Who is the Imperial Agent?
The Imperial Agent is the ghost inside the Empire who ensures the people’s loyalty. She could be your neighbor, your lover or your superior officer. When rebellion stirs, she silences or discredits those who commit treason. She’s always alert, always watching for signs of dissent, and with a word, she can consign you to a dark cell for the rest of your life.
The Imperial Agent is the undercover spy who’s earned the trust of powerful individuals inside the Republic. She attends all the best parties, steals the plans of Senators and generals, and knows just what to sabotage and just who to kill to bring whole fleets crashing down around her. When she’s discovered, she’ll disappear with a smile.
The Imperial Agent is the special operative who cleans up the messes made by Sith Lords who can’t see the big picture—or who further their own agenda at the expense of the greater good. Without anyone realizing it, the Imperial Agent keeps the Empire from falling apart by arranging backroom deals and undertaking secret missions into the underbelly of the Empire.
The Imperial Agent is the Intelligence officer who hunts down enemies no one else ever hears about—conspiracies, rogue Jedi, ascendancy malcontents, black ops groups inside the Strategic Information Service, and worse. No one will ever know about her victories, but the secrets she collects make her powerful… and that’s the way she likes it.
Long story short? The Imperial Agent is an expert at infiltration, seduction and assassination. She’s part of Imperial Intelligence. And she’s whoever she needs to be to get the job done.
Creating a New Class
One of our goals for the Imperial Agent was to take a fresh look at the Star Wars™ universe. We know what life is like for Jedi and Sith, smugglers and bounty hunters—but what does it mean to be a citizen of the Empire, charged with protecting its people and bringing glory to its Sith rulers? What does it take to be part of a military machine—not as a soldier on the front lines or a scheming Grand Moff, but as a player in politics and espionage? What sort of person navigates a galaxy of superweapons and superhumans with only his training and his wits, knowing that one wrong word could mean secrets exposed and wars lost? What’s the ultimate goal for such an individual? Power? Thrills? Or simply an Empire safe from its enemies?
The Imperial Agent is an unusual class in that it doesn’t neatly fit a specific Star Wars movie archetype. Oh, espionage clearly has a role in the setting—in the original trilogy alone, we see stolen Death Star plans, mysterious cloaked informants, good-hearted businessmen blackmailed into betraying old friends, infiltration teams flying salvaged enemy ships, and more—but the operatives themselves are rarely front-and-center. In a game with the scope of Star Wars™: The Old Republic™, however, creating a class to deal directly with this setting element seemed natural.
That addresses the “agent” part of the class. But why “Imperial”? We see a lot of loyal officers of the Empire in the films without getting inside their heads. Grand Moff Tarkin is the only character Darth Vader ever treats as an equal—he can stare Darth Vader down even as Vader violently chokes people around him. But why? How does an ordinary man like Tarkin come to “hold Vader’s leash,” and how would a lower-ranking officer ever survive a Sith’s wrath? Is it by proving yourself invaluable, or by having a secret edge your superiors can’t beat?
There’s also a lot to be explored in the role of the defender of a despotic nation. The Sith Empire has done terrible things, yes—but trillions of ordinary Imperial citizens believe in its cause. The Empire isn’t mired in the chaos and mediocrity of the democratic Republic. The Empire promises that great men will rise to the top, and lesser men can be proud to serve. Many Imperial Intelligence officers are genuinely patriotic, believers in the system… and others are jaded, self-serving or idealistic reformers. If we were going to create a game where half our stories take place from the Imperial perspective, we needed a class that dived deep into the Imperial story.
Secrets of the Imperial Agent
That’s enough background and context. Let’s talk specifically about what you’re going to see and do in the Imperial Agent class story.
It all starts on Hutta, where XXX XXXXXX is trying to XXXX the XXXXXXXXXX of XXXXXX the Hutt. After XXX XXXXX XXXXXXX, the Imperial Agent XX XXXX XX XXXXXXXXXXX X XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX on behalf of Darth XXXXX. He’ll work alongside a genetically enhanced XXXXXXX, encounter double-agents and triple-agents, betray XXX XXX XXXXXX or perform atrocities in the name of the Empire. The Imperial Agent will need to determine his own loyalties and the loyalties of those around him, and survive the attentions of XXXXXXX successor, the Sith Lord XXXXX XXXXXXX.
