If you’re a regular in the galaxy far, far away, you know Oricon isn’t just another star on the map. It’s where things get a little… let’s say, spicy. With its constant stormy skies, volcanic terrain, and an ambiance that screams “danger zone,” Oricon is the perfect place for adventurers who like their missions with a side of chaos. Today, we’re diving into what makes Oricon a wild ride for any seasoned hero—or villain—looking to test their mettle. What Is Oricon and Why Does Everyone Love (Or Hate) It? Oricon is a desolate, volcanic planet on the outer rim of the galaxy, known for being the home base of the Dread Masters. You know, those Sith lords who thought it would be a great idea to mess with everyone’s minds? Yeah, them. This place is a hotspot for those of us looking for a challenge—because when you’ve fought regular Sith,…
Planets of TOR
Pasaana: The Desert Jewel of the Outer Rim in Star Wars
Buckle up, Star Wars enthusiasts! We’re about to embark on a journey to a world that’s seldom discussed but brimming with charm and intrigue. It’s time we put the spotlight on Pasaana, a desert planet that’s a testament to the tenacity of life in the most demanding environments. Despite its arid surroundings, Pasaana teems with life and culture, making it a captivating locale in the vast Star Wars universe. So, are you ready to set your hyperdrive and explore this hidden gem? Unveiling the Charm of Pasaana At first glance, you might dismiss Pasaana as just another desert planet, a common trope in the Star Wars franchise. Yet, there’s more to Pasaana than meets the eye. It’s a world that exemplifies the saying “life finds a way.” Amidst its towering buttes of granite and sandstone, long stretches of sun-bleached dunes, and sparse shrubland, life thrives. The shadows cast by these…
SWTOR: The Making of OnderonSWTOR: The Making of Onderon
BioWare has posted news about Onderon. What is Onderon you ask? Well it is one of the new planets players will be able to experience with the with the upcoming launch of the ‘Onslaught’ Expansion this September. If you played KOTOR 2, you know that Onderon whas one of the planets in the game. Here is an interview with art Director, Carrie Meade, about pulling back the curtain on bringing this iconic planet to SWTOR. For starters, what is your role here on the SWTOR team? On the SWTOR team I function as the Art Director – which means I am responsible for organizing and running the SWTOR art team, as well as maintaining the artistic vision for the project. I help with troubleshooting, brainstorming, idea generation, problem solving, team scheduling, swag creation and general game editor whispering. What lessons or aspects from the creation of other planets came into…
Gambling Galactic: Star Wars 8 Director on Canto Bight, the Casino Planet
All Star Wars fans out there are eagerly awaiting the latest installment in the legendary franchise, The Last Jedi. Even those who might not consider themselves fans (Trekkies, you know yourselves) will have felt the expectant excitement pervading the movie scene online and in the real world. One of the most intriguing teasers from the studios is the confirmation by director Rian Johnson that the new planet to be featured in the Star Wars universe will be known as Canto Bight. Rolling the Dice After months of speculation and tentative suspicions after the name began floating about while the film was shooting on location in Croatia, fans are excited at the prospect of Canto Bight, which promises to be an interesting stage for the on-screen action, even by the astronomically high Star Wars standards. Fans noted that the name sounded suspiciously close to “casino bright”, and the director was gracious…
Stars Wars’ Lost Worlds: Locations that Would Make Great Games
Stars Wars: The Last Jedi has been rocking movie theaters around the world since its release in December 2017. According to the stats, the last instalment of the interstellar saga raked in $220,009,584 during its opening weekend in the US and, as of January 2, 2017, the movie had made more than $1 billion globally. Naturally, the appeal of discovering new characters and worlds is something that has had movie-goers flocking to their local picture house. However, on the flipside, the draw of revisiting familiar scenes is something that fans of Stars Wars love. In fact, this desire to experience a classic Stars Wars world has captivated the gaming world in recent years. If you scroll through the catalogue of games on the market today, you’ll find plenty of settings you recognize. Whether it’s a classic game such as Return of the Jedi where you can battle on the Death…
3 Planets We’re Expecting to See in The Last Jedi
We’ve finally stopped watching the trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi on a loop. The trailer – released to satisfy fans’ eager excitement until the December 2017 release date and ticket sales – threw up more questions than it answered. From the circumstances surrounding Carrie Fisher’s General Leia Organa’s exit following the actress’s untimely death in late 2016 to the fate of Kylo Ren. While some fans were also quick to point out that the poster design resembled the face of Star Wars legendary villain Darth Vader. But we have one other burning question: which planets are we likely to see in the film and how will this impact the spate of games that follow it? One of the most exciting aspects of Star Wars Battlefront and Battlefront 2 is the variety of locations from the Star Wars canon that allow us a new planet to explore and battle…
