News from swtor_miner. This time he came up some more information on the new Narshadda Nightlife/Festival of Splendor Event. He found the chances of winning while playing the new slot machines. Kingpin’s Bounty Slot Machine Costs 1x Kingpin’s Casino Chip to play Chances for reward: Jackpot 1 (.07% chance) Kingpin’s Rancor Jackpot 2 (.23% chance) 1x Vectron Opus Win (4% chance) 1x Golden Certificate: A certificate which can be exchanged for special goods from a Nar Shaddaa casino prize vendor. Free Play (50% chance) Lose 1 (22.83% chance) Lose 2 (22.85% chance) – Outcome removed by Feeling Lucky buff. Machine Explodes (.02% chance) The Feeling Lucky buff removes one of the possible lose outcomes while playing the High Roller Slot Machine, but the relative outcome weights remain the same for the other outcomes. You keep the buff for 2 minutes or until you win or hit the Jackpot. The new probability of winning…
Star Wars: The Old Republic Insider Video — May 2014
Watch the latest SWTOR Insider Video, now live, as Producer Jack Wood and Community Manager Eric Musco offer an inside look at the latest exciting news for Galactic Strongholds Digital Expansion, Season 2 of Ranked PvP, Cartel Market and more! Darth_Wicked from Reddit discover something interesting. At around 00m36sYou can listen Jack Wood talking about the new Homestead on Tatooine and you get to see a couple of new Sandcrawlers that are not currently in the game. Starting to wonder if the above is related to the planetary Guild conquest thing or if our homestead on Tatooine will be an actual Sandcrawler What do you guys think that’s all about?
Game Update 2.8: Spoils Of War PTS Update – 5/8/2014
The public test servers for Star Wars: The old Republic have updated with a new build. Some of the highlights are: Group Finder Operations have been redesigned! Story Mode Operations are now more accessible to endgame players (levels 50 – 55). The Operations section in the Group Finder window will list available Operations on a predetermined schedule, rotating in different Operations every few days. Players who meet the level requirement of the Operation will be Bolstered, removing the requirement for endgame gear. Rewards have also been improved, making this a great opportunity for players to earn Ultimate Commendations and experience new content! Below are the changes made to the existing note: Classes + Combat Jedi Consular Sage Balance (Sage) Mind Warp has been reverted to its live functionality, and now increases the duration of Mind Crush by 1/2 seconds. Shadow General Mass Mind Control will now taunt NPC’s while Combat Technique is…
Calvin’s Custom Scale Figure Artist
You know how we love to bring you cool stuff, especially if it’s related to SWTOR or Star Wars. So we are very happy to tell you about another talented artist who works with Star Wars themes, among other things. Calvin Lo is a one-sixth scale figure artist from Hong Kong, just been commissioned to do several Star Wars the Old Republic figures for a customer in the U.S. We think what he does is pretty awesome and we wanted to share it with you all. He’s been doing this for over 10 years now and we find his artistry very impressive. In addition to Star Wars, Calvin also does military, medieval and original works. His figures are for sale and he also takes custom orders. If you’d like to have something like this of your own, reach out to Calvin about his availability and orders. Be sure to tell…
Summer of SWTOR Update
Bruce MacleanFor just posted an updated Roadmap of what to expect in Star Wars: The old Republic this summer. The new release schedule, now that 2.8 (the end of the last roadmap) is approaching and looking very different than what was said in the last roadmap. Interesting they’re doing double fleet req/warzone comms but not valor. Not sure how I feel about this operation overhaul for 55 Operations, but if it gets more groups going to the end instead of stopping at the weeklies, more power to them. Unfortunately their decision to push back strongholds leaves us with a gap in terms of new content releases. Guess the name of the game now is patience. Check out the full forum post here, or our copy paste below: Hi again everyone! I’m here to provide an updated look at the upcoming Summer of SWTOR in light of our recent Galactic Strongholds…
Episode 7 Rumor Round Up
So now we know the official cast but what other rumors are there about Episode 7? Well, we’ve heard some goodies and we wanted to pass them along. First, let’s talk about titles. What could be the title of the newest film? Well, we know they are not letting that info leak this early but we have some interesting rumors. Latino Review had some info late last year about possible working titles. Kellvin Chavez says he was “exclusively told” that George Lucas had two working titles for the film when he handed it over to Disney: Return of the Sithand Rise of the Jedi. And we also heard Rise of the Empire, The Creeping Fear and Balance of the Force and A New Dawn. And now AICN’s Harry Knowles, tells us the working title is The Ancient Fear. So… take that with a grain of salt because it’s little more than a rumor but it’s interesting…
