I did enjoy the KotFE/KotET but I also think Star Wars is more than regurgitating the original films. The Empire/Republic (in this case but Rebellion in the films) were a story for them (and apparently the sequels but oh well). I'm much more likely to think this time period involved Zakuul and the Alliance than I am that look everything you seen before actually existed 10,000 years before. Technology doesn't evolve that fast, right? That said, sure, I can see if some feel that is the ONLY story you can tell in Star Wars. After all, the current films are retreading this tire. The game is returning to it. Obviously its just what some think. Just like some think Star Trek should always involve a ship and not a starbase as the main setting. So we just repeat and repeat. There's nothing wrong about that viewpoint. Lots of thinks reinforce it. But as to not feeling Star Warsy is a lot different to me. If you take the universe and just open it wide then you can have lots of things feel Star Warsy that you might not consider. It could support a comedy. Heavy realistic drama. Light hearted heroes. Horror. All of that could fight as long as you accept the conceits of what came before (or after I guess in this case). A big part... a huge part in fact of why I'm not a bigger Star Wars fan is because it all feels like the same thing. I may be getting different eras or actors but they all seem to be filling the checkboxes the original films set. Marvel does films feel similar also but I'm a much bigger fan of them because I feel different watching a Thor movie compared to a Captain America. Star Wars just hasn't been able to do that for me except in this one game. So I like that it at least tried.

What's unfortunate is that by the time they make that shift due to complaints its already too late. Those who complain probably started leaving after the complaint was made. By the time they change course, which is like driving a battleship, its too late since it certainly isn't going to be fast enough for some. I can also see BioWare's point of view of perhaps they should move things along at a faster pace. They should have just not decided to chop things they did such as companion returns because I'm sure people weren't happy losing them to start so decided to move the story along by ignoring that wasn't a good decision. Given all that, I've liked what we had since Revan on. But I also had the benefit of not having to wait on content since it was old by the time I started playing. Waiting on this traitor story to finish wasn't fun nor feeling me with warmth so I'm just as impatient. Usually though if I'm bored I go play something else. Hopefully I don't forget about the game but if I hang around and pretend to enjoy doing the same stuff I was bored of months ago, I just get angry with the game and those that make it. I try to recognize that before it happens but sometimes that honeymoon phase can last a really long time...

You can be aware of something but not see it as anything unusual and how things just should be. But I think he mostly sees the Outlander as the outside force that came and unmade the world he had known. Easily overlooking any flaws of that world or how members of it may have played a hand in the Outlander's arrival. I think people do that all the time. What's wonderfully poetic is the Order ended up destroyed by their own failures. It probably galled them more than anything that the Outlander caused all what he/she did and never even knew their names. I think Gemini is the only one I recalled. Imagine seeing one person as the cause of your pain and they don't even have the decency to know who you are. Makes me think did he never think to devote all the time and resources he spent to get back at the Outlander to helping those he saw devastated? I'm pretty sure we can chalk this whole thing up to his loss and his failures being placed onto someone else. I think the flashpoint pointed out that it would be even harder on Zahkuul if he succeeded. Basically, he lost his job because a new boss came in and so he wants to kill the new boss as if that will get his job back? But I do like that this flashpoint gave us a little glimpse of how those in power can change so many lives unknowingly.

