Suggestion Drop-Box: Playable Species? Or Interesting Companion?

[SethMyst]

Hello, everyone. It's certainly been awhile!

 

With the Togruta officially launched as a playable species, it seems that we might get some interesting choices for new playable species in the near and/or distant future. For that, I will be creating a list of not just playable species, but potentially interesting companion characters. First, a few notes:

1. I will NOT take popularity into account when making this list. Although there are a few species on this list that are influenced by popular opinion, be ready to see some choices that are either not highly requested, or the species is practically unheard of unless you dig deep into the expanded universe.
   
2. The choices on this list DON"T have to be in the game already to make this list. Making a new model or presets will not be taken into account, although it might influence some of the decisions.
   
3. Voice acting WILL be considered for this list. Although voice acting as a whole isn't too expensive, it does hinder the species's inclusion into the game as a playable race. However, as a potential companion, it's open season.
   
4. This is entirely my opinion! None of the species on this list are confirmed to appear in this game, so take my word with a grain of salt. Who knows, Bioware might just read this list and find some interesting choices they would want, as well...
   

 

With that out of the way, let us begin.

 

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Wookiees

 

Now, to acknowledge the elephant in the room.

Wookiees are among the most nostalgic Star Wars species ever. Chewbacca will hold a grand place in every long time fan's heart. It is also known that Wookiees in the Old Republic era are not unheard of in the galaxy of that time period. KOTOR had a Wookiee companion whom fought for Revan, and SWTOR has Bowdaar as a Smuggler companion, so the code is already in the game as of now. We even have a Wookiee side character since right before Shadow of Revan, in the form of... who was it? Jakarro? It's been too long, and it's showing...

 

However, this is about potential playable races, and the Wookiee is a tough one for sure. There are three main issues when dealing with Wookiees. Firstly, their voices. There are no known Wookiees who speak basic in the movies, books, and the expanded universe in general. Because of this, serious changes to the dialogue of Wookiee players will need to be taken into account. Obviously, the "other" voices often used with non-basic-speaking characters will need to be expanded, due to the overall lack of unique lines to the other races. Plus, hearing a Wookiee's growls rather than an actual voiced line can get rather boring rather quickly after extended periods of time. This will come back later...

 

Second, armor. Wookiees are massive and covered in fur. Not even Bowdaar, the only Wookiee companion, can visibly wear armor, his appearance entirely dependent on his equipped companion customization. Interestingly, this fluke in companion design might also be a blessing in disguise. Several of the companion presets from Bowdaar (and perhaps from that Wookiee whose name escapes me) could be used as character creation presets, the individual pieces interchangeable a la an improved character creator. You know, because some features seem missing...

 

Finally, their racial traits. In terms of strength, Wookiees are in the high tier, having above average strength compared to other species, particularly humans. In fact, in the Star Wars lore, Bowcasters were so powerful that only a wookiee was truly capable of withstanding the recoil. Since they can (literately) tear the limbs off of most other species in the galaxy, putting them on par with the other races in the game would be fairly difficult if Bioware wants to remain true to the individual species. Currently, only a social ability separates the individual species in terms of individual strength, mainly for balance's sake. However, this can be remedied, but it might change what min/maxers will roll in character creation: add small and slight bonuses to each class that reflect the species in question, such as humans having slightly increased resistances and Purebloods having a slight strength boost (if that makes sense). A small fix, but I fear that the bonuses will kill the balance.

 

AFTERWORD: After looking back at this list, I almost forgot about romances. People would find making more beast-like species playable a bit awkward for romances. However, this can be remedied with unique companion interactions based on species. This could create 1) some more character development with you and your companions, and 2) some potentially hilarious interactions the less humanoid your character is. They made Gareth from Mass Effect work, so I can imagine that something can be cooked up to fix this issue.

 

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Nautolan

 

Okay, I cheated a little bit on this one.

I've seen several people request this species as the next playable race, after the Togruta. And, to be entirely honest, I somewhat agree with them. According the the in-game codex, not much was known about this race's homeworld, due to it's highly aquatic ecosystem. Also, a diversity of appearances exist within SWTOR, so implementing them in-game will take little effort. They also have the coding used behind armor usage, to my knowledge, since certain Nautolan have been shown to change outfits.

 

A Nautolan named Narezz, who appeared in the Jedi Knight Story, changes from a Jedi Robe to a Sith Regalia upon transitioning into Emperor Vitiate's Puppet

 

 

The only problem I see with the Nautolan becoming playable is the case of a lack of helmets on the race. Based on my experiences with the game, I have yet to see a Nautolan who wears a helmet in the field. This is only a minor issue, but for role-players, this can be a serious problem. It would also conflict with the subscriber-only hide helm. Unless, of course, it is done away with...

NOTE: After I wrote this passage, I learned that Togruta ignore the hide-helm rule. One less option to worry about!

 

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Trandoshan

 

Now, we get to the stranger choices.

For those who have been around for my previous Suggestion Drop-Boxes, I love the Trandoshan. Oyzen Fess was an all-round interesting character and a decent melee tank. Plus, he was quite different from the stereotypical Trandoshan Bounty Hunters since the introduction of Bossk from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, as he is a big game hunter. He really respects your character, and some of his stories are intriguing, at best.

However, I've noticed that, well, they aren't really a popular choice compared to the Wookiee, likely due to nostalgia... or racism... something like that. However, the problems with the Trandoshan are not nearly as complicated to solve as the Wookiee. Want a list?

