Why the lack of underwater content?

I think it'd be a great idea if done correctly. I spend as much time when I play Skyrim exploring underwater as I Do on land. You find the coolest stuff underwater. And they'd just have to add underwater specific weapons & vehicles for the combat aspect. Although personally instead of combat I'd rather see "chases" (ex. Get away from the giant fish/get to a hiding spot) and exploration for items & crafting materials.

Yeah, me too

I wouldn't have anything against the possibility of seeing a planet like Manaan being introduced into the game (loved that one in KotOR). However, I do not think that part of the game and subsequently combat situations should take place in actual water or underwater, for the various reasons already stated in this thread of people who have a much better grasp of the technicalities.

Bases that are located underwater which you can explore? Sure, that'd be great, would probably make for some awesome ambiance or whatever you want to call it. But actual gameplay in water? No, thank you

First you say something and in the next sentence you explain why your first statement isn't true

The underwater segment of KOTOR (imo, the most annoying part of KOTOR) cannot be considered a underwater combat. You do not use any other combat techniques, just a sonic pulse with extremely long charging time ti drive away some sharks.
It is like saying "there is not mounted combat in SWTOR" and someone arguing that there is mounted combat because you can drive your speeder and jump from it straight into battle

Yes, I am still not convinced about that.

Oh, well. I guess if the screaming obviousness of it all is *still* lost on you, then there's nothing I can do it about it.

Let me guess: hard-numbers type of guy. Data-analytics? Actuary?

Whatever the case, we are worlds apart, my friend...

Again.

Writers in videogames are usually very careful about making sure they do not unwittingly telegraph a game system to players through in-game cutscenes, codex entries, or any of the other means through which they relate story. To have two separate creative departments agree and give the got-to for the use of these "oceanic allusions" is about as far from happenstance as it gets.

I'm sorry, but anyone who fails to realize this isn't quite with the program.

Explain to me how the following abilities will work in an underwater or 3d setting, one that has no floor nearby.

-kolto packs, medical packs, kolto missile
-death from above
-orbital strike
-sweeping blasters
-Death Field
-Revivification
-any abilities i may have missed that are either a GT heal or GT damage

Take someone that makes regular use of their GT abilities and ask them what they think of underwater combat. And remember this isnt GW2, that game has collision detection so anyone that wants to use their melee spear instead of a harpoon get some help with disorientation. You can run foward and you will stop once you hit the edge of the bad guys hit box. Here it will be more like WoW...if you target a ranged NPC and go towards him you go right through him.

Trying to represent a 3 dimensional space on a 2 dimensional screen just plain sucks. In game when you are fighting on the surface it works because you use the ground to judge your distance to the target. You are on the ground your target is on the ground so you know your distance. In 3d space/water unless you fight on the ocean floor, you lose the ability to use the ground as your reference point. This isnt a problem if you are a ranged character, but it is more of a problem if you are melee. I'm willing to bet that most people that dont like 3d zones or fights, dont like it because of that spatial disorientation.

Not to mention there is the 'is this safe to do underwater' part. a BH underwater that is mostly flame based? troopers with ion surge and plasma crap, a sorc that shoots lightning underwater? Yah you can say that Jedi and Sith can put their lightsabers in plastic bags, or that blaster players get projectile or needler based weapons instead. But how do you explain away the other stuff? or are we just gonna say "eff it" on that stuff too and do whatever?

Informatics student, programmer, IT basics teacher and gamer, actually.
I have no problem imagining stuff, but I simply am unable to conceive something as complex as underwater gameplay (which usually sucks in most games) based on two water related words in two dialogs. Based on what I know from game, can I imagine speeders sliding across water on Ord Mantell? Yes. Can I imagine a complete underwater gameplay based on it? No