I would say I'm not a regular player of SWTOR as I once was. Quite honestly, I'm outgrowing MMOs across the board. I keep subscriptions to three ongoing but not a regular player of any. But I've been wondering, does SWTOR get any assistance from the Star Wars Story Group or is everything just a product of whatever BioWare thinks up? As one of the apparently non-fans of Star Wars because I thought The Last Jedi was the best film since the original, I've appreciated the storylines in SWTOR. Ending the Emperor who posed a threat to all life in the galaxy, stopping the tantrums of two abused children and lately dealing with the apparent betrayal of someone close to us. We see how the stories have gone from huge galactic stakes to something more personal which I really liked. I did not like how the traitor arc began (or how long it took to resolve) but the ending was much better with a threat I thought more personal than galaxy shaping though that too factored in. Overall, from the beginning of SWTOR to today, I think the stories have been interesting and different which I've thought Star Wars has needed for decades. After all, we know Lucas has always considered them stories for twelve year olds but since I didn't stay twelve, I'm glad to see Star Wars go in different directions with more thought provoking choices than the usual black and white. But that brings me to a little regret with the story. There are interesting ideas presented, such as in the last flashpoint, like Gemini's fear and determination never to be enslaved again which if you think about it, none of us would want that hanging over our heads either. So I got her mindset but that wasn't really touched on. Same with Atrius. He was right that before the Outlander came, Zakuul was a paradise. And as far as he knew, it would have remained a paradise if the Outlander hadn't stepped in. That's one problem i've seen since the beginning with our character not taking notice of how his or her actions are shaping the galaxy. Its like it just happens to him just like any other day at work. I'd like to see more choices that aren't so clear cut. I felt the same with the choice to save or kill Arcann. We don't seem to consider how his death or life will affect others. Until this flashpoint, its the first time I remember seeing anyone in game question that choice (I saved him so don't know what was different if you hadn't) as a failing of our character. I may be forgetting something but frankly it seemed the choice never came back to us till now like it never matter which one we made (that's a bit too common btw). I know its a game, and a MMO at that, so deep storytelling isn't something they do very well. Especially considering how big amount of players pay no attention to story. That being said, there are some things that hit perfectly for me. Lana's last statement that the three, the Commander (us), Lana and Theron would face the future together. That gives me warm fizzy feelings since I'm very attached to the idea of those three characters continuing on as a team. I'd love it if the game could have it so we could have a proper BioWare party of four characters we play solo with. Perhaps even able to switch control between each but I'm sure the game couldn't support that idea. But overall, I'm pleased with how 5.0 has gone as a solo player. Some bumpy spots here and there. Terrible execution and the demands of a MMO on things (such as having to change specs due to game balancing which I find annoying and always will). I won't close the door on me every playing MMOs as MMOs. All the games I play I've just ignored the massive online aspects for the past year and frankly, the games are much better than dealing with all that as long as there some story elements to play through which is now true for all games. Its just a skeleton mostly but there is still some meat on those bones to find. I certainly don't miss having to get everyone together and things falling apart if someone leaves. The time commitments on folks that have lives outside the game which will always set you back in some manner due to gearing needs or monetary. MMOs are terrible to those that can't devote hours to them which is a big reason for their decline. But I mainly wanted to say I've enjoyed the work done on the game for my playstyle. I thought the story lines interesting and would have really loved to seen them fleshed out more. And wondered just how much input if any the Story Group has. Sorry I don't play your game like a MMO any longer but its just the genre that's I've grown tired of. I think I'll probably keep a subscription going (even though there have been times the game decisions really tick me off) just to see what comes next though I understand its mostly going to be for the MMO aspects. I guess its determined by how far the expansion is which I think the game sorely needs. In fact, I'd be scheduling them at a consistent rate. Keep some stuff streaming in between them that keeps the game interesting and maybe MMOs will make a comeback (I highly doubt it myself but hope springs eternal). Sorry for the length...

I don't believe old subscribers will be receiving anything beyond perhaps another copy of these companions. I think that information would have already been available. Not to say they won't put something together. Just at the time of announcement subscriber reward meant subscribers, old and new, who don't have these companions are receiving something. All speculation but I think the idea was to get these companions into people's hands that didn't have them already and calling them subscriber rewards was the way to do that. I don't think that's a bad thing but its no surprise some might feel left out. Everyone likes free stuff... mostly.

You'll find that WoW has also started having a bigger voice acted presence in the later expansions. Especially Legion. It made me miss SWTOR's cut scenes. Instead you get a window with a floating head mouthing the words along with text you can read if you'd rather. And its a pretty good story delivery. But it would be better than almost anything if they just did cut scenes but their engine doesn't seem to allow that. I do find they haven't gotten the right method of use in dungeons though. Its possible for a fight to happen during dialog and stuff. Regardless, they have really pushed for delivering story in a similar manner as SWTOR and FFXIV. SWTOR just has the leg up since it was design with them in mind which is too bad its been cut back to the degree it has.