SWTOR: Trading Scars – A Short Story on Umbara
If there is one thing BioWare does right it’s the story. No other MMORPG has the same depth as Star Wars: The old republic, and the team seams to be determent to keep this up. So with a new game update, comes a new story to explore. Here is a short story on Umbara: Veesh was scaring the rookie again. Nira watched as the Umbaran commando glanced to make sure the train compartment was sealed, then pulled back the edge of his sleeve to reveal a series of ugly welts snaking across his wrist. “Got this escorting a shipment last month. Banshee swooped in out of nowhere, right as we were crossing the canyon.” He smirked, his voice muffled by the visor of his helmet. “Latched onto my wrist long enough for the poison to seep in. The medics say I’m lucky to keep my arm.” Nira noticed the rookie…
Five Things to Know about Ziost
A new planet is coming to SWTOR with update 3.2 and you might be surprised at how it was eerily predicted years ago. Those of us who have been following and writing about SWTOR since launch (or even before launch, as is the case with us here at SWTOR Strategies) know that the game has experienced quite the evolution. There are also some fun and interesting memories that have been made along the way. Larry Everett from Hyperspace Beacon knows about this very well and his recent post about Ziost is a good indicator of this. During pre-launch, we were all still learning about what planets would be in the game. Many fans had ideas and suggestions but not all of these would line up well with SWTOR’s time in history. Bespin was mentioned, as was Kashyyyk. Of the many popular planets, some just would not make sense to the time…
Star Wars: The Old Republic Manaan INFO!
From the develop blog, we have some very interesting info about Manaan. The Shuuru Datalog details as follows: It is not a foolish endeavor to try and anticipate one’s future path, or even the path of an entire civilization. But it can be. If we do not first take stock of that which lies in our wake, we can never truly know how to negotiate the currents ahead. It is with this concern in mind that I indulge in this analysis of the ebb and flow of my dear home, Manaan. For a long time–longer than we have records for–the Infinite Empire ruled our world. They enslaved us until their eventual fall, and we Selkath vowed we would never be placed in servitude again. As offworld explorers eventually arrived on our world, they came to see our kolto as a vital resource in their contest for dominion over the galaxy….
TOR TV: Makeb Endurance Datacron, just say no
Here is a little tale of a SWTOR Player trying to get the endurance Datacon on Mekeb: Actually it’s a nightmare first time but once you know the way it’s easy, you just have to be careful and not rush it. First time I failed 10 times or so, now for the alts I get it on first or second try and it’s actually fun to do. Best thing is when you do it in group and watch the others fall. If you haven’t found them all yet, we have a comprehensive datacron list here. I suggest getting most of them as you level, just because I find it easier, personally. However, there are a few that you’ll have to make a trip back during the planet’s bonus series or later. Nar Shaddaa has some in the bonus area and can be a pain to get at during your first…
Developer Blog: Key locations overview of the planet Makeb
Yesterday BioWare posted a new new developer blog on the official Star Wars: The old republic website. The focuses on this blog post was on the key locations from around Makeb in the form of an SIS report. It highlights many interesting new locations, and is most definitely worth a read. You can read the whole developer update here, and see the amazing new screenshots just below:
PSA: Class XP Boosts/Unlocks Do Not Affect Makeb Quest XP
Just another friendly heads up. Don’t waste your credits / cartel coins on XP unlocks from the cartle market. Eric Musco just confirmed via a forum post that they do not benefit you in Star Wars: The old republic Rise of the Hutt Cartel. I believe this have been pointed out before but the BioWare developers, but since there have been some confusion was to whether any of Makeb’s quests count as class quests or not, I thought it was appropriated to do a PSA about it 🙂 As some have already alluded to in the thread, class mission bonus experience will have no effect on Makeb. Technically speaking, the missions you will be going through in Rise of the Hutt Cartel are planetary arcs, etc. and are not classified as class missions. Thanks! -eric
SWTOR-RP Interviews Damion Schubert and Charles Boyd
