#corellia onslaught spoilers

[greyias]

Aaaaaand 6.0 is live! So hyped!

[meatbag-status]

Darth Savik: DON’T YOU REMEMBER ME???!! YOU LEFT ME TO DIE ON CORELLIA!

Me: ................Can you be more specific?

Darth Savik:

[queen-scribbles]

Can’t fight the Sith if you ain’t cute (she’s cute)

[rainofaugustsith]

SWTOR: Season of (Galactic) Change?

So I've had time to contemplate some of the information about 6.3 from the livestream. There will be no story spoilers, just the announcement of the format of 6.3. 

Complete honesty: I'm very disappointed it's another flashpoint. 

Complete reality: I don't think we're ever going to see a stand alone flashpoint again. For most of SWTOR's history, from Ilum onward, flashpoints have always been incorporated into main story. They don't want people to do what they were able to do in the class story, which was to stroll past all of the flashpoints (solo or not) without a second thought - missing some key story content in the process. I personally feel that is also one reason we aren't seeing planetary arcs anymore.  There are surely reasons of economy, yes, but I think they also want to ensure that all players have all story information. The planetary arcs and bonus series were again optional, and players could and did walk right past them if they pleased, missing everything from background to major plot points on Revan, the Dread Masters, the fate of Corellia, and the factions' roles on various planets.

Having said that, the issues with flashpoints have been described many times by many players. They can be really long and really tedious. None of the flashpoints from Umbara onward allow use of the combat assistance droid. There aren't any save points so you can't stop for the day and come back later. 

What do the flashpoints mean for the game overall? I personally think we're going to keep seeing the pattern of flashpoints alternating with more conventional story. What I also feel, though, is that there's a greater chance we may be getting more of that story. 

Before the recent shakeup at EA/BW, I wouldn't have thought things looked good for solo, story-based or more casual players.

The harbinger? Treatment of companions in gameplay. I'm not getting into story because I really am not up for that shit at this time of night, so please don't. But let's talk the combat settings. Companions were deliberately nerfed so they healed less. This wasn't conjecture, the devs said it was working as intended. Players started having to use forced "guest companions" in difficult flashpoints. This was something previously restricted only to story chapters, in both the class stories and KOTFE/KOTET. I personally do not think this was bad in Umbara or Nathema. Both required the player to use Lana and Theron, who were companions they knew and had likely leveled up, at least a little, through the previous story chapters. But then on Copero we were forced to use Raina Temple, who was level 1 for anyone other than Imperial Agents who had previously leveled up her influence. In both Meridian and Spirit of Vengeance players going through the story were also forced to work with one or two companions they had not leveled. The takeaway? They perhaps want players to lean less on companions, which is a common complaint among some endgame types. 

It wasn't just companions, either. Between the re-tuning of the Uprisings, the daily area and heroics of Dantooine that favored grouping, the difficulty at the end of Echoes of Oblivion and the mess that was Spirit of Vengeance, as well as the mats for new augments locked behind ranked group PvP and NiM Ops, I think the writing was on the wall. It was clear that they were going in a direction that favored raiders, as the main story became unplayable. Players were told they should just get 306-ranked gear to complete SOV, when they had only earned 268 gear by the end of Onslaught, something that's really not been necessary in the previous expansions (at least from KOTFE onward). 

But then Anthem folded. At the same time, it was noted that the single-player Star Wars: Fallen Order game had done exceptionally well. And then came the news that Dragon Age 4, which had been inexplicably developed as multi-player, would no longer have that format. Around the same time, SWTOR started soliciting suggestions for improved accessibility on the official forums. 

I think this may bode well for SWTOR. It may have finally gotten across the message that players are here for stories, and players come in many ability levels and game play preferences. Or from a more stark economic perspective, it may have clued them in that driving away everyone but the hardcore raiders does have negative outcomes. 

The fact that they even had a livestream for 6.3 was shocking to me. It's been about three months since 6.2 was released, and for some video games that might be a long time ago. But in SWTOR land that's an achievement. The most recent time the game had what could be considered regular updates throughout the year was 2017, when there were roughly three months between KOTET, Iokath, Umbara and Copero, respectively. 

Maybe they really are committed to doing better this year. I'd certainly like to think so. 

IMHO this next flashpoint will be a good barometer for the devs' intentions. They have a choice - they can do a repeat of SOV or they can make positive changes. Given that we seem to have two companions during the flashpoint, maybe they are already making those positive changes. On the other hand the companions are still "mandatory guests" rather than companions we really want to bring, and for all we know, the PC won't be questing with both of them simultaneously. 

 I'd personally like to continue my characters' stories, but I won't do it if it's going to be all tedious flashpoints that take hours and require endgame gear. So I really hope they are changing to a kinder and more open and accessible path, instead of just making "play your way" a really bad joke.