Not to get into what constitutes lore and story, I have to admit being a bit disappointed there is neither when gaining these companions. Just slightly as it doesn't really matter anymore to me since I've resubscribed already. Nico especially given I still have no idea who he is within the game. Glad to hear he may feature in the novels which I've been debating on reading. But so far he seems to just be the cowboy in the first trailers. But not to discount your point if you see value in having the companions, I think that value then exists. That's really have value is determined. Value doesn't mean everyone agrees. I may not have resubbed had I given it more thought but I can see some finding them attractive enough as they are. What would have been cool, and unlikely, was to have a little chapter to give everyone that gains or owned them so everyone would have something from giving them out so they could be used in story down the line. Especially for Shae since I'd like to see her more but it seems she'll be regulated as a companion you run around with but never has any part to play from this point forward like too many others.

What I did when I realized that other people's choices were affecting my story (bad BioWare bad) I stopped using even my favorite characters and started using T7 exclusively. Companions went from story elements to enjoy to things I use. Even though I really like Lana and Theron, they stay in their stall along with all the others because I can't trust when they won't be yanked away from me. Hopefully the droid will be left alone but it wouldn't surprise me if all that influence gets flushed down the drain in some fashion. Really that's my biggest gripe. But I guess the terminal offsets that. Having other people in control of how your story unfolds does lead to not caring though. Just like knowing what choices you make really don't matter makes having the choices unimportant. There's going to have to be a balance found. Not allowing others to kill companions is wrong. Allowing them to determine speaking parts and participation for you is just as wrong.

I have no idea how the rewards worked then. Until 2017, i never played the game before and had actually forgotten it even existed. I only discovered it after leaving the MMORPG I was solely playing then for something new.. I found out about the bonus chapter for the droid and made the mistake (unless I'm incorrect again) that these companions also had a bonus chapter to them. To me, dealing with a content drought in this game and them sitting on content (not items, items are meh) was a very bad decision and dealing with the responses from long time players, I figured yeah, I can see why this game struggles. Like I said earlier, I was planning on subscribing once the traitor story was concluded but this just made me do so earlier than planned since I wanted to see that content. Then thinking about it, content isn't delivered by mail as far as I know so these are likely just another companion to add to your roster. I don't know who Nico is but I think he's the guy from the trailers and so there's no story why he joins your crew? The other I recognize but still no reasons why she's changed her mind would be actual things to play through. In any case, these companions probably aren't going to be gaining a whole slew of new subscribers. They are probably enough to get anyone considering subscribing to do so (as in my case) which really current players should be happy for. But typically, happy for others never seems to be the case with SWTOR. And I know people hate hearing it, but how long either of us subscribe to a video game does not equate which of us is better than the other. If I do grab these goodies (which most likely will be a name I scroll through) aren't much use to me unless I'm playing the game and unless I'm just going to play a class story forever (not likely as I don't like a lot of them) then being a subscriber would make the most sense. So look at this way, if I do get these and quit again I'm not going to get to enjoy them so why would you be upset if I have them or not?

I agree with you, OP. Really, think companions should be expendable if the player wishes but BioWare should accept the responsibility that they may have to create content for a small audience for those that didn't kill one of them. The whole idea of if someone kills the companion then no one has interactions with that companion again. Seeing as players can get by with just one companion, its feasible to imagine that someone will kill every companion that you are able to kill leaving the pool of characters quite small. I mean, I'm sure if Theron dies, there are plenty that will want to option to kill Lana in retaliation. Would suck since those are my two favorites. But we'll see. No matter Theron's fate, I still would want some who have already had this happen to pop back up in my own story. One way Lana and Theron became my favorites was because the others were just gone. But as soon as I heard about the traitor story, I never gave either another gift since now it seems like a was of time and money.

