Official 3.0 thread.

[notorious98]

I'm making it official. I've gotten back into playing this game and I'm looking forward to seeing what they're going to do. So, here's this.

Originally Posted by SWTOR

You nailed it. We have been holding back 3.0 details because <SPOILERS!!>. But now that Forged Alliances is out there with this morning's launch of 2.10 we're letting folks have a little time with Rakata Prime and then spilling the beans on 3.0. Look for a teaser within a week, and then a full announce before the end of month!

Source

As more information becomes public, I'll post it here. For those who still frequent this board, discuss away.

[quras]

I'm not going to spoil any story but the build up from the last 3 tactical FP has actually been pretty good.

If you wanted to build some story excitement for 3.0, BW is doing a nice job at it. The FPs are crazy easy but I guess thats to get the story out to everyone (casual or HC).

I'm intrigued and I loved the way during my choices in cut scenes, I was able to refer to things I did in the past to tie some of it together.

[notorious98]

Honestly, I prefer this type of buildup to an expansion. It actually creates the story long before the real meat and potatoes of the story starts. I haven't done the new FP and I didn't really pay attention during Manaan since I wasn't on that part of the Forged Alliances questline, but part 1 was a pretty good starter.

I agree, the tactical FPs are crazy easy, but they also don't really hand out much loot, so I'm alright with that. I just hope they're not going to move in that direction for the future of FPs. I don't mind the lack of role definition, but they're too easy to justify being part of the vertical gear climb.

[Poshadin]

I have loved the build up to 3.0. Though I know they have said they won't I would LOVE an extended class storyline.

Doesn't have to be an extension of the main class storyline that ended at 50. But maybe just 3 or 4 missions that were exclusive to each class.

If I can't get that then at least more than 2 lines of dialog that reference what my character has already done.

[notorious98]

I have loved the build up to 3.0. Though I know they have said they won't I would LOVE an extended class storyline.

Doesn't have to be an extension of the main class storyline that ended at 50. But maybe just 3 or 4 missions that were exclusive to each class.

If I can't get that then at least more than 2 lines of dialog that reference what my character has already done.

Honestly, if it's just 1 planet, I'm not really sure why they COULDN'T continue class storylines. It wouldn't have to be a ton of quests and they could just use the random extras they normally use for certain things. What I would like to see, but we likely won't see, is a small extension on the companion storylines. Even if it's just the "main" companion (i.e. Mako, Khem Val, Kaliyo, Kira, etc.). It's one of those things that added a little more personality to your team.

[Edge-]

Honestly, if it's just 1 planet, I'm not really sure why they COULDN'T continue class storylines.

Money. Why do four times the work (needing to write, create cutscenes for, voice record etc.) and make 8 stores when you could simply do two stories and include a few lines here and there referencing various class stories? That additional work would have to lead to a corresponding increase in revenue to justify the additional expenditure. And I'm pretty sure they've already run estimates and seen that it wouldn't make any significant difference to their revenue, so decided to go against it.

It all comes down to money. you don't blow money on things unless you either feel that you'll get a good return, or happen to have huge piles of money just laying about, and BioWare probably doesn't have huge piles of money laying about.

[notorious98]

Money. Why do four times the work (needing to write, create cutscenes for, voice record etc.) and make 8 stores when you could simply do two stories and include a few lines here and there referencing various class stories? That additional work would have to lead to a corresponding increase in revenue to justify the additional expenditure. And I'm pretty sure they've already run estimates and seen that it wouldn't make any significant difference to their revenue, so decided to go against it.

It all comes down to money. you don't blow money on things unless you either feel that you'll get a good return, or happen to have huge piles of money just laying about, and BioWare probably doesn't have huge piles of money laying about.

I mean, I understand why they WON'T do it. My statement was "why CAN'T they do it". I'm not so sure there would even really be that much more involvement to it. It would be very small story and a few new characters. The new characters can be voice acted by the actors they've already hired. The writing could be relatively simple, just aligned with the planet's story arc (i.e. Smuggler smuggling shit around, Hunter killing an important enemy, Agent infiltrating a compound for information, etc.) Like Poshadin said, they could get away with something small.

[Edge-]

I mean, I understand why they WON'T do it. My statement was "why CAN'T they do it".

Well, you can look at it two ways.

1. The answer is the same, money. They can't get approval for the additional costs.

2. They can absolutely do it, but they have simply decided they won't do it because they choose not to spend the money on it.

Either way, the outcome is the same.

Like Poshadin said, they could get away with something small.

They already do, and that's the nods to class stories that they put in the planetary quest chains. Beyond that, I don't see why it would make financial sense for them to spend more time/money on fleshing out things more for classes.

Yes, it sucks because the game was billed on class stories and pretty much everyone wants to see more class stories added. But the unfortunate reality is that it was never going to be a sustainable model, especially after the game had to undergo some massive changes in terms of its budgeting , scope, and expectations when it bombed as a subscription MMO.

[SirRobin]

I consider the Class Stories to be, by far, the best part of TOR so I would love for them to put the work into it but I just don't see it happening. Between the purge and the budget I don't see EA signing off on it. I can't believe I find myself actually missing Erickson. The Doctors? Yes. Walton? Absolutely. But Erickson?

I'm still pissed over his space rant from three or four years ago but he was a story guy.

[notorious98]

I consider the Class Stories to be, by far, the best part of TOR so I would love for them to put the work into it but I just don't see it happening. Between the purge and the budget I don't see EA signing off on it. I can't believe I find myself actually missing Erickson. The Doctors? Yes. Walton? Absolutely. But Erickson?

I'm still pissed over his space rant from three or four years ago but he was a story guy.

Well, at least Dickinson and Ohlen are still around........*crickets*

To be fair, since Riccitiello left, EA has seemed to be trying to appeal to game players again. So it's something that COULD happen. I doubt that it will, but the possibility exists.

[quras]

SNIP...

I agree, the tactical FPs are crazy easy, but they also don't really hand out much loot, so I'm alright with that. I just hope they're not going to move in that direction for the future of FPs. I don't mind the lack of role definition, but they're too easy to justify being part of the vertical gear climb.

I think tatical FP'a might be the new SM content or sorts. A way to tell t a story without the constraints of the trinity grouping. Everyone gets to run it, no matter what kind of group. I see that as a good thing.

But if you believe in the rumor mill, we are getting tactical FP's turned into HM FP's with better loot in 3.0. It will be more difficult but will it add more mechanics? well have to wait and see as well.

[notorious98]

I think tatical FP'a might be the new SM content or sorts. A way to tell t a story without the constraints of the trinity grouping. Everyone gets to run it, no matter what kind of group. I see that as a good thing.

But if you believe in the rumor mill, we are getting tactical FP's turned into HM FP's with better loot in 3.0. It will be more difficult but will it add more mechanics? well have to wait and see as well.

I wouldn't mind seeing one of two things. Either make HM Tacticals require the typical trinity grouping or give them more mechanics and less healing stations or put the ability to use them behind some other form of mechanic. For example, healing stations only come online every 30 seconds for 5-10 seconds. The boss starts casting a 1.5 second cast. If you don't interrupt, he puts a shield down over the healing stations for the entirety of the 5-10 seconds they're active. Afterward, the stations become inactive and the shield comes up. Just one thought. I wouldn't want to see it become an overused tactic, but I don't get paid money to come up with this shit. :P

Edit :

I think we can expect to see a teaser very soon.

Originally Posted by SWTOR

I have no idea what you are talking about...

But if I did, I could confirm that there will not be a teaser on today's stream. Just me lurking in other people's Strongholds.

Source

Maybe tomorrow during the Community Stream? I'll be at work if anyone wants to update this thread if it happens.

[Razael]

I actually didn't see it coming. I don't play the game, but i still follow it since i return for a couple of months twice every year to check things out. Kinda hyped for 3.0 after Rakata Primes ending.

[SirRobin]

Well, at least Dickinson and Ohlen are still around........*crickets*

To be fair, since Riccitiello left, EA has seemed to be trying to appeal to game players again. So it's something that COULD happen. I doubt that it will, but the possibility exists.

Yeah, lots of crickets for those two. I recall Richie doing the same thing in his early days. Giving a sort of "things will be better now" vibe that sadly did not last.

It is absolutely "possible" that the class stories could be expanded. After all, I never expected any sort of free flight to ever be produced and they have the starfighter thing now. Yet I do not consider it "probable."

[notorious98]

Sorry guys. Apparently there is no teaser coming during today's community stream. Hopefully Monday or Tuesday we'll get the teaser.

- - - Updated - - -

It is absolutely "possible" that the class stories could be expanded. After all, I never expected any sort of free flight to ever be produced and they have the starfighter thing now. Yet I do not consider it "probable."

Remember when Guild Flagships was on the Wall of Crazy?

Edit : Confirmed no teaser today and a promise that they will tell us when the teaser is coming so it "won't be a surprise". So no confirmation on next week either.

[Deleted]

There's so much i would like to see in stories like the Imperial Agent one, for starters:

Where the devil is Jadus? He was an awesome character and didn't deserve to be disposed off so fast :/

[Nazrark]

You know after playing all the games. What if I don't want to go through with it and kill him.

Does this make us the bad guys?

[notorious98]

Just as an aside, I asked during the Live Stream if Dickinson was still there or they put him back in the basement where he belongs. They confirmed he is still at BW and he's working on Shadow Realms with Ohlen. That suddenly makes me question how good Shadow Realms will be.

[ldev]

Any real changes comming? Because right now, I don't really see a difference between how I play my Marauder, Jugg, Sniper and Merc at launch and after an expansion, rofl.

And I guess the only redeeming feature - class quests - are officialy killed?

[Tyris Flare]

The classes are "refined TBC-era classes." I think of them as what WoW classes would be if Blizzard made minor changes rather than reinventing the wheel every 2 years.

Whether it is good or bad is entirely subjective. I personally think it is a little stale, but at the same time things are a lot more balanced because of it.