[synoxshots]

fictober fills collection

So I didn’t do all 31 but I did hit my target of 15 so I’m taking that as a win, and enough to make a masterpost for (also I’m a wee bit extra). 

these are all cross-posted to ao3 in one handy place if you prefer

Warnings are at the top of each post, do take notice! Here we go, all in one place:

Do we have to? Jedi Knight/Theron Shan

Jace Malcom is coming to visit Odessen, and Theron is trying his best to get out of it. Set in the months post-Onslaught.

Yes I did, what about it? Smuggler/Original Character

Set a few years prior to the class story. Ticcer is introduced to Slick, who helps him get to grips with his recently-acquired ship.

You did this? Jedi Knight/Theron Shan

Theron is reunited with Yalla’ra on Odessen after a long five years, and has brought her ship back for her, too. Pre-relationship, but only by a few hours.

Just say it Jedi Knight/Theron Shan

After Yalla’ra’s return from the Odessen Wilds, Theron realises there’s something he can’t keep himself from saying any longer. Set between chapters 12 and 13 of KotFE.

I trust you Jedi Consular/Felix Iresso

The galaxy is at war, and the trip to the Javelin provides a fresh challenge for Ruka’ii.  Spoilers for chapter three of the Jedi Consular class story.

That's the easy part Bounty Hunter/Paxton Rall

Onyxus has been accepted into the Grand Hunt, even if it wasn’t actually his idea to enter. There’s only one thing left to do before the Hunt begins: steal a ship from Dromund Kaas spaceport.

Will you look at this? Jedi Knight/Theron Shan

Yalla’ra and Theron are spending a lazy afternoon at home. But the children have gone awfully quiet, which probably means someone is up to something.

Are you kidding me? Smuggler/Risha Drayen

Ticcer learns that blowing up a Hutt may not be the best way to make friends.

You better leave now Jedi Knight

Kaetos arrives on Corellia in the days following the Treaty of Coruscant, hoping to find the Jedi and learn the ways of the Force. However, as a young Chiss in Republic space, they are first greeted with suspicion.

Watch me Smuggler/Corso Riggs

Qiren is a typical Corellian, a lover of speed, racing, and telling everyone all about it. So when the All Worlds Ultimate Swoop Rally takes over the holonet, naturally she has to go and get involved.

I missed this Jedi Knight/Theron Shan

Theron’s thoughts after Nathema and the engagement, coping with his guilt but with Yalla’ra back in his arms.

All I ever wanted Jedi Knight

Yalla’ra struggles to come to terms with the Emperor’s return on Yavin IV. Angst.

How about you trust me for once? Smuggler, Bounty Hunter

After a run-in with Rogun the Butcher’s men at Port Nowhere, Ticcer strikes up a conversation with an old friend.

I'm not doing that again Smuggler 

Zakuul wasn’t Qiren’s first experience with carbon-freezing.

That didn't stop you before Jedi Knight/Theron Shan

Yalla’ra and Theron take a ‘romantic getaway’, or rather, they join a planetary resistance movement and raid a Star Fortress bunker on their first date.

[inyri]

Onslaught, Nine-style

(Are these still spoilers given that I’m somewhere approaching six months late to the party? Behind a cut, more for picture size than anything.)

“...d’you know, I used to dream of setting Corellia on fire? Somehow I thought it’d be more satisfying than this.”

eyyyy *hammers on option 1 like the fist of an angry god*

EYYYYYY 

Anri I love you but you fucking cockblock me one more time and I swear I-

This line was so perfect I was laughing too hard to get the screenshot the first time and had to back all the way out. Precious baby and her smug little murderface. 

...oh, go AWAY. 

[hydrospanners]

thrusting back into my skin i feel anew

time can be a thief if you let it. nirea and doc try to find their footing with six years of time, distance, and damage between them. spoilers for onslaught. swtor. f!jedi knight x doc. angst with a happy ending. 1800 words. ao3.

She’s so still.

  Doc isn’t sure why it keeps him up like it does, all the little movements she isn’t making. By all accounts he should be sleeping better without Rea doing gymnastics in their bed.

  He isn’t.

  He’s lying awake, blinking tired eyes at the exposed rock she calls a ceiling in this dank little cave of hers. He’s clenching his fists and grinding his teeth and opening his mouth to ask what the deal is and then closing it again because that’s a stupid fucking question, isn’t it? He knows what the deal is. The deal is the Emperor coming back from the grave  again  and more Sith magic no one knows anything about and that new softness in Scourge’s voice and that new steel in Kira’s eyes. The deal is Corellia burning again and Malgus and the Empire and slavers and Jedi Padawans and Jedi Councils and probably three dozen other things she hasn’t had time to catch him up on.

  He knows what the deal is. He just doesn’t know what to say about it. He doesn’t know how to get back to the way things used to be, to their easy understandings and wordless conversations. He doesn’t even know if she wants to be touched right now.

  But Rea--

  Stars shine on her, Rea’s never needed to know how a thing should be done before she just did it.

  “Do you think I made the right call?” She asks, like they haven’t been laying in tense silence for the last hour.

  You’re the Jedi. How should I know?  The words jump to his tongue, an old, familiar joke, but it doesn’t feel funny anymore. Nothing much feels funny about this day.