1. They speak multiple languages. Yes, despite the lack of proper voice acting in most Trandoshan in SWTOR, Trandoshan do speak multiple languages, although their natural language, Dosh, is the most common. During the New Sith Wars in around 1000 B.B.Y, a Trandoshan Jedi by the name Mrssk clearly spoke-- wait, what?
   
2. They already wear armor. Unlike the Wookiees, who can't wear armor period, Oyzen Fess has demonstrated that Trandoshan have armor coding in their models. The only issue was the lack of a usable headpiece, and the inability to use hoods. Now, that doesn't seem to make sense...
   

 

However, as with the wookiee, one glaring problem with the Trandoshan is their special skill: regenerative tissue. Yes, this has even been demonstrated on Oyzen, whose tanking stance adds a regeneration bonus. Now, the number is very small, only a 10% bonus outside combat, but this makes Trandoshan a powerful choice for grinding mobs, since the wait time outside combat is significantly reduced. They also have a slightly increased strength factor, which is a little concerning. However, if these issues are taken into account, then the Trandoshan are an interesting choice.

 

AFTERWORD: As I inferred in the Wookie entry, I think a playable Trandoshan could create some really awkward conversations, or some hilarious ones. For example, I think the relationship between a player Trandoshan Smuggler and Bowdaar could spark some deep/hilarious exchanges between the two. And the interaction between a Female Trandoshan Consular and Oyzen? Men can dream...

Also, has anyone really noticed that, no matter how introduction conversations seem to go, every conversation leads back to the original topic. For example, there are several class-related lines regarding certain universal missions. Watch two videos side by side where two players say very different things from the Dialogue Wheel, but, after giving a full line of subtitles, the conversation goes back to basically being the exact same way. I can't exactly explain it myself, but what if the species-based dialogue worked similarly? You don't need to change the whole conversation, just the bits an pieces that are changed based on certain parameters. Now, would that convince you guys?

 

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Bothan

 

Weren't expecting this, now were you?

This choice only came up after I make a clean-sweep of Wookieepedia, and I realized just how much of a good choice this actually is. In case there are fans who have not seen Episode Six (or looked into the expanded universe), Bothans are a race of... dare I say it... dog-people, most commonly associated with intelligence gathering, since their mention by Mon Mothma: "Many Bothans died to get us these plans".

 

The main reason Bothans are an excellent choice is, well, they're already in the game. Primarily on the Republic side, they have appeared several times throughout the story, even in the KDY excuse of a level grinder on the Republic side, to my knowledge. They even share the same body presets as nearly every other playable race in the game. In other words, the only thing Bioware really has to do is to deal with the helmets...

 

Now, what are the cons? Well, I really don't see any. The only reason I can find that conflicts is that, well, their representation on the Imperial side is next to nonexistent. I've never seen a single Bothan on the Imperial side I had to fight in my 1-50 Jedi Knight playthrough on 12x. However, this notion flies right out the window when we saw the same thing with the Cathar, who became playable on both sides. Only time will tell, though...

 

NOTE: After talking with my brother, who is a Star Wars Geek taken to the extreme, I learned that the Bothans tend to work with the ones who benefit them the most, i.e. the highest bidder. So, technically, they can work for the Imperials.

 

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Verpine

 

Here we go...

Now, who on the forums has ever talked about the guys who, likely, have one of the most important roles when it comes to Star Wars technology? Most, if not all, non-lethal weapons and medical supplies have been adapted from Verpine technology, such as ion cannons, as well as one of the most popular and sought-after weapon of outlaws and travelers alike: the Verpine Shattergun. Many of the technologies we see in SWTOR were originally Verpine tech.

 

However, right off the bat, there are problems:

• Their voice. I have honestly never heard a single voice clip of a Verpine, since their appearance has been confined to books and artwork, to my knowledge. The only indication on the Wookieepedia page that mentions their language simply list it as "Verpine". Because of this, I can't clearly say what could be done to remedy this lack of solid information.
   
  There is, however, a similar issue that was solved in the most recent expansion. The Rishii technically can't speak, as they can only mimic another species's voice, like parrots. However, on Rishi in Shadow of Revan, the Rishii can have a full conversation with the player, and in a voice that didn't seem to fit the race. Verpine don't share the same trait, but it is something to point out...
   
   
  
• Their body structure. Verpine are one of the more distant humanoid races in the Star Wars universe in terms of body structure. Sure, they are certainly thin, and they share many humanoid characteristics, but that's just about it. They have a carapace, which has the capacity to deflect blades and even blaster bolts, and their biology is very different from most humanoids. If you want the full rundown, you can find it here.
  
• Their culture and special traits. Verpine are culturally peaceful, despite their knack for creating weaponry and reverse-engineering pretty much every piece of tech they can get their hands on. This could cause some problems when dealing with certain class quests, or just class logic in general. They also have certain natural resistances, a lack of soft flesh, and enchanced eyesight, as well as sporting a generally unsettling physique.
  

So, why did I put these guys on the list? Simple: Variety. Animation sets wouldn't be too much of a problem when adding these buggers into the game, and we really don't have a beast-type race in the game as of yet (there might be a reason for this, but for the purposes of the thread, I'll leave that assumption out). Also, as far as republic classes go, they've filled every role in the book. There has been a Verpine Jedi during the Clone Wars and the Order 66 era, and most Verpine fall in the category of travelers, mechanics, and the Smuggling types, and fit nicely into the role of a healing companion, if a Verpine Healer Companion is to go into the works. Yes, now I start mentioning companions. If we're talking about playable races, we might as well go all the way...

