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Star Wars Galaxies Interviews: Galactic Civil War Interview
MMORPG.com's Garrett Fuller recently asked a few questions of Star Wars Galaxies producer Tony Tyson about the Galactic Civil War and what it means for players.
By Garrett Fuller on January 29, 2010
The Galactic Civil War update for Star Wars Galaxies went live on january 26th. Today, our own Garrett Fuller speaks with SWG Producer Tony Tyson about the update and what it means for players.
| MMORPG.com: | Give us a brief overview of what you have planned for the Galactic Civil War update? |
| Tony Tyson: | With Game Update 15 Star Wars Galaxies Galactic Civil War: Forces Under Siege we wanted to address the players' requests for more content related to the galactic conflict between the Imperials and Rebels. It is a huge update that immerses players in the war like never before. In this update we introduce massive city invasion scenarios in the towns of Bestine on Tatooine, Dearic on Talus and Keren on Naboo. Whichever faction is in control of one of these cities will have to build defenses and then guard the city from an opposing invasion. The city falls and the invading faction takes control if the defending general is killed. The invasion/siege scenarios introduce a number of new quests and rewards for every profession and offer epic PvE and PvP combat. We've also introduced a new Galactic Civil War (GCW) region control system that tracks each player's participation in various activities. A score is calculated at the region, planet, and galaxy level and these scores impact game play including dictating the factional offensive and defensive roles in city invasions, travel perks and penalties, and the types of encounters you face as you explore the planet . We even added several new interfaces to display the GCW status so that anyone can tell which faction is dominating at the planetary and galactic level at any time. Other new key features include Factional Mercenaries, which gives neutral players a chance to choose a side and take part in city invasions, and, of course, tons of great new rewards and in-game items. Overall, with the Galactic Civil War: Forces Under Siege update, everyone plays a part in the war. |
| MMORPG.com: | How will the new ranks and rewards work? |
| Tony Tyson: | Rewards are gained by earning tokens through quests that help your faction prepare for the city invasion and the results of the battle itself. For example, completing a quest to build a gun turret will earn tokens and will also result in a gun turret spawning during the combat phase - a very useful defensive structure. With respect to this update, there are no new ranks. |
| MMORPG.com: | What types of benefits will players see from this new system in terms of game play? |
| Tony Tyson: | One cool thing is that we added a new scoring system for the city invasion scenarios. During a city invasion, you can bring up the score at any point and see who is contributing the most on each side. All of the participants will compete for the bragging rights of being the top player. In addition, players who contribute the most to their faction in combat will earn additional rewards. |
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| MMORPG.com: | Talk about the new siege system for cities. How can players take part? |
| Tony Tyson: | The cities currently enabled for city invasions are; Bestine on Tatooine, Dearic on Talus, and Keren on Naboo. We have a fixed schedule for invasions to occur and announcements are made to nearby players to alert them when an invasion is about to begin and keep them updated during the invasion itself. Players can also use the planetary map to see when the next invasion will occur. There are two sides during the invasion; offense and defense. The faction that controls the region in which the city resides is the faction that must defend the city's general from attack. The other faction will assault the city and try to destroy the opposing faction's general to win the invasion. The invasion has two phases - construction and combat. During construction, players try to complete as may construction quests as they can in order to enhance their faction's side. There are numerous quests for each profession that allow them to contribute to battle prep in many ways. For instance, many professions enhance the building of defensive structures such as towers, turret cannons and barricades; entertainers can heal builder fatigue; spies can sabotage patrol points and many more. Once construction completes, the combat ensues and the siege begins on the city. Players fight or defend alongside NPCs with the ultimate goal of destroying or protecting the defending faction's general. During the battle, players can earn the right to call in some pretty devastating attacks. If you're an Imperial, why not call in an AT-AT to do some serious damage to defenders? Or how about calling in an artillery strike? We really listened to our players and, with this update, wanted to deliver some serious GCW combat. |
| MMORPG.com: | How will you mix the PvE and PvP content in the new expansion? Is there a balance? |
| Tony Tyson: | All professions and play styles can participate in the invasion system, and it will take all hands available in order to maximize city defenses. Crafting, entertaining, and combat are rewarded through the new quests that we introduced with the invasion system. In order to win the scenario as an invading force, you must take down the city's defending general. While you can choose to play through only the PvE elements of the invasion - and these are all crucial to your faction's success - if you attack the general you will be flagged for PvP, allowing the PvP defenders to open fire on you. Carefully coordinated PvP tactics will be key to winning the invasion scenario. Balance is always tricky but we feel that the two phase approach will allow all play styles to take part in a challenging battle. |
