Eric Musco clarified an interesting question regarding Star Wars the oldRrepublic Galactic Strongholds on the official forums today. A user named Tsillah posted a question regarding deactivation of a stronghold. The questions was as following: Originally Posted by Tsillah View Post I was reading through dulfy’s notes http://dulfy.net/2014/07/02/swtor-ga…estream-notes/ and found the following interesting and worrying note: Upkeep cost to maintain strongholds? Nope but if you deactivate/retire a stronghold, it will cost you to reactivate it if you bought it with credits. If you bought it with cartel coins there is no reactivation fee. Now I’ve asked in the sticky thread above and during the last livestream but either they just keep missing the question or are unwilling to answer it but really I think with this starting in about a month’s time it’s not an unfair question to ask. Why would anyone retire a stronghold? The reason I ask the…
TOR TV: The Five Rules of Sentinel
Ever party up with a noob Sentinel? How frustrating is it to do a run with someone who doesn’t seem to know what they are doing in the game or with their class? It happens to all of us. You can get mad or rage, or you can get a good laugh out of it. Everyone’s gotta learn somehow, right? We love this video from Outbreak Guild and have to pass it on to you. The next time you have a bad sentinel in your group, consider sending them this video: The Five Rules of Sentinel Rule 1: Always engage boss fights before the tank. Rule 2: If you die, remember to blame the healer. It’s always their fault. We don’t want to ruin it for you so check out the video for yourself with the rest of the rules. But let me tell you, that 3, 4, and 5…
Galactic Living Livestream: Thursday July 10th
There will be a SWTOR Galactic Strongholds stream tomorrow, Thursday July 10th , at 1:30PM PDT (8:30 PM GMT). Tomorrow’s stream will cover a first look at the Coruscant Skyrise Apartments. This is your chance to learn more about Galactic living and what we can all expect from Galactic Strongholds. You will have the chance to preview stronghold customization options- something that many of us have been wondering about for a long time.
Star Wars Episode VII – Teaser Trailer 2015
Star Wars Episode VII – Teaser Trailer 2015… NOT! Are you sick and tired of seeing these fake trailer videos? They are flooding YouTube with such frequency now that true fans are getting more than a little agitated. There’s a new one now that has gotten more than a million views on YouTube from excited fans wanting to see the real thing. “Seems like the biggest German airport plays a key role as an imperial starport in the new episode,” reads a blurb attached to the video. Some of these videos are even labeled “Official” to lure you in, giving you false hope but they all turn out the same- a disappointment. While there are one or two that are actually kind of fun or cute, most are meant only to exploit the keywords that so many people are searching for. Remember, that unless it is posted by Lucasfilm or Disney,…
Star Wars Community Buzzing, Churning Out Wild Battlefront Ideas
The E3 trailer of Star Wars: Battlefront, presented by DICE – which we have referenced countless times on these pages – gave the populous Star Wars community but a minute taste of what could be achieved through the engine used by the developer, but it was more than enough to give wings to the imaginations of those who can hardly wait to get their hands on the working title. Indeed, from the handful of scenes released through the trailer, it was obvious that great things should be expected from the game, so in this piece, we’ll take a look at some of the ideas inspired by the first Battlefront performance of the Frostbite engine. A couple of the most popular such ideas are about the Death Star and the Super Star Destroyer being featured as locations in the game. The Death Star and its eventual destruction have thus far been…
Returning to SWTOR after 2 Years- A Player Album
We stumbled across this little goodie and had to share it with you, especially after just having recently written about players returning to the game and what to expect from SWTOR. So here we have a fan submission to imgur of their return to SWTOR after a 2 year hiatus. It’s really a lot of fun and you know how we love fan creations so we had to share it with you. The best parts are not the screenshots alone, but the captions with them that really seals the deal and completes the total package. This is far more than just some screenshots of a video game. This is true storytelling and it’s quite entertaining to read through. I giggled and laughed, then laughed some more as I went through each one and the captions. Check it out for yourself and be sure to let us know if you have…
All SWTOR Loading Screens!