 

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Rodian

 

Can I talk at least a little about the Rodians?

Rodians have an interesting reputation with longtime Star Wars fans, starting with Greedo in the first movie. And, after a brief overview of the Legends Graphic Novel Collection, I'm quite convinced that Rodians can make for a decent playable race. Why? Let me demonstrate:

• They can speak basic, as some of the comics have shown. It just hasn't been demonstrated in the films or in games. (The only reason I know this is via Dialogue layout. Translated Speech is often between <these thingies>, and untranslated speech is made in their natural language. Certain Rodians have plain speech in their dialogue)
  
• Their body structure isn't too far off from humans, the only exception being the head, which, as it has already been demonstrated on the Togruta, is not an issue.
  
• Rodians are extremely well established in nearly every class in the game, so making a lore argument is completely irrelevant. They have already been shown to be Bounty Hunters, Smugglers, Jedi, Sith (assumed), Troopers, Agents, Outlaws, and several other roles throughout the Star Wars Universe.
  

 

The main con? In all honesty, after the release of the Togruta, I can't find a single legitimate reason not to make the Rodians playable other than conflicting with the current romances within the game. As previously stated in an ofterward, however, this is easily remedied with a small amount of voice work.

 

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Ssi-Ruu

 

This... aught to be interesting.

Of all the species on this list, the Raptor-like Ssi-Ruu are the least likely to get into TOR at any given rate, and for too many reasons to count. However, if it does make it into the game, I think it has the highest potential to create some really incredible roleplay stories that both defy what we know about the species and, perhaps, learn even more about a race whose history is... obscure, at best. Before we get into that, however, let's count the problems:

1. Their voices. Oh god, this is a tough one. As with the Verpine, there has been practically no representation for the Ssi-Ruuk outside the books that featured them, which, even then, are few and far between. However, from what we can decipher, they can speak both Basic and their natural language, Ssi-ruuvi. However, due to their isolation, I doubt Basic-Speaking Ssi-Ruu are common. But, damn, ain't they musical.
   EDIT: I learned after reading this segment that they use translators to speak basic. More wood to the fire?
   
2. Their biology. In terms of body structure, the Ssi-Ruu are among the most distant sentient species to humans in the Star Wars Metaverse, other than a collection of species that people may or may not know about. Their physique seems be be similar to a long-armed upright raptor/tyrannosaur. They also have "scent tongues" within their nostrils, which could make for an interesting animations if used properly.
   Another interesting note is that there is the assumption that there are no Force-Sensitives within their species since they are blind to it. However, that is just an assumption, and may not be true, so, make due with what you've got.
   They are also naturally faster and stronger than most humans, plus several other thing. The full details are here.
   
3. Their society and culture. Where do I even begin! Of all of the cultures in Star Wars, the Ssi-Ruu have one of the more interesting, if not the weirdest, cultures I've ever seen in fiction. Maybe not on the level of the Argonians from the Elder Scrolls, but still!
   Unfortunately, their culture is highly racist to other species in the galaxy, seeing themselves as above every other species. However, their beliefs heavily revolve around the existence of spirits, and dying on a non-Ssi-Ruu world is considered by them to be the worst possible way to die. They believe dying when not on a Ssi-Ruu world would force the spirit of the fallen to wander the galaxy for eternity. Just... look at the link above to see what I mean.
   
4. History. The Ssi-Ruu are practically nonexistent in the known galaxy before the events of the Galactic Civil War, nearly 4000 years into the future of this game, much like how the Yuuzhan Vong were unheard of before their preparations to invade from the Clone Wars up to the actual invasion. That alone can knock the Ssi-Ruu from even the consideration to make it into the game.
   

 

Of all the things listed in this section, it appears the Ssi-Ruu have all odds against them. However, I failed to mention one thing: this isn't just about playable races.

I've had some time to think about an interesting companion Bioware could add into the game, and the Ssi-Ruu came up as an interesting option. Heck, there could be an entire zone on Lwhekk, the Ssi-Ruu homeworld, that history simply forgot. This actually came up as one of the planets visited in one of my original Star Wars fan-stories, known as Grace of Dawn, a current work in progress. The story takes place in an alternate universe within the Star Wars Metaverse, somewhat similar to the expanded universe in terms of history, with a few minor and, eventually, lore-changing tweaks caused by the Protagonists' actions. In it, I envisioned a Ssi-Ruu that was quite different during the Old Republic era compared to their modern counterparts, still very young and trying to learn how to be a proper space-faring race.

Before I go off and reveal the plot and go on an extremely long tangent, I want to express that the Ssi-Ruu in this time period could be very different from what we currently know from what we've seen so far. I mean, look at Rishi. And, look at the Voss! Why are the Voss not present in any other Star Wars story other than where they were introduced? My answer: either the records were deleted, something real bad happened later down the line, or they've just been forgotten after some time past. Perhaps the same happened to the Ssi-Ruu.

 

However, the next best solution is to add a Black-Scale Ssi-Ruu to the game as a Cartel Market Companion, much like Treek is, but with a whole questline to get the lizard on your team, and to provide some backstory as to why he joins your party. In case you don't know, the Ssi-Ruu society is divided into castes based on scale color, with Brown Scales being the absolute bottom of the system. Black-Scales are generally the spies and intelligence officers of the Ssi-Ruu, and probably the most likely members of their species to be found off-world. I would love to see a playable Ssi-Ruu, but I would accept a Ssi-Ruu companion if that isn't possible.