| MMORPG.com: | How is this new system different from the other Galactic Civil War systems in the past? |
| Tony Tyson: | The key feature, aside from the city invasion system, is that we've added several new interfaces so that you can see status and progress of your faction. Planets are now sectioned off into regions, and regional control determines which faction controls the planet. This in turn influences the Galactic factional leader. We've also added Factional Mercenaries. This gives our non-factional players an opportunity to temporary align with a faction in order to participate in the city invasions which is one of the most fun parts of the experience. |
| MMORPG.com: | How will the planetary control system work? What impact will it have on the population? |
| Tony Tyson: | Each planet has been broken down into regions. As a player, if you earn GCW points you contribute to your faction's score within the region you are playing. The faction that controls the most regions on a planet will, in turn, control the planet. Planetary control is important as it impacts many factors including travel penalties and perks and which side you play in a city invasion. |
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| MMORPG.com: | What part will player created cities play in the war? |
| Tony Tyson: | One of the most exciting new features is that mayors of player cities can declare a factional alignment for their city through a new factional base terminal. By declaring aligment, mayors can strengthen the ability for their faction to control the region/planet. |
| MMORPG.com: | City sieges and planetary control can be tricky to balance. What happens to the losers in those scenarios? Will they be locked out of certain areas? |
| Tony Tyson: | The winners get a bonus to their rewards. However, participation in invasion quests always gives a reward. This allows both winners and losers to progress towards the reward they want. |
| MMORPG.com: | What are your plans for Star Wars Galaxies moving forward in 2010? |
| Tony Tyson: | We're still working on the plan but here are some things you can look forward to in 2010:
We had a great year in 2009 and the updates/enhancements we're planning for next year look even better. |
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I want space GCW Content!
I have been a master pilot since shortly after Jump to Lightspeed came out. I'm an old X-wing vs TIE Fighter player.... give me space content to do! Plllllllllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!
I spend all this time working to get a YT-1300 and once you reach Master Pilot, there's nothing to do with the darn thing! Its frustrating as hell.
Come on Sony/LucasArts... dooo iiiit. Coooome ooooooon!
<Mod Edited>
Yep, this has been the problem with JTL since day 1 and we still have nothing to fix it yet. What a bunch of bone heads SOE has working on SWG. Seriously all they need is pvp control points that bring real benefits. How has this been over looked for so long? They have no clue.
If they were smart they would give us a good POS system tied to faction war and even a place for non faction POS "gang" warfare and a reason to defend and build bases like a source of income. Am I the only one have thoughts like these?
kinda sucks that as stated in fine print, for the free month of play. not every old vet will get a chance to try this..
" This offer is only available for former Star Wars Galaxies accounts that were active between January 1, 2007 and November 30, 2009. It is not available for accounts closed before January 1, 2007".
I guess I wont get a chance to try out the GCW since last time I played was in late 2006.
I am going to check it out since my son is playing my old account. I installed a killer DX 10 mod that adds shiney!
Interesting, was planning on taking the free time offer myself (nothing else going on game wise). How does that mod hit performance within the game? Any noticeable slowdown caused by it?
While my mind initially goes to a million negative things I could say I think I'll go with, atleast they aren't sitting on there hands with STO launching.
Who wants to bet that all the people the SOE bosses hate get assigned to SWG?
I played it last night, its "ok".
Reminded me a lot of Warhammers open RvR. It's a little too on rails however and I definitely don't like the 3 hour timer.
Other then that, it was fun. The lag was a little rough but was far from unplayable.
The issue I see with all this different stuff they have is there is literally to much. There are battlegrounds...which are empty now, there is still Restuss (which is still the primary), there is Hoth which not many people do those days. There is almost this shotgun "everything and the kitchen sink" approach.
And space still needs to be filled out. It's still about the same as when JTL launched. They added a Space station....but there is still not much to compel you to make master aside from getting a YT 1300 (or whatever multiplayer ship you are trying to get) or Gunship. After that, you are little more then a space grind bus.
But the game has come a very long way.
Overall its great. Some issues with Keren as far as NPC pathing and the enevitable exploiting but overall one of the best updates they've released since beta 3. Space does play a part in the GCW now. Space could have played more but the leetkiddie pilots cried so hard when the devs tried to get more people into space that they put space back on the slow boat to nowhere. If you are at all curious take a look at it. You may just find yourself surprised.
sounds to me like there just ripping off Warhammer 's idea this time in this new patch 15, what is next more zombies to go with the hype behind Left for dead 2 ? or wait to see if Global agenda has any good zone control mechanic they can steal...