Here are all 50 SWTOR loading screens in one place. It just doesn’t get any better than this. There’s Alderaan to Coruscant, PVE Space Combat scenes, various PVP arenas, Operations, Flashpoints, Empire and Republic Fleet and the empty “Make your own” loading screen. Check them all about below. You can also follow the links through to Imgur and download them individually or pick out your favorite ones. Let us know your favorites in the comments. Have you tried to make your own loading screens? What would your favorite loading screen entail?
TOR TV: Opening 24x Club Vertica Nightlife Packs
SWTOR Club Vertica Nightlife Packs released live on July 1st. If you have not had the chance to open any yet, then you might want to get to it. And even if you have, you will probably find this video interesting. It’s the opening of 24 Club Vertica Nightlife Packs. You could get color customizations, weapons, mounts, armor sets and emotes/regen items as follows. Emote: Tihaar Dance Emote: Faint Emote: Out of Breath Regen: Cube Roll Title: Club Vertica High Roller Some items are much more rare than others so if you’re going for one particular thing, you might have to go through a lot of packs to get what you want. If you like testing the odds, or if you’re open to whatever may come out of them, then go ahead and get some packs for yourself. Let’s take a look at this fun vid to see how luck treats him…
Star Wars Battlefront: A New Era?
While there is little information coming out about Star Wars Battlefront and we are excited here, especially since it’s been nearly 10 years since the last release. Fans have been clamoring for any information at all about the release of the sequel. When the news of Star Wars: Battlefront 3’s cancellation hit and fans were let down, only to find out about an upcoming DICE interpretation of the franchise, it meant a rocky road for fans. So many ups and downs. Would this one see the light of day? Would it be a let down? When it comes to the Star Wars franchise, fans have seen a few adaptations now and just like people are worrying about the new films, there are those who were not fans of the previous series of prequels. I mean, how many people were disappointed in The Phantom Menace? For many, the hype was too…
Galactic Living Livestream Notes
New updates are on the way. If you were unable to watch the Galactic Living Livestream, then you might have some questions about what was said and what we can all expect to come to SWTOR in the near future. There are many questions and also many tips that are released to us with this livestream. While Bioware has not released the number of players that can be inside a stronghold at once, it looks like the Nar Shaddaa stronghold can hold 70 players at once with 9 rooms. Taking some time to learn how hooks work will be very important. This will show you how to manipulate items within your stronghold. It will help you see where and how to put your stuff and how to get it looking how you want. In addition to decorations and interactivity, you will learn about pets, mounts and NPCs. You will also learn about…
The Star Wars: The Old Republic Community Cantina Tour Arrives in Germany!
BioWare just announced that the next stop in the Star Wars: The Old Republic Community Cantina Tour will be happening on Friday, August 15th, in Germany! This is the chance for European players to join the SWTOR community for a development team Q&A as well as complimentary drinks*, food, and giveaways. Every attendee will be receiving a highly coveted M8-3R Astromech code. If you’re in the area, make sure to stop by! Venue: Radisson Blu Hotel Date: Friday, August 15th, 2014 Time: 7:00-11:00PM CEST Address: Messe Kreisel 3 (access Brügelmannstr. 1) D-50679 Cologne, Germany Space will be limited, so be sure to arrive early! You can RSVP on Facebook here (Facebook RSVP is not required for and does not guarantee admittance).
Developer Update: Introduction to Galactic Strongholds
More Star Wars: The Old Republic Galactic Strongholds content is revealed today, as BioWare posted a new developer diary. The post details everything from decorating hooks to the decorations for your brand new apartment will be available via loot drops and from crew skills, reputation and PvP rewards and off course the Cartel Market. All housing decorations will be available across your entire Legacy by default. It seems like crafters will play a big part in the process, as BioWare says that tradeskillers “of all levels will provide the components required to obtain these decorations.” But how much it really is, remains to be seen. Another thing that is really cool is the possibility to invites guest home to you apartment to show off your stuff. Also the furniture placement method in below gif looks outstanding. Needing to unlock a second of the same chair to place it again may…
New Galactic Living Twitch Series
BioWare is starting a new show on Twitch beginning today, July 2nd called Galactic Living. From live tours of the various strongholds like the Nar Shaddaa Sky Palace to a behind-the-scenes look at the decoration items and tools, get an inside preview of all the ways you’ll be able to customize your own stronghold in the new Digital Expansion, Galactic Stronghold coming later this year. WHERE: www.twitch.tv/swtor WHEN: Wednesday, July 2nd @ 1:30PM PDT / 8:30PM GMT WHAT: First Look: Galactic Stronghold Decoration System STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT STREAM AND TOPIC AT: www.twitch.tv/swtor OR www.swtor.com/twitch Plus, don’t miss your opportunity to own your own Nar Shaddaa Sky Palace with three room unlocked by becoming a Subscriber by July 15th! Subscriber Early Access begins August 19th.