 

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September 1, 2015 Addition

 

Kel-Dor

 

How in the stars did I forget these guys on my original list?

 

As suggested by sojhill, I decided to add these guys to the list. Why? Deferring to popular opinion? Actually, not exactly, because, at the time, I really didn't think about these guys when I made the primary list. In fact, I have considered putting a plethora of different species on this list, but, due to being unable to return to writing, I had to cut corners. Now that I'm getting good opinions, I can start adding things to the list!

This is the quote that put the Kel-Dor on this list:

 

Mainstream races again... Why Kel-Dor always forgotten...

.

 

I thought about it. Yes, despite the Kel-Dor having the deepest connection to the force than any other race, the Kel-Dor just... don't click with me. And yes, the Kel-Dor look great, being one of the few humanoid races in the game that don't have a human face slapped on them. Adding them as a playable race would make sense, but, at the same time, is there really any variety of Kel-Dor that exist in-game? Most Kel-Dor I've encountered in the game have, in the lack of a better explanation, looked practically the same other than by attire. Plus, I've rarely encountered them throughout my play-through as a Jedi Knight, but more often than naught as a random NPC guarding the Republic Hubs. Every... last... one of them had the same face model. Of course, the same can be said with certain other species on this list, but even the freaking wookies have customization options!

 

To be honest, however, I wouldn't mind having a Kel-Dor Companion following me around. A Jedi Sentinel/Sith Marauder or a Jedi Shadow/Sith Assassin would be an interesting companion to introduce in KotFE, especially if the companion has an extremely fascinating backstory. Some of the best Kel-Dor I've encountered were surprisingly interesting, both in terms of combat and in personality. Unless it's Tol Braga. He was a blissful pile of uninteresting poop (You can tell I'm not exactly fond of this guy). But, hey, at least he wasn't C2-N2. Worthless piece of rusted pipes.

 

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This took MONTHS to prepare, and I had to cut corners to just get this thread out there.

What would you guys want to see in the next Drop-Box? Let me know here or via PM. Also, what species would you want to see in TOR? Following the above model, post them down below. If I happen to find a good suggestion, I'll add it to the original post!

Now, with that off my back, I can finally get back to playing the game! Bye everyone!

Edited September 2, 2015 by SethMyst
New Addition!

[SethMyst]

I'm surprised no one's commented yet? Wall of text too much for some?

[Kiesu]

I have a feeling they'd introduce non-humanoid faced races LAST, due to their expressionless faces. Remapping all moods and expressions from human face to Rodian tubeface is not something you just copypaste, they'd have to be done from scratch. Theres a reason why Bowdaar never smiles.

[SethMyst]

I have a feeling they'd introduce non-humanoid faced races LAST, due to their expressionless faces. Remapping all moods and expressions from human face to Rodian tubeface is not something you just copypaste, they'd have to be done from scratch. Theres a reason why Bowdaar never smiles.

 

Last, as in at the end of the cycle? I'm confused?

[StarblastBlade]

Hello, everyone. It's certainly been awhile!

 

With the Togruta officially launched as a playable species, it seems that we might get some interesting choices for new playable species in the near and/or distant future. For that, I will be creating a list of not just playable species, but potentially interesting companion characters. First, a few notes:

1. I will NOT take popularity into account when making this list. Although there are a few species on this list that are influenced by popular opinion, be ready to see some choices that are either not highly requested, or the species is practically unheard of unless you dig deep into the expanded universe.
   
2. The choices on this list DON"T have to be in the game already to make this list. Making a new model or presets will not be taken into account, although it might influence some of the decisions.
   
3. Voice acting WILL be considered for this list. Although voice acting as a whole isn't too expensive, it does hinder the species's inclusion into the game as a playable race. However, as a potential companion, it's open season.
   
4. This is entirely my opinion! None of the species on this list are confirmed to appear in this game, so take my word with a grain of salt. Who knows, Bioware might just read this list and find some interesting choices they would want, as well...
   

 

With that out of the way, let us begin.

 

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Wookiees

 

Now, to acknowledge the elephant in the room.

Wookiees are among the most nostalgic Star Wars species ever. Chewbacca will hold a grand place in every long time fan's heart. It is also known that Wookiees in the Old Republic era are not unheard of in the galaxy of that time period. KOTOR had a Wookiee companion whom fought for Revan, and SWTOR has Bowdaar as a Smuggler companion, so the code is already in the game as of now. We even have a Wookiee side character since right before Shadow of Revan, in the form of... who was it? Jakarro? It's been too long, and it's showing...

 

However, this is about potential playable races, and the Wookiee is a tough one for sure. There are three main issues when dealing with Wookiees. Firstly, their voices. There are no known Wookiees who speak basic in the movies, books, and the expanded universe in general. Because of this, serious changes to the dialogue of Wookiee players will need to be taken into account. Obviously, the "other" voices often used with non-basic-speaking characters will need to be expanded, due to the overall lack of unique lines to the other races. Plus, hearing a Wookiee's growls rather than an actual voiced line can get rather boring rather quickly after extended periods of time. This will come back later...

 

Second, armor. Wookiees are massive and covered in fur. Not even Bowdaar, the only Wookiee companion, can visibly wear armor, his appearance entirely dependent on his equipped companion customization. Interestingly, this fluke in companion design might also be a blessing in disguise. Several of the companion presets from Bowdaar (and perhaps from that Wookiee whose name escapes me) could be used as character creation presets, the individual pieces interchangeable a la an improved character creator. You know, because some features seem missing...

