Podcast, guys! Now that there is something more concrete to see with respect to the Space Combat (aka the Video), I was wondering if you have any "quick byte" further impressions on the matter? It actually looks really cool to me, regardless of the fact that I know I will completely suck at it!!

My first impression is that it's exactly what I was expecting: slick, visually stunning, cinematic space combat in the Star Wars universe. I think the Starfox-type presentation works extremely well for the experience Bioware wants to provide players. I don't want to sound all gushy fanboy, but this is significantly more than I had hoped for 6 months ago, so my expectations are met.

Like I said on the show, the PC Gamer article was little more than a synopsis, and this short video is nothing more than a trailer. It's enough to wow, it gives us a couple of answers and hints, but by no means do we have the entire story. I am really, really interested in learning the context for these battles. Will these be more than mini-games, or will they actually impact your experience in a meaningful way?

And as for the folks who are still hung up on the "rails" part of the experience, the promise of PVP and Co-op experiences in the future almost guarantees that they'll have to create some form of open environment. It's very important to keep in mind the ramp comparison that Gordon Walton made at GDC. His lesson-learned from Jump to Lightspeed is that often times, for a whole slew of reasons, it is better to gradually introduce the space experience to a game primarily based on the ground. That is what my expectation of the long-term development of space combat will be in TOR.

Also, in classic form, Darth Hater has done an excellent job with their dissection of the trailer.

*rolls eyes*

And to rub salt in the wound, Plo Koon was his final Padawan.

And eventually, Lowbacca, Chewie's nephew will be a master. He's currently a Knight. No more Jedi Wookiees though, by decree of George.

In regards to space, for me, I had great doubt we'd get XvT, and this (at least how it's explained) really sounds better than what I wanted with the twitch-based movement, because I see it as being run the same was as the story; guided and designed for a cinematic and epic experience.

I think it'll work really well (for me, at least). The video was fantastic and was all I needed to remain content and confident until launch.

Another great podcast, fellas, thanks.

Zach, I loved your Starcraft story. It reminded me of my lame attempts to play Warcraft. Ninety seconds in and the other guy is typing "gj." I'm, like, "W.T.F??"

Brooks, I am exactly on the same page as you as far as space combat is concerned. It sounds like a satisfying side activity that is excellently executed. The addition of PvP and possibly cooperative will make it even better.

I was listening to the show in the grocery store when I got to the outtakes section, and I couldn't stop giggling in the ice cream aisle when you talked about "Jar-Jar" replacing "s***load." Hahahaha!

And thanks for mentioning our podcast.