Star Wars: The Old Republic: The Setting
Submitted Thursday, September 8, 2011 - 11:57:55 AM by Klaitu
Starting Planets of TOR!
So, now that we've established "When" SWTOR takes place, now we're going to tackle the "where".
Star Wars takes place in a place that ubernerds call "GFFA" which stands for Galaxy Far Far Away. It is a spiral galaxy similar to our own, and has at least 2 dwarf galaxies bound to it. Even in the time of the movies, nearly half of the entire galaxy remains unexplored or mapped.. in SWTOR's era even less is explored.
View a high detail map:
http://ds180.net/junk/swmap.jpg
In SWTOR, there are two Main players in the galaxy: The Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire. There are also a number of minor players such as the Hutts and the Mandalorians.
For thousands of years, the Republic has been the only force of any clout around. The Republic is a large representative government where member planets are represented in the Galactic Senate. It is bureaucratic, legislative, frought with politics, but generally intends to be benevolent.
The Sith Empire originated when Dark Jedi escaped the Galactic Republic and discovered the world of Korriban, where they settled and interbred with the native species there, the Sith. Because they don't believe in restricting the force, their society tends to be quite chaotic, where people kill their political rivals to make their way to the top. As you might expect, the Sith Empire is authoritarian and is led by an Emperor. The Sith seem to be at their best when they are not battling the Republic, as they always lose. Emperor Palpatine in the movies managed to sidestep this problem by simply infiltrating the Republic instead of invading it.
The Hutts are a sort of Intergalactic crime syndicate, sort of like how the Mafia controlled Italy. They administer their own territory and the Republic has no desire to conquer them. Hutt space is independent in SWTOR.
The Mandalorians are Star Wars' answer to the Klingons. They are a typical warrior caste society who determine their leaders in battle. They have their own space that the Republic generally leaves alone. The Mandalorians are aligned with the Sith Empire in SWTOR.
The Galaxy is divided into smaller regions sort of like a target is divided into scoring zones.
At the center of the Galaxy (much like our own Galaxy) is a supermassive black hole. Surrounding it, in the center of the galaxy is the Deep Core (The "bullseye" of the Target analogy). This region is difficult to navigate because it is packed with stars. It's dangerous to travel here without a preplanned hyperspace route.
The next ring out, the ring that surrounds the Deep Core is known as the Core Worlds This region is where the Galactic Republic is strongest, it's where the most advanced societies evolved, and all of these worlds are close together, so trade is relatively easy. These worlds are rich and powerful.
Going progressively from the inside from the outside, the rest of the regions are: The Colonies, Inner Rim, Expansion Region, Mid Rim, and Outer Rim.
The Outer Rim in particular is important because it takes up far more space than the rest of the regions combined. Many of the movie settings take place on the Outer Rim.
Aside from these regions, there is also a region known as the Unknown Regions, which remains for the most part unexplored.
And now, the Planets of SWTOR:
CORUSCANT
Coruscant is easily the most politically important planet in the Galaxy. It is the Capitol of the Galactic Republic. It's located in the Core Worlds, and it's so built up that the entire surface of the planet is one giant city. Nobody really remembers what the planet was like before. It is considered to be the origin world for Humans, but nobody really knows for sure.
In SWTOR, Coruscant is recovering from an attack by the Sith Empire (as depicted in the trailer in my original post). This is also where the Galactic Senate is. Coruscant appears in the movies in Episodes 1, 2, 3 and 6. Sith players can't travel to this planet in the game.
TYTHON
Tython is the ancient home of the Jedi, and the planet where the Force was first "discovered". It's located in the Deep Core, which makes travel there extremely dangerous without a specific hyperspace route. Because of this, the route to Tython was lost for thousands of years until Satele Shan rediscovered it.
In SWTOR, Tython is the starting world for both Jedi classes, it is a refuge from the Sith Empire, who do not know where it is.
ORD MANTELL
Ord Mantell is a colony world of the Core Planet Corellia. In the past, the planet was on a strategic hyperspace route.. but other better routes were discovered, turning Ord Mantell into a quiet backwater. The planet is loyal to the Republic, but many citizens there want to seperate and be independent.
In SWTOR, Ord Mantell is the starting planet for Trooper and Smuggler. The planet was once an Ordinance Depot, which is what "Ord" is all about. It is located in the Mid Rim.
BELSAVIS
Belsavis would be a frozen wasteland, except that it incredibly volcanically active. Geothermal events are enough to make small portions of the planet warm and habitable.
In SWTOR it contains a prison that the Republic operates, and the Sith want to break the prisoners out to cause chaos. It is located in the Outer Rim.
CORELLIA
Corellia is one of the founding worlds of the Galactic Republic. These people invented the Hyperdrive, and one of their major industries is to build starships. While the planet may look smoggy or polluted, this is the natural look of the planet. Corellia's industries are environmentally conscious.
In SWTOR, the Republic has lost contact with Corellia. The Republic fears the Sith may be trying to infiltrate the government there. Corellia is a Core World, and also the birthplace of Han Solo. It previously appeared in Star Wars Galaxies.