 

Finally, their racial traits. In terms of strength, Wookiees are in the high tier, having above average strength compared to other species, particularly humans. In fact, in the Star Wars lore, Bowcasters were so powerful that only a wookiee was truly capable of withstanding the recoil. Since they can (literately) tear the limbs off of most other species in the galaxy, putting them on par with the other races in the game would be fairly difficult if Bioware wants to remain true to the individual species. Currently, only a social ability separates the individual species in terms of individual strength, mainly for balance's sake. However, this can be remedied, but it might change what min/maxers will roll in character creation: add small and slight bonuses to each class that reflect the species in question, such as humans having slightly increased resistances and Purebloods having a slight strength boost (if that makes sense). A small fix, but I fear that the bonuses will kill the balance.

 

AFTERWORD: After looking back at this list, I almost forgot about romances. People would find making more beast-like species playable a bit awkward for romances. However, this can be remedied with unique companion interactions based on species. This could create 1) some more character development with you and your companions, and 2) some potentially hilarious interactions the less humanoid your character is. They made Gareth from Mass Effect work, so I can imagine that something can be cooked up to fix this issue.

 

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Nautolan

 

Okay, I cheated a little bit on this one.

I've seen several people request this species as the next playable race, after the Togruta. And, to be entirely honest, I somewhat agree with them. According the the in-game codex, not much was known about this race's homeworld, due to it's highly aquatic ecosystem. Also, a diversity of appearances exist within SWTOR, so implementing them in-game will take little effort. They also have the coding used behind armor usage, to my knowledge, since certain Nautolan have been shown to change outfits.

 

A Nautolan named Narezz, who appeared in the Jedi Knight Story, changes from a Jedi Robe to a Sith Regalia upon transitioning into Emperor Vitiate's Puppet

 

 

The only problem I see with the Nautolan becoming playable is the case of a lack of helmets on the race. Based on my experiences with the game, I have yet to see a Nautolan who wears a helmet in the field. This is only a minor issue, but for role-players, this can be a serious problem. It would also conflict with the subscriber-only hide helm. Unless, of course, it is done away with...

NOTE: After I wrote this passage, I learned that Togruta ignore the hide-helm rule. One less option to worry about!

 

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Trandoshan

 

Now, we get to the stranger choices.

For those who have been around for my previous Suggestion Drop-Boxes, I love the Trandoshan. Oyzen Fess was an all-round interesting character and a decent melee tank. Plus, he was quite different from the stereotypical Trandoshan Bounty Hunters since the introduction of Bossk from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, as he is a big game hunter. He really respects your character, and some of his stories are intriguing, at best.

However, I've noticed that, well, they aren't really a popular choice compared to the Wookiee, likely due to nostalgia... or racism... something like that. However, the problems with the Trandoshan are not nearly as complicated to solve as the Wookiee. Want a list?

1. They speak multiple languages. Yes, despite the lack of proper voice acting in most Trandoshan in SWTOR, Trandoshan do speak multiple languages, although their natural language, Dosh, is the most common. During the New Sith Wars in around 1000 B.B.Y, a Trandoshan Jedi by the name Mrssk clearly spoke-- wait, what?
   
2. They already wear armor. Unlike the Wookiees, who can't wear armor period, Oyzen Fess has demonstrated that Trandoshan have armor coding in their models. The only issue was the lack of a usable headpiece, and the inability to use hoods. Now, that doesn't seem to make sense...
   

 

However, as with the wookiee, one glaring problem with the Trandoshan is their special skill: regenerative tissue. Yes, this has even been demonstrated on Oyzen, whose tanking stance adds a regeneration bonus. Now, the number is very small, only a 10% bonus outside combat, but this makes Trandoshan a powerful choice for grinding mobs, since the wait time outside combat is significantly reduced. They also have a slightly increased strength factor, which is a little concerning. However, if these issues are taken into account, then the Trandoshan are an interesting choice.

 

AFTERWORD: As I inferred in the Wookie entry, I think a playable Trandoshan could create some really awkward conversations, or some hilarious ones. For example, I think the relationship between a player Trandoshan Smuggler and Bowdaar could spark some deep/hilarious exchanges between the two. And the interaction between a Female Trandoshan Consular and Oyzen? Men can dream...

Also, has anyone really noticed that, no matter how introduction conversations seem to go, every conversation leads back to the original topic. For example, there are several class-related lines regarding certain universal missions. Watch two videos side by side where two players say very different things from the Dialogue Wheel, but, after giving a full line of subtitles, the conversation goes back to basically being the exact same way. I can't exactly explain it myself, but what if the species-based dialogue worked similarly? You don't need to change the whole conversation, just the bits an pieces that are changed based on certain parameters. Now, would that convince you guys?

 

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Bothan

 

Weren't expecting this, now were you?

This choice only came up after I make a clean-sweep of Wookieepedia, and I realized just how much of a good choice this actually is. In case there are fans who have not seen Episode Six (or looked into the expanded universe), Bothans are a race of... dare I say it... dog-people, most commonly associated with intelligence gathering, since their mention by Mon Mothma: "Many Bothans died to get us these plans".

 

The main reason Bothans are an excellent choice is, well, they're already in the game. Primarily on the Republic side, they have appeared several times throughout the story, even in the KDY excuse of a level grinder on the Republic side, to my knowledge. They even share the same body presets as nearly every other playable race in the game. In other words, the only thing Bioware really has to do is to deal with the helmets...