  “I’m not sure it matters what I think, Beautiful.”

It’s not like he’s insecure. If he isn’t the  best  doctor in the galaxy--and considering the life expectancy of a half-decent doctor these days, he’s pretty sure he is--Doctor Archiban Kimble is definitely top three. He’s damn good at what he does, the shooting and the scheming just as much as the healing, and he knows it. He works hard to make sure everyone else knows it too.

  He isn’t insecure. But he isn’t stupid, either. He can’t just  not notice  the big fucking gap between the galaxy’s most valuable doctor and the galaxy’s most valuable person, period. He can’t not notice that, as much as he carries life and death in his hands, entire empires rise and fall on Rea’s shoulders.

  The gap was always there before, but it’s so much bigger now. He doesn’t know how to get across.

  “It matters,” Rea says, and finally moves. She rolls onto her side, her cheek pillowed on folded hands as she stares at him with this intensity he doesn’t even recognize. “It matters to me.”

  And because he’s a helpless idiot who can’t do anything but follow her, even after all this time, he rolls onto his side too. “That’s kind of a big deal these days.”

  “It was always a big deal,” she says, but she can’t quite manage a smile. “I’ve been waiting all day to ask, you know.”

  Waiting is probably a strong word, but he likes to hear it anyway. He likes to hear that it matters to her what he thinks, even if her opinion is the one that counts. He likes to hear that it’s something she considers, when she’s out there shaping the galaxy. That  he’s  still something she considers.

  (She promised she still loved him. Promised she never stopped, that there was no one else and nothing else and she looked for him for a year and he believes her it’s just that--it’s just that everything’s so  different  now.)

  “I don’t know any better than you what the right call is, Gorgeous.”

  She moves her hand into the space between them, fingers curling like she wants to reach for him, but she doesn’t. He wants to reach out too, to touch her and tell her it’s okay. He wants to know what’s holding her back.

  He’s too afraid of the answer to ask.

  “What would you have done, then? In my shoes.”

  “Got some smaller shoes?”

  She smiles finally, a small thing but real, and the tight coil of something in his gut starts to relax. “Jackass. I’m having an existential crisis here, okay? I need your advice.”

  “No you don’t,” Doc says, finding himself smiling right back. “You don’t need me for shit, Gorgeous. I always said so, and the last six years prove it, don’t they? You can get by just fine without me.” He takes the hand that had reached for him in his, feels the flutter of her pulse under his thumb and draws it to his lips.

  He meant to give her space this time, to let her come to him on her own, but he’s no better at staying away now than he was the last time. Doc can’t help pushing, even if he can’t tell which direction he’s pushing her in.

  He kisses her wrist, her palm. He kisses the pads of her fingers, never looking away from her eyes, so wide and so blue in the dark of their room. “You’ve never needed me,” he says, smiling. “But I like that you  want  me.”

  Her hand curls around his and she’s moving again, wiggling her way across the gap between them, pressing closer and closer until their bodies are flush together and her toes are caressing the backs of his knees.

  “Of course I want you, Dumbass. I never  stopped  wanting you.” She takes a deep breath and her eyes fall shut as she brings their joined hands to her lips, dragging kisses across his knuckles. “I never stopped,” she whispers, her voice tight. “I’m sorry if it doesn’t seem like it. If I forgot how to show you--”

  Doc feels the heat of tears against his hand. “Hey,” he says. “Hey, it’s okay. It’s okay, Gorgeous, you didn’t--”

  But he has stop himself. Because she  did . Because she’s Rea and he knows her, knows her better than anyone in the galaxy knows her, knows her better even than her brother, better than her new pet spy. He knows her instinct when she’s hurting is to close up and pile the armor high. He knows how much it scares her to lean on another person, to  want  something that could easily be ripped away.

  He knows these last six years have torn all those old wounds open and left her raw and aching.

  “I’m trying,” she whispers, more solemn than sad. “I hate that I have to. It used to be so easy. I  wanted  this to be so easy, just like old times, but…”

  “I get it,” Doc says, because he does. Because she’s not the only one fighting battles that were supposed to be already won.

  Rea squeezes his hand, drawing it against her chest as she opens her eyes to look at him again. There’s tears there, but strength too. Determination. “Things have changed so much. I keep being terrified you’re gonna look up and realize none of this is what you signed up for, that  I’m  not what you signed up for anymore. And I just--I’m so scared of losing you again that I can’t even enjoy being with you while you’re here.”

  Stars. He isn’t surprised, but hearing her say it is still-- Stars .

  “I’m not going anywhere,” he promises. “I’ll be right here with you for as long as you still want me.”

  He sees the little furrow in her brow, the little twitch that tells him she heard exactly what he said and exactly what he meant and she’s not about to forget it.

  “Besides, I couldn’t leave if I wanted to, Gorgeous. I’m an Alliance citizen now.” He nudges her with his knee, grinning. “Not saying I’m not flattered, but you really didn’t need to blow the Republic off just to keep me on Odessen.”