QUESH
Quesh is a planet with a highly toxic atmosphere, however the chemicals in the atmosphere are easily converted into adrenals (medical stimulants). As such the Republic and Empire fight over this world, which is controlled by the Hutts in a deal made with the Republic. Quesh is located in Hutt Space on the Outer Rim.
DROMUND KAAS
Dromund Kaas is the adopted homeworld and Capitol of the Sith Empire. It is here that the Sith Emperor planned his invasion of the Republic, and where Revan and Malak were turned to the Dark Side. Like Tython, it was a lost world for some time.
Dromund Kaas is located on the far side of the Outer Rim beyond Korriban (the point at which the Republic's influence ended). Republic Players can't visit this world.
KORRIBAN
Korriban is the ancient home of the Sith people, who bred with Dark Jedi long ago to create the True Sith. The Republic ejected them from Korriban thousands of years ago, but in the time of SWTOR they've taken it back (you saw the trailer of it, remember?).
Korriban is located on the Outer Rim, and is a gateway in a hyperspace route to many Sith planets beyond. It's the starting planet for Sith Warriors and Inquisitors.
HUTTA
You know Jabba the Hutt? Well this is where his race is from.. the Stanky world of Hutta. To everyone else, Hutta sucks.. but to the Hutts, it's awesome.. apparently being perfectly suited to their tastes. The Hutts are very gangster-like, and they hold the Evocii race in slavery on Hutta.
Hutta is unsurprisingly located in Hutt Space. It's in the Mid Rim, but it's right on the border with the Outer Rim.
BALMORRA
At one point, the Republic used Balmorra for advanced droid research and development.. which is probably why the Sith invaded it. The Republic was forced to capitulate this planet in the Treaty of Coruscant (the one that was signed on Alderaan as Malgus rammed that ship into the Jedi Temple).
Balmorra is one of the Colony Worlds.
NAR SHADDAA
Nar Shaddaa is actually not a planet at all, it's a moon of Hutta. Like Coruscant, the entire surface is covered in one giant city, which is sort of like a more seedy, more corrupt version of Las Vegas. The planet has a huge Black Market system which both the Republic and the Empire benefit from.
This is one of the few places that Republic and Sith players can interact with one another socially. If you're like me, you're already tired of this planed because you had to jump Kyle Katarn through flying dumpsters in Jedi Academy. Nar Shaddaa, like Hutta is on the border of the Mid Rim and Outer Rim.
ALDERAAN
Alderaan is an environmentally conscious planet which balances technology and nature. It is ruled by a monarchy, sort of like Naboo, and has recently seceeded from the Republic leading to a civil war among those loyal to their ruler, and those loyal to the Republic.
You may remember Alderaan as it appeared in Episode 3 during the ending montage, or in Episode 4 when it was EXPLODED BY THE DEATH STAR. Fortunately, you won't have to worry about that since it won't happen for another 3000 some odd years. Oh, it's also where Princess Leia is from. Alderaan is one of the founders of the Republic, and a Core World.
TATOOINE
Tatooine. It's a desert. You may remember it from Episode 1, 2, 3, 4, and or 6. Tatooine really gets around. What's on Tatooine? Sand. Sand and Jawas. Sand and Jawas and Abandoned research laboratories.
Tatooine is interesting because it orbits a twin star system, but despite it having two suns, it they only cast one shadow. Go figure that one out, physicists. Tatooine is the origin of Luke Skywalker and Anakin Skywalker. It also failed to kill Jar Jar Binks, despite him being an aquatic creature.
TARIS
Taris was once a lot like Coruscant. The entire planet was one big city, but during the events of Knights of the Old Republic, Darth Malak bombarded the planet from orbit. During the 300 years in between, the planet's original swamp landscape has started asserting itself again.
Taris was invented for Knights of the Old Republic, so this will be a revisit to a drastically changed world. Taris is located on the Outer Rim.
VOSS
Voss is inhabited by a race of Force-Sensitive mystics who can use the force to predict the future. The Republic and the Empire tried to fight over the planet, but the Voss saw it coming. Now the Republic and Empire compete Diplomatically for the planet.
Voss is located in the Outer Rim and was discovered within the last 10 years.
HOTH
Hoth! It's cold, It's awesome, Tauntauns! You may remember Hoth from the opening to Episode 5. The Hoth system was the site of a particularly costly battle between the Empire and the Republic, and now that the Treaty of Coruscant is in effect, both sides are trying to salvage each other's technology to get a leg up on the competition.
Hoth is located in the Outer Rim.
ILUM
HEY! Did you ever wonder why the Jedi's lightsabers are almost universally blue or green? Well, it's because the crystals that power those bad boys come from this planet, where the crystals are formed in geological processes. Crystals from this planet only come in blue or green. Now you know!
in SWTOR, Ilum is under siege by the Empire. It's a high level end-content world. It is located in the Unknown Regions
So, now you know the SETTING of SWTOR!
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