I just resubbed myself due to this promotion. And I had quit because these such items weren't being offered again to players who were new to the game since they had last been offered. My feelings are that you shouldn't ask me to sub to your game and have content drought while holding on to any type of content because of some reward system. Back before I unsubbed (and quit playing until a week or so ago) when this was a discussion, I was basically told to shut up, pay my sub or not but I don't deserve anything because its just reserved for the "special" people who had supported the game back then. So, fine, I shut up. Like supporting the game NOW wasn't important. Of course I laughed my *** off thinking about those people when news came out that SWTOR was being discussed for closing by EA. I thought, I bet those "exclusive" rewards will mean a whole lot if that actually does happen. I even contacted customer service before I left about why content is being withheld from paying subscribers of any type at that time. So, maybe I helped get these things given out again. I was around to see someone tell my what a baby I was for unsubbing. Typical SWTOR forum, right? To be fair, I was talking about actual game play content. Not companions without a story where they become companions. But its cool. I was planning on subscribing as soon as they finished this traitor storyline to finally see it resolved. But I invite anyone who is upset to go play ESO for a bit. You'll get the pop up ads about 3 day only sales for items you can only get during that sale. Unless you keep playing and they'll offer them again for 3 days only. They have items they pull from their crown store, lasts chance to get and after pulled they'd pop up in their crates or some package deal. People are fools if they think anything in business is a one time only. Heck, most games even make their exclusive pre-order items available to everyone after the game launches. The moaning and "they lied to us" crap is such bull. Its one reason I found it so easy to leave this game. The forum posters, especially the long time ones, are so exhausting with their whines and unfair cries whenever the game makes a misstep or tries to gain subscriptions. Like, forget getting new players, where's my loyalty payout? I have always wondered if you have such problems then leave. Do what I did and unsub if you are so unhappy already. Or like I was told, just shut up. Like I siad, I actually thought these had some kind of game play to them. But thinking about it, that wouldn't be emailed. Sub now or a little over a month from now is no biggy. Sure, it would be nice if those that had these two got something but then you're already subscribed. New customers always get the shiny stuff to get them as customers in almost every type of business. I mean, really, if you all were truly loyal, there never would be talks to shut the game down (which I still think will happen when EA loses the Star Wars license... or not). You really should be glad they are doing anything to get new subscribers if the game is in such a state. But, like I said, this game of all the games I play have the whiniest and most selfish posters. I think even the WoW forum folks are better and there are millions there to complain and talk down to other players. Hmm, I guess I'm not being that nice now myself. I really wish folks could just try to be nicer and more welcoming as I actually do like the game and think its not as bad as the forum would have you believe. But my guess people check the forums to see what the game complaints are before they start and this one is a huge turn off. You'd practically expect to have your machine blow up and BioWare to rob you in the night if you start playing. Does anyone know how many times BioWare has been accused of lying and stealing from their players or some other unfair treatment? Get over yourself already. No subscriber is more important or should be catered to than any other no matter when they started playing. Loyalty to a game you don't enjoy if just stupid. It should be pissed on. And it will be in every game you ever play if you keep thinking your are somehow special because you jumped through some hoops two years ago. The only one lied to was you lying to yourself that you matter more. I'm just glad that they perhaps got more than my question about why they aren't giving everything possible to players to keep them. And if you truly are pissed off and quit (thus can't respond), hope the game remains around long enough for you to come back. And bye. And since this forum is so bad, I don't think I'll bother with it this time around. I hunted down this topic specifically (because I knew it would be here) since I never got to respond to that one I got months back. Companions don't even mean that much to me (skipped that one they had just as I left knowingly) but free stuff for playing your game, sure, why not.