They guys over at swtor-rp.com got a chance to do an Exclusive Q&A with Damion Schubert and Charles Boyd. The interview is of course about the upcoming Rise of the Hutt Cartel expansion, and being a Star Wars: The old Republic Role playing community, the interview covers mostly story and RP questions. Reading through the interview Interveiw we get the feeling the developers answered answered the questions prior to patch 1.7 as they speak about a major new system coming “sooner than you think””. The Q&A Also get’s around Makeb and the new Cathar race. Below is a snippet: SWTOR-RP: Is the planet Makeb a pre-existing planet in Star Wars canon, or is this a completely new planet in lore to be uncovered by players as they travel through it for the first time? Charles Boyd: Makeb is a completely new invention of the Star Wars: The Old Republic team, and personally as a writer, I can’t tell you what an honor it is to have a chance to add something…
Five Planets The Old Republic Needs
Have you ever thought about what SWTOR needs to add in future content? It’s a legitimate question since the game could go on for years and years. BioWare has already announced they are working on content we the players won’t see for years down the road. It’s no surprise then that we will see the addition of more new planets. They would have to implement new planets in order to keep the content fresh and continue adding more content to the game. So what new planets should we see in the TOR universe in the future? IGN actually has some great ideas on this very question. This is why they offer up a piece on Five Planets the Old Republic Needs and include their planetary picks of Felucia, Geonosis, Kashyyyk, Csilla, and Bothawui. Read more to find out about each of these five planets and why they make a great…
Star Wars: Old Republic plans to cater to casual fans
Casual fans will be happy to hear the news that BioWare is planning new future content to high level casual players. With so many games pushing to the hardcore fans and players, it’s nice to also see a game that address the casual players- those in school, moms and dads with jobs and family responsibilities or those players who are also playing other games at the same time. Speaking to VideoGamer.com, the MMO’s lead PvP designer Gabe Amatangelo stated in the future he hopes to introduce new elements that will help high-level casual players play through difficult content the game. “…One thing I wanted was to make the Normal mode very accessible to casual players,” he explained. In the interview, he says they have plans to regularly release new Flashpoints, new planets, and other solo content in the future. He describes the process that goes into creating the content that…
Friday Update: Galaxy Map
This weeks update brings us a new updates to the SWTOR Holonet — Galaxy Maps. Now you have the chance to explore the five regions of known space in a standard or 3d view. There you can find information on all notable planets as well as a video for each. Here are the 17 planets and six starships you can learn about in the new Galaxy Map: Coreward Worlds: Alderaan, Corellia, Coruscant, Ord Mantell, Balmorra, Tython Seat of the Empire: Dromund Kaas, Korriban, Taris Hutt Space: Hutta, Nar Shaddaa, Quesh, Voss Distant Outer Rim: Belsavis, Hoth, Tatooine Unknown Regions: Illum Starships: XS Freighter, Defender, BT-7 Thunderclap, X70-B Phantom, D5-Mantis, FURY Official Devtracker Post: The Star Wars™ galaxy is massive and you will be able to visit numerous worlds during your travels in the The Old Republic™. To give you an early taste of what the experience will be, we’ve added…
Friday Update: New Planet – Quesh
This Friday BioWare awaits us with a new poisoned planet called Quesh. The planet looks and sounds like a Hutt holiday resort, and from the description that’s not entirely wrong. Well, except that none of the Hutts involved are really happy with the whole thing, but that’s probably just a Hutt thing. In a distant corner of Hutt Space, the poisonous planet Quesh orbited untouched for centuries, until the surprising discovery of rare adrenal chemicals drew the Galactic Republic to further explore this dangerous world. Unable to process the chemicals into adrenals, however, the Republic was forced to turn to the Hutts for help. Recently, the Sith Empire learned of this secret and lucrative operation, and swiftly came to steal the prize. The battle over this toxic treasure may be one of the most brutal ground conflicts the galaxy has ever seen, but the winner will gain access to powerful…
Planets of Star Wars the old republic: Nar Shaddaa
Nar Shaddaa was the largest moon of Nal Hutta. More commonly known as the Vertical City, the Smuggler’s Moon and Little Coruscant, Nar Shaddaa was similar to Coruscant in that its surface was entirely overgrown with city sprawl since 24,500 BBY But unlike Coruscant – which was only relatively dangerous on the lower levels of the world city – Nar Shaddaa was filthy, polluted, and infested with crime throughout. History When the Hutts left their homeworld of Varl, they displaced the Evocii, native to Nal Hutta, to Nar Shaddaa in 25,000 BBY and immediately destroyed the remaining Evocii agriculture after the Evocii’s eviction from their own homeworld. Eventually the moon was annexed by the Hutts, who started to force the Evocii into slave labor, building spaceports and docking bays across its surface, some stretching out into orbit. Although the moon’s urbanized construction had just started, it quickly began to prosper,…
New Planet Nelvaan ?
