Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Star Wars: The Old Republic: Republic Companions Preview
SBFord
Former Associate EditorMember LegendaryPosts: 33,129
As the next Star Wars: The Old Republic beta weekend looms close, MMORPG.com's Bill Murphy, Garrett Fuller, Mike Bitton, and Chris Higgin had an opportunity to chat with one another about their experiences with companions during their game time recently. They've got a few thoughts to share with you about companions so keep reading! What are you most looking forward to companions-wise in SWTOR? Let us know in the comments!
Rest assured, those who are worried, that while companions are a main facet of the game, it’s not hard at all to manage them, and it doesn’t make the game suddenly “single-player” because the companions won’t fulfill the need of having more people on harder missions. What they do is add to the story experience the same way characters add to the story of Mass Effect or KotOR. And while it is a little silly to see dozens of Coros Riggses or Aric Jorgans running around, there is some customization to help make them look somewhat different from player to player. Still, it’s a significant thing to mention: everyone has companions, in the beginning you’ll all have the same ones, and it’s a bit weird to see people running around with doting clones. That said, we each feel that the depth of characterization and gameplay is enhanced by having them at your side, so it’s really a double-edged sword.
Read more of our Star Wars: The Old Republic - Republic Companions Preview.
)
Comments
Wasn't looking forward to the pet/companion system so much, but I'm planning to play a Jedi Consular and this Fess trandoshan guy looks bad ass. Liking the story you hint at about how he becomes your companion.
SBFord seems to be the hardest working person on this site.
Great updates for all games.
"TO MICHAEL!"
*waves hand* There is no Sith.
Actually, we just can't talk about them yet.
Try to be excellent to everyone you meet. You never know what someone else has seen or endured.
My Review Manifesto
Follow me on Twitter if you dare.
Well you made my day.
I do have to be honest, however, and tell you that I wish I wrote as well and as prolifically as my compatriots here at MMORPG.com. I just have the privilege of "newsing" their hard work.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Nice write up! I'm definately diggin the companions and their different personalities. Here's hoping that I too enjoy my experience with them this weekend although I think I'm gonna be focused on troopers only...
"Small minds talk about people, average minds talk about events, great minds talk about ideas."
*waves his hand at EA suit monkes*
You will lift the NDA on the Sith companions
I think this is appropriate:
We are the bunny.
Resistance is futile.
''/\/\'''''/\/\''''''/\/\
( o.o) ( o.o) ( o.o)
(")("),,(")("),(")(")
After playing Dragon Age starting a few days ago I am super excited about the layer of story and depth the companions will add. Good read.
My best part of this story was the debunking the companion as making it a single player game. Truth is im looking forward to companions as far as advancin my story and how the react to me.
After playing dragon age and dragon age 2 and mass effect 2 i cant wait for the companion system. The companions in those games all had there own unique personalities and if the companions in tor are done as well as the ones in previous bioware games they will add alot to the story for me.
Since i plan on playing every class to max level just for the class story and companions i cant wait for tor to go live.
The interesting thing is that for a game that wasn't trying to bring a lot of "innovation", the companion system is pretty innovative.
I doubt other games will do this because they don't have the expertise that Bioware has in this area, but I'm sure a lot of them wish they could. Adding that new dimension in TOR where previously in every other mmo companions (or pets) were just scenery or background makes them look like cardboard cutouts or just mindless attack drones.
I still laugh to this day about the "companion"/pet that everyone in Rift was raving about and couldn't wait to get, and when they did it was /shouted over chat, that did nothing at all. What to know what is it?
I shit you not.
"TO MICHAEL!"
And of course, having a Jawa companion is simply awesome
Very good read. I'll keep it in mind when I start playing in a few hours.
Just remember what ol' Jack Burton does when the earth quakes, and the poison arrows fall from the sky, and the pillars of Heaven shake. Yeah, Jack Burton just looks that big ol' storm right square in the eye and he says, "Give me your best shot, pal. I can take it."
No female starting companions for the Republic makes me sad
You know what they say:
Nice guys finish last
We are the bunny.