I finally heard back from customer service which I think settles it. Though they did use wording like they really didn't know if it would be available again or not (basically that all they know is what was in that announcement). No answer if they would or wouldn't be offered again but I'm taking it as none of them would ever be offered again. Folks can throw around entitled all they want but when a game says you will have access to all past and future content with a subscription then you sort of expect you will have access to all content. In a game whcih focuses quite a bit on companions and their stories I find it peculiar that a piece of content concerning companions and their stories wouldn't be thought of as something people would want in the future. And wanting the same treatment of earlier subscribers isn't the same as wanting special treatment. But be that as it may and whether the level of my entitlement is too high, BioWare isn't entitled to my monthly subscription so I've decided to cancel it. I really do love the game but I can't in good conscience reward a game that withholds any available content from me especially in a time when we have so little. When other games are announcing expansions but spend their time between adding additions to the game as well as improvements, its inexcusable to not even match up to a game that is 18 years old. I will run out just before the Chiss flashpoint drops so I figure why not just wait until the whole thing wraps up and subscribe for one month to play through all of them. Right now I can buy Assassin's Creed Origins then turn around and purchase the pre-order mission and other stuff even though I am not "entitled" to them. Those are clearly stated as pre-order which means you must pre-order to obtain them except that's not the case there. EverQuest lets you play and gain the rewards (several of which are usable for the life of your character) of past anniversary quests. There are so many games which do not deny their newer players access to previous content simply because they weren't playing when it was originally offered. This game does not. To be fair, BioWare could be working on bringing these rewards back for the newer player. I'm assuming they are not and have no intention of doing so. But I shouldn't even have to ask for a subscription reward. Not as a subscriber. That should have been apparent to them to start with when they first created them. These aren't even pre-order rewards (though I only know of three so there could be some). I'd even stick around if there was some hope of an expansion but even that is too much to ask for news on. So, I'm calling it quits. I can forgive a lot. I can even accept that some things will just never come around again. But I would have liked to know if they would consider bringing them back or not. Plus I'm a bit soured on the community that keeps insisting they are more entitled than I am when I'm supposed to be the entitled one. After all, it just means someone who believe they inherently deserves privilege or special treatment. Earlier subscribers seem to have the belief they are deserving while others are not. You really have a weak argument when it boils down to you should have subscribed to a game you weren't even playing or even had a notion existed to obtain something a year later. And I don't know how some people live their lives but I've always lived mine that you can have anything if you're willing to work for it. But its true if you set the goal in the past its much harder to obtain. Once again I'm writing a block of text but consider it my last. Its been fun and I'm leaving before I'm too bitter. I always say if you aren't happy with something then certainly don't pay for it. I may think the game is the best out there but I can live without it. I did except for the past seven or eight months so not that much time. At least now I won't feel I need to play classes I didn't find all that fun. I usually just play one class in a game and hate repeating things so there wasn't a whole lot left for me. I never could decide if I wanted to do raids but I got to run every flashpoint in the game. When you have endings like Crisis on umbara, its a blessing to just run them once. And every time I gave a companion a gift I wondered if I was just wasting it and should be giving it to another but then the same thing still applies. On my alts I kept having to think back who comes back so I'd know who to worry about gaining influence with and who to ignore. Then there's the question of do a romance with some character I know or suspect will be removed later. Its all rather irritating but I guess it ended up not mattering. I tought I'd share what I have learned and instead of demanding my money's worth to stop paying. The discussion has gotten personal for some reason given it affects no one what someone else has or doesn't have. Not that big a deal but showed yet another shortcoming I'm tired of paying for. Maybe I can start those Mass Effects games or perhaps finish Skyrim. I do hope I come back but at the moment there's just so much standing in Odessa waiting on something new or who I need to be playing and where they are in their story.

Hey, thanks for posting that. Just on an aside, are there ways of finding the other past websites? I can't get there from my normal one or even back from this new old one. I really appreciated seeing that. Thanks. But you can't take something of this nature and claim they have entered into some kind of contract that will break if they offer it again. That's been the biggest argument. You may prefer that it never is again (because you such great people, right) but that doesn't imply. In fact, its setup well enough to have just followed through into the next year and the year after. Certain period of time required, reward. What this does show is those wanting the rewards kept out of later subscribers are using it maliciously. And that just covers if they do it that way again. They could throw them out at any time. They could required two accounts in good standing for so many months. Whatever they didn't paint themselves into corner just because it has an end date in 2016 since its never stated this will be the only method and afterwards it will be like it never existed. But we know that some take the slightest chance to beat them over the head with like this whole 25% CXP change like they are absolute liars and we already have an idea of who will be calling them liars if they offer this same rewards again. Isn't the real problem that how people are acting. Right now, look at what all my characters have on and in their inventories. Well, see why this is a non-issue and rewards should be available to all? You wouldn't know regardless. Same with the Hexid companion. It is implied if you don't win the event that companion will be out of reach. That's doesn't mean losing will gain it later though. But a malicious sort, like those wanting things kept for themselves, can easily make the argument that light side won, no prizes for dark side or they will diminish their victory.. The same is true here. You're using the set it of some reward as if its the word of God and its just the set up of a reward. That's all. And we've got clear instructions how to obtain the Hexid companion but I didn't see the disclaimer that it will never be offered again. Just like I didn't see that disclaimer with the HK-55 chapter. I'd be interested in hearing from someone that knows for certain like Eric if we miss Hexid this time around will that be it as well as the rest of these requests. That's really one of the only people who can put this to bed. I really do appreciate you posing that link but I'm afraid its not as cut and dried as you thought it was. Really anything from the past will always be a slave to the present. It has been illuminating. Not surprising though. And you didn't explain fully why you don't want something when you went into so much detail why someone else shouldn't have something.

