The Old Republic :D

[MattG]

Subsequent to the 1.5/F2P release, 1.6 is on the test server. New space missions and spaceship gear!

http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=559053

[Anaria]

There was a Livestream event discussing f2p and update 1.6 recently - some new information (from the transcript on Dulfy.net) -

After feedback from players, preferred status players (ie, have spent a minimum of US$5.00 in the Cartel Market, or returning subscribers) will have the number of quickslot bars increased to 4 (currently 2), and character slots increased to 6 (currently 2) in an upcoming patch. Great news for f2p players

We are already starting to make adjustments: we will go to six character slots for our preferred players instead of two and four quick bars for our prefered players instead of two. We haven’t announced that (character slots) but this is the first revel of allowing preferred players to get six character slots. You heard it first in the livestream!

Once we come in and enforcing the character slots that you have, that will come in the same patch that allow players to buy more character slots and preferred players will be able to activate up to six character slots.

[MattG]

The first expansion pack was announced today...level cap increase to 55!

http://www.swtor.com/rothc

[Buzz Bumble]

This is from yesterday's GamePlanet.co.nz junk email ...

Star Wars: The Old Republic: Rise of the Hutt Cartel first look trailer
They're gangsters, etc.

Rise of the Hutt Cartel expands the Star Wars saga with brand new story-based missions pitting both Republic and Imperial forces against the nefarious Hutt Cartel on the new planet of Makeb.

You can view the trailer video at GamePlanet.co.nz.

[Buzz Bumble]

PCAuthority.com.au has news and a Flash video of the latest update ...

See what's coming in the new update for Star Wars: The Old Republic
Star Wars: The Old Republic has gone more or less free to play, but EA and BioWare are continuing to pump out new high end content for the game. The latest batch comes in Update 1.7: Relics of the Gree, and you catch a glimpse of what's coming in the new trailer.

Man, it's hard to hear that classic Star Wars music without feeling a little thrill somewhere inside.

Anyhoo, here's what's coming in the update:

Relics of the Gree – Discover the mysteries behind the Grey Secant, an ancient Gree starship that has suddenly appeared over Ilum’s Western Ice Shelf. From February 12 to February 26, players can visit the in-game News Terminals located on Carrick Station or Vaiken Spacedock to begin their adventure. The Gree have promised advanced technology, including powerful weapons and armor, to anyone who is brave enough to aid them against an insidious foe who has taken control at the heart of their ship.

Galactic Reputation – This new system enables players to earn Reputation points by completing missions for factions such as the Gree, or for military divisions within the Republic and the Empire. The Galactic Reputation system advances characters through six ranks of increasing prestige: “Outsider”, "Newcomer", "Friend", "Hero", "Champion", and "Legend". Galactic Reputation is also tied to a character’s Legacy, so Reputation points and ranks are shared across all the characters within the same Legacy.

For more deets official Game Updates page.

[Buzz Bumble]

I don't know if it's actually new, but this week's PCAuthority.com.au junk email had another Rise of the Hutt Cartel video link in it: YouTube Video. The page title says "Part 1", so presumably there are more parts to come.

[Buzz Bumble]

Those playing the game probably already know, but this is from GamePlanet.co.nz ...

Star Wars: The Old Republic Asia-Pacific servers to close
Players moving to a country far far away.

The Asia-Pacific servers for Star Wars: The Old Republic are to be closed and all players therein migrated to North American servers, BioWare has announced.

The move is being made in response to complaints of sparsely populated servers in the region.

"The one common theme from the suggestions, which we heard clearly, is that everyone wants the opportunity to play on higher populated servers," wrote The Old Republic community manager Eric Musco.

"With this in mind, we have evaluated all of the options and determined that the best solution, that will offer the best long term play experience, is to merge the APAC servers with higher populated North American servers."

The merge wouldn't happen for a while, he Musco added, and it would be a multistep process.

"We are moving as quickly as we can to make this happen, but we want to make sure this is a smooth transition, so it will take some time," he said.

The three APAC servers weren't merged into one as BioWare wanted to accommodate all play styles rather than force players to choose one, said Musco.

The Old Republic's latest expansion, Rise of the Hutt Cartel is coming next month.

[Buzz Bumble]

Registered players probably already know, but this is a new Bioware press release (via ComingSoon.net) ...