Resistance is futile.
''/\/\'''''/\/\''''''/\/\
( o.o) ( o.o) ( o.o)
(")("),,(")("),(")(")
Great read. It really accentuates the single-player emphasis of SW:TOR. Kudos.
I still have my reservations about this game, but there's no doubt I'll be buying it, it IS star wars. I'm a totaly nerd, so it fits lol. I just wish they'd release the sith companions. I hate being a goody-two-shoes Jedi...Only class on Jedi I even remotely like is Trooper, because they're not really "Good" they can kill innocents if they want hehe.
empire starting companions as have been mentioned from previous press play times are:
Sith warrior - Vette
Sith inquisitor - Khem Val
Imperial Agent - Kaylio Djannis
Bounty Hunter - Mako
here is a list of known companions:
Sith Warrior
Vette - Twi'lek - DPS/Support
Lieutenant Pierce - Human - Imperial Trooper - Darth Hater
Sith Inquisitor
Khem Val - Dashade - Tank
Ability: Khem Val seen has a charge ability
Xalek - Kaleesh - DPS
Bounty Hunter
Mako - Human - Mako starts with a Healing Mode and Concussion Round Kit (deals damage, knocks down lower tier enemies). - Darth Hater
Mako has a minor bonus to Cybertech and significant bonus to Slicing - Darth Hater
Skadge - Houk - N/A
2V-R8 - Droid - N/A
PO-12 - Droid - Mentioned as another companion for BH
Blizz - Jawa - DPS - Ask A Jedi
Imperial Agent
Kaliyo Djannis - Rattataki - Kaliyo starts with a Plasma Round Mode and Grenade Kit (deals AOE damage). - Darth Hater
Scorpio - Mech - Cold and hates the Imperial Agent player character - Darth Hater
Temple - Unknown Race or class type - Bioware
Jedi Knight
T7-01 - Droid - Surveillance, cartography and data slicing
Ability: Electric jolt that helps generate threat for the Knight
Kira Carsen - Human
Jedi Consular
Qyzen Fess - Trandoshan - Melee DPS/Tank
Ability: Charge:: Ignites his jet pack and flys fist first to target - Torocast
Nadia - Humanoid - Darth Hater
Smuggler
Bowdaar - Wookiee - DPS/Tank
Corso Riggs - Human - DPS/Tank
Abilities:
Guard Stance that boosts his defensive capabilities and threat signature towards the enemy.
Fragmentation Grenade that can damage multiple targets.
Flare Gun that will draw the attention of all nearby enemies as well as new shields and support abilities to aid the player in tough fights.
Trooper
M1-4X - Assault Droid - Melee DPS
Tanno-Vik - Weequay - DPS (Demolitions)
you realize that as a republic player u can play evil even as jedi. Im sure jedi will have options to kill people and other things like that just like a trooper and smuggler will.
While u cant switch sides my understanding is u can do alot of evil stuff as a jedi in this game if u choose to. So not playing republic cause they cant be evil is a misinformed reason.
Great piece there my friend, I really enjoyed the read. Now if they would only add a few more servers, like 20, I could get back into the stress test and try out my companion!
Awesome article. D-Day is near
Yeah, SW:TOR is a blast, can't wait for it to go live next month.
“And while it is a little silly to see dozens of Coros Riggses or Aric Jorgans running around, there is some customization to help make them look somewhat different from player to player. Still, it’s a significant thing to mention: everyone has companions, in the beginning you’ll all have the same ones, and it’s a bit weird to see people running around with doting clones.”
Just another example of solo gameplay being more important than roleplaying and grouping. Does not matter what aspect of a MMO you look at, the crafting, the economics, you alone must be able to get from the game exactly what a whole guild of players can.
I know he said you still need other players for harder missions, but how many? 10% of the missons, 5%? If its anything like other modern MMO’s it will be about 2%.
See you in game for the 2% of time we play as a team!
Yep, it's a joke. And I linked one.
A BIG one.
"TO MICHAEL!"