T5-B3 Holonet Reconnaissance Droid

So in working with the things I noticed I need a little help.  I've purchased a new droid to help with the mundane task of searching the Holonet to find old information. So I would like to introduce T5-B3 Holonet Reconnaissance Droid, T5 will collate data from the Holonet and other sources to bring you the information hopefully relevant to the game he does tend to be kind of eccentric.

Transmission 2.1 Tython

Tython is the ancestral home of studies of Force by the precursors of the Jedi and the Sith.   Renowned as where the Force was first discovered, this lush world holds many mysteries and treasures, but also many dangers.  After the Sacking of Coruscant and the Treaty on Alderaan the Jedi Council chose to relocate the Temple and training facility of the Jedi Order to Tython.  Located in the Deep Core with limited access via Hyperspace lanes this makes for a bastion of hope for the Republic.  

Indigenous species roam the much of this verdant landscape but dangers arise none the less.  From issues with Twi’lek colonists to the vicious Flesh Raiders, the Jedi Knight’s and Jedi Consular’s trials are just the beginning with an unknown dark energy that persists through the entire planet.

End Transmission....

TT Volume 1.6 Account Safety and Security in SWTOR

“Our shields can’t repel firepower of that magnitude!”

One thing that has become increasingly clear over the past several years in the gaming industry as well as most other aspects of the world is that your digital footprint is there and it isn’t going away.  The worst part is that there are people just waiting to prey on others the way a Imperial Agent sits with a sniper scope awaiting her target.  A vast majority of gamers either have had or will have their online identities stolen at one point or another.  I for one can vouch for this as I had my account hacked for “The Game That Shall Not Be Mentioned” a couple of years back and I will tell you right now the fear and shock that ripped through me were horrible.  Luckily I caught the intrepid thief while he was trying to do it and I was able to recover my account but the sheer weight of having someone tamper with something you have worked so hard on is a very intrusive and heart wrenching experience.  I have also seen fellow gamers and friends go through this as well and it is no easier watching them have to take the time and wait to have their accounts restored to them.

With the recent attack on the Sony Playstation Network it is once again clear that no matter how large or small you are we are all vulnerable to this kind of attack.  We have already seen the developers letting us know that there are already scams in the works for “Beta Keys” and “Credit Vendors” that are starting up before the game is launched.  So I will almost guarantee that we will see this continue into the launch of SWTOR.

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There are a few simple ways to make sure that your account is not easily attacked.  First let me state that are these ways in no way of making your account un-hackable but I have found that they do help.  (PS Talion-Thoughts is not liable if an expert hacker does get through your systems and sells off all your loot and your companions into slavery)

• First choose wisely when picking your username, even making this a little bit difficult makes it a little bit tougher to crack as people can use searches to try and find you username

• Alpha/Numeric Passwords, use a combination of numbers and letters (uppercase and lowercase), if the site will let you through in a symbol for good measure.  The more permutations that are available on your password the harder it is for a program to crack

• DON’T use a husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, or child’s name.  Your digital footprint will have all this information as well, Names of your character or server don’t work well either.  Find something obscure or even a made up word and make it your own.

• If SWTOR offers an authenticator service I encourage you to get it.  Be it a Mobile Authenticator, or a Smartphone Authenticator these are invaluable to the protection of your account. 

• I know it may sound silly but don’t give your username or password to anyone…..even someone claiming to be an employee of the company. Chances are they are phishing for something.

Hopefully these tips and tricks will help you stay as secure in your gaming as a Smuggler’s Lockbox and you can enjoy your gaming expierence without fear or dread of having to call in an Admin to restore your account.

TT Volume 1.5 Crafting Away Again in Mos Eisley

“But I was going to Tosche Staion to pick up power converters.”

Crafting in Star Wars The Old Republic will be a little bit different than anything we have ever seen before.  Introduced as Crew Skills, crafting and gathering in the Old Republic may not be what you are normally used to in most of the genre.  

The Old Republic looks to lessen the grind and provide more of a “Heroic” experience as it deals with crafting.  How often do you see Darth Vader harvesting DNA strands from a beast he has just slain, or Luke Skywalker enhancing bio-molecular structures to come up with a better Stim-pack?  

TOR has come up with something unique in that by using your companion characters to assist you in these endeavors, you can immerse yourself in the action and stay away from the mundane.  This is not to say that if you are out on a mission and find some rare materials along your route you can’t stop to “gather Sith artifacts” or “slice important intelligence from an Imperial computer.”  What they have added is a whole layer to the process where you can command your companions to do the work for you.  Since all of your companions will be based out of your starship they can’t just sit around kick up their heels and watch the Vid Screen all day long.  

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Each ship comes equipped with a crafting station which you can keep you companions occupied at throughout your adventures.  You will also be able to contact your companions remotely via your Holocom access, to issue orders for them as well.  So even while you are off questing you can send your minions off do a little exploring for you.  Just remember each mission take time so you may not have access to that companion while they are off on the mission for you.  Also important to note is that you can have your companions continue to work while you are not there, so after a long night of gaming and catching a couple hours of sleep they will still be working on projects for you.

Your crew will be able to be versed in three crafting skills.  Also note that depending on your relationship and the innate ability of the crew they may be better at some skills than others.   You will have to make choices on who you want to send out on missions.  For example sending a droid on a Diplomacy mission may not be the best option but sending them off to do a little slicing into the planetary database may work out rather well.

First of these are the Gathering Skills, all three of your crew skills can be gathering skills if you so choose.

• Bioanalysis-collecting DNA and Genetic material from plants and creatures you encounter
• Scavenging- technological recovery from damaged or antiquated technology
• Slicing-the ability to crack computers, open lock boxes, and secure information and schematics
• Unknown-One ability that has not been revealed yet.

Second we have Crafting Skills, these skills are very unique and you will be able to choose one of the following for your Crew to use. Armormech-personal armor constructed of hard metals and electronic shielding for those in need of heavy armor in dangerous situations.

• Artifice-Painstaking and very delicate work, reconstructing lost relics of the Jedi and Sith cultures
• Biochem-Bio engineering at it’s finest, combing and restructuring chemical compounds to enhance bio engineered implants, stim packs, and possible adrenal buffsu
• Unknown-3 other skills have yet to be revealed

Last we have the Mission Skills, send one of your companions out after different sets of missions and goals.

• Diplomacy-Send a member of your crew out to either sow good will or plant the seeds for corruption.
• Treasure Hunting-One of your crew can head out to find lost items scattered throughout the known universe.
• Unknown-2 skills have yet to be revealed

With the flexibility that is involved in the crew skills system it made be hard to make a decision.  Also with the current inclusion of “Crits” for crafting makes this an interesting proposition. This post will be updated as more details become available about the crafting system.

TT Volume 1.4 The Case for Mounts

“And I thought they smelled bad on the outside”

Almost as iconic Lightsabers and starships in the Star Wars Universe are the different modes of transportation that are used by the heroes, heroines and protagonists alike.  We are already poised for having player ships and space combat so what possible options could be in store for us on the planets we are going to visit?  Hopping a speeder bike to run down a bounty on Dromund Kas,  racing a swoop down the forgotten depths of Taris, or even a landspeeder to hunt down a lost Datacron on Ilum.

We already know that transportation systems will be showcased in the game as we have already seen speeder bikes used as transportation systems from point to point even on the starter planets of Ord Mantell, Tython, Nal Hutta, and Korriban.  

This Taxi system we have seen before in most of the MMO’s that are out there, for a small amount of “Credits” the Taxi will take you to a pre-designated location somewhere further down the line.  While somewhat linear in terms of where you can go, you have to admit it is a lot better than hoofing it across the Jundland Wastes or running across the frozen ice fields of Hoth.

With a game the size and scope we are looking at for The Old Republic your form of transportation once on planet will be vital to getting out into certain areas of the worlds we are sent to.  Currently we have been told by the developers that we won’t be seeing live mounts.  So for you fans of Tauntauns, Dewbacks, and Rontos, sorry to dash your hopes but I think we are going on the high tech side, on the bright side you won’t have to clean up after your mounts unless you have an oil leak.

So look forward to cranking up your speeder bike and racing off in the world to see what you can find,  Lost Sith Temples, Ancient Jedi Holocrons, Datacrons, resources for crafting, you name it and your mount will be able to get you there to find it.  Just don’t forget to gas up before you leave the starport….it’s a long walk back to Coronet City.