Turning to the Dark Side brings new interest

You may have noticed that things have been a little bit quiet around here lately. To be honest, I burnt myself out a bit. I finished powering through the last of the four different Republic classes, Trooper, in order to unlock all four buffs for all my characters. Then I needed a break.

I found Trooper, with the Commando spec, to be a bit tiresome, not because Trooper was hard to play, it's just that I didn't enjoy the class in PvP and this was the seventh time that I'd been through most of the Republic zones. I did it a couple of times in Beta and I also did it a couple of times before I found my home on an Australian server.

Having a few weeks off and playing other games like Diablo gave me a well needed break and an opportunity to see what else was on offer in the gaming world. Diablo is back on the shelf and I'm back into SWTOR full-swing!

I've started playing a Sith Warrior and it's refreshing how different all the quest lines are from the Republic stories. Even though Imperial and Republic players might occupy the same planets, all the quests are different. For my four Imperial toons I am staggering across different planets to ensure that I have a unique experience with all characters.That combined with the XP bonuses on PvP and class missions will help me level my new characters without getting bored.

The story mode content in SWTOR constantly surprises me. It's just like a well written choose your own adventure. Even if you don't like raiding or PvP the solo story line is enough to keep any player going for a long time.

Trooper Companion Information Updated

Troopers, it's your turn: our Companion List information for Trooper Companions has now been updated to our latest style of presentation. Character information, Gameplay information and Gift Preferences are all included.

SWTOR Full Trooper Companion List and Gifts

The order in which Trooper's gain access to their companions gives them a lot of gameplay style options early on. The first companion is DPS and the second heals, which allows the player to settle into a gameplay style by around level 15. Using a DPS/tanking companion provides a very different gameplay than tank/DPS healer. DPS/tank with a healer might take a little longer to get through quests and mobs, but you definitely die a lot less, whereas using two DPS or even a semi-tank/DPS combo might allow you to kill things faster, but there are a lot of circumstances where you're waiting for the resurrect timer due to miscalculations or accidentally attacking more than one elite.

The Trooper companion line-up has good variety and there is a hot chick as the healer which is great for players wanting a romance storyline with a female character. Not only does companion affection help your relationship with that companion, it also unlocks valuable conversations which grant a lot of experience. I didn't learn the value of gifts to companions until I had already reached high level 40s on beta.

Check out a compilation of everything I have been able to gather about Trooper companions and their gifts here:

STAR WARS: The Old Republic - Choose Your Side: Trooper vs. Sith Inquisitor

If you are not heads down Bum up in Beta then check this out.. Back to SWTOR for me!!

From the moment we announced the eight classes in Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ fans have been pitting them against each other, arguing who would have the advantage in a one-on-one fight. The hallways of BioWare echo this debate, with the writers, combat designers and other developers all chiming in on which classes they feel will have the upper hand.

In the video series "Choose Your Side," members of the Star Wars: The Old Republic team plead their cases, highlighting some of the many skills and abilities that set each class apart from the rest. In the second video of the four-part series, two of the most iconic classes in the Star Wars™ universe face off as the Force-wielding Sith Inquisitor battles the stalwart Republic Trooper.

SWTOR Fansite Republic Trooper Q&A

Site name: RepublicTrooper.com
URL: http://republictrooper.com/
Twitter: @RepublicTrooper
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/republictrooper
Name: David Souza
Site owners: David Souza & Andrew Muchmore
Started: July 2011
Type: Fan site, Blog, Podcase,

SWTOR Face: In your words, how would you describe your site? Do you have a particular focus or interest?

RepublicTrooper: We do indeed have a focus, and that is the Trooper class in The Old Republic. However, we also consider general TOR news and information to be of high importance to the site, and do our best to keep our readers up to speed on the goings on regarding SWTOR.

SWTOR Face: How many people work on your blog/site (including writers, editors, webmaster, etc)?

RepublicTrooper: We currently have six people working on the site, two of them being very recent additions to the team!

SWTOR Face: When did you start blogging (about any topic)?



RepublicTrooper: Well, blogging, I’m not sure…I began writing articles about gaming in early 2000 and have been writing for some sites and magazines on and off over the past decade.

SWTOR Face: When did you start blogging about SWTOR?

RepublicTrooper: I picked up the RepublicTrooper.com domain a couple of years ago with the intent of creating a quality site for TOR. Time flew by and it wasn’t until a few months ago that I connected with an old friend who had the web design know-how to partner with to get the site rolling, and that happened in July of this year.

SWTOR Face: What, if any, MMOs have you played?

RepublicTrooper: The list is extensive…M59, Ultima Online, Everquest, Everquest 2, Earth and Beyond, Anarcy Online, Dark Age of Camelot, Age of Conan, Star Wars Galaxies, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Asheron’s Call, City of Heroes, Vanguard, Lord of the Rings Online, DC Universe Online, Gods and Heroes, EVE Online, World of Warcraft, Warhammer Online…to name a few.