 

Now, what are the cons? Well, I really don't see any. The only reason I can find that conflicts is that, well, their representation on the Imperial side is next to nonexistent. I've never seen a single Bothan on the Imperial side I had to fight in my 1-50 Jedi Knight playthrough on 12x. However, this notion flies right out the window when we saw the same thing with the Cathar, who became playable on both sides. Only time will tell, though...

 

NOTE: After talking with my brother, who is a Star Wars Geek taken to the extreme, I learned that the Bothans tend to work with the ones who benefit them the most, i.e. the highest bidder. So, technically, they can work for the Imperials.

 

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Verpine

 

Here we go...

Now, who on the forums has ever talked about the guys who, likely, have one of the most important roles when it comes to Star Wars technology? Most, if not all, non-lethal weapons and medical supplies have been adapted from Verpine technology, such as ion cannons, as well as one of the most popular and sought-after weapon of outlaws and travelers alike: the Verpine Shattergun. Many of the technologies we see in SWTOR were originally Verpine tech.

 

However, right off the bat, there are problems:

• Their voice. I have honestly never heard a single voice clip of a Verpine, since their appearance has been confined to books and artwork, to my knowledge. The only indication on the Wookieepedia page that mentions their language simply list it as "Verpine". Because of this, I can't clearly say what could be done to remedy this lack of solid information.
   
  There is, however, a similar issue that was solved in the most recent expansion. The Rishii technically can't speak, as they can only mimic another species's voice, like parrots. However, on Rishi in Shadow of Revan, the Rishii can have a full conversation with the player, and in a voice that didn't seem to fit the race. Verpine don't share the same trait, but it is something to point out...
   
   
  
• Their body structure. Verpine are one of the more distant humanoid races in the Star Wars universe in terms of body structure. Sure, they are certainly thin, and they share many humanoid characteristics, but that's just about it. They have a carapace, which has the capacity to deflect blades and even blaster bolts, and their biology is very different from most humanoids. If you want the full rundown, you can find it here.
  
• Their culture and special traits. Verpine are culturally peaceful, despite their knack for creating weaponry and reverse-engineering pretty much every piece of tech they can get their hands on. This could cause some problems when dealing with certain class quests, or just class logic in general. They also have certain natural resistances, a lack of soft flesh, and enchanced eyesight, as well as sporting a generally unsettling physique.
  

So, why did I put these guys on the list? Simple: Variety. Animation sets wouldn't be too much of a problem when adding these buggers into the game, and we really don't have a beast-type race in the game as of yet (there might be a reason for this, but for the purposes of the thread, I'll leave that assumption out). Also, as far as republic classes go, they've filled every role in the book. There has been a Verpine Jedi during the Clone Wars and the Order 66 era, and most Verpine fall in the category of travelers, mechanics, and the Smuggling types, and fit nicely into the role of a healing companion, if a Verpine Healer Companion is to go into the works. Yes, now I start mentioning companions. If we're talking about playable races, we might as well go all the way...

 

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Rodian

 

Can I talk at least a little about the Rodians?

Rodians have an interesting reputation with longtime Star Wars fans, starting with Greedo in the first movie. And, after a brief overview of the Legends Graphic Novel Collection, I'm quite convinced that Rodians can make for a decent playable race. Why? Let me demonstrate:

• They can speak basic, as some of the comics have shown. It just hasn't been demonstrated in the films or in games. (The only reason I know this is via Dialogue layout. Translated Speech is often between <these thingies>, and untranslated speech is made in their natural language. Certain Rodians have plain speech in their dialogue)
  
• Their body structure isn't too far off from humans, the only exception being the head, which, as it has already been demonstrated on the Togruta, is not an issue.
  
• Rodians are extremely well established in nearly every class in the game, so making a lore argument is completely irrelevant. They have already been shown to be Bounty Hunters, Smugglers, Jedi, Sith (assumed), Troopers, Agents, Outlaws, and several other roles throughout the Star Wars Universe.
  

 

The main con? In all honesty, after the release of the Togruta, I can't find a single legitimate reason not to make the Rodians playable other than conflicting with the current romances within the game. As previously stated in an ofterward, however, this is easily remedied with a small amount of voice work.

 

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Ssi-Ruu

 

This... aught to be interesting.

Of all the species on this list, the Raptor-like Ssi-Ruu are the least likely to get into TOR at any given rate, and for too many reasons to count. However, if it does make it into the game, I think it has the highest potential to create some really incredible roleplay stories that both defy what we know about the species and, perhaps, learn even more about a race whose history is... obscure, at best. Before we get into that, however, let's count the problems:

1. Their voices. Oh god, this is a tough one. As with the Verpine, there has been practically no representation for the Ssi-Ruuk outside the books that featured them, which, even then, are few and far between. However, from what we can decipher, they can speak both Basic and their natural language, Ssi-ruuvi. However, due to their isolation, I doubt Basic-Speaking Ssi-Ruu are common. But, damn, ain't they musical.
   EDIT: I learned after reading this segment that they use translators to speak basic. More wood to the fire?
   
2. Their biology. In terms of body structure, the Ssi-Ruu are among the most distant sentient species to humans in the Star Wars Metaverse, other than a collection of species that people may or may not know about. Their physique seems be be similar to a long-armed upright raptor/tyrannosaur. They also have "scent tongues" within their nostrils, which could make for an interesting animations if used properly.
   Another interesting note is that there is the assumption that there are no Force-Sensitives within their species since they are blind to it. However, that is just an assumption, and may not be true, so, make due with what you've got.
   They are also naturally faster and stronger than most humans, plus several other thing. The full details are here.
   