Star Wars: Battlefront – Release Date Already Pushed Back?
Shortly after the E3 trailer of Star Wars: Battlefront was shown, people began speculating a possible release date for the title. A commonly floated time-frame was the first quarter of 2015, placing the game’s release within striking distance of Star Wars: Episode 7, something which – as I have said before – would indeed make perfect sense from a marketing angle. According to some very recent rumors however, it now looks like a more likely release time-frame for the much awaited title is late 2015/early 2016. While these are indeed just rumors and nothing has been confirmed by DICE in this respect, and while such a push-back of the release date definitely pains die-hard fans of the Star Wars universe, there may unfortunately be some solid reasoning behind it all. While development has indeed begun as evidenced by the above-said E3 trailer, it may already be running late, given how…
What’s New for Returning Players?
We like to do one of these posts every so often because we know many players come back to the game after not playing SWTOR for some time. Some even come back after not playing since beta or early launch and we all know the game has changed considerably since then. So if you’re a returning player, or thinking about returning once again to SWTOR, let’s take a look at a few things that might be new or different since the last time you played.
SWTOR 2.8.1 Patch Notes
Servers are going down tomorrow for maintanence, and during this Patch 2.8.1 will be implemented. Below are the patch notes: Highlights Reap the Spoils of War! The second phase of the Spoils of War event has begun and Warzones now give double Commendations and Credits! Get in there and go berserk! New Cartel Market Pack! The Club Vertica Nightlife Pack and Hypercrate is now available! Bounty Contract Week returns! The event runs from July 8th 12:00 GMT (05:00 PDT) to July 15th 12:00 GMT (05:00 PDT). Progress faster with a Double XP Week! Get twice the experience from July 1st 07:00 GMT (00:00 PDT) to July 8th 07:00 GMT (00:00 PDT). General The High and Very High graphic presets for Shadow Map Cascades and Shadow Map Resolution have changed: High is now 1024 Resolution (down from 1280) and 4 Cascades (down from 6). Very High is now has 6 Cascades…
Darth Malgus Replica Mask
If you’re not yet familiar with Wicked Armor, you’re going to love this post. Wicked armor specializes in creating rare custom art that you can wear based on characters from pop culture. If it looks impressive or interesting, he wants to make it, and he works on commission!
Here is one of our favorites. The Darth Malgus replica mask:
Fan Film: STAR WARS The Old Republic: The Pit
Today we have another episode of Really Awesome Fan Stuff! This is the trailer for a fan film from Blind Wave Productions. While it is clearly a low budget production, we think they’ve done a fantastic job of what we can see so far. The trailer is interesting, has some great choreography and we can’t wait to see the full length film. This is what it’s really all about- fans getting into something and taking it to that next level. The trailer for the first of a series of fan films set in the STAR WARS universe, during the time of THE OLD REPUBLIC, created by the award winning Lightsaber Choreography team of Blind Wave Productions. Scum and Villainy travel from all over the galaxy to spectate and bet on the deadly gladiator battles inside the arena known only as The Pit. After months of capture and imprisonment, Jedi Knight…
DOUBLE XP WEEK: JULY 1 – 7, 2014
Star Wars: The old Republic will be having a full week of double xp this summer. So if you are not doing anything this july 4 th, now is the time to level your alts. As always, the double xp bonus stacks with all other leveling bonuses you can get in the game. 06.27.2014 Double XP is back for an entire week! Whether you’re a new or experienced player, take advantage of Double XP and Legacy XP to level up your main character faster or to create an alternate character and enjoy a new class story and gameplay! Double XP and Legacy XP will be active during the following time: Starts: July 1, 2014 (11AM PDT / 6PM GMT) Ends: July 7, 2014 (12AM PDT / 7AM GMT) With the recent release of Game Update 2.8: Spoils of War, now is a great to check out the new Operations group…
Scheduled Maintenance: July 1, 2014 – Patch 2.8.1