I'll need to look where space fits into this.
I'm not sure when that space leetkiddie thing happened as I probably wasn't there but it's always been my opinion that space should be one of the primary focuses of the game.
It is in the original lore. They didn't destroy the Death Stars on foot.
No matter what the try, I still can not see myself coming back. I have tried, so many multiple times, but something is missing. I hope what I am missing is recaptured by SWTOR. SWG at one time was the best of the best of the best.
Guys, if you enjoy the game name, have the best time you can. I made a lot of friends that I miss playing SWG.
From what I have heard I am not sure SWTOR is going to be what you could strictly call a MMO, it seems to be its own breed. Not sure that will be for good or ill.
I'll need to look where space fits into this.
I'm not sure when that space leetkiddie thing happened as I probably wasn't there but it's always been my opinion that space should be one of the primary focuses of the game.
It is in the original lore. They didn't destroy the Death Stars on foot.
Devs mentioned that there will be at least one other GCW update. One that will make GCW involve more spacecombat. This GCW update was focussed on groundcombat.
I love the new reason to stay Special Forces (PVP attackable). You need to be SF to flip town control. You just have to be in a spot SF to flip it, but if you joined the GCW chat you see when towns change, so you know where other SF are in the universe are.
Great way to track rival SF for some open world pvp action.
My big gripe though is they NEVER should have mixed Combatant and Special Forces in War towns. So stupid that a group of Imps can sit there while a combatant Rebel destroys the base while they can't do anything to stop him.
If only they would give us a TEF server. I miss the TEF system.
All said, the GCW update is a fun addition that sparks lots of world pvp that effects your universe.
Yes I played this on TC, pretty fun when thiers at least 10 people on each side, you can even solo this at night when no ones around. Its content for everyone I like that. Ents get a form of combat fatigue to cure again. Crafters are important in the building phase. All in all its a pretty good addition. I too would have liked something like this a long time ago. Thiers room for improvement, more rewards and space gw update.
Great idea actually they made most of the maps interactive, for control, they should add more than the travel fee bonus, but its nice they are still developing this game, I dont agree with the speed of development. I think their past due on a expansion and box sale, time to replenish the server population with new blood. A graphic update and map update would also be a welcome addition. But I think they finally have fixed the game, took them long enough.
I got to ask: can anyone join in on this new civil war deal? I made a toon after a couple of months and was wondering if I am too low to even try it? Or is this galactic war for high levels ?
It Sounds nice, but I'm not sure it is enough to bring me back. If they added more content in the way of good PvE quests that are meaningful, then I would be more inclined to retry it. The worlds were so barren when I left and after the legacy quests were done, you were dumped out into the world with not much content outside of quests form terminals. If the world was full of folks making good story lines (player based) then it would be nice, but outside of the PvP which is mainly max level folks, there is little else going on to make the grind go faster when leveling.
I love the crafting in the game, best out there IMHO, PvP is fun too, but PvE is blah...
It depends on your profession. The lowest npc mob that spawns to fight is level 60, but even at a low level you can help kill and get faction points and at the end of the battle you can earn some GCW tokens. There are the building quests you can do at any level. Also ents can cure building fatigue at any level and there is a slicing mini game for smugglers that is any level. As for planetary control you can do faction missions at any level to help whichever side you are on.
It's so sad to see a game that used to be the basic of every other game, turned into a copy of another ... for those who play WoW does this not seem like "been there, seen it, done it"
Hmm, this game is still alive? SOE sucks donkey dongs so color me surprised......After what they did to this game, pfft.......They couldn't pay me to play......Just an old timer still pissed off enough to continue his SW boycott......
Hello MY name is Ybarra on Swg Falchion aka Jonas on UO and I just want to say ty to SOE you did mess up bad with the NGE but the game over the last 2 years is getting alot better the legacy is fun Gcw rules pvp is more fun than ever and our space is the best around everyone is mad from the nge its been a long time people get over it compared to most game SWG is the best by far city crafting hunting big worlds space you name it we have it if you want to suffer through your pathetic games do so but we have instances you name it swg has it and I ty caus etheres always something to do guilds citys hunts crafting questing most games do not have this so all I have to say is ty and SOE you are forgiving in my book been a gamer for 10 years played tons of games and this is one of the best by far I was mad about the cu and nge but now you gave us the best of both worlds stuff from pre nge and the great stuff afterwