I have seen a lot of threads illustrating what people believe is wrong with SWTOR or could use improvements (and rightfully so in many cases). I haven't, however, seen any threads specifically so people can tell Bioware what they are doing right. Yes, many things need fixing, but anything worth putting time and money into can also benefit by having a similar focus on it's strengths as fixing it's flaws.

 

The question I pose is what do you think Bioware has done or is doing right so far with SWTOR?

 

I'll start off by saying that they are doing well with making a player feel involved with his or her character with great story telling by giving them the options to partially tell their own story. Because of how involved it would be to make a storyline non-linear, it's understandable that the choices don't fully alter the course of the story your character goes through, but it is still easy to get sucked in.

 

I also feel that the end game raiding content has potential. Is it currently pretty easy, barring the bug bosses? Yes. However some of the mechanics they are incorporating into some of the bosses are pretty interesting, like the Soa fight with the many platforms and the mind traps. Other fights incorporate puzzles, which personally I could do without the kinds that have been incorporated, however I'm considering it a strength in design because I'm sure others like it and it is generally a pretty good idea.

 

Furthermore, the environments both in the world(s) and in the raids are pretty good. The vastness of some of the environments make me feel like I indeed travel to other worlds and explore new places (even if the mountaineering leaves much to be desired). They have also designed the worlds in such a way that they are almost limitless in their options for creating new areas on already existing worlds or even creating new worlds. This is something that has me excited for what Bioware might come up with, especially remembering the great story tellers they clearly have in their design team!

I'll bite:

 

SWTOR has a strong sense of the Star Wars universe. The developers have really captured the essence of the galaxy far, far away, from the massive military industrial complex to the notion that places should be designed around theme and mood.

 

They've really nailed it.

I think the balance between solo and group content is very well done. I can play alone and feel like I can enjoy the came to its full potential, yet when I do some group quests, it feels like the icing on the cake. By this I mean both in terms of rewards, difficulity, the distribution of group quests and the scripts/story in them.

One more thing:

The decisions in a lot of quests are spot on. Quite often when I'm doing quest I think I know where my loyalties lie and what my stance in the matter is, as suddeny - BANG - I'm staring at the conversation wheel while my brain is torn between several options which all have equal advantages and drawbacks....again. Love it.

While this game has a ton of issues the quest system is truly well done.

 

This is basically the only MMO where I have actually honed in on the story. Also I don't simply click random responses anymore to fly past to the next dialogue as I contemplate my decision. So in this regard, Bioware succeeded.

Edited March 1, 2012 by scootshoot

Voiced over mission dialogue and cutscenes: EXCELLENT

 

I'm noticing that a 'certain other space/ground game' is now adding voiced over cutscene animations into their mission sets. I really do believe BioWare improved the entire genre with this one. It might end up making it harder for start-ups to get involved in the gaming industry for MMO design, but it's certainly stepped up the enjoyability of the game.

____

 

Space combat: EXCELLENT

 

I'm a fan of space combat and have played in a number of other games, and I truly feel like the TOR space combat system is a lot more fun and engaging.

 

The missions don't last too long, so they're good for some quick arcade-style fun, and I enjoy having to target various elements and the combat operating outside of the RPG mentality (since there's no auto-aim and just a rolled chance for hit-or-miss). I like having to strafe rows of turrets on a Star Destroyer to help protect a ship that I'm escorting.

 

I also love the cinematic feel to the space sequences. Star Wars was never really focusing on giant capital ship warfare (although the capital ships do play a role), but usually we were in the POV of a small fighter (or freighter) zooming along these giant capital ships and alternately dodging through asteroid fields and obstacles. Even though the rail system restricts movement to a particular trail, I think the overall effect captures these zooming, rolling, fly-by aspects of the movies.

____

 

Star Wars feel and immersion: EXCELLENT

 

I think this one speaks for itself. I am not ever wondering where I am, or what kind of world this is. It's Star Wars, through and through.

____

 

Combat Mechanics: GOOD

 

I came from a more twitch-combat type of game system (for most of my MMO playing the past few years) where you had to aim at the hitbox rather than just spamming numbers. After a while that really got old and it was just a "fire, fire, fire, fire, fire, fire, heal, heal, fire, fire, fire, fire, heal, heal, fire, loot" system.

 

Then I tried that "certain other space/ground game" and I dreaded ground combat. Every instance of it was just mind-numbingly boring, or when you figured it out, a spectator sport.

 

TOR combat feels like it has a variety and excitement to it that I've missed in the other games.

 

I've got this set to GOOD because of that delay thing that just irks me a little bit. I wish there was a more comprehensive buffering system where I could plug in the moves in larger combinations and watch them play out, rather than having to wait for an animation shutter to finish. If they can get that fixed, I'll switch this to EXCELLENT.

Edited March 1, 2012 by Kubernetic

Voiced over mission dialogue and cutscenes: EXCELLENT

 

I'm noticing that a 'certain other space/ground game' is now adding voiced over cutscene animations into their mission sets. I really do believe BioWare improved the entire genre with this one. It might end up making it harder for start-ups to get involved in the gaming industry for MMO design, but it's certainly stepped up the enjoyability of the game.

____

 

Space combat: EXCELLENT

 

I'm a fan of space combat and have played in a number of other games, and I truly feel like the TOR space combat system is a lot more fun and engaging.

 

The missions don't last too long, so they're good for some quick arcade-style fun, and I enjoy having to target various elements and the combat operating outside of the RPG mentality (since there's no auto-aim and just a rolled chance for hit-or-miss). I like having to strafe rows of turrets on a Star Destroyer to help protect a ship that I'm escorting.

 

I also love the cinematic feel to the space sequences. Star Wars was never really focusing on giant capital ship warfare (although the capital ships do play a role), but usually we were in the POV of a small fighter (or freighter) zooming along these giant capital ships and alternately dodging through asteroid fields and obstacles. Even though the rail system restricts movement to a particular trail, I think the overall effect captures these zooming, rolling, fly-by aspects of the movies.

____

 

Star Wars feel and immersion: EXCELLENT

 

I think this one speaks for itself. I am not ever wondering where I am, or what kind of world this is. It's Star Wars, through and through.

____

 

Combat Mechanics: GOOD

 

I came from a more twitch-combat type of game system (for most of my MMO playing the past few years) where you had to aim at the hitbox rather than just spamming numbers. After a while that really got old and it was just a "fire, fire, fire, fire, fire, fire, heal, heal, fire, fire, fire, fire, heal, heal, fire, loot" system.

 

Then I tried that "certain other space/ground game" and I dreaded ground combat. Every instance of it was just mind-numbingly boring, or when you figured it out, a spectator sport.

 

TOR combat feels like it has a variety and excitement to it that I've missed in the other games.

 

I've got this set to GOOD because of that delay thing that just irks me a little bit. I wish there was a more comprehensive buffering system where I could plug in the moves in larger combinations and watch them play out, rather than having to wait for an animation shutter to finish. If they can get that fixed, I'll switch this to EXCELLENT.

 

Cutscenes - Overdone. There are far to many with poor scipting and give nothing to the development of your character and basically rehash the same tosh from level 1-50 in order to make you go kill some mobs. Don't get me wrong, some of the class stories are fanastic and quite enjoyable, however the majority of it is worthless.

 

Space Combat - A joke? There is absolutly no point to it being in the game at level 50. I can understand why it isn't particularly ground breaking, making a fully fledged space combat game would take another team and another massive development time - It shouldnt be in there at all to be honest for the moment.

 

Immersion - What immersion? I played another game huge games demo due to come out soon, about 10 minutes in that I actually felt like I was engrossed in the storyline and felt sorry for some of the characters. I can see so many other games with interesting planets, cities with life and not just something that has so little ambience to it. Even things like textures in this game need love, level design and overall presence of people need implementing better.

 

Combat Mechanics - There ok, nothing new here. Wish something inventive could have been done. It's sluggish and buggy too.

 

This game needed so much more love, it could have been fantastic, I think in a year it probably will be fantastic, but I think by the most of the player base will have turned its back on it.

Companions

 

I have read some say these are "just pets" but that's nonsense. They have individual personalities, likes and dislikes. You need to gear them up if you're going to use them in combat. The AI system is very good (BW please make them get out of the fire, TYVM) but you can also control their actions if you want. They fit in well with your character's story line and you can even romance some of them if you want. This is way beyond "pets" in any other MMORPG.

Combat Mechanics:

 

Indeed. The combat feels very good in this game. It's very fluid with good transitions between animations and very "kinetic" (sorry for the overused word) - the explosive attacks have a very impactful feel. But the melee combat is where it shines the most, I think. I never get bored of watching lightsabers swinging around, clashing togather and deflecting shots.

Since fighting makes up such an important part of MMO gameplay, I think it is very good that Bioware managed to make it engaging and varied.

Edited March 1, 2012 by Gradivus

Companions

 

I have read some say these are "just pets" but that's nonsense. They have individual personalities, likes and dislikes. You need to gear them up if you're going to use them in combat. The AI system is very good (BW please make them get out of the fire, TYVM) but you can also control their actions if you want. They fit in well with your character's story line and you can even romance some of them if you want. This is way beyond "pets" in any other MMORPG.

 

I also have to agree with what was said here about companions (and would be very concerned with romance options with "pets" in games like WoW ). I want to add that I like the option to send companions crafting and doing gathering missions and the like while I'm busy actually playing the game. It's nice being able to craft and raid at the same time

Edited March 2, 2012 by Katzith

This thread needs to be longer.

 

I'm in love with the guild system in this game. And the ability to make your own cross chat channel for different groups is swell.

 

 

Also, it's really easy and FREE to make as many alts as you'd like. You could make 8 on every server if you'd like.

 

Ability animations are pretty cool too. You can tell they spent some time on those.

 

 

Been wanting to make a positive thread like this for a while, thank you for starting it!

Companions

 

I have read some say these are "just pets" but that's nonsense. They have individual personalities, likes and dislikes. You need to gear them up if you're going to use them in combat. The AI system is very good (BW please make them get out of the fire, TYVM) but you can also control their actions if you want. They fit in well with your character's story line and you can even romance some of them if you want. This is way beyond "pets" in any other MMORPG.

 

I've got to agree here... I like the companion system, and find it to be a great addition to the game. They are definitely much more than pets.

 

I flew back to the fleet last night and all of the sudden my companion is telling me about a mission we've got to go on to Nar Shaddaa. I love some of these little things in the game.

 

The only thing I wish we had (blue sky, here) is a type of limited scripting language that we could use to create custom patterns for our companions, with a few extra features like being able to give them a certain place to stand and attack from, especially for range-skilled companions. To be able to attach some limited logic of our own choosing to their attack styles would be great I think, including allowing us to program them for priorities in boss fights, such as:

 

 

...and the companion would then set about running those plans. I know I've run into a few situations where the companion was attacking and killing a mob that I specifically had to capture alive, and that got pretty frustrating, as she was very efficient in slaying said mobs after I had geared her up. It would be nice to be able to assign players to focus on or ignore, and mobs to focus on or ignore.

 

But even C2-N2 is a good companion to have if you need a healer. I know he was quite helpful in a certain heroic area when I went in as a Jedi Sentinel with two Smugglers. C2 made the difference in finishing the area by keeping us healed.

 

And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention T7-O1 here. There is something entirely satisfying about running around the Star Wars universe with your own little warbling astromech by your side. And you can just right-click him from time to time and make him glurble even more. Great stuff.

Edited March 1, 2012 by Kubernetic

Accessibility.

 

If your modestly, skilled not a social outcast, and can listen to simple instructions this game is your oyster... you can see everything and experience anything you want to.

 

Oh and potential, if BW sticks to it the possibilities for what this game can offer are truly staggering.

Edited March 1, 2012 by BlackZoback

Staggering out my responses as an excuse to bump

 

Seriously though, I like the space combat even though I think it could be better. It gives me the option of using it and class quests to level alts without going through the grind of regular questing on planets again (and getting stuck accidentally with undroppable quests). Quick and easy source of credits, and just mindless enough to be a way to relax in game. I could see improvements being made like free flight pvp and pve battles and being able to at least record chat so you can see what you missed during your space battle, but I could see the former taking a lot of development time and effort so I wouldn't want it rushed into the game at the expense of fixing and fine tuneing what is already here. I was also a fan of the Tie Fighter video game for the pc back in the day so I wouldn't mind a revisit to that a bit more in this game, but what is in SWTOR already gives me a good enough taste of it to make me like it.

Edited March 2, 2012 by Katzith

I'll bite:

 

SWTOR has a strong sense of the Star Wars universe. The developers have really captured the essence of the galaxy far, far away, from the massive military industrial complex to the notion that places should be designed around theme and mood.

 

They've really nailed it.

 

So abandoned planets really captures the 'essence of the galaxy'?

 

Some how I think even Hoth has a few people, yet last night on my server there were 5.

 

V

I love everything about this game. I love the Star Wars Universe. I have played throught the Warrior story line and loved it. Currently working on the Knight story which is starting to get good. I just finished Tat. Can't wait for the new content coming in 1.2 and for whatever BW has planned. Only thing that I don't like about this game is the amount of qqers because it isn't " A certain MMO". Other than that, It's all good. Here is a bit of the review so far:

 

Gameplay Plays like any generic MMO of this style but BW has tried to change that by removing the auto attack and making combat more fluid rather than Hit, wait a sec, hit again, rinse and repeat.

 

Companions Probably my favourite addition to a game. I am too lazy to collect materials for myself so I like to send my companions to do that.

 

Story Like I said before, I love the story aspect of the game. BW has always been great with story except a couple games, cough cough DA2 cough cough.

 

Graphics The graphics and skyboxes for this game are amazing. True artwork. Even the low shader option doesn't look too bad. It just takes the shininess out of the objects.

 

More to come. In class right now.

Edited March 2, 2012 by TheOnlyKyrenS

The feel of my toon, and the feel of pvp I think due to the resource system and the attack animations are bar none.

 

This is why I'm so frustrated. As a former top 300 world raider, that really only pvps now, I get this sinking feeling of having this Cadillac of a toon, but no where to go Ilum was/is ambitious, this is good. Fix it please so I will have somewhere to go.

Edited March 2, 2012 by BCBull

This is the first MMO that I enjoyed leveling. Most if not all MMOs feel like you are grinding your levels, the way you level while doing a story that is very reminiscent of a single player rpg is brilliant.

 

I like the combat, it is fast. Recently I downloaded Aion since it is free and the combat was putting me to sleep, along with the downtime between fights, Swtor combat is fast and fluid and with little downtime which I love.

 

I have played many mmos at launch and this is by far the best put together one I have played, the fewest bugs, the most content and biggest production value.

 

My biggest complaint is the long crafting missions when they are an hour long, I think that is overboard, and the Auction house needs to be revamped. No one seems to use it.

 

The concept of orange gear is great, but there is a downside, I never touch gear that drops, nothing is ever better, I always liked the chance of some good loot.

 

Although many don't like, I personally think the graphics are by far the best out of any MMO to date when you look at not only the characters, the graphics but the art direction.

Getting rid of grinding! After years of 3-6 hour exp camp parties and 9-12 hour power grinding parties I'm so happy to be in an MMO where those don't exist. Biggest leap forward for me, voices are cool but not needed, especially for random one shot side quests littered about.

 

Now that I've experienced a grind less MMO I can't imagine ever wanting to go back to the grind. Interjecting story telling into the heart and soul of an MMO was exactly what I always wanted ever since I first started MMO's 4 years ago with Final Fantasy XI. So disappointed to find MMO's were all about butchering harmless animals for no reason for hours and months at a time.

 

SWTOR is how I originally imagined all MMO's were like based on the .hack/ series. Massive persistent worlds and loads of players with an epic journey to lead you from lvl 1 to endgame. This games focus on story telling FINALLY pulled it off. And although I am waiting for other MMO's to come out and I'll try them, like GW2 and Final Fantasy XIV, if they can't deliver the same sense of a non stop journey from beginning to endgame then they won't hold my attention like SWTOR has.

 

SWTOR has raised the bar for me in the story telling department, and it's hard to imagine any other MMO in the horizon capable of matching it.

I like (so far) the group sizes necessary to get things done. Having come from a WoW background on a lower population server, I can appreciate 4 man flashpoints and operations both with 8 man and 16 man options. I also like feeling like I'm not completely locked out of operations on a main character if we blow through heroic content in a night or two.

 

Also I like "easter eggs" that bring various levels of humor depending on just how well you know your Star Wars universe as you see the sights (I could swear there's a ton of Luke Skywalkers in Stormtrooper armor all over Tatooine lol).

 

Datacrons, while sometimes annoying to get to because of the "mountaineering" in the game, also offer a bit of a distraction from the grind that levelling can be. Plays off the "oooooh *****iineeeey!" instinct for some of us when we see them in a random spot

 

And shiney got bleeped? Really?! Lol

Edited March 2, 2012 by Katzith

This thread needs to be longer.

 

It's so sad that it isn't, really, this game is fantastic.

Voiced over mission dialogue and cutscenes: EXCELLENT

 

I'm noticing that a 'certain other space/ground game' is now adding voiced over cutscene animations into their mission sets. I really do believe BioWare improved the entire genre with this one. It might end up making it harder for start-ups to get involved in the gaming industry for MMO design, but it's certainly stepped up the enjoyability of the game.