On July 1st, all game servers, SWTOR.com, and the launcher will be unavailable while BioWare perform scheduled maintenance. Game Update 2.8.1 will be implemented during this downtime. Details are as follows: Date: Tuesday, July 1st Duration: 7 hours Time: 1AM PDT (8AM GMT) – 8AM PDT (3PM GMT) During maintenance, all updates and additional information will be posted on the official Twitter account. Time Zone Start Time Scheduled End Time UTC Offset HST Mon Jun 30, 2014 10:00 PM Tue Jul 01, 2014 05:00 AM -10 hours AKDT Tue Jul 01, 2014 12:00 AM Tue Jul 01, 2014 07:00 AM -8 hours PDT Tue Jul 01, 2014 01:00 AM Tue Jul 01, 2014 08:00 AM -7 hours MDT Tue Jul 01, 2014 02:00 AM Tue Jul 01, 2014 09:00 AM -6 hours CDT Tue Jul 01, 2014 03:00 AM Tue Jul 01, 2014 10:00 AM -5 hours EDT Tue Jul 01,…
SWTOR Summer Pass- Get it and Save!
With summer comes great things for gamers and the SWTOR Summer Pass is a fine example of that! For a limited time only, if you’re not already subbed to SWTOR, you can get a pretty decent discount on a 4-month sub with this summer pass. The 2014 Summer Pass is on sale until June 30th and you can save 33% over the standard monthly cost of a subscription for four months. Here’s what you get with the summer pass: Save 33% over the standard monthly cost for four months of subscription – one-time payment of $39.99USD / 23.99 GBP covers all four months Get unlimited game access to exciting story missions, galactic adventures and more 200 Bonus Cartel Coins to spend on valuable collectibles, XP Boosts, mini-pets and more at the in-game Cartel Market If you’re looking to bring in some friends and family to play with you, to get a discount on…
Star Wars: Battlefront – More Details Emerge from DICE
DICE’s 2014 E3 Star Wars: Battlefront trailer was definitely enlightening and promising if somewhat stingy detail-wise, but the way it ended, with the “Spring 2015” tag, was somewhat disheartening for true fans, because that didn’t just push the likely release date into the way-too-distant future, it also sort of closed the curtains on the deal, as if saying no other details concerning the much worked-on and hyped masterpiece would be released anytime soon. Since then though, the team has apparently delved into development and with that came a new willingness to share behind-the-scenes bits of information. DICE General Manager Karl Magnus Troedsson gave an interview recently, and needless to say, most of the back-and-forth was focused on Star Wars: Battlefront. The team is apparently enjoying full creative freedom on the title, the development of which they once called “scary” – in a good way of course. While the expectations of…
World First Nightmare Dread Palace Speed Run
<Zorz> Claims another world first! This is a really cool story about the first ever Nightmare Dread Palace speed run. Check out the image for proof and the stream/video is also available if you want to see exactly how they did it. If you or your guild is interested in the fights or in progressing yourself, you really should watch their videos. They are organized and have the technique down well enough to be able to pull of record-breaking feats like this. There’s definitely something for all to learn from them. That being said, they also had invested time on the PTS, seeing and practicing a lot of the content long before others ever got around to seeing it so that’s a clear advantage as well. So who is Zorz, anyway? From their website: Who Are We We are a group of like-minded players on The Harbinger who strive to play…
Star Wars Episode 7: Rumor Roundup (June Edition)
We have been hearing some more rumors about Episode 7 and we thought it a good time to do another roundup of what we have heard so far. As always, remember that these rumors are just that for now- rumors. Some are later confirmed to be true in part or in entirety but many more are confirmed a bust. So take it with a grain of salt but it’s also fun to speculate, especially when the company is being so tight-lipped about it. With a franchise like Star Wars, it’s usually the case that not even staff knows 100% what will be real and not until the very end. Here are some rumors from Latino Review: There will be a female villain. Over 50% sure she’s a Sith. I’ll follow up on this in later weeks. Despite having 30 Years after Jedi to set one up, there is NO New Republic at…