Friday Update: Companion Characters Blog, Part 2
This week’s Friday Update follows on from one made a few weeks ago, where Senior Game Designer William Wallace shed some light on how companion characters work.
This second instalment takes a look at companion AI, and their roles at various points in the game. See below for an excerpt.
When it comes to the amount of control over their companion, players have different, often diametrically opposed preferences. Some players do not want to manage their companions any more than they have to, wanting instead for their companions to act autonomously without the need to manually trigger abilities or actions. Others want direct control over their companions, playing them almost as a second character.
Friday Update: Companion Characters Blog
This week’s updates have focused on companions; first with last night’s developer dispatch video, and now with a developer blog post by William Wallace. Some areas that he discusses include more on companion customization, the different companion classes, which are different from player classes, and other recent changes to how companions will work in the game. See below for an excerpt.
As you advance your story in Star Wars: The Old Republic, you build relationships with your companion characters based on the decisions you make throughout the game. How you treat each companion and how you act when they are in your presence determines how your relationship with them evolves. The writing team has done a fantastic job of bringing these companions to life with compelling stories and backgrounds. They add an emotional layer to the experience in the same way that such memorable characters as Bastila Shan and HK-47 did in Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic®.
Developer Dispatch: Designing Companions
A new Developer Dispatch, at least part of this week’s update, has been posted to Gamespot. The video features designers including James Ohlen, Daniel Erickson, and others discussing the importance of companions to Star Wars: The Old Republic and what went into designing them. Topics discussed include companion customization and the affection system, similar to the approval system in Dragon Age: Origins. Check out the full video for yourself below.
Sith Warrior Update, Plus Companion Character Info
This week we have gotten both an update to the Sith Warrior class, plus a new games system update for companion characters.
Sith Warrior Update!
Wondering how you will be able to customize the Sith Warrior to fit your specific play style? We are excited to confirm the two Advanced Classes for the Sith Warrior: The Juggernaut and the Marauder! Whether you want to charge into the fray as a Juggernaut, punishing your adversaries while protecting your allies, or slice through enemy ranks with two Lightsabers and unmatched aggression, the Advanced Classes system in Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ will give you the power to match your play style.
In conjunction with the Companion Character section released today, we present you with one of the Sith Warrior’s Companions – Vette! You can learn more about this known associate on the Sith Warrior page or by accessing Vette’s biography.
Check out the newly updated HoloNet to get details about the Advanced Classes available to the Sith Warrior. Also be sure to visit the media section for a new video featuring the Sith Warrior as well as some screenshots showing the Juggernaut and Marauder in action! (Source)
Sith Warrior Update!
Every Star Wars™ hero needs a companion. Han has Chewie, Luke has R2-D2 — even Jabba has the cackling monkey lizard Salacious B. Crumb. These characters will compliment your strengths or weaknesses, and provide company for the epic journey you will inevitably undertake. Whether they’re combative, friendly, flirtatious, or even just good for a laugh, they always contribute to your development and serve as a sounding board for your choices. In Star Wars™: The Old Republic™, a variety of these Companion Characters will join your cause.
Learn more about Companion Characters and how they can shape and enhance your game play by visiting the Game Systems section!
Preview Roundup: What We Learned
We’ve seen previews all across the web today, revealing new information from hands-on play sessions with Star Wars: The Old Republic. Let us take a look at what we have learned from each of them.
Jedi Consular: Read more»