  Rea doesn’t smile. “So you think I made the wrong call? You think I should’ve taken the offer?”

  Doc sighs, his own smile fading quickly. “I don’t know. I don’t think I’d want to balance on a razor’s edge in the minefield between the Republic and the Empire if I could help it, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s you Rea.”

  “Are you just saying that to make me feel better?”

  It hurts a little that she has to ask, but he can’t say he blames her. “I know how to make you feel better, Gorgeous, and it doesn’t usually involve words.” This time, she does smile. “I  mean  it. Don’t know what the Alliance is gonna do when I finally convince you to retire, but as long as they’ve got you they’ll be fine. There’s no one in the galaxy who can stop you when you’ve got your mind set.”

  “It’s a big gamble,” she says. “I know it is. The whole thing is riding on me and Force fucking knows I need more of that like a hole in the head. But--” She swallows, letting her eyes drop to their hinds, still wound together and pressed against her chest. “I promised these people I’d take care of them. They trusted me with their lives and I just wasn’t sure I could keep my word if we got tangled up in Republic bureaucracy again. You know what it’s like, how easy it is to slip things through the cracks.”

  He nods. He does know. Probably better than anyone except Rea herself. “But what about you, Gorgeous? You’re not making your job any easier here.”

  “When have I ever done anything the easy way?”

  “You do prefer things hard.”

  Doc laughs shamelessly at his own joke and it’s enough to make Rea laugh with him. She presses her lips to his and laughs right into his mouth, sloppy and easy and so very  her  it makes his heart stutter. Then she’s sliding her toes along the back of his leg, just as limber and just as eager as she used to be and suddenly his joke is not a joke at all because this-- this  is just as easy as it always was. Because their bodies always know just what to say and how to say it.

  “Let’s have sex,” she mumbles, already kissing her way down his throat, her hand already teasing him through his shorts, and he can only hope the sound he makes in answer sounds adequately like a  yes .

  Their voices echo against the exposed rock of what passes for a ceiling in the dank little cave Rea calls a bedroom, and if it isn’t quite like old times… Well at least they aren’t lying still.

[chubbyooo]

My onslaught onthoughts :P

warning warning warning big spoilers after the line do not enter ye if you don’t have played the onslaught

so overall it was more or less what I expected a few good moments that made me think yeah I’m stoked but not amazingly amazing or anything

it seemed very clear that this expansion would be an interim one more than anything setting up new plots and developing existing ones and sure enough it was

the missions were fun but nothing we haven’t seen before

I think I would’ve enjoyed a bit more Theron and Lana interaction but the stuff we got was pre good

alright lets go through it bit by bit (this is in the empire story line btw)

So first of all going to the dark council and roasting the shit out of all of them was a blast

no I don’t want my seat back bicc

first Darth Lady loves robots

I did enjoy the savage this kings a moron stuff

seeing Jakarro again was a highlight even if he did kinda break my game

Kyradia very quickly undermined sith lady framing her for the attack being off

legit Kys plan was to systematically weaken the dark council and the republic and she kinda nailed it

Onderon overall was interesting but just another politics plot

Ok Mek-sha

I loved Mek-sha, the aesthetic the design the way they all interacted I knew I’d enjoy the concept

yeah the mysterious guy is clearly scourge duh

Vowrawns apprentice fits him perfectly

also yay more Vowrawn he’s always great

in terms of the actual what goes on plot it’s standard crime stuff which was fine

Ok but when Tau and Kyradia had a stare down I got chills

lastly I’m probably gonna get flak for this but I killed Vowrawn and his apprentice trust me it hurt me too but the plan was to undermine and weaken the council so it’s easier to puppet (rp wise at least in game I’m sure it wasn’t that clever) so I felt I had to. Morally it’s fine cause they evil sith but am sorry Vowrawn but you were in my way

Lastly Corellia

ok first I love that Anri is a gardener It’s just great

second workin with Malgus again I was lookin for the first chance to outsmart him

seeing Tharan again was a laugh especially when they called out the whole Tharan Theron thing

that fight with Tau was dope and the way she won even doper

speaking to the dark council again was interesting considering Kyradia had either undermined or killed about half

although a specter of glitch made vowrawn speak even tho he’d been decapitated

fuk off Acina I aint being your hand I’ll keep my alliance thanks

I’m glad they gave us the decision to keep our alliance

Kyradia fully plans to undermine both factions as best she can

so it was scourge and Kira and I was so worried for a second Vitiate was alive but nah it’s some weird fungus thing

I’m cool with that it’s intriguing and not oh he escaped cause blehhhhhhh

in terms of the scourge stuff I know some people will be furious but I don’t really care enough about scourge to mind

still imma save Satele cause Marr would be mad if I didn’t

lastly I knew Malgus would get free it was only a matter of time 

he gonna kill everyone

as I said overall good but not amazing, some great moments but nothing to scream about

I will say though I’m hyped for whatever content they have like a 50% chance of releasing after this :P (if not I’ll just write my own :D)

[kaos-sverige]

What to Expect in the 6.0 Onslaught Expansion Update!

