There has been some interesting news when it comes to Combat Styles for 7.0, and we finally have some answers to some important questions about our characters.
Contents
- Developer Posts
- Creating a Character
- Example #1 – Existing Character, Sith Warrior Juggernaut
- Example #2 – Existing Character, Jedi Consular Shadow
- Example #3 – Existing Character, Trooper vanguard
- Example #4 – New Character, New Player, Dark-Side Jedi Knight
- Example #5 – New Character, Experienced Player
- Prepare
Developer Posts
Hi all,
I wanted to jump in and try and clarify some of the potential confusion in this thread.
There are two different topics here: The ability for existing players to change the Combat Style upon logging in to the 7.0 Game Update, and the rules around characters with Force Origin Stories when they are offered an option to swap Combat Styles with their opposite-aligned mirror.
Existing Characters and Combat Styles
- As Jackieposted, we fully intended for current characters to be able to choose a preferred Combat Style upon logging in for Game Update 7.0. We have worked for some time to try and make this happen, but recently ran into some technical hurdles that unfortunately prevents us from supporting this. So, as a result, when you log into the game after 7.0, your primary Combat Style will be your current Advanced Class. Choosing your Advanced Class was designed to be a permanent choice, and we will continue this with Combat Styles. We have no current plans to introduce a method to change one of your Combat Styles.
- As we previously stated, the ability to have a second Combat Style and the additional Loadouts that come with it are features for active subscribers. Related to this topic, we did see a question being asked of “what happens to my second Combat Style if my subscription lapses?”. In short, your “second” Combat Style will become unusable including its Loadouts. Note the quotations around the word second. If your subscription lapses, your useable Combat Style will be the one you last logged out on when the cancellation hits your account. This means that if you log out on your primary Combat Style, you will continue to be able to play with that one and its Loadouts. If you log out on your secondary Combat Style, you will continue to be able to play with that one and its Loadouts. Essentially, whichever Combat Style is active when your sub lapses is the one you will continue to use when you log back in.
Force Origin Story Considerations
- Force Origin Stories have some special considerations, since there are some restrictions in Combat Style choice that Tech Origin Stories do not share.
- To a brand new player, or a player who has not unlocked their Dark V/Light V achievements in their Legacy (Legacy of Sacrifice and Legacy of Unity), they are not presented with the option to choose an opposite-aligned Combat Style at character create nor when they unlock their second Combat Style, with one exception:
- If a player without these unlocks has been playing their character with opposite aligned morality, such as a Jedi Origin Story as a Dark Side character, or a Sith Origin Story as a Light Side character, they will receive the option to swap their current Combat Style to the opposite alignment equivalent upon completing their Act 3 story. In addition, when they are prompted to select their second Combat Style, they will have all Force Combat Styles available to them.
- Force Origin Story players who have already unlocked Light V/Dark V achievements will not see any restrictions, and all Combat Styles are available to them at both character create and when choosing their second Combat Style
There has been no change in the design of the Force Origin Story Considerations, which was first shared inthis post. You can listen to me talking about all of these restrictions, and expand on why and the philosophy behind these decisions in thelinked podcastin the post.
However, to build upon Jackie’s clarificationpost here, we wanted to give Force Origin Story players some choice when the 7.0 update releases. So all pre-7.0 Force characters that have opposite alignment to their current class will be given the option to swap their primary combat style to the opposite aligned equivalent upon logging in post-7.0.
This means if you are a Jedi Knight or Jedi Consular, and have at least 1 Dark Side point away from 0, you will be given this choice. Likewise, if you are a Sith Warrior or Sith Inquisitor, and have at least 1 Light Side point away from 0, you will be given this choice. This will be regardless of any Legacy unlocks or otherwise. Once that character is in the game, and the swap choice has been made or refused, the rules as described above will still apply.
Finally, I wanted to address some comments around my clarifications in Discord about the above topic. What I stated inthis postis still true. I have recently been trying to clarify confusion around swapping Force Combat Styles by repeating the same information we revealed in the podcast and linked in the official forums. I will typically include a link to the official sources to reinforce where this information originated from. Any new information around Combat Styles or any other topic will be shared through official channels such as our blogs, the forums, our livestreams, etc… and those mediums will be used to reinforce or clarify any questions being answered elsewhere.
Thanks,
-Chris
Second post:
Hi everyone,
I wanted to take a moment to address some points/thoughts I believe will be made in response to Chris’ post, so I hope you’ll allow me to have a more heart to heart moment with you all. I recognize how late this post is being made and what day it’s being made on. This is not an attempt to bury information or hope that no one will notice it. We were working on reading the various posts about this topic, taking in the feedback, and making sure that the message was concise and clear. I recommended the post be made today rather than let the weekend pass because we felt this clarification would be beneficial to players reading it.
I know how passionate this player base is because you all love this game very much. And I know that difference of opinion tends to happen as does debate, especially on these forums. I just ask that you continue to be civil with one another and also with us and be mindful of the guidelines of these forums. Thank you.