SWTOR Face: Are you attracted to SWTOR because of the gaming experience, Star Wars, or both?

RepublicTrooper: Both, I tend to find value in different aspects of any experience. For instance, some games have great combat but horrible graphics, while others have great crafting but terrible class abilities. It seems that BioWare is trying to bring the best of the genre to the table and then add their own contribution to the evolution of MMOs.

SWTOR Face: What is your most memorable experience in gaming?
RepublicTrooper: Hmm, this is a tough one. If we’re talking about MMOs I think it was probably the first time I saw the Dwarven Ghost in the bowels of Unrest in EQ. Dwarves are my favorite fantasy race, and after playing my dwarven cleric for weeks our group finally made it into the depths and found out what was lurking deep below one of the greatest dungeons of all time. In regards to gaming as a whole, the day my friend convinced me to play a game called Starsiege: Tribes…which changed my gaming world forever.

SWTOR Face: What was your first Star Wars experience?

RepublicTrooper: Going to see A New Hope in a drive-in in 1979…I still remember the awe it inspired in me as a young boy…I think it made an impression, since I’m here over 3 decades later eagerly awaiting the next great installment of the Star Wars story.

SWTOR Face: Republic or Empire?

RepublicTrooper: Republic, though I’m not an Empire hater. The Trooper grabbed me from the start, mostly because it’s one of the heroes that is the most unsung throughout canon. Also, Karen Traviss played a hand in showing great depth in a class that was more of a one-dimensional backdrop in the films.

SWTOR Face: What excites you most about SWTOR?

RepublicTrooper: Truthfully, it has to be the fact that I think it’s the first title that has both the IP and talent behind it to bring people back together in an MMO in years. Friends and family I grew up with are scattered all over the place, and TOR has the kind of drawing power to bring a lot of people together to enjoy new adventures with old friends.

Additional Information:

RepublicTrooper has a variety of original content including:

A weekly fan fiction novel, Lost Tales of the Old Republic. A new portion is added every Monday. You can find them all here: http://www.republictrooper.com/category/lost-tales-of-the-old-republic/

A bi-weekly podcast, Combat Chatter. We do a new episode every two weeks. You can find them all here: http://www.republictrooper.com/category/combat-chatter/ or on iTunes here:http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/republictrooper.com/id468544020

A brand new forum system that just went live last week. You can find our forums here: http://www.republictrooper.com/forum

We also feature a variety of columns that cover the gambit of all things Star Wars: The Old Republic and, more importantly, the Trooper class!

Gamescon Trooper PVP Video

In this sweet video from Gamescon we get to have a good look at the Trooper in some PVP action. Also on show is the Alderaan War Zone, plus you can witness the assets that a Trooper brings to his group in PVP. I think a lot of Jedi are going to be in for a shock when they see what they have to deal with from the ranged classes in PVP. After watching this I might even have to roll a Trooper! So is this guy real good or did the others just suck?

SWTOR Full Class Information Online

I have just finished our class info pages  for all the classes in SWTOR. I will add information about all of the classes to this section as information is released.

If you know of any class specific blogs we are not listing please let us know and I'll add it to our class page

the pages cover all basic information on the class its companions and its ship with video's on the class and ship walk through's. Feel free to leave a comment or extra information in the class comments section.

Read on

SWTOR Class: Trooper

Please go to our New Trooper Page for the latest Information!




HONOR, DUTY, DEFENSE OF THE REPUBLIC

Not all heroes carry Lightsabers. Some just have the will to fight.

For decades, the armed forces of the Galactic Republic defended their civilization against the seemingly unstoppable Sith Empire. Despite countless setbacks, the men and women of the Republic military never backed down until the Senate ordered them to do so. These brave souls remain ready and willing to lay their lives on the line today.

In the wake of the Treaty of Coruscant, the Republic military has begun recruiting from within its own ranks, creating cutting-edge Special Forces squads for the inevitable day when the war with the Sith Empire begins anew. These advanced strike teams are comprised of only the most talented and disciplined soldiers—a new breed of elite Republic Troopers.

These Troopers are the embodiment of the Republic military’s highest aspirations—the most advanced fighting force in the galaxy. They are equipped to face any foe in any environment, but it’s not their gear that makes them tough—it’s their guts. The Troopers’ greatest weapons are their indomitable spirit, their unwavering sense of duty and their undying loyalty to each other and to the ideals that the Republic represents. In this age, the stakes have never been higher. The Republic must win or face extinction. The fate of the galaxy rests upon ordinary men becoming extraordinary heroes. This is the path of the Republic Trooper.

Read On