Published on Apr 23, 2019

I'm extremely excited to share with you all the news I've learned about the upcoming 6.0 expansion for Star Wars: The Old Republic. The next expansion will be called Onslaught, and is slated for release in September of 2019. This expansion will include a new storyline, new planets, a new operation, a new playable species and a huge overhaul of the gearing, stats and abilities systems. Like the previous two expansions, the Onslaught expansion will not need to be purchased. Instead, to unlock it and the previous expansions permanently, you will only need to subscribe for at least one month during or after the expansion's launch. WARNING! Spoilers. duh! 🔗 Written version & sources: https://swtorista.com/articles/what-t... • Onslaught Expansion Storyline 0:44 • New Planets 3:46 • Onderon 4:03 • Mek-sha 6:05 • New Corellia Flashpoint 7:43 • New Operation – Dxun 8:09 • Nautolan – New Playable Species 9:19 • New Level Cap – Level 75 10:47 • Huge Changes to Gearing, Abilities and States – Spoils of War 11:11 • New Tactical Items 13:13 • PvP 17:39 • Legacy-Bound Gear 19:26 • Strongholds 20:02 • Crafting 20:38 • Companions 20:54 • Free Ingame Items 21:40 • New SWTOR Music "War consumes the galaxy. Hungering for dominance, the ruthless SITH EMPIRE fights to destroy their ancient enemies in the GALACTIC REPUBLIC. Assembling an overwhelming fleet of the Empire's most powerful warships, DARTH MALGUS sets out to obliterate a new and highly advanced Republic shipyard on the planet Corellia. Now, desperate to prevent this catastrophe, the Republic rushes to gather the force necessary to defend this vital facility - one that could finally turn the tide of the war in their favor..." --- 📇 SWTOR TIPS AND TRICKS PLAYLIST: swtorista.com/playlist ⏩ MY MOST POPULAR VIDEOS: swtorista.com/popular 🐤 TWITTER: https://twitter.com/swtorista 🎁 Want to help support this channel? swtorista.com/patreon Feel free to ask any type of SWTOR question in the comments below! I'm happy to help you out on almost any topic!

[greyias]

So. I finally finished Onslaught yesterday. Have been happily chattering away my thoughts in private (mostly my squee), but still trying to get enough brain together to make a post summing up my thoughts properly.

(sorta)

Overall:

Love Arn and Tau. Just so everyone knows, I’ve would die for Padawan Nickelback. My precious boy. Their whole arc in Onslaught, from the awkward introductions, to the struggles they have over the course of the story hits me right in the Master and Padawan feels. I am a sucker for that dynamic it seems, no matter the era.

JAKARRO. DEEFOUR. MY BOYS. I will love you and squish you, and keep you safe from here on out. Also, I promise to actually bring Jakarro with me on a future toon to see what his flavor text dialogue is on Mek-Sha, etc. I just had to bring spyhubby with me on the first time. Because spyboy.

Speaking of Spyboys -- NOT ENOUGH SPYBOY. I mean, I knew his and Lana’s role would be greatly reduced going into this but geez. They could make it a little less obvious there was a divergent point regarding him at the end of Nathema Conspiracy. Granted, he could have been in every single cutscene and snarking constantly and I’d still yearn for more. Because I am a greedy person like that. But they could have balanced some of the scenes where Lana’s present and give him just a little more dialogue. Let him react at her unrelenting snarky Sith act. Don’t make me write filler fic giving him more meaty scenes Bioware -- I’ll do it! Don’t think I won’t!

That said, I did appreciate what we did get. Being able to bring whatever companion we wanted to certain cutscenes was nice (even if said companions were uncharacteristically silent), and allows me to at least imagine them there and their reactions. Also, I loved some small but appreciated moments, like the minor flirt line while leaving Mek-Sha, and hearing Theron on the radio during the Corellian flashpoint. Especially his fond exasperation as he tells us to save the day while he’ll go rescue our peeps. And of course that bit at the end, him being happy to go party on General Daeruun’s dime (a socializing spyboy?? In my expansion?? it’s more likely than you think!) -- and then deciding he wants a more private party after just one kiss. Just... 

♥︎

There was also something else I noticed. On my first playthrough of new content, I like to explore the various dialogue options just to kind of see the differences in dialogue. On the very last cutscene (which was such an imposition to watch over and over again, oh noes, my OTP has kissed again, oh noes, it’s made Lana an uncomfortable third wheel again, oh noes what will we do? Play it again? I think so), there’s something really interesting I noticed, relating to the big decision, at least on a goody two-shoes LS Knight.

If you choose to remain independent, Lana’s super relieved because thank god she really doesn’t want to have to redecorate the base (please Bioware, give her an HGTV show. She’ll glower at all of the bright colors people want to paint their walls), but the Outlander looks fairly neutral. You know, the default expression the characters go through cutscenes with? She’s just like “this is fine”

But if you choose to join the Republic...

She. 

Can’t. 

Stop. 

Smiling.

Like, this just made my heart so happy. My baby girl is just overcome with joy at it all. Being able to rejoin the Republic. Being able to rebuild the Order. Smooching her hubby. Getting the rest of her crew back. She’s happy. After all of the angst that she’s been put through over the course of the game, they actually let her smile over a well-earned happy ending. And its just so well-deserved, especially after the extended angstfest of the tr8r arc.

Smile on you dorky little Jedi. Smile on.

And then I logged off for a bit. Logged back on. Played around in Iziz some, stole a bunch of loose change people were just leaving out in the street. And then finally decided to play through the epilogue. Officially welcome Scourge and Kira back in the fold. Sure they’d set us up for future plot, and everything was going to be okay. And then.

Um.

I was not expecting that epilogue. Like I knew the basic gist of what was coming. But. Erm. I didn’t realize it was setting up the next portion of the story quite so much. Nor was I expecting the major feels it suddenly drowned me in. So much so that...

This happened this morning. We’ll see how long it takes to get finished. But... OOF. Guess Bioware couldn’t give my dorks an obnoxiously happy ending for too long.

[rainofaugustsith]

SWTOR: On Switching Factions

Faction switching. Your ex-Jedi is disenchanted. Your Imperial Agent wants to work for the SIS. You've been able to declare your loyalty to the other side, and so far all it's gotten you is some questionable cantina meetings. 

Spoilers for Iokath, Onslaught and Osssus

I think that despite the challenges, this is something SWTOR's devs will have to approach more directly eventually. Yes, we understand the willing suspension of disbelief, but for some characters it's completely impossible that their old faction would trust them in any way. There's the Jedi Knight, who can be denied a Master title at the end of their class story if they are too dark-sided. There's the smuggler, who may have opened fire on Republic ships and started a pirate empire. There's the bounty hunter, who may have blown up the ship of the Darth they were working for. There's the Imperial Agent who may now work for the SIS. There are all eight classes able to choose to ally with the Sith Empire in KOTET and all eight classes able to freely choose to support either side on Iokath, an act that leads to the death of the other faction's leader.

If a character has been actively working against their old faction for several expacs now, why does it make sense that they would be put in a position of great trust? It doesn't. And yet, on Ossus only Major Anri comments, and then only briefly, if an Imperial sided with the Republic on Iokath. If a Republic character sided with the Empire on Iokath, it's casually brought up in a news interview and then never again. While Tau and Darth Savik can question the player character's judgment, again, there are no repercussions, and they are still left in positions of great authority and responsibility.

Republic traitor Ror encounters Imperial Major Anri on Mek-Sha. 

At some point, it's going to fall apart. So far, if you are in the Untitled Saboteur Game you have caused major damage to your old faction on Mek-Sha, Onderon and Corellia, as well as more minor damage on Osssus and Dantooine. Somebody should have noticed already, and there's no way it can continue indefinitely. But how?

From a technical standpoint I don't think we are ever going to see a scenario where your character completely changes every single thing about themselves - all their abilities; titles, access to the other side's heroics from earlier in the game, etc. I think there's still much they can do.

New planets, new coding?

I think that trying to recode/flag PCs so they can walk into the opposite faction's fleet or homeworlds would be too much trouble, and lead to nothing but a mess of errors. If a PC who has defected needs to visit, say, Tython or Dromund Kaas they could always do what they did in the SoR Prelude flashpoints, the end of the Jedi Knight story and KOTET chapter 2, and make it an entirely different instanced area or different version of the planet that is not connected to the class story open world.

I also think it would be problematic to try to switch defectors over so they can access the other side's heroics or repeatable quests, so it would perhaps end up being that the old content is still accessible and the newer content is where they are recognized as defectors. There's already a lack of continuity and consistency with the old content so I don't see this as being problematic - for instance the NPC quest giver of the Tatooine bonus series still refers to my Sith Inquisitor as being an apprentice of Lord Zash, even if she is now the Alliance Commander and hasn't had anything to do with Zash in a decade of the story timeline. My level 75 Alliance Commander Sith Warrior can still fight the Hate Machine on Korriban. Yeah, it's out of order, we know, leave it be.

For content going forward, though, I think it could be more feasible. They set up Iokath so Republic OCs who chose to switch faction allegiance could enter the Imperial base and access the Imperial vendors and vice versa. On Dantooine and Onderon there are also specific quests/drop points for saboteurs that differentiate them from loyalists.

There are also quite a few planets where there are clickables, missions and resources which can be accessed by players in both factions from SoR onward. On Rishi, both factions can talk to Harlow Ricks; on Yavin 4, Oricon and Ziost they have the same daily quests. On Zakuul and Odessen all the medical droids, etc. are neutral and can be used by both factions' OCs. Thus, I'm assuming that there are ways to implement things so the bases and NPCs aren't hard-coded to only respond/reject to a specific faction.

New icons?

I'm thinking each class should have a new icon on the nameplate for anyone who has defected. Maybe the same icon they originally had, but in a different color.

New abilities?