Best,
Jackie
Creating a Character
When creating a Jedi Knight, you will have the ability to choose between four Combat Styles:Guardian, Sentinel, SageandShadow,who all fight with Lightsabers and the light-side of the Force, but who each have very different ways of approaching combat. Your Combat Style choice is a permanent choice, so choose wisely.
If you have earned the Dark V achievement on any of your characters on your server, you will also be able to choose from the dark-sided Combat Styles as well, and the Juggernaut, Marauder, SorcererorAssassin will be added to the list you can choose from when creating a level 1 Jedi Knight character.
If you’re a newer player, and didn’t have Dark V unlocked and didn’t have the option to choose a dark-side Combat Style when you created a character… while you are playing the story, if you make dark-sided decisions and your character has turned towards the dark side by moving their character Alignment bar into the Dark, you will have the option to flip your chosen Combat Style to its dark-sided counterpart, the Juggernaut, Marauder, SorcererorAssassin,while remaining a Jedi Knight. This choice to flip happens after you reach Chapter 3 of your Jedi Knight origin story. If you are anexperienced playerand have already earned theDark V achievement on any of your characters on your server, you won’t get this option to flip, since you had the option to choose a dark-side combat style when you were creating your character.
(And here’s an important note for players who had characters that existed before the expansion. If you already have a Jedi Knight created but you haven’t logged into them since the Legacy of the Sith expansion came out, the first time you log into your Jedi Knight, if their alignment is even 1 Dark Side point away from 0, you’ll be given the option to flip your current combat style. This is kind of like a one-time gift from the developers, to give us the option to flip an existing character since the option didn’t exist until the expansion launched.)
In addition to all that, as a newer player, when you complete Chapter 3of the Jedi Knight Origin Story,subscriberswill be able to pick up asecond Combat Style.This second Combat Style choice is permanent, but you will be able to swap between your first and second choice while playing. You will be able to choose fromGuardian, Sentinel, SageandShadow.If you have also earned theDark V achievementon any of your characters on your server, you will be able to choose from the dark-sided Combat Styles as well, and theJuggernaut, Marauder, SorcererorAssassinwill be added to the list you can choose from for your second Combat Style.
If you are anexperienced playerand have already completed Chapter 3 of the Jedi Knight Origin Story on any of your Jedi Knight characters on your server, subscribers will be able to choose your second Combat Styleimmediately after your create your character, and you won’t have to wait to complete your Origin Story to pick up your second style.
(So that means, if you have existing characters who have finished their story, when the expansion launches you should be able to just log in and pick your second combat style for them right away.)
Once you have chosen your Jedi Knight’s Combat Style and finished creating your character, you can then choose yourDiscipline. Your Discipline is your specialized way of fighting, and each Combat Style has three options to choose from. Your Discipline is not a permanent choice, and you can easily switch between the three discipline options tied to your Combat Style. If you are a subscriber who has a second Combat Style chosen, you’ll have six total Disciplines you can choose from at any given time.
All the was for Force Users – Tech Users, like the Scoundrel, are a lot easier, because they do not have any type of alignment when it comes to dark or light. Players who reach Chapter 3 on their tech user characters will be able to pick up a second combat style from any of the eight tech user options. Players who have already completed their class story for that class can choose a second combat style right away.
Example #1 – Existing Character, Sith Warrior Juggernaut
So let’s go over some examples.
I have a Sith Warrior Juggernaut that I created years ago. I’ve been player for a while but I only have one character so far on my server.
She’s finished her story, and she decided to bring order and equality to the Empire, taking down its evil from the inside, and leans towards the light side of the Force.
On her character sheet before the expansion, when I roll over her character sheet it shows she is Alignment positive 3,000, Light I. Because she is not Neutral, and not Dark which is kinda the default, when I log into her after the expansion launches I will have the “one-time-gift” option to “flip” her Combat Style from the dark-sided Juggernaut to its light-sided mirror counterpart, the Guardian. This seems cool, so I decide to flip her, and she becomes a Sith Warrior Guardian instead of a Juggernaut. This is a permanent choice, I can’t flip-flop.
Because I am a subscriber, and because she has finished her story, I can add a second combat style to her right away when I log in for the expansion. And cool – since I had the option to flip my character, I will also have all four light-side combat styles to choose from in addition to the four dark-side ones. I’ll pick up Sorcerer as my second one for some lightning action.
Don’t forget though, you can’t combine combat styles in anyway – I can’t use my light side Guardian and dark side Sorcerer powers at the same time. But I can swap between Guardian and Sorcerer depending on how I want to play that day.
Example #2 – Existing Character, Jedi Consular Shadow
I have a Jedi Consular Shadow. I have a ton of characters on this server that I’ve played a lot.
My Shadow is a pure light side character who saved the galaxy and is a paragon of the Jedi.
When I log into her when the expansion launches, since her light-side alignment matches her being a Jedi, she won’t have the option to flip unlike my Sith Warrior did. Her first combat style will remain as Shadow. I’m sad, because although she is light-side in the story, I reallllyyyyy like the way Force Lightning looks.
