Yeah...you can count me out of that. I was attracted to this game for the class stories, I played 6 alts to max for the class stories...the idea of this MMO turning into just another boring faction-story MMO sounds awful to me, the idea that I could finish Makeb in a single week on a single character and never want to play it again (just like every other MMO out there) sounds awful to me, no matter how great the story content may be (and if its' anything like the rest of the planet storylines, it will suck). BTW, can you imagine never again having companion dialogue? Try to imagine..if we get planet story after planet story in the Makeb fashion and always with the pre-recorded one-liners and never with new dialogue from either the companion OR the class voice actor? And people want that? That's SW:TOR's future?

This isn't about Makeb. We already know Makeb will be 5 levels and no class story quests. Allison confirmed that on Monday. This is about what happens after Makeb...what happens in the next two years...this isn't about some small team at BioWare Austin developing planet DLC, this his about whether we will ever get a full-blown expansion of the class stories -- aka the only AAA part of this MMO, the only thing that makes it stand out from the pack, the only thing that is worth subscribing for (and ironically the only thing they gave away for free).

I fully support this thread. This is the number one question I want answered about the game. I will happily purchase Makeb and remain a subscriber if I know class story content is coming eventually. I sincerely hope you're successful in getting an answer from BioWare.

I believed Daniel Erickson. That was back when I thought Makeb was just going to be filler until to the expansion. This is Jeff Hickman's game now and for Jeff Hickman Makeb is the expansion.

Nothing wrong with any of that. You just have more patience than I do. I'll be back if they ever do come to their senses and refocus on class stories. If they were to announce right now "Yes we will have class stories sometime in the future, just not for a while" I would be satisfied, resub, and buy Makeb today. But they aren't doing that.

They aren't going to abandon stories. That just isn't going to happen. That's literally the only thing the BioWare name has going, to abandon that would be suicidal to the brand name EA paid so much for. No less odd logic than thinking that Makeb selling well = larger expansion with class stories down the road. I know that wasn't the OPs point because the OP doesn't make blanket black and white statements like that, but I think that's the underlying sentiment and it's wrong. BioWare is never going to admit they've abandoned class stories, they are going to test the waters with Makeb and go from there. I just think class stories are the only possible way to save this game and its future. In 6 months the F2P boom will go bust. It's going to take something ambitious and radical to turn this game around, and Makeb ain't it.

This. The damage is already done just by setting the precedent of 5 entire levels with NO class story content. That's a nail in the coffin by itself. If Makeb is successful, the only thing that guarantees is more Makebs. More generic planet storylines. There is absolutely no reason to think that once abandoned, EAware would ever invest enough back into the game to continue all 8 stories. The only way EAware will ever release a full-blown expansion is if Makeb fails. Don't reward them for their bad decisions, not even for $10.

I already canceled when I finished my last alt's story. Makeb just reaffirms why. No new class story content = no reason to subscribe. Blame it on the Hickman effect. Without class story this is just another MMO with bad level and quest design, outdated mechanics, and boring emblem gear endgame.

I disagree. Makeb is a test run. If it does well financially for BioWare, then you are looking at the future of this game. Say goodbye to class storylines if that happens. When they can just release DLC planet packs once a year and nickel-and-dime the rest of the new content in the cash shop (getting $100 out of the content and no publishing costs sunk), what possible reason could they have to want to invest in full-blown real Expansions with new class storylines when they already know they can get away with calling some planet DLC addon an "expansion." Makeb sets a new standard, 5 entire levels with not one bit of class storyline. Not one bit. That is unacceptable. That is not what I signed onto this game for. Voice-over is overrated, if I want generic planet quests I'll play...every other MMO ever made.

And the only things we know for sure are the first 3 things on that list. The rest is madey-upy. Especially the part about the skill trees..yeah I'm sure they have a team hard-at-work updating all the talent trees for all 16 advanced classes...no no, I believe it, ignore my hysterical laughing. New abilities you say? Suuuure...new abilities from the team that can't figure out how to implement hood toggle...tell it again, I like this story!

If you think EA$ware is going to include new flashpoints and operations with Makeb for $10...well I don't know what to tell you, but be prepared for disappointment since they've already said they're just going to scale the current endgame to 55.

Even better, Cathar have already been announced as a Cash Shop only item. Ilum is a vague hint of a promise about something that may or may not actually happen and likely isn't nearly as big or important as some people have read into it being.

They have to. No really...they have to. They aren't going to sell an entirely new endgame for $10.

And when you finish the Makeb storyline on one character in a week and are faced with the same exact endgame you have now, only 5 levels higher?

The first time we heard that they were considering charging for it was from...Jeff Hickman. You'll recognize Jeff Hickman as the ever-smiling business guy replacing the true developers who were let go months ago who both looks and sounds like a used-car salesman who knows we're "Just gonna love" whatever mediocre cash-shop item/addon (like Makeb) they're on the verge of releasing. Go watch the most recent Q&A, Jeff Hickman is the guy on the right laughing off all of the player bases' legitimate concerns. AKA the current Executive Producer.

I see your marketing-speak and raise you a developer quote

Correction. No class stories. And no FPs, PvP maps, or OPs (they've indicated these will come in the smaller, more frequent patches). Can you imagine if Makeb really did have all of those things? Do you think they would sell it for 10 bucks? Makeb is 5 new levels followed by the same endgame we have right now. That's all it is. Calling it an "expansion" and raising the level cap is just a clever way to get people to buy it.

So instead of playing the same story twice, they will play the same story 16 times.

Most MMOs don't call minor addons "Expansions." They use the term "Expansion" to mean "Expansion" ... you know...many new zones, new abilities, new talent trees, new races, new starting zones, new quest design, new raids, new flashpoints/instances. You know...all that stuff that makes it an "expansion" and not a "DLC/addon".

What's illogical is expecting them to announce "We will never have any more class storyline content ever again, deal with it." Even if they've already made up their minds that it's not worth producing content like that, they would rather chew off their own arms than announce it. So in this case, yes...the absence of a definitive answer is close enough to an answer as we are ever going to get.

Because class stories are the only thing that make this game unique and interesting? I would say that's pretty damn important. If Makeb is anything like the other planet storylines...then it has already failed in my book.

This. Expect a lot more "We want to continue YOUR story" and "We want to create new EPIC storylines." It's all market speak and code for "no more class storylines".

Personal stories in this case having the bizarre definition of "The same story that every other player in my faction experiences" ?

Totally agreed. Jeff Hickman has no passion for this game. He only sees $$$. This game will not improve under his leadership and regime. Expect more nickel-and-diming, content updates re-purposed as addons or "expansions", and Cartel Market "events".

I would rather spend $70 on a full-blown expansion, with new OPs, FPs, class storylines, talent trees, new races, several new planets, etc. Instead I get $10 Makeb. 5 levels of generic planet story followed by the same endgame we already have. And that's the highlight of what we have coming for the next year. Excuse me if I fall asleep from excitement.