The Republic military, the SIS and the Jedi will all have a part to play as well, and that’s just the beginning—enough to give you a taste without spoiling what’s to come.
Conclusion
Playing the Imperial Agent isn’t for everyone. He’ll never be out front with a Lightsaber or torching Droids with a flamethrower, and he’ll never receive fame and recognition for his successes. The Imperial Agent lives in the shadows and, when he does his job right, no one ever realizes he was there. His best weapons are a sniper rifle, his gadgets and his ability to charm or lie his way through any situation. He works for an Empire that places little value on an individual operative’s life.
It’s going to be rough. It’s going to be fun.
For those of you giving it a try, one last word of advice: Whatever you do? Don’t trust XXXXXX.
Alexander Freed
Senior Writer
COMMENTS
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I'm impressed. Creating a nonlinear class that actually stays out of combat is truly creative. This is a bold move by BioWare. I hope we see more of this since it makes the SWTOR universe more diverse and interesting. This class is my first choice since it will give a gameplay experience unlike any other. |
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I think ill take the advice as given and just not trust anyone. |
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Hi! Just a quick question. Will the game be releasing in India and if not then can I acquire it from somewhere else and then play? |
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This is the Jack Bauer/ James Bond type character and I love that. Not only does this bring an epic Star Wars experience, but it also provides an archetype that games seem to lack. Sure there are the games where the player is a "spy" type character but unfortunately it ends up as some sort of shooter game. The transition from observation to experience generally loses what makes the agent archetype appealing: the ability not only to handle yourself physically, but the talent of tactically solving most situations. The situations include more than just combat, it includes the dialogue and missions that most games these days lack. That is why I feel the agent will truly be a great class. While I do want to experience Star Wars as the iconic lightsaber-equipped force-user, the imperial agent does give me an archetype that has enough allure to be a sure play through. I can't wait to give this tactical based class a look over. |
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Greetings, |
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i am defenentialy doin this class 1st |
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im gonna be a chiss imperial agent. is anybody else gonna be a chiss? |
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am i the only person who cant read the "secrets of the imperial agent" part? |
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This class, intrigues me. ;) Definitely going to be my first choice in the game. Youll see me on the battlefield. Actually, no, you wont. ;) Who needs big guns when a short vibroblade to your heart ends your life just as quickly? hehehe, the Empire has my alliegance. |
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its just a joke or something that they made cause if the parts where not blanked out it would ruin the agents opening story |
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I am indeed inclined to think of this class as a rogue type mixed with a hunter/archer type compared to traditional mmo styles. Unlike the trooper, which has a tank specialty and a ranged dps specialty, this class is more cc (croud control) oriented. I am guessing one of the skill trees will focus heavily on ranged and aoe (area of effect) damage, while the other will focus more on croud control (stuns, snairs, debuffs) Both of which have there uses. I can totally see the cc tree being hugely effective in pvp. While the DPS tree will be widely used for pve. I know I am going bounty hunter, I can't see a better partner for a dps/cc hybrid BH than a total CC tree Agent and if there are arena type combat settings then this comp will be very very strong...especially against all you lightsaber noobs ; ) while being weak to probably CC tree agent/ ranged dps/healer inquisitor or smuggler/consular. Of course this is all theory. If you don't like theory then I'd stop reading at this point...because I am just speculating based on what I have seen in vids. from the videos so far I have come to the conclusion that the bounty hunter has 2 snairs short and long cooldown, (the electric stun and the flamethrower) 2 complete stuns of reasonable duration (sleep dart and carbonite freeze) A nuke: rockets. Various blaster abilities for dps. the agent has 2 melee snairs and 2 ranged snares and a melee stun that come in the form of Shiv, a rogue like melee stun. The others apear to be rifle abilities, a drone that chases down its victim, and a trap that is a basically a snair mine. As well as a "Aimed Shot" nuke and a Orbital bombardment Nuke. They also have various melee atacks that apear to be somewhat stun oriented. The ability to stealth, as with the BH various rifle abilities and grenades for nukes as steady dps. "leather" equivalent armor, sprint and dash abilities as well as juke rolls. these two classes form a yin and yang of unbelievable power if played at high skill levels I am excited to find out if my hypothesis is correct ; ) I'd like input on other peoples insight on this as well! |
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sry my bad i miss clicked the last post was for the dude above you asking why he could'nt read some parts |
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I have a feeling that this will be the equiv of the Hunter in WOW. |
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this game is an MMO but it isn't gunna be like "WoW". Especialy the Character you'll play. It's sad that WoW has been such a successful MMO over the years, that it's standard to just refer to them for a comparison. I Can remember when people used to refer WoW to Everquest lol. |
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I think it is a great addition to this game. It is just what it needed. A player who stops the wars before they start. Anyone see the wicked sniper that he had. |
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true that brother |
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I hope this is a sign that instances will not be purely combat oriented. Instead of killing mob after mob it would be really interesting if a couple Sith and bounty hunters charged toward the target while the agent sneaks around looking for a terminal to hack into to provide them cover from a distance: opening doors, deactivating defense droids, overloading terminals (ring any bells?). |
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Remember this all you lightsaber toating noobs. Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side. |
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this class actually sounds really fun. its kinda like a cia for the empire |
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they are not! a sith can kick an IP's but! |
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essentialy an imperial agent has control over the sith and they are the most powerful on the empire. not physically but the imperial agents have more power than the sith. |
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Imperial Agent is so my class, the ability to stealth and snipe, you gotta love that.. This is my best choice so far for sure! |
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after the ... .... The imp agent will ...... .. .... ...... on behalf Darth .... Pretty funny stuff if reading outloud |
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this game needs a pilot class |
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it sounds like it wound be a good idea for my bounty hunter to get an imperal agent secretary xD (i actually wrote a fan fic about a bounty hunter a while ago set in this game who had an IMP-agent contact that helped him strike deals with the empire as well as set-up missions with a sith apprentice that he was basically hired to help (merc companion style) it sounds like ill get to do it in-game!!! =D |
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I really like the concept here but how will the agent not simply be just another ranged dps support class? Anarchy Online's Agent class was just the Sci-Fi equivalent of a Rogue with a Gun. Should I expect the same here? These holonet articles are great but in many ways they read more like a fac-fiction than they like something insightful about what it will be like to play SWTOR. Don't get me wrong, I am pumped for this game and can't wait to try out this class, but I know that no DPS support class has ever been able to hold my attention in and endgame situation. |
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Here the game Dev's have a huge opportunity, either to make ToR rock, or kill it dead in it's tracks. Everyone has already picked up on the first core question: What will it's role be in group play/pvp? And the answer may be: None. It IS possible to build a character that interacts with the game world in it's own unique window, and never comes out. And some people will like that, and they will play that class. More power to 'em. But if this class DOES enter the pvp and group play arena, then it will need to be able to kill enemies and defend itself somehow. And if it has amazing powers OFF the battlefield, it kinda stands to reason that it won't have quite so amazing powers ON the battlefield. At which point you start asking why we are grouping with / using this character for those situations. If this is to be a class with powerful abilities to affect the game world, it's market system, it's politics, in ways other classes cannot, then we have to accept that it cannot ALSO be a serious pvp competitor, nor should it be preferable to, say, a bounty hunter for ranged dps support. If it DOES compete in the pvp/group play environement, then it's off battlefield powers shouldn't be that much splashier than, say, Jedi Consular, or a Sith Juggernaut. So that everyone who goes to craft, or sell, or gather, or recruit, or tag, or rent, or whatever in the non combat game environment gets a fair shake. Imagine if we were all equally deadly in pvp, and equally useful in group play, and equally fun in solo play, but one class (and maybe it's light side counterpart) had a tremendous advantage in some random aspect of the game, like travel speed. And then imagine a year or two down the line, new content comes out, and people who can reach here and get to so and so fast enough can earn this awesome new armor that makes you super hard to kill. Guess where ALL of those suits of armor are gonna be? Guess what effect this will have on game balance? I LOVE the idea of a class that more or less ignores the combat aspect of the game. A pure merchant, or politico, or explorer could be a really fun character to have, and networking you and your friends character's abilities would make this kind of class a really great contributor. I just hope they won't give in to the urge to make it "competitive" while still having it's own unique world, or it will become the game dominator. If you have your own backstage pass to the action, you are either paying some hefty price for it, or you are better than everyone else. You wanna see what happens with classes that are inherantly better than everyone else? Check out SWG Jedi, both original version and when it became available to everyone all at once, or the original Death Knight put out in WoW before the game dev's were forced to nerf it to high heaven("We had no idea that giving the class answers to every situation and responses to every other classes abilities would be imbalancing"), and you can smell the fail. |