3. Their society and culture. Where do I even begin! Of all of the cultures in Star Wars, the Ssi-Ruu have one of the more interesting, if not the weirdest, cultures I've ever seen in fiction. Maybe not on the level of the Argonians from the Elder Scrolls, but still!
   Unfortunately, their culture is highly racist to other species in the galaxy, seeing themselves as above every other species. However, their beliefs heavily revolve around the existence of spirits, and dying on a non-Ssi-Ruu world is considered by them to be the worst possible way to die. They believe dying when not on a Ssi-Ruu world would force the spirit of the fallen to wander the galaxy for eternity. Just... look at the link above to see what I mean.
   
4. History. The Ssi-Ruu are practically nonexistent in the known galaxy before the events of the Galactic Civil War, nearly 4000 years into the future of this game, much like how the Yuuzhan Vong were unheard of before their preparations to invade from the Clone Wars up to the actual invasion. That alone can knock the Ssi-Ruu from even the consideration to make it into the game.
   

 

Of all the things listed in this section, it appears the Ssi-Ruu have all odds against them. However, I failed to mention one thing: this isn't just about playable races.

I've had some time to think about an interesting companion Bioware could add into the game, and the Ssi-Ruu came up as an interesting option. Heck, there could be an entire zone on Lwhekk, the Ssi-Ruu homeworld, that history simply forgot. This actually came up as one of the planets visited in one of my original Star Wars fan-stories, known as Grace of Dawn, a current work in progress. The story takes place in an alternate universe within the Star Wars Metaverse, somewhat similar to the expanded universe in terms of history, with a few minor and, eventually, lore-changing tweaks caused by the Protagonists' actions. In it, I envisioned a Ssi-Ruu that was quite different during the Old Republic era compared to their modern counterparts, still very young and trying to learn how to be a proper space-faring race.

Before I go off and reveal the plot and go on an extremely long tangent, I want to express that the Ssi-Ruu in this time period could be very different from what we currently know from what we've seen so far. I mean, look at Rishi. And, look at the Voss! Why are the Voss not present in any other Star Wars story other than where they were introduced? My answer: either the records were deleted, something real bad happened later down the line, or they've just been forgotten after some time past. Perhaps the same happened to the Ssi-Ruu.

 

However, the next best solution is to add a Black-Scale Ssi-Ruu to the game as a Cartel Market Companion, much like Treek is, but with a whole questline to get the lizard on your team, and to provide some backstory as to why he joins your party. In case you don't know, the Ssi-Ruu society is divided into castes based on scale color, with Brown Scales being the absolute bottom of the system. Black-Scales are generally the spies and intelligence officers of the Ssi-Ruu, and probably the most likely members of their species to be found off-world. I would love to see a playable Ssi-Ruu, but I would accept a Ssi-Ruu companion if that isn't possible.

 

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This took MONTHS to prepare, and I had to cut corners to just get this thread out there.

What would you guys want to see in the next Drop-Box? Let me know here or via PM. Also, what species would you want to see in TOR? Following the above model, post them down below. If I happen to find a good suggestion, I'll add it to the original post!

Now, with that off my back, I can finally get back to playing the game! Bye everyone!

 

I agree with your choices but of of the species I never heard of.

[Dzan]

Nice list,SethMyst. I support your passion for Trandoshans.I think they would be great to become playable, but,yeah, depend on bioware rules they will be hard to make.

I my opinion Neimodians or Duros would be great addition to selectable spieces.

Also I like the look of Nikto and Weequays in this game.

[SethMyst]

Nice list,SethMyst. I support your passion for Trandoshans.I think they would be great to become playable, but,yeah, depend on bioware rules they will be hard to make.

I my opinion Neimodians or Duros would be great addition to selectable spieces.

Also I like the look of Nikto and Weequays in this game.

 

I'm glad to hear you like the list. Look out for any other Drop-Boxes I end up doing in the future!

[DOHboy]

I'm surprised no one's commented yet? Wall of text too much for some?

 

honestly yes, as well as posting on a weekend, not the best way to get views.

[branmakmuffin]

I'm surprised no one's commented yet? Wall of text too much for some?

Too much for most.

[Stoofa]

Too much text for most but also nothing really new.

A list of species that will never be introduced as playable, no matter how much you want them to be, due to the rules on size, language and ability to romance.

 

I can bet that within the next week or so there will be a couple more threads asking for a particular species and once again it will be the same few that aren't going to happen.

[DOHboy]

Too much text for most but also nothing really new.

A list of species that will never be introduced as playable, no matter how much you want them to be, due to the rules on size, language and ability to romance.

 

I can bet that within the next week or so there will be a couple more threads asking for a particular species and once again it will be the same few that aren't going to happen.

 

pretty much, they post species and a page of text why it should be included...ignores fact wont fit in armor or wont fit into a cutscene, or cant' speak. and then next person comes by, doesnt bother to search, makes same suggestion, paragraphs of support why, and again, ignores the reason why not.

[SuperVaren]

While it may be true, EA/Bioware could at least respond back and tell us that. As we learned from SWG, listen to your cuatomers.

 

Not saying that EA/Bioware are bad, just... Saying.

Edited August 18, 2015 by SuperVaren

[DOHboy]

While it may be true, EA/Bioware could at least respond back and tell us that. As we learned from SWG, listen to your cuatomers.

 

Not saying that EA/Bioware are bad, just... Saying.

 

rarely will they ever acknowledge or respond to suggestions, they do read them, just don't actively participate in the discussions for numerous reasons.

[SethMyst]

Too much text for most but also nothing really new.

A list of species that will never be introduced as playable, no matter how much you want them to be, due to the rules on size, language and ability to romance.

 

I can bet that within the next week or so there will be a couple more threads asking for a particular species and once again it will be the same few that aren't going to happen.

 

Hey, at least I acknowledge the "unofficial" rules to adding a new species. Can you at least give me credit for that?

[Ganden]

Nautolans!!!

[SethMyst]

Nautolans!!!

 

Happy?

[sojhill]

Mainstream races again... Why Kel-Dor always forgotten...

[SethMyst]

Mainstream races again... Why Kel-Dor always forgotten...

 

Because I didn't think about them when I wrote this list. I was aiming for more of the lesser known species. Plus, the Kel-Dor just don't interest me as much as the other races...

[sojhill]

Because I didn't think about them when I wrote this list. I was aiming for more of the lesser known species. Plus, the Kel-Dor just don't interest me as much as the other races...

Kel-Dors are one of the most force sensitive races even before the Jedi order. Their culture shape with force. Also there are known masters like Plo Koon, Zym. Most important, they are alien to the core! Ugly, bug-like, scary, masked... Not some tendrilled or pale pigmented humanoid. I was suprised when i learned they don't exist on the playable races. I always want to play as a Kel-Dor jedi warrior. I hope i peek your interest

[Dzan]

Kel-Dors are one of the most force sensitive races even before the Jedi order. Their culture shape with force. Also there are known masters like Plo Koon, Zym. Most important, they are alien to the core! Ugly, bug-like, scary, masked... Not some tendrilled or pale pigmented humanoid. I was suprised when i learned they don't exist on the playable races. I always want to play as a Kel-Dor jedi warrior. I hope i peek your interest

 

Yeah,Kel Dors are awesome.

P:S: Shame,but understandable,that new spieces are not in high priority.Still would be nice if devs could give us a list of spieces they could include in future.

[SethMyst]

Kel-Dors are one of the most force sensitive races even before the Jedi order. Their culture shape with force. Also there are known masters like Plo Koon, Zym. Most important, they are alien to the core! Ugly, bug-like, scary, masked... Not some tendrilled or pale pigmented humanoid. I was suprised when i learned they don't exist on the playable races. I always want to play as a Kel-Dor jedi warrior. I hope i peek your interest

 

Aye. Perhaps a bit too obvious to add in. Maybe that's why I never thought of them, like I did the Bothans at first...

[SethMyst]

honestly yes, as well as posting on a weekend, not the best way to get views.

 

Or people who make pointless posts that are, supposedly, a bit strange to add into the game. "Do this, or SWTOR will die," is a common theme I've been seeing in the forums. More often than naught, these people are complainers who can't offer a possible remedy for a problem that both the devs and the players will be happy with. Unfortunately, in this day and age, it just doesn't exactly work out...

[XSuperDude]

I love all of these ideas personally, most likely because i feel they're holding back on character customization overall but if they really wanted to go big with adding new species I think yoda's one (don't know the actual name) would be interesting to see, they've made 4 different body sizes and made them all fit into dialogue and cinematics so if they spent a whole lot of time making this species playable, it would be great.

 

Just imagine jumping around as a dual wielding sentinel yoda, but since a lot of the game wouldn't fit with this, voice acting/attacks and movement and dark side threats coming from a minion type creature than this is honestly just me being a dreamer.

 

On a realistic level i've got to suggest, Kel Dor and Kaleeshians. I would suggest Massassi as well but they're extinct in this game sadly.

[SethMyst]

I love all of these ideas personally, most likely because i feel they're holding back on character customization overall but if they really wanted to go big with adding new species I think yoda's one (don't know the actual name) would be interesting to see, they've made 4 different body sizes and made them all fit into dialogue and cinematics so if they spent a whole lot of time making this species playable, it would be great.

 

Just imagine jumping around as a dual wielding sentinel yoda, but since a lot of the game wouldn't fit with this, voice acting/attacks and movement and dark side threats coming from a minion type creature than this is honestly just me being a dreamer.

 

On a realistic level i've got to suggest, Kel Dor and Kaleeshians. I would suggest Massassi as well but they're extinct in this game sadly.

 

Seems to be quite a bit that I missed the first time around... I'll have to add them in at a later date...

[MadDutchman]

I love all of these ideas personally, most likely because i feel they're holding back on character customization overall but if they really wanted to go big with adding new species I think yoda's one (don't know the actual name) would be interesting to see, they've made 4 different body sizes and made them all fit into dialogue and cinematics so if they spent a whole lot of time making this species playable, it would be great.

 

Just imagine jumping around as a dual wielding sentinel yoda, but since a lot of the game wouldn't fit with this, voice acting/attacks and movement and dark side threats coming from a minion type creature than this is honestly just me being a dreamer.

 

On a realistic level i've got to suggest, Kel Dor and Kaleeshians. I would suggest Massassi as well but they're extinct in this game sadly.

 

Yoda's species doesn't have a name, there is an old agreement (still in affect to the best of my knowledge) between George Lucas and SW developers to never name his species, and never expand upon them at all.

 

And Massassi are not yet extinct

 

play SOR

 

 

they would not work though due to model sizes.