I think switching everything would be a coding nightmare that would likely break the characters. However, I've noticed my "fallen Jedi's" eyes going red from time to time now. If they ever raise the level cap or offer a NEW ability or two, I think they could potentially code it so that saboteurs could train an ability more in line with their new faction, ie, a fallen Jedi learning lightning. They already have different abilities for different advanced classes; they could add one universal for all specs that is for saboteurs. There could be a 'secret trainer' on Odessen to teach it - like the training holos on Zakuul and Asylum who can accommodate all eight classes - so it's available to all factions.

A Jedi with glowing red eyes and power?

New Names?

5/8 of the class names are faction specific. A few, like "Sith Warrior," "Imperial Agent" and "Jedi Consular" could be changed just by lopping off the first word, and there are several like the Smuggler which really don't need anything at all since they are not faction specific, but the others are trickier. But since it's mostly just used on the  login screen, it doesn't seem necessary to change it.

As to how the character is addressed in game, that changes several times just over the course of the class stories, and again once you get to SoR and again at KOTFE - the Imperial Agent goes from being called 'Agent' to "Cipher Nine' to 'Legate' to 'Cipher Nine' to Commander, for instance - so the ability to change seems feasible. They could keep using "Commander" as it's a neutral Alliance title. "Agent," "Captain," and "Hunter" are also neutral. The Trooper may have been demoted since they have switched from the Republic to the Imperial military, but they may also may be given the same or a higher title, like General, in recognition of their service as the Commander of the Alliance.

For the Jedi and Sith? This gets tough because switching factions does not necessarily mean they intend to become a Sith or Jedi (Scourge certainly worked with the Jedi Knight without flipping over, for example). As I recall from the Jedi Knight story, the Republic characters completely ignore Scourge's title and do not refer to him as 'Lord Scourge' and I can't see the Sith Empire referring to defected Jedi as 'Master Jedi' either. Perhaps they will need to clarify your Jedi or Sith characters' intentions in the story. They could formally give a Sith lord or Darth title to the Jedi who have switched - Empress Acina or Vowrawn would certainly have that capability. Giving a former Sith a "Master" title might be trickier. The Jedi who were originally Sith seem to have to start at the bottom, and having the Alliance Commander referred to as a padawan would just be...weird. So they could always just go with the neutral Commander in all cases, or other titles like Battlemaster or Wrath.

Companions

I think it's inevitable that a defector will lose some companions - including those considered "main story." There are a few that are so staunchly loyal to their faction that they will not entertain the idea of working with you if you switch. In practice this may end up being like the "departures" that occurred after Ossus, ie, the companions send letters telling you that they are leaving, but they remain active in your companion list and can be accessed and used for questing or crew skill missions at any time.

[rainofaugustsith]

*** ONSLAUGHT SPOILERS *** So this email from Krovos...I didn’t think much of it before (and it was bugged for me before too), but this email seems to be directly at odds with what Acina wants at the end of Onslaught.  Acina’s said that she’s going to pretty much put the Dark Council on the back burner and rely on the shadow organization of Hands she wants to organize, with or without the Alliance. She’s also cut the size of the DC in half. Yet here’s Krovos saying “I have always known the Empire would someday reach its full potential, that the right Dark Council could provide the leadership needed to hone us into the weapon we should be.”  And then she’s saying, “If I’m not mistaken, you share the same sentiment.”  And Krovos was working closely with Malgus on Corellia.  It makes me wonder if she’s going to be on the same side as Malgus and the huge conflict is going to be between wanting power in the Empire to be administered by the Dark Council vs. the Empress.  I’m also wondering if the player’s decision (to stay independent or to rejoin the Empire) will have a part in this. The Alliance merged with the Empire becomes the new Hand, which is going to seemingly usurp the Dark Council. The Alliance as an independent entity can continue to support without being a direct entity against the DC.  And then there’s the sticky point that if you did rejoin the Empire you’ve put yourself in a position to act as the Empress’s direct enforcer, as the Wrath, the Hunter or the new Keeper...but if you chose to rejoin as an Inquisitor and took back your Council seat, it’s not so clear.  Truth be told, the Dark Council seems to be stable overall. Malora, yeah, but Major Anri says that most of the Council is okay. If you’re playing an Imperial loyalist, the Dark Council members you deal with (Vowrawn, Shaar, Savik and Krovos) have very well thought out plans and are delegating duties as they need to be. Acina’s the one who takes Malora out; you don’t see the other Councilors squabbling amongst themselves.  Transcript:  From: Darth Krovos Subject: Our Victory Our assault on Corellia marks one of the most focused and unified efforts I’ve ever seen the Empire achieve. I feel great pride in our victory and wanted to congratulate you for your role in our success. To see the Republic’s hopes detonate with that shipyard, to witness the utter waste laid to their ambitions...it is truly inspiring. May we share more such victories.  I have always known that the Empire would someday reach its full potential, that the right Dark Council could provide the leadership needed to hone us into the weapon we should be. If I’m not mistaken, you share the same sentiment. From where we stand now, it looks more and morelikely that we will see that day.  