30 ‘Star Wars’ Facts You Might Not Have Known
Think you know all there is to know about Star Wars? Maybe you don’t. We’re all big Star Wars geeks here but a couple of these things even surprised me. We had to share this little video with you because it’s pretty fun. How about you take a couple of minutes and watch it for yourself and then let us know if any of these were new to you or if you are truly a Star Wars pro. So if you haven’t seen it yet, check out the video below and see 30 Star Wars facts you might not have known. — ““Think you know The Force front to back? These 30 ‘Star Wars’ facts will give even hardcore fans a run for their money. THANK YOU to these talented musicians for letting us use their amazing Star Wars covers. Check out their music!” “Cantina Band” performed by the Beantown…
Swtor-mined: 2.8 PTS
While we have been celebrating Star Wars day, swtor_miner have been busy datamining the newest patch on the public test servers. Before you read on, I have to warn you that this post includes spoilers. Just below are the raw changes and below that comes the interesting stuff. New/Changed/Removed Abilities New/Changed/Removed Achievements – New/Changed/Removed CodexEntries New/Changed/Removed Collections New/Changed/Removed Companions New/Changed/Removed Conversations New/Changed/Removed GOM_Items New/Changed/Removed Items New/Changed/Removed MtxStoreFronts New/Changed/Removed NPCs New/Changed/Removed Quests New/Changed/Removed Ships New/Changed/Removed StringTables New/Changed/Removed Talents New Event: Festival of Splendor? Soovada (“Splendorous Summer” in Huttese) is an annual celebration of total extravagance in Hutt culture. Rival clans compete to prove their superior wealth, attempting to sponsor the most parties, pit fights, bounties, gambling, and every other public display of fortune and excess imaginable. Popularized on Nar Shaddaa, this exuberant holiday is now celebrated on hundreds of worlds across the galaxy, where it is more commonly known as the Festival of Splendor. Cartel…
Star Wars Day Greeting from J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan
How did you spend May the Fourth? Did you rewatch the movies? Did you attend a Star Wars Day party? Did you take part in any of the specials or deals that were out today? Maybe you just hung around looking at Facebook posts dedicated to Star Wars. It’s ok- we won’t judge. But whatever you did with your day, if you missed this video you need to stop right now and check it out. If you did see it, you might want to go ahead and see it again because, well… it’s awesome. Straight from London, Star Wars Episode VII director and writer, J.J. Abrams along with writer Lawrence Kasdan have a quick video message for Star Wars fans this May the 4th. What better way to celebrate May 4th than with a message from J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasden? And while we’re still talking about May the Fourth, here…
LEGO Darth Revan Free on May 4th
There is a pretty sweet deal on the official Shop LEGO site in honor of May the Fourth. If you place an order for $75 or more on Star Wars items, you get a LEGO Darth Revan mini figurine for free. This special deal is happening at the LEGO online shop until 11:59 PM EST on May 5. See it here when you Shop LEGO. How does it work? It’s pretty simple actually. All you need to do is add enough Star Wars items to your cart to total $75 or more and then it will automatically show up in your cart as a bonus for you. If you are ordering from another country, you will just need to be sure the dollar exchange amount equals out to $75 US before it will be added to your cart. I really like this deal because it combines two of my favorite things-…
May the 4th: iTunes Star Wars Games Sale 66% Off
What is one of the best things about May the 4th? Well, there are usually some great deals on Star Wars stuff. This time, we have a great deal to share with you. Aspyr and the Mac App Store are celebrating this holiday (for Star Wars fans) of May the 4th by discounting the five top Mac Star Wars game titles for Mac users. So come celebrate May the 4th and Star Wars with these great sales: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, $3.40 (9.99) Star Wars: The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition, $6.80 (19.99) Star Wars: Empire at War, $7.99 (19.99) Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, $3.40 (9.99) Star Wars: Jedi Knight Academy, $3.40 (9.99) Those are some incredible prices for some fantastic games. You can get each one for under $10, a couple of them under $5. It doesn’t get any better than that. You…
Concealment / Scrapper Proposed Survivability Changes
The below 2 posts are posts by a developer, not suggestions by players.: Hey Folks, This is the list I’m looking at to put in, mostly based on the feedback y’all have given here (using Imperial names because that’s what I have in my notes, don’t hate!) Add an Interrupt to Jarring Strikes 50%/100% chance to activate (So you can interupt an active cast with Hidden Strike) Add 10%/20% DMG Reduction to Revitalizers to the duration of Stim Boost (this is IN ADDITION to the healing) Add 15%/30% AOE Damage Reduction to Shadow Op Elite Hit me with your feedback based on this list! Original Dev Post: Hey Gang, So something we want to do in 2.8 is see if we can’t add a bit of survivabilty into the Concealment/Scrapper trees, with possibly a focus on events happening as you exit stealth. We’ve got a couple ideas, but nothing concrete…