Well why can't we see this agreement. You're taking the position these were offered as a one time only which I haven't been able to find and no one has offered to post if they still had an email. Even then that doesn't mean that one time only isn't going to come around again. Darth Heixid (sp?) was supposed to be earned in DvL but now she's about to be given out to everyone for using group finder which a lot of us do regularly anyways. There was no "earning" as someone keeps saying. You didn't do anything except what you were already doing. If that's the way its "earned" then we've all have "earned" it if we're on the forum. At any point, its up to BioWare when/if they will be given out again and in what manner. We won't be "earning" this pet they'll be giving out the 28th as an example. If you're playing the game regularly, you almost can't not "earn" it. Unless something has changed recently, you should have access to everything that's ever been done in that game except for pre-order items (and some of those you can get). Chances are they are on a vendor somewhere. I've gotten a paiting for the house which I was told was some anniversary gift that was no longer obtainable off a vendor somewhere. Certainly there must exist some items that are just vapor. But you should be able to find almost everything which isn't pre-ordered in that game. That game is especially good in that area of keeping their content available. Mainly because games shouldn't throw content away. If you give something out once and never again, that's wasted time and work which could be offered again and again. Which is why almost every game, if not every game, brings things back such as this Darth Hexid companion. No one ever got to use it. Wasted development so now not wasted. The HK-66 chapter I keep harping about if never given out again. Thrown away if no one else gets to see it because the population has changed in the game. Probably a lot of people that got it no longer play and a long of new people have come in. They may as well never made it if it was meant as a one time thing. The super big differencet for me can be shown in this companion they are about to give out. This Darth Hexid companion could be requested again in a couple of years. If not months. If I was to get this companion by doing the three activities, I still wouldn't mind if those folks in a year or two got one even if they don't have to do anything beyond subscribing. I actually wouldn't care if F2P got it for nothing. Which is why is so difficult (too difficult) to understand people saying no about others having a chance for things. Matter of fact, if you go by what those folks are saying, we shouldn't even be getting a chance to get that companion. Not even those who participated in DvL because no one actually earned it. For once there was something that had to be earned and its basically being given away for nothing (I use group finder all the time... or used to). But no one seems up in arms that its coming back around again. Like I said before, when people have a chance to gain something personally, they aren't so quick to jump up and say no fair, you broke the agreement. This is really no different except this companion had some very strict rules around it but I almost can promise if we started asking for whatever the light sided one was there would be folks saying "entitled" and "didn't earn" while they claim their Darth Hexid.

Because isn't a hey everyone lets discuss this. Its a request TO BioWare for it. "Will we ever get a chance at these again?" That's not a question any of you can answer. You probably can't even pull out a contract where BioWare said they will never ever offer these to anyone else ever again. Its just a collection of I don't want you to have this. I offered a solution which I thought was fair for them to consider, tie to length of time subscribed but folks would rather no one else receive them. And what's with this entitled crap? Do you folks not even know what the word means? You would have had to actually have done something which others aren't willing to do for it to apply. I don't know about the original posters circumstances but I started some time after the first of the year (April) so this was never possible but the one thing that is simply inexcusable when folks are wanting more content and new content that they have some sitting back there serving no one but the one's that already have played it. Well, you got your chance now its someone else's turn. I sort of get the reasoning for items (though really it still sounds like bratty behavior to me) but not game play content. That's simply unfair and should never have been the norm. This isn't unlike getting a group together to do all the bosses in the Flashpoint and then half of them bow out on you because they already did the last two bosses for some reason. The polite thing to do is finish it with them. Share your time. Share your content. I'll be submitting a ticket since content, of any kind, that is finished and working within the game today isn't available to players since the only way it shouldn't be is if they value certain players, those who were playing when this came out, over those paying now. I'll let you know if I had them purge my payment information or not.