Bioware unveils Galactic Starfighter, the next digital expansion for Star Wars: The Old Republic
Join the battle and customize the ultimate starship to become a legendary Starfighter pilot in the Star Wars: The Old Republic universe! Today, BioWare, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA), and LucasArts announced that Star Wars: The Old Republic is adding Player-vs-Player (PvP) combat in the Free-to-Play Digital Expansion: Galactic Starfighter. With a variety of unique starships, a wide set of customization and upgrade options, multiple battle zones and gameplay modes, Galactic Starfighter brings the thrill of epic 12v12 space battles to Star Wars: The Old Republic for the first time.

Active Star Wars: The Old Republic subscribers will be offered Early Access starting December 3 and Preferred Status Players* on January 14. Galactic Starfighter will be offered as a Free-to-Play Digital Expansion available to the public beginning on February 4. Each group will also receive special in-game items as part of this Early Access opportunity (detailed below). As a special benefit, active subscribers as of November 1 will receive an exclusive Galactic Starfighter early Gunship unlock and custom Gunship paint jobs.**

"Our goal with Star Wars: The Old Republic has always been to immerse players into their own Star Wars adventure and huge space battles are a vital part of fulfilling that fantasy," said Jeff Hickman, General Manager of BioWare Austin. "Galactic Starfighter will be a deep experience that will continue to grow over time. We can't wait for both our current and new players to get their hands on it soon."

Players who subscribe to Star Wars: The Old Republic by November 1 will receive an exclusive Galactic Starfighter early Gunship unlock and custom Gunship paint jobs. Starting December 3, subscribers are eligible to receive special reward items along with the Early Access opportunity.

Subscriber Early Access Rewards (Subscriber Early Access opens December 3, 2013)

Early Access to Galactic Starfighter on December 3:

• Exclusive Paint Jobs***
• Two Pilot Suits
• Two Titles ("Test Pilot" and "First Galactic Starfighter")
• Subscribers get the maximum leveling and progression benefit (a Starfighter Pass will also be available for purchase in the Cartel Market beginning January 14)

Preferred Status players will receive:

• Early Access to Galactic Starfighter on January 14
• Two Pilot Suits
• Exclusive Title ("Test Pilot")

Star Wars: The Old Republic is a Free-to-Play, award-winning MMO set thousands of years before the classic Star Wars movies. Players team up with friends online to fight in heroic battles between the Republic and Empire, exploring a galaxy of vibrant planets and experiencing visceral Star Wars combat. Now players can experience the complete storylines of the eight iconic Star Wars classes, all the way to Level 50 without having to pay a monthly fee. The Free-to-Play option complements the existing subscription offering, providing greater flexibility in how to experience Star Wars: The Old Republic.



* Players gain Preferred Status by purchasing anything from the online store. Former Subscribers are automatically Preferred Status players. To qualify, a player must gain Preferred Status between January 14, 2014 and February 3, 2014 (Prior to the official public launch on February 4, 2014). The offer ends February 3, 2014 at 11:59PM PST / February 4, 2014, 7:59AM GMT.

** Subscribers as of November 1, 2013 receive the Early Gunship Unlock and Custom Gunship Paint Jobs. To qualify, a player must be a subscriber on or before November 1, 2013, 11:59PM PDT / November 2, 2013, 7:59AM GMT.

*** Early Gunship Role Unlock is offered only to Subscribers who qualify and is available in-game beginning December 3, 2013. Gunship Role is permanently unlocked in-game January 14, 2014. Subscribers between December 3, 2013 and January 13, 2014 (Prior to the launch of Preferred Status Early Access on January 14, 2013), are eligible to receive special items including exclusive Starship Paint Jobs for the Scout and for the Strike Fighter.

Plus this ...

Star Wars: The Old Republic - Conflict RisingTrailer
Watch the Conflict Rising trailer and take your battle to space with epic 12v12 dogfights in the new Free-to-Play Digital Expansion: Galactic Starfighter, coming to Star Wars: The Old Republic!

[Doc]

Anyone on this forum still playing SWTOR on the Harbinger who would like to Raid on a Wed and Thursday night on the Imp side?

Cheers
Doc

[MattG]

Anyone on this forum still playing SWTOR on the Harbinger who would like to Raid on a Wed and Thursday night on the Imp side?

Cheers
Doc

For anyone vaguely considering joining a raid group, this is the one that Kristy and I participate in on Wed/Thurs each week. We hadn't done much in the way of organised raiding prior, but have very much been enjoying working with a consistent group from week to week, working things out and progressing together.