2.8 Patch Notes from PTS
The first patch notes for Game update 2.8 is online. These notes are only indicative of the current patch to the PTS, and will be expanded upon as we get farther into the testing process. Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ PTS Game Update 2.8 Last Updated: May 1st, 2014 All content and features on the Public Test Server are not final and are subject to change. Highlights Nightmare Mode Dread Palace is now available! Return to Oricon to face off against Dread Masters Bestia, Tyrans, Calphayrus, and Raptus, who are now more powerful than ever before! General Added a high resolution shadow map option for high-end machines. This enables more detailed shadow rendering over a longer distance. Classes + Combat General Fixed an issue that would occasionally allow abilities to affects targets, even if those targets had a 100% or greater chance to defend against attacks. Jedi Knight Sentinel Watchman Merciless Slash now deals more damage…
May the Fourth Be With You!
Hello folks! It’s almost that time of year again- the 4th of May. The day that we celebrate our love of Star Wars on National Star Wars Day. Some people will celebrate at home alone with a big tub of popcorn watching the films. Others will celebrate with good friends and good food. Some may have a costume party host a costume party. No matter how you choose to celebrate, one thing is certain: this is a day for Star Wars fun. Wookiepedia gives us some tips on how some fans celebrate this special day: Typical festivities consist of inviting fellow Star Wars-obsessed friends to stay over, and then watching the series in succession. Lots of snacks, bring lightsabers and Star Wars-themed toys. Lightsaber fights in the early morning hours optional. Star Wars Day Attack Ad: Say No to May the 4th A special message that reveals the ugly truth about May the…
Star Wars Expanded Universe Will Change
For over 35 years, the Expanded Universe has enriched the Star Wars experience for fans who wanted a little something more after the movies. Lucas created a universe that sparked interest, and that made fans think long beyond just the movie experience. It’s no surprise then that there have been books, games, toys and more all spun off that initial Star Wars canon. But StarWars.com tells us about how this Expanded Universe is set to change: Now, with an exciting future filled with new cinematic installments of Star Wars, all aspects ofStar Wars storytelling moving forward will be connected. Under Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy’s direction, the company for the first time ever has formed a story group to oversee and coordinate all Star Wars creative development. “We have an unprecedented slate of new Star Wars entertainment on the horizon,” said Kennedy. “We’re set to bring Star Wars back to the big screen, and continue the adventure through games, books, comics,…
Patch 2.8 on the PTS tomorrow
Public test servers will be back up online tomorrow, and now it is time to start beta testing game update 2.8. Below is the announcement from Tait Watson: Hi all! We have wiped the characters from the 2.7 Public Test Server release and you can now safely copy your characters over in anticipation of 2.8 testing. I know the first question to this is going to be “When is that going to be, Tait, you valiant Knight of Information and Glory?” so I’ll go ahead and tell you that we are aiming to put it up on the PTS this Thursday, May 1st (2014, if you’re reading this way in the future). While I don’t have an exact time yet, I’ll let you know when I do. And this, of course, is subject to change and I will update you all when I find stuff out! For instructions on PTS Character…
Winnie the Pooh as Darth Vader
Most of us remember the lovable voice of Winnie the Pooh. He is a childhood classic. And of course, those of us who are Star Wars fans (pretty much all of you reading, right?) also know that Darth Vader is a classic character we don’t forget. So what do you get when you combine the two? Well, this video below shows exactly what you get. Hilarity!
Galactic Strongholds – What we know so far
It’s coming soon and what do we know about it so far? As you may know, there was recently an update that tells us more about what we can expect from Galactic Strongholds and if you add this to the previous announcement and tidbits of info that have been passed on from Cantina tours and such, we have some pretty good info about what’s coming. I was going to write this up into a guide but Dulfy beat me to it! Here is a snippet of her post but please head on over to her site and read it in full. DATES May 4, Sunday – Subscribers get 1000 Cartel Coins if they subscribe as of May 4, 2014, at 11:59PM PDT / May 5, 2014, at 6:59AM GMT. These cartel coins will arrive to your account by May 5, 2014, at 11:59PM PDT / May 6, 2014, at 6:59AM GMT….