Because I am a subscriber, and because she has finished her story, I can still add a second combat style to her right away when I log in for the expansion. On this server, I have unlocked the Dark 5 achievement through one of my other characters, which means when I go to choose a second combat style, I’ll have all eight combat styles available – four dark-side and four light-side. I was sad I couldn’t flip my Shadow over to the dark side combat style, but at least I can choose a dark-side Combat style as my second combat style. I had kind of hoped to be able to choose two totally new combat styles and not be stuck with Shadow, but that’s not how it works. So I can choose Assassin as my second combat style to fling some lightning, or even pick up Marauder if I want to try something totally different.
Example #3 – Existing Character, Trooper vanguard
I have a Trooper Vanguard, she’s my main character and is all caught up with the stories.
When I log into her when the expansion launches, since she’s not a Jedi or Sith, there’s no option to flip her in any way – her first combat style will automatically be Vanguard.
Because I am a subscriber, and because she has finished her story, I can add a second combat style to her right away when I log in for the expansion. Because she’s a tech user, she’ll have all eight tech user styles to choose from. I want to occasionally be able to use stealth, so decide to choose Operative as my second class. Now when I want to tank, I’ll choose Vanguard, and when I want to sneak or do damage, I’ll choose Operative because I find it a lot of fun to attack with.
Example #4 – New Character, New Player, Dark-Side Jedi Knight
I’m a brand new player. I don’t have any achievements or any characters who have finished their stories or anything cool like that yet.
I’m going to create a brand new Jedi Knight character now that the expansion has launched.
I will have the four default light-side options available: Guardian, Sentinel, Sage and Shadow. I’m going to make a Guardian right away. I’ve heard maybe I can make them dark-side, but since I’m not I don’t see any options to do that when creating my character. As I play the story, I do evil deeds and start turning towards the dark-side. Since I take my time, a few months later, I eventually finish my Jedi Knight origin story!
Because I have been choosing dark-side options, after I finish my story, I will get the option to flip my character from Guardian to Juggernaut. I can say yes or no. I’m so excited that I unlocked an option to have dark-side powers so I say yes.
Partway through playing, I decided I liked the game and decided to subscribe. Since I am a subscriber, I also now can add a second combat style to my character. Because I earned the option to flip my character, I will also have the option to choose either a dark or light second combat style. If I’d gone full light side while playing, I would only have had the light side options available for my second combat style. I decide to choose Sorcerer as my second combat style because I thought it would be cool to have both Force Choke and Force Lightning on the same character – I can’t use them at the same time, but I can swap between Juggernaut and Sorcerer so that’s ok.
Example #5 – New Character, Experienced Player
I’m a player whose been playing for years and I have a ton of characters and achievements. Woohoo!
I’m going to create a brand new Jedi Knight character now that the expansion has launched.
Because I’m an experienced player, I have the Dark V achievement unlocked. Uh.. ok.. I didn’t have it before the expansion but I figured out how the system works and grinded Diplomacy and PvP’d on my characters with the highest dark aide alignment until I got the achievement. Hah.
When I go to create that new Jedi Knight, because I do have the Dark V achievement, I can make him choose a dark-side combat style right away when I create him – I’m going to make him a Jedi Knight Marauder at level 1 and terrify everyone on Tython and I’m totally going to get him some evil looking robes.
Because I am a player who already has the Dark V achievement, I won’t see any type of option to flip him when I finished my story.
I will be able to add a second combat style to him though! Because I am an experienced player and have already ran a Jedi Knight through the story in the past, I’ll be able to add that second combat style right away once I’m in-game, I don’t have to wait to finish the story. Since I have the Dark V achievement, I’ll even have all eight combat styles to choose from, and because I am an edgy Jedi, I’m going to make him a Marauder and Assassin. No light ide garbage for me wheeeeeeeeee! The only part I’m sad about is that I can’t use my double-bladed lightsaber while I’m a Marauder – since we don’t get to mix and match weapons.
Prepare
With all this info, there’s not a lot you need to do to prepare your characters for the expansion. The only thing you might want to keep in mind is that if you want the option to flip any of your characters, they must be at least 1 Dark Side or light Side point away from 0 for the option to flip them to come up. That means if you wanna flip and are a Jedi, you need to go earn Dark Side points, and if you are a Sith and want to flip, go earn light side points. Easiest way is through diplomacy and warzones. That’s the only one that’s a bit of a rush.
If you want opposite-alignment combat styles, you’ll also need to grind out either Dark V or Light V, on any of your characters.
Lastly, I’ve seen people asking if they should create characters now or later. The answer to that is really going to depend on what you want your final character to look like and what achievements you have. For example, if you want to play a Jedi Knight who is a Guardian and Sage, no problem, go ahead and create that now. But if you want a Jedi Knight who starts off as a Marauder… you may want to hold off until the new character creator is available.
While the information we got was detailed and a little confusing due to all the options, I’m glad we finally seem to understand exactly how the new system will be working. I hope this indepth explanation and all the example help you decide what type of character you want to make, and I’m really, really hoping I got it right this time. See you in the expansion!
Questions or comments? Feel free to send me a message on Twitter @swtorista, Reddit /u/swtorista, Youtube Swtorista channel or by e-mail at the same name with gmail.com at the end. Have fun out there and may the Force be with you. ~ Swtorista