____

 

Space combat: EXCELLENT

 

I'm a fan of space combat and have played in a number of other games, and I truly feel like the TOR space combat system is a lot more fun and engaging.

 

The missions don't last too long, so they're good for some quick arcade-style fun, and I enjoy having to target various elements and the combat operating outside of the RPG mentality (since there's no auto-aim and just a rolled chance for hit-or-miss). I like having to strafe rows of turrets on a Star Destroyer to help protect a ship that I'm escorting.

 

I also love the cinematic feel to the space sequences. Star Wars was never really focusing on giant capital ship warfare (although the capital ships do play a role), but usually we were in the POV of a small fighter (or freighter) zooming along these giant capital ships and alternately dodging through asteroid fields and obstacles. Even though the rail system restricts movement to a particular trail, I think the overall effect captures these zooming, rolling, fly-by aspects of the movies.

____

 

Star Wars feel and immersion: EXCELLENT

 

I think this one speaks for itself. I am not ever wondering where I am, or what kind of world this is. It's Star Wars, through and through.

____

 

Combat Mechanics: GOOD

 

I came from a more twitch-combat type of game system (for most of my MMO playing the past few years) where you had to aim at the hitbox rather than just spamming numbers. After a while that really got old and it was just a "fire, fire, fire, fire, fire, fire, heal, heal, fire, fire, fire, fire, heal, heal, fire, loot" system.

 

Then I tried that "certain other space/ground game" and I dreaded ground combat. Every instance of it was just mind-numbingly boring, or when you figured it out, a spectator sport.

 

TOR combat feels like it has a variety and excitement to it that I've missed in the other games.

 

I've got this set to GOOD because of that delay thing that just irks me a little bit. I wish there was a more comprehensive buffering system where I could plug in the moves in larger combinations and watch them play out, rather than having to wait for an animation shutter to finish. If they can get that fixed, I'll switch this to EXCELLENT.

 

I'd also like to add that the Star Wars lore is well done. It definitely FEELS like Star Wars.

 

This game has gone a long way toward annihilating the stain that was Galaxies.

The reason this thread isn't longer is because the people who actually like the game (the majority of players actually) are playing it and not prowling about the forums trying to spread this idiotic "TORtanic" FUD. Edited March 2, 2012 by otakuon

I'll bite:

 

SWTOR has a strong sense of the Star Wars universe. The developers have really captured the essence of the galaxy far, far away, from the massive military industrial complex to the notion that places should be designed around theme and mood.

 

They've really nailed it.

 

Completely disagree

 

I more often leef like im in Mass Effect then Star Wars.

 

KotOR 1 and 2 had the star wars universe feel

 

TOR does not.

 

Maybe it comes in time with additions of Temples and Structures and storylines that make you feel apart of Star Wars,

 

Right now TOR feels like Sci Fi Star Wars Shell meets Mass Effects.

 

Having a jedi and lightsaber isnt enough

 

But thats the ongoing complaint isnt it, TOR has no soul right now.

 

You never feel attatchment to your character, your surroundings

 

As for SWTORs strenghts, you havent been reading much OP if you havent seent he posts. Many people do talk of TORs strenghts in the threads asking about innovation and genre advancing ideas. So what you asking for out there.

 

Yeah for every good positive post there is 10000 negative posts.

 

When faced with such odds, I hope EA RPG division paying attention to the negative because clearly there is a issue and problems at hand.

 

As for strenghts, Ive done large write up on TORs innovations in other threads, read those if you wish.

Completely disagree

 

I more often leef like im in Mass Effect then Star Wars.

 

KotOR 1 and 2 had the star wars universe feel

 

TOR does not.

 

Maybe it comes in time with additions of Temples and Structures and storylines that make you feel apart of Star Wars,

 

Right now TOR feels like Sci Fi Star Wars Shell meets Mass Effects.

 

Having a jedi and lightsaber isnt enough

 

But thats the ongoing complaint isnt it, TOR has no soul right now.

 

You never feel attatchment to your character, your surroundings

 

As for SWTORs strenghts, you havent been reading much OP if you havent seent he posts. Many people do talk of TORs strenghts in the threads asking about innovation and genre advancing ideas. So what you asking for out there.

 

Yeah for every good positive post there is 10000 negative posts.

 

When faced with such odds, I hope EA RPG division paying attention to the negative because clearly there is a issue and problems at hand.

 

As for strenghts, Ive done large write up on TORs innovations in other threads, read those if you wish.

 

I completely disagree with your post and everything you typed up. I feel like I am in the Star Wars universe.