Celebrate May the Fourth with a new Astromech Droid™ and Double XP!
We forgot all about this story yesterday, but May 4 is rapidly approaching and that means it’s almost time to celebrate Star Wars Day. It’s only appropriate that BioWare get in on the fun, too, so the studio is planning a Star Wars Day celebration for Star Wars: The Old Republic with a double XP weekend and a free droid mini-pet. SWTOR is offering double XP from 11:00AM PDT May 2 through 12:00AM PDT May 5. If you have no need for XP there’s a more concrete reward on offer. Here is the details: We’re excited to announce that in honor of Star Wars™ Day and as a thank you to you, our players, we’re giving away the new MT-4T Astromech Droid™ Mini-Pet to the entire Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ community!* Your adventurous Astromech Droid is ready to courageously follow you as you join with friends to fight for…
Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher lead cast of new ‘Star Wars’ film
It’s official! Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher have been signed up for Star Wars VII. The three original cast members were spotted in London ahead of filming, sparking rumours that they will be involved in the film. And now it’s been officially confirmed via a press release stating: “The Star Wars team is thrilled to announce the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. Actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker in the new film.” Director J.J. Abrams said: “We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life,…
13 Things You Probably Don’t Know About Lightsabers
How can you be a Star Wars fan without loving the iconic lightsaber? They are as much a part of the Star Wars story as Darth Vader and Luke and Leia. Yet there is so much we don’t really know about lightsabers. There is so much to the story of how they came to be and what role they played in the Star Wars universe. I remember when I was new to SWTOR in the very beginning and my favorite part of the game was the quest to make your very own lightsaber. I loved it because of how it reminded me of Star Wars lore. It was magical and mystical and everything I imagined it would be like to craft your very own lightsaber. So while we’re exploring the topic, here is a very interesting article. Also remember to check out our in depth articles on Light sabers from…
Patch Notes – 4/29/2014 – 2.7.1 Patch Notes
Patch notes for tomorrows maintenance is up. BioWare is pushing a pretty solid set of fixes, some longstanding issues have finally been resolved. I am curious for additional detail on the shadows fix. I have noticed a lot of jaggy shadows when I am running everything near max. Check it out below: Highlights Ranked Warzone Season 2 has started! Season Two has opened for combatants! Giradda the Hutt summons you to join the Ranked Warzone Arena queue and compete for glorious rewards (to be announced later). Ratings have been reset for this occasion and, in the mighty words of Baron Deathmark, “Get in there and go berserk!” Season 2 Leaderboards Now Live! The Ranked Warzone Arena Leaderboards have been updated for Season Two! Season One has been archived and is still able to be viewed. Ranked Warzone Missions! Ranked Warzone Arena Daily and Weekly Missions are now available from the PvP Mission Terminal….
Guardian Top 3 Questions – Answered
Eric Musco Posted a new Top 3 Questions post on the official forums today. This one regards the Guardian. Here is the TL;DR version Can you up our PVP DPS Defense? Answer: No you greedy little fuck. Actually Nerf incoming. Happy? My AOE spec isn’t hitting really hard via single target. Buff please? Answer: You are seriously fucking stupid. There is a middle tree for exactly what you are asking. But hey, why not. Imma nerf you sustained damage tho. Cool? There are now too many options in the Middle tree. I’m incapable of reading and choosing things. Can we just standardize the tree so I just click everything and win? Answer: I guess we can do that. We wouldn’t want you accidently choosing a talent that doesn’t directly benefit the exact thing you are doing this instant. You can read the full post here, or our copy paste below:…
Stormtroopers in Chicago Want George Lucas Museum
How much do you love Star Wars? What would you do if a George Lucas museum was potentially being built near you? Would you go out of your way to do whatever it takes to make this museum happen? Well, this is exactly what is happening in Chicago. There is the potential for a museum to be built and Star Wars fans and coming together to try to make sure it happens. Local Stormtroopers are falling into line behind Chicago’s bid to become the site of a museum devoted to the work of “Star Wars” filmmaker George Lucas. The Chicago Tribune reports: Chicago-area members of the 501st Legion — a 6,600-member international organization of Star Wars fans who dress in the white body armor of the Galactic Empire — are hoping to make a show of force Wednesday at a public hearing of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Lucas Museum Task Force…