I am guessing the writers of the game are going to be heavily involved in the writing of this encyclopedia, so I am hoping they elaborate on things they know they left pretty vague (the Entity is something that I really want answered as well!). Also, a few hints of what's coming wouldn't hurt...

<Like a Voss>

My hope is that the Encyclopedia will clear up any and all new content that they added for the game and its backstory. Pre-launch, I was glued to the Developer Tracker as Daniel Erickson (back then he was the lead writer) would sometimes come on and answer questions about the story. His hints ranged from a post-war merge between the Empire and Republic after the game's events conclude, a vague reply suggesting that the old Sith Empire somehow included humans into its population, how the Jedi allowed marriage and children after the Jedi Purge of the Sith Triumvirate to regain their numbers, and other tid-bits about the history of the Jedi and Sith. I hope for something of this nature. Also, I would love to see more development of the galaxy and timeline in general, during the Galactic War or during the game. Detailing what is transpiring as we play would be helpful. Obviously, specifics on planets, events, and people would be welcome.

The game takes place roughly 3,643 years before the Battle of Yavin, and progresses throughout the storyline. Darth Bane comes in 2,500 years later in a different Sith conflict. EDIT: No worries, it happens.

I recommend going to the new servers. They are very heavily populated. I was on this morning on another server, and a good 150 people were on Coruscant.

The subscription base is stable now, which is great. I think once the first real boxed expansion is marketed and released, along with the coming fixes and new content, we will see an increase in subscriptions. Now, it is dependent on marketing it well and making the new features of the pack appealing and worthwhile (space, new content, etc.).

Product summary: http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120623163852/starwars/images/5/5c/Toren.jpg Sources: http://edelweiss.abovethetreeline.com/ProductDetailPage.aspx?sequence=48&group=search&keywords=star+wars&searchContext=&searchOrgID=&searchCatalogID=&searchMailingID=&sku=0756698391 http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_The_Old_Republic_Encyclopedia What would you like to see? Discuss!

I recall Stephen Reid, right before his lay-off, mentioned that they were not going to complete the Timeline series. His explanation was that they believed initially that they would need more explained in the Star Wars mythos, but that turned out not to be the case. Instead, however, he said they had another initiative to explore the timeline which he said would be talked about later. Perhaps this is it? http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_The_Old_Republic_Encyclopedia

Do you mean in regards to the server transfers? Because that was great.

I never looked at all of the files in the client when it was mined during beta, so I can't remember - is HK-51's back story explained? Is he one of the HK-51 models constructed at G0-T0's droid factory? Does he have any recollection of the events that transpired and their importance?

In the original Old Republic games, titled Knights of the Old Republic, there was a companion named HK-47. He has been subject to numerous awards from critics for his writing, and is probably the most iconic companion from the two KOTOR games. You fight HK-47 in The Old Republic. During beta for TOR, files were found in the companion folder that contained voice overs for a new companion, HK-51, but it was never added to the game. He has the same witty personality as his counterpart from the original games, and many are excited to finally see him in-game.

I love the Killiks because they are basically BioWare's interpretation of Star Wars "darkspawn," which were the mythical antagonists in their other game, Dragon Age: Origins. I mean, look at the comparisons: the Killiks rise every few hundred years to plunge all of Alderaan's houses into war, only to be defeated by an "Order of Extermination" that leads the war against the Killiks and drives them underground before they take over the minds of innocents. In Dragon Age, the darkspawn come from underground every few centuries, attack everyone and turn them into darkspawn, and then are driven off by the Order of the Grey Wardens to bring them back to their lairs underground. EDIT: IMO, the Killiks aren't considered neutral, but are rather a force of nature. They come back to attack every few centuries, and it is the job of the player to decide how to turn the tide of the threat - they act as a way for the player to express this.

It's a joke.

Yes, they decided to discontinue the Timeline series due to the fact that they believed the game didn't need Star Wars history explained beyond what they had already released (which I don't agree with, personally - some additional light on the Rakata would be lovely for new players). However, they did say they had another timeline initiative planned - this was a month or two ago. Hopefully it is still on the drawing board.

Come on, people. It's much better for them to take their time and ensure each of the servers is properly populated than to end up with unbalanced servers (as we had before transfers - mistakes in server distribution were what caused the problem in the first place). It's hard to hear stories of 700+ fleets, to be sure, but we will have our share soon enough.

What an awe-inspiring article. My favorite part: We have numbers our competitors would envy! Well, not all... but lots! Some things are truly spectacular. Well, I think... you can judge.

They were lost when the site was reformatted, along with the Biography and Ship pages. You can still purchase the hard copy versions of the comics from Dark Horse.

Many of his facts weren't even right - the "300 million" figure was disproved many months before launch by Stephen Reid.

I'd honestly prefer it if the season cycle stays away, as it would interfere with the look and feel of certain planets - Corellia covered in snow might look to similar to Alderaan, as an example.

That's not true in regards to videogames being C-canon. S-canon refers to generally older works which have elements that might not necessarily fit in with the Star Wars mythos but are still considered canon until a newer work has need to override it. Until that need, it stays canon. Videogames are actually considered C-canon and are often referenced in novels, such as the KOTOR and TOR eras. Plot-lines and the story itself are considered canon, along with anything that might have to do with the missions themselves. Game mechanics, however, such as "rage building" and abilities are not canon. However, missions are, of course - so the major events that happen in TOR and the players' role in them is canon.

The Sith Pureblood was a late addition to the Inquisitor, but the quest in question is one that is available to both Warriors and Inquisitors - thus, it has generic responses that don't take your class into account, but do take in your race, in this case.

I think having a mix of planets from the movies, from KOTOR, and from the expanded universe/TOR's own creation is important, as well as making each different in terms of the visual style. This is clearly considered by the art team, as each planet has had its own look and feel thus far. Certainly, there are more opportunities, even when reusing an environment "type." Two ice worlds can feel different, as with Ilum and Hoth, given that the stories are different and color palettes have variety. I don't know how many planets will be added over the course of TOR's lifespan (which James has said to be quite a long time!), but I am a planet enthusiast, and I would love to see as many great story lines added as possible. I list these as having potential in 'large' worlds, though they certainly could be used nicely in smaller sizes, such as Quesh. Even Operations or Flashpoints could expand on these planets. Some ideas I've been thinking about (I speak mostly in terms of potential - obviously, the fabulous writers at BioWare would create interesting stories for these planets to fit them into the overall war): MOVIE WORLDS Geonosis - we have Geonosians in-game already, and there is already an importance for it in the game as a Mandalorian stronghold and the site of the Geonosian arena. There is opportunity PvP wise for the Geonosian arena, and overall it has great significance in the overall war effort. It would be great to see the underbelly of the galaxy holed up here in a similar way to Nar Shaddaa. Kashyyyk - classic movie world that is home to our lovable Wookiee friends, who do have a rather small presence in the game as is. Vertical jungle biome is different from other biomes, and is different enough from Dromund Kaas to fit right in. Also, KOTOR planet gives extra possibilities (would Zaalbar still be alive? They live quite a long time...). Yavin IV - an alternative jungle world. It may be too similar to Kashyyyk in that they are both jungle worlds, but Yavin's history as an ancient Sith stronghold would be great for Imperial players. Exar Kun's tomb is an important location here, and Naga Sadow's tomb would very much be worth exploring further, considering its mention in the Timeline series... Mustafar - we are lacking in lava worlds, and Mustafar has a lot of potential. I say this not only because it's easily the most iconic lava world, but also because of its history. It's been only several hundred years since the cataclysmic event during the Great Sith War that brought the world 'inside out,' and there is plenty to play with. Perhaps the resources now on the surface of the planet are needed by both the Republic and Empire? Bespin (or another gas giant) - this is something that hasn't been played with much in Star Wars games. I feel like this has a lot of potential as a unique biome (transporting via taxi across a station like Cloud City? Sounds like fun!), but obviously there are others that take priority. Of course, I would encourage not being afraid of having small space stations or planets the size of Quesh - not every planet has to be huge, and this one would probably fit better as a smaller planet. KOTOR WORLDS Manaan. It's an environment not yet seen in the game. There is opportunity with going under water. We already have the Selkath models, and there is already a story created regarding its bombardment during the Great War. The Empire and Republic could fight over kolto. KOTOR references galore. Perfect stuff. Onderon/Dxun - if you can find a reason to put Onderon in, I would recommend it. It falls outside of the normal "ice world, jungle world" environment boundaries due to its two contrasting environments (Iziz, the ancient walled city, and the outlying jungle), and is one of the most unique planets in the Star Wars universe. Iziz provides a different kind of experience due to its history from Tales of the Jedi (as well as KOTOR 2) as a rising civilization. The city itself feels a lot older, which separates it from Coruscant or Corellia. It connects to the past more, which distracts from the hum-drum of the current war. Furthermore, there are possibilities with its close moon, Dxun, for Freedon Nadd's tomb - an Operation there or a small chunk of content would be interesting. Dantooine - at the end of KOTOR 2, we see Dantooine is rebuilding since the attack by Malak. There are plenty of opportunities to connect to how Dantooine's government has grown in the past 300 years, and there is plenty to do with the Jedi enclave. It's mention during the Threat of Peace comics can also be referenced. As a plains world, it is very different from what we have already (Balmorra being the most similar, but Dantooine's flat terrain, unique trees, crystal caves, and color palette makes it very different). Rakata Prime - okay, it's a beach planet. It's really nice. More importantly, it's the homeworld of the Rakata and the site of the Star Forge's destruction. There are dark secrets that have not been explored regarding the Rakata and their powers, and the Star Forge itself would be a great asset to both the Republic and Empire... EXPANDED UNIVERSE This is a nice area because even mentions of planets can then be fleshed out by the art team, as done with Voss. Or you can make your own, like Quesh. These are great things to do, but obviously I can't direct that, so I will just mention some EU planets that have good potential: Dantooine - see KOTOR section. Ziost/Thule - I mention Ziost and Thule because, all things considered, we actually don't see a lot of the Sith Empire. Yes, the Sith control half the galaxy, but I am referring to the real Sith Empire. We have seen the occupied worlds, such as Balmorra, but we haven't seen a lot of the actual 'homeland' of the Sith. We see Korriban (a favorite of mine), but, as Sith apprentices, we mostly see the upper echelons of society. Dromund Kaas is a beautiful capital, and shows a mix of the Sith hierarchy, the Imperial military, and every day life - but it's limited. Besides these two planets (and the Imperial fleet), we haven't seen a Sith planet that was controlled before the war began. I think there's opportunity with Ziost, Thule, or another Sith planet to explore what it means to live in the Empire, or see how they react to, say... a Republic invasion (turn the tables a little - how would the Empire react to being invaded themselves or being on the losing side?). Also, Ziost has plenty of potential as an important world in the Empire. Sullust - another alternative to a lava world. It's less iconic, but it's never been realized before in detail, and the Sullustans could have a great storyline. Mandalore - the homeworld of our favorite masked warriors. The architecture is unique, the planet itself is unique, and would be a great addition to the current roster. It could be a haven for mercenaries, neutral groups, and so on. Mon Calamari - an alternative water world, Mon Calamari's water cities would be an amazing sight. Of course, a conflict would need to be established here. Kessel - this might not be a main planet, but an Imperial prison here would feel very Star Wars-y. Tion - it might be too similar to Alderaan story-wise, but the Tion Hegemony would be a very interesting thing to have expanded upon in-game, especially after the Rakghoul epidemic on Kaon. Nemoidia - I always found the architecture here very unique. As a business world, there are a lot of opportunities to expand on the Nemoidians deals with the Empire and Republic. Dathomir - what evil plot could the Sith use with the Witches of Dathomir? I think this has a lot of potential as a questing area, and does a great job of connecting to the EU.

Yes, Walsh, I did read it; and it said nothing about wiping out all life on numerous planets or the deaths of trillions of lives due to the destruction of a red giant which presumably has no habitable life. This seems like a large amount of assumptions. They did, indeed, have a small population of warriors in comparison to the Republic's armies (hence the need for Force illusions), but where was it said it lasted a week, though? How do we know how long the war lasted, let alone the incursions by the Republic afterward? I assume it was short, but we can't know for sure. Nevertheless, I see your point, but I disagree with it. We reference the Sith Empire as a single entity that was extremely dangerous to the Republic, but we often forget how many lives were destroyed after the Republic made it to Korriban - lives that could have been redeemed or saved. I don't know where the statement "half of Sith forces were destroyed under Naga Sadow" came from, either (that's a big assumption), but clearly the Republic had victory in their hands. It would have taken time, but they could've saved the lower castes who had been indoctrinated by the Lords and the Kissai caste and liberated them from the surviving Sith Lords. Instead, they destroyed them, and it gave the Sith a scapegoat to use hundreds of years later. Imagine if the Sith survived the War and lived under the Republic, how they could've helped against the resurgent Empire. You say that it would cost trillions of credits and years time, so be it. It's better than the quick, easy path of destroying the Sith outright. EDIT: I am actually looking back to Tales of the Jedi, and you are incorrect about half of the Sith fleet being left in the Empire (page 46, Fall of the Sith Empire): Gav Daragon: "But is it really wise to take all these ships and leave your entire empire practically undefended?" Naga Sadow: "We already control the Sith Empire, Gav... we must concentrate on our new target." This is in conjunction with the statement later, after the retreat from Primus Goluud: "Only a few of Naga Sadow's ships make it back to the Sith Empire... all that remains of a fighting force that meant to challenge the galaxy." Effectively, the Sith were left defenseless at home. This actually helps explain the fact that suicide attacks followed; with the Republic overwhelmingly powerful and now attacking strongholds across the Empire (they only demanded Sadow surrender... which is stupid, because immediately after refusing surrender he abandons his people to go into hiding), the Sith were left with no other choice but to fight this way. Perhaps it was due to Sith teachings, but I also think it is to defend their homes. If the Republic had been more diplomatic (they could have - the Sith had nothing else to fight with), then maybe things would have turned out differently.

Loop music preference. I would never ask anything ever again if I got this. When you teased it a few weeks ago, BioWare, I fainted.

The Reapers are a sentient machine race that return to the Milky Way every 50,000 years to wipe out all organics that have achieved space flight, and are the antagonists in another BioWare game, Mass Effect. Remember, though, that the known galaxy of Star Wars is exponentially larger than that of Mass Effect. There are over a trillion people on Coruscant alone. If we combined every homeworld's population from Mass Effect, we wouldn't have a tenth of Coruscant. Furthermore, most worlds in the Star Wars universe are heavily populated and rich with resources, unlike the Mass Effect universe. Not only would it take centuries (or more) for the Reapers to properly harvest the entire galaxy, the Star Wars galaxy has enough resources, ships, and soldiers to actually defeat them conventionally. Remember: the Yuuzhan Vong War destroyed 365 trillion beings, and the galaxy was (relatively) still intact. Fighting the Reapers would be bloody, but they could do it.