Sai'nu
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Just to catch lurkers up to speed... (Jan 28, 2009)Many things may have been added since you last visited SWG.
I've been on a rather extended hiatus awaiting the promised FCTs but wound up let down by the server choices in the end.
Anyway, off the top of my head here are some new features to the game if you haven't been playing since 2007 or so:
*Card Game. SWG now has a CCG. You can pay to get extra packs but you get 3 boosters for free with each month's paid SWG sub. The game plays either as a stand alone (but you have to be subbed to access it) game via Windows or can be played inside of SWG. A slight downer to this addition is that it has brought in loot cards that have become the newest way to add items that should be in game drops.
*Voice Chat. An added voice chat system has been included.
*Web Browser. You can now surf the net while you play in game via an in game browser.
*Appearance Tab. You can now equip stat gear but overlap clothing choices for a tailored appearance without sacrificing armor/stats. Some restrictions still apply.
*Hoth! A Heroic Encounter added much like the other HEs except you get to relive the Battle of Hoth and can get some goodies from running it.
*Collections. I believe this system is still being expanded on.
*FCTs. These are finally a reality if you choose to use it. But Gorath was picked as a destination server by the Devs so... no free outs to the more populated servers at the moment. Sorry. However, it can be considered a stepping stone solution and many seem to be trying to get this amended so who knows; we might get a follow up. But don't expect it until after March when the free account time/FCTs end.
*House Pack Up. Will be happening again in March.
*Profession Updates. Chances are if you've been gone for more than a year you may have some Profession changes to go over. I believe Spy is currently up to bat on Test Center.
*Pex went bye bye. The Player Support for events was ended when Pex got a promotion. Now Storyteller and working with Valara or other Community Relation members are likely the only source for limited event support.
Goes without saying that there is a new Star Wars mmo in the works as well. SOE/LA thus far have said they plan to keep SWG going despite the news.
In the words of Insp. Jacques Clouseau, "There. You are now up to speed."
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Shensenn
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Shame to see Pex go, he was definitely a great help.
And the other thing that really struck me as funny was that you could surf the net while playing... If you'd rather be surfing the net why bother playing lol. Holding out hope the new KOTOR mmo isn't messed up and they fix some of the art
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Sai'nu
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I rather liked the in game browser idea more from a community/rp stand point. Without having to Alt+Tab out to, say, read source material you could feasibly pull up a page for in character dialogue references and keep on trucking.
Of course I always saw that addition as an option for people that don't use windowed mode to play with.
In regards to the new mmo I still have my reservations as well. I'm just not digging the art direction. I'll likely wind up playing both mmos but I'm seeing problem areas with both SW:TOR and STO right now.
I still find it fascinating that with as many black marks as SWG has the many "mechanics" of the game would go a long way in making a successor mmo Huge. Seemingly most of them are being ignored to distance any relation to the game though.
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Shensenn
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I agree SWG for all of its flaws, really pioneered a lot of good ideas that could make a next gen mmo really great. I'm sure we'll see some of them implemented one day in some form although as you inferred, I doubt it will be with any Star Wars name.
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Sai'nu
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Sunday, April 19, 2009.
Dropping in once more to toss something out there. The FCTs were extended to the destination servers. I believe until around June.
On an up note for Gorathers it appears after this period is done they are going to re-evaluate destination servers. This is basically due to an outcry from many Gorathers who, like myself, simply stopped playing or have been posting about it I believe. So, don't be surprised if we do finally get our FCTs off for greener pastures.
That alone will probably get me back into the SWG scene assuming they don't wait until a SW:TOR or STO Beta start up. Either way, I think most of Gorath's roleplayers are likely still headed for Starsider.
It seems they are finally approaching the GCW as well. Although not meant to be a full GCW update nor a full PvP update there are talks of more goodies and "instanced" world battlegrounds coming back to game. Hopefully an improvement over the originals. I'm not entirely sure if they'll be aimed at Cross-server either.
A remaining insult however has been the continual addition of "random luck" loot cards to the new card game rather than making them direct in game additions for crafters or natural loot tables. Many call it "fluff" and thus a non-factor... but can still be seen as a slap in the face to the crafting community I believe. Time will tell if they start adding in the items with different skins as a result.
I think we're getting some new buildings and the addition of windows to some existing ones as well. I only browsed that part so I could be wrong.
At any rate if you're still lurking and getting a hankering for a return I'd at least keep an eye on the forums up until they offer the FCTs for Gorath. I will likely continue to post some info here as the mood strikes me and as I see any developments arise.
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Shensenn
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I may consider popping back in if they bring FCT's for Gorath. I find myself increasingly bored and restless with the current mmo's I've been playing so a change of scenery would be nice.
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Sai'nu
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Not much more to report since I stopped jonesing the swg forums for a bit. However, due to an extension, I guess the FCTs got carried over to sometime in June. At which point they're suppose to re-evaluate destination servers and possibly we could get the FCTs sometime after.
In my opinion, with the german community still there, they should make Gorath a Euro labeled server at this point but still give us the transfer off option.
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Shensenn
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Yeah I agree. I resubbed to check things out and Gorath was still largely a ghost server during US hours, yet it was a destination server which made me lol.
Starsider is, of course, awesome  Enjoying myself immensely while also checking out the swg emu test server....when it is actually working.
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