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Looking at videos and seeing how completely different the bounty hunter and smuggler play though they are both ranged support classes, I have no fear. Besides, it's not looking like there will be any of the classic MMORPG questions like "Why would I take this class instead of this other class to a raid," since it's not looking like there will BE raids. At least not in the normal sense. |
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I agree, though this sounds awesome, I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that this class won't just be another dps class. Basically, it sounds like a ranged dps with a stealth button to me. |
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Sounds like a James Bond sort of class to me =) Very Original |
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this sounds soo awesomeee!:D |
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This game sounds amazing! I cant wait for it to come out. I have no clue which class i will pick they all sound like so much fun. |
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Subterfuge, Betrayal, Espionage.. sounds like a day at the office to me :) |
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i say this song will go with it Star Wars Imperial March Metal Version III (With vocals).O you guys who report ever thing that goes wrong leave me alone! and with none of you heard of youtube EPIC FAIL. |
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sounds like my kind of class IA ftw! |
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I hope to be a droid imperial agent, how awesome would that be? |
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I agree that it would be cool to play a droid. |
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truly the perfect class leader for my pirates guild. |
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It might be awesome, but it isn't going to happen. Droids won't be a playable 'species'. |
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I'd like to see missions where you have to support high profile characters from the shadows. In the betrayal video we see the sith bust in, kick ***** and take names, but we don't see any behind the scenes work (I know, if you see it, it's not behind the scenes). She could have been there for hours disabling security systems and killing people who would have in some way altered the battle. Then once that is done and the sith come in, she has to sit in the shadows and find ways to stop all the jedi from coming into the hallway at once. Maybe she's sliding around jamming doors that lead to main hallways or throwing down mines. |
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Well, Hopefully the guns have upgrades that are effecive and used in-combat to the full advantage for the players gaming experience, like for example... if the AGENT uses primarily RANGED TACTICS, then maybe they could stand more than 10 feet away and maybe just maybe look through the fodder scope! and down some enemies from a distance,after he puts up a light shield of course. just a thought |
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You ain't seen me, right? |
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this is gona b my first class fo sure. sneaking and killing silently is always my favorite kind of class. on KOTOR II i always leveled up my stealth, got force camo, got stealth run feat, and got the best stealth feild gen. i could get. by the time i got to the last planet i didnt fight a single enamy excluding the giant storm beast, the walking corps and the old hag. there was one part were you have to kill at least one solider, but i just used my max level force confusion and he started attacking his buddies and when he died i just walked right through the door. and yes you can use force confusion and still stay stealthed. |
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This is going to be my first character. 100% sure. And whatever you do, don't trust... Anyone? That's six letters.. |
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This class definitely looks like a lot of fun, and for sure my first choice of class |
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Man, an Imperial Agent is tempting, but my primary character is going to be a Trooper. Troopers are just too good to pass up, but once I'm tired of sticky-grenading things and bashing Bounty hunters with the stock of my rifle, I'll pull out one of these guys. Should be fun! |
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i need agents for my army contact me under this message or request a friendship and send a message if you are interested |
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Im just glad to see that not everyone is gonna choose a jedi class. Its nice to see some peeps getting into the other classes. This one is definately gonna have some of the coolest storylines and quests. |
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To be the best Imperial Agent all you need is- "faint whistle" ARGH! |
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Cool, it reminds me of an assasian, poisoning politicians doing the dirty work not trusting anyone but-...Reminds me of myself. I don't trust anyone...without a paycheck. |
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