Will a player be able to level up just playing PvP? (asked by metaspy)
Yes you will. We’re big fans of multiple gameplay paths – we don’t want to force you to do one thing to advance. That means you’ll level up whether you’re playing PvE or PvP.

1. Will there be subtitles in the dialogues? (asked by DarthDrakes)
   While by default we don’t show subtitles for dialogue scenes, you are able to toggle subtitles on and off as an option. And of course, we will show subtitles for NPCs who speak an alien language. We don't expect our players to run out and learn conversational Shyriiwook just to play the game.
2. Are testers still being picked? (asked by screally)
   Absolutely! The selection of testers is an ongoing process, and will continue as long as we need testers.
3. Will there be different server types, as in PvE servers and PvP servers? (asked by Fruskov)
   There will be several different types of server, including PvP servers and PvE servers.
4. Will we have a lot of customization options for making our characters? (asked by Galivos)
   Because you will see your character's face so frequently during conversations in the game, it's absolutely critical that you can look awesome and unique. We have plenty of face/head/body customization options just in character creation, not to mention all of the amazing-looking equipment and gear you will find in the world.
5. What is The Old Republic focused on the entire journey from the first level to last level - being a complete experience, or is it a rush to the end level to do all the 'good' stuff? (asked by Destrucshot)
   The Old Republic is an end-to-end high-quality BioWare RPG experience. We don't want players to feel a lull, to feel a grind, or to think "gosh, if only I could get to max level where the real fun begins." We want to support all types of gameplay, but these are two good (and often cited) examples to elaborate on. Some players only care about the ‘end game’; for them, we are making sure to have Raids, Warzones, repeatable Flashpoints and all of the endgame features one expects from an MMORPG. Along the way, though, we want even the power-gamer to really enjoy the end-to-end journey and story. We also know that some players will want to experience every class story, and a core element of the game’s design is focused on making sure that the end-to-end experience for every class is amazing.
6. Will the battlegrounds be story driven to the same extent as questing and character progression in PvE will be? (asked by Svarteryttaren)
   Not quite as much. We want Warzones both to make sense and to be repeatable, which means that they can't be as deep as the class and world missions in the PvE game. That said, they each tell their own exciting Star Wars story. We want them to feel like movie moments, like the best battle sequences of the movies - and to do that, you have to have compelling story.
7. What if I don’t want to kill the Captain, but my groupmate decides to kill him? Do I have to suffer the consequences of his choice? (asked by monorico)
   As our own Daniel Erickson told the folks at PAX in Seattle earlier this year, Light Side and Dark Side are about intention. If you really *wanted* (and chose) to save the Captain, and the Sith Warrior in your party cut his throat, the universe knows what you wanted to do. You'll still get your Light Side points. Bottom line is that we don't want other players to grief your progression or the fantasy of who your character is.
8. I’m a massive roleplayer and my tiny question is: Will there be beautiful areas where I can sit and watch the world go by, like watching the birds and listening to the in-game music? (asked by Raimun)
   There already are. All of our planets have iconic musical themes as well as beautiful environmental art and effects, and even if a dirty cantina on Hutta isn't beautiful, it sure feels like Star Wars to sit in one, listening to music and watching a creepy Rodian hit on a Twi'lek dancer.
9. Are we going to hear about the direction of endgame before launch? (asked by Crazy_Person)
   Definitely - I can give you the high-level direction already, but the details will have to wait a little longer. For those who want to continue to play their main character, we’ll have Raids, Warzones and other PvP choices, as well as heroic Flashpoints. For those who enjoyed the journey to maximum level, we have one of the most compelling class replayability in the history of MMORPGs.

Community Q&A

We took some of your questions from the last Community Q&A thread to Senior Producer Blaine Christine to get answers, and here they are!

Q: How diverse can I expect the enemies to be? (asked by mattjorgdbb)

A: Our Design team and Artists have been putting a lot of time and effort into ensuring that each world has a very distinct look and feel; even specific areas within each world receive this attention. A big part of this is the diversity of the enemies you will encounter as players. We’re confident that as you move through the game, you will be pleased with the progression of enemies – not only from a visual standpoint, but also in the variety of attacks and challenges that they offer.

Q: Will players of one allegiance be able to visit the opposite allegiance’s planets? (asked by DarkLots)

A: There are certain planets within the galaxy that are only available to one allegiance or the other, but the majority of planets are open to the Republic and the Empire, allowing opportunities to - ahem - ‘encounter’ the other side should you so desire.

Q: Will there be specific quests and/or chains within the class quests for Advanced Classes? (asked by ROFLBATLECOPTER)

Advanced Classes do not have a direct impact on quests or storyline. They obviously have ahuge impact on your character’s progression and abilities in addition to the weapons and armor you are allowed to use. Rest assured that, this being a BioWare game, there will be plenty of opportunities to make significant and impactful decisions throughout the course of each Class story. So much so that I suspect many of you will want to play individual classes more than once.

Q: What will BW/EA do in combating cheating in-game with the use of Bots/hacking? (asked by Draigon)

A: Everything within our power.

Q: Is the Trooper armor progression gonna be awesome? (asked by valkyor)

A: Oh, YES! As someone who has had the privilege of seeing the armor progression for each class in the game, I can say without hesitation that you will be blown away by the high level goodies for all of the classes. LucasArts has been great at allowing us to really push the envelope here to make sure that the players that put in significant effort will be amply rewarded. I can’t wait to see the diversity of characters in the game after we have a full server that is live for a while. But as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words…

Q: Can you miss acquiring a companion without realizing it during the game? (asked by DarthPrecious)

A: Generally speaking, these opportunities are all pretty obvious to the player, as they occur along the main path of your Class Quests. We do, however, reserve the right to put some goodies out there for the particularly ambitious player to find.

Q: Will characters from Knights of the Old Republic be mentioned and will events from Knights of the Old Republic II have an impact on the game? (asked by Forcemachine)

A: All I can say for the KOTOR and KOTOR II fans out there is you will not be disappointed. The Old Republic has been written from Day One of development with the idea that it was a true sequel to the original Knights of the Old Republic games. For folks that have not played those games, you will certainly feel right at home as well, but to get the full backstory we do encourage players to play KOTOR I and II. Or maybe at least read the Wookieepedia entries!

Q: Will we be able to queue an entire group for Warzones? (asked by kbrury)

A: Yes! You can queue solo or in an existing group and our dynamic matchmaking system will do its best to find suitable opponents accordingly.

Q: Will you be able to receive special quests via conversations with your companions? (asked by twistern)

A: Yes; as in previous BioWare games, Companion Characters do indeed have quests of their own. Completing these quests can result in changes to the affection level of that Companion and can uncover rewards for both you and your party that may not be found anywhere else in the game. Each companion also has a distinct personality as they interact with you and other characters you encounter throughout your personal Star Wars saga. We have some greatpersonalities that have been designed and written for The Old Republic!