[greyias]

Quick Reminders about Onslaught (dropping tomorrow)

Hey guys! Happy 6.0 tomorrow (hopefully we have a smooth launch and patch this time around 🤞)!

In-Game Currency Reminder:

Just wanted to give a quick heads-up/reminder for those that care about such thing, a lot of in-game currency (Command Tokens, Masterworks Crystals, etc) are being done away with the patch tomorrow, so if that’s something you’re concerned about, check out this thread from the forums about the best way to get the most out of what you’ve earned up to this point: http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?p=9772619#edit9772619

On Spoilers:

Now, another quick reminder, I plan on playing through live tomorrow when the patch goes live (🤞), but right now I don’t plan on live-blogging the entire expansion, because... well, it kind of seems like that’d be pretty darn obnoxious with the amount of content we’re getting to spam your dashes that much. And I’m going to attempt to parse out the story over a few days if I can since story updates are so few and far between I’m going to attempt to savor it. And a dashpocalypse over two or three days seems... excessive.

Watch me get impatient and blast through it on the first day.

That said, if I do like general thoughts/postings, I’m planning on keeping anything spoilery (including any character/romance development that we get) under a cut for at least a week so that people who want to experience for themselves first can do so unspoiled. I will also be using the following tags in case anyone wants to blacklist/filter until they’ve played through themselves:

#swtor spoilers #swtor onslaught #onslaught spoilers #swtor 6.0 #swtor 6.0 spoilers #grey’s silly swtor tag #onderon spoilers #mek-sha spoilers #corellia onslaught spoilers  (I would have this be the actual name of the flashpoint but I don’t know what is) #swtor release week #swtor patch day

That said, if any of my mutuals are planning to post things outside of a cut, like, say a picture post with giant spoilers and aren’t using any of the above tags but something else, would you guys mind letting me know? That way I can add it to my filter/blacklist so I don’t get accidentally spoiled. I would greatly appreciate it, thank you ❤️

[rainofaugustsith]

Onslaught thoughts

I completed Onslaught on two characters - Lira (Jedi Knight, saboteur) and one of Viri's clones (Sith Warrior, loyalist). Thoughts are below. Obvious spoilers ahead!

I'm going to need to think very carefully if I want to bring my main (Viri) or any of my other favorites through this content. Right now, I'm thinking no. If Viri does do this, I am thinking that it will need to be either totally or partially out of canon for her because I just can't see her doing this.

Overall, I found it to be nothing more than a very one-dimensional rehash of older content. The Untamed group on Oderon? Hello, Hailstorm Brotherhood on Hoth, down to the similar armor. You do mostly the same quests on both sides with slight differences. The Corellia flashpoint is in a gray and uninteresting warehouse.

Visually, Onderon was beautiful in every way, and I liked exploring the market squares and waterfalls. Mek-Sha had some good visual design but was a nightmare to get around. You think Corellia, Taris and Balmorra are bad? Roll them all together and add bad lighting and narrow corridors with hostile NPCs.

The one-dimensional aspect really bothered me. The Republic chose to appease Zakuul and tried to kill the Commander. Both sides showed up on Iokath trying to kill each other. Both sides are busy building as many machines of war as they can to blow each other out of the sky. Tau says flat out that she doesn't want peace. And yet we get this overarching good vs. bad with very little nuance. Your choice with Darth Vowrawn, someone who has always stood by your character (especially if you are a Sith Warrior) is to allow the subjugation of former slaves or cut his head off. There's a peaceful scientist in the Corellia flashpoint just for you to brutally kill. Come the fuck on.

I did appreciate that the Imperial side gave the character a chance to still be themselves - to speak out against slavery or stop the civilian bombings of Corellia, for instance - but it was few and far between and they seem to be catering largely to the raider edgelord crowd. When Vowrawn dies for instance you actually see his damn head on the floor. Who is that for? Is that really necessary?

Lana's snark was pure gold and perhaps the best thing about this story. Watching her troll the Republic is hilarious. I do wonder if the game is bugged because Imperial side there were no flirts or references to her romance relationship with the player, and Lana and Anri hit it off. It was also good to see Jakarro and C2-D4.

On the Republic side, Lira is of course a saboteur. If the Republic hasn't figured it out yet they aren't paying attention. Every mission Lira leads mysteriously seems to fail. She had a scene with Major Anri where she revealed herself through her actions - literally killing the Republic general and telling Anri to hurry up and blow the damn fuel lines up to destroy the Republic fleet - so the cat is out of the bag there. Lira is with Lana (not canon obviously...none of my other characters do anything canon after their class stories), so she had to turn down Kira and Scourge one by one, which was painful.

I can't envision any of my characters wanting to return to the clusterfuck of either faction, or forcing everyone on Odessen to become citizens of one  faction or another. They will all keep their Alliances.

The plague storyline mentioned by Kira and Scourge sounded way more intriguing, and out of the hamster wheel of the endless faction wars, so I hope that will be a very long story arc. I'm really not expecting much anymore, though.