The guys over at thegalacticstruggle.com has some sharp eyes as they discovered something really interesting (that might not have been intended to be discovered) in the video from yesterdays Friday update. In one of the diplomatic missions – the planet Nelvaan can be seen as a mission in the log. A new planet reveal soon? In the brand new Crew Skills video, at 1.53, you can see one of the diplomatic missions is to the planet Nelvaan. According to starwars.wiki – the planet is – A planet in the Koobi star system, Nelvaan is a primitive world of low gravity experiencing the onset of an ice age. Three moons orbit Nelvaan. It was in close proximity to Tythe. A world without a terrible amount of gravity, it was home to several massive life forms, including the vicious Horax. Nelvaan is also dominated by a landscape of precarious mesas that would have fallen in standard gravity…
Planets of Star Wars the old republic: Ilum
Ilum was the ice planet home to many of the Adegan crystals used in the construction of Jedi lightsabers. The caverns containing the crystals were long ago turned into a Jedi temple. Unlike the crystals of other planets, the crystals of Ilum could only produce green and blue lightsaber crystals. History Ilum was first discovered in 22,800 BBY when a Jedi, navigating hyperspace in the Force, felt a strong pull deep from the Unknown Regions. Following the sensation, the scout had found a world rich in Force-strong crystals. The mystique of the discovery added it to the ceremony of lightsaber construction. Establishing a Temple over the Crystal Caves, Ilum became a place of great importance, as sacred as Ossus and Tython. The temple served as a shelter and place of ritual for the Jedi who traveled here. To ensure the security of the planet and the crystals, the planet had…
Ilum: Dark Plans for Power?
Today’s official update is a planet reveal. And a surprising one (to me anyway) at that. After Hoth already having been revealed I’m surprised to see another ice planet. But regardless, BioWare revealed that they have included the ice planet<span< a=””> class=”Apple-style-span” style=”color: #cccccc; font-family: ‘Trebuchet MS’, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;”> Ilum in the game. Here is the official news: </span<> With the final outcome of the war between the Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic still undecided, the icy planet Ilum sits squarely in the cross-hairs. The crystals that grow here in abundance are the source of incredible power and possibility. Jedi and Sith alike have long sought them for their Lightsabers, but the ramifications may go much deeper. Recently the Empire launched a major assault against the Jedi on Ilum, destroyed the Order’s sanctuaries, and initiated an ambitious operation of unknown intent. With its forces already spread thin, the Republic…
Planets of Star Wars the old republic: Corellia
Corellia was the capital planet of the Corellian system, which included Selonia, Drall, Tralus, and Talus. It was also the birthplace of smuggler and New Republic General Han Solo as well as Rogue Squadron pilot and New Republic hero Wedge Antilles, along with many other humans who played important roles in the histories of the Rebel Alliance, New Republic, and Galactic Alliance. Collectively, the planets of the system were known as the Five Brothers. As the largest planet and the closest to Corell, Corellia was often called the “Eldest Brother” or the “Eldest.” Historians believed the Celestials assembled the system artificially, the worlds brought from other parts of the galaxy for unknown reasons. Some believed that these Celestials populated Corellia with Humans from Coruscant. Geographic features Corellia’s surface was extremely temperate, dominated by rolling hills such as those of Bindreg, thick forests, lush farmland, golden beaches, and large seas. Snow-covered…
SWTOR Friday Update: Highlight on Corellia
This week’s Star Wars: The Old Republic update takes a closer look at the planet of Corellia. As a pivotal part of the Republic’s strength, the planet may be a consistent target for the Imperial struggle for dominance. Home to some of the Republic’s most influential leaders, the notoriously independent world of Corellia is of critical strategic significance. It’s been a symbol of personal and economic freedom since the Republic’s earliest days, and it’s become the center of all the Republic’s industry and enterprise. Despite long-standing evidence of corruption in Corellian government, the citizens have always been staunchly loyal to the Republic. Losing contact with the planet and receiving images of destruction has caused grave concern in the Senate for what may be happening on the ground in Corellia’s capital. Read more on Corellia via the updated Holonet. While you are checking that out, also be sure to catch the…
Nar Shaddaa: Crowning Jewel of the Underworld
This Friday’s update brings us a new playable planet: Nar Shaddaa. To me, a surprising one, as I thought there would be no more planets left, then Corellia. Nar Shaddaa also featured in KotOR 2, so it will be an interesting planet to (re-)visit, though I must admit that I’m not entirely sure what it offers that other planets don’t already offer. With Coruscant already in the game we have a city planet and with Hutta we already have a crime capitol. But here it is: Circling the planet Hutta is its largest moon – Nar Shaddaa, the ultimate corrupt city. Dominated by underworld concerns and owned by the Hutts, this sprawling mass of skyscrapers is considered one of the most dangerous and exciting places in the galaxy, where anything can be had for the right price. Access the HoloNet to learn more about Nar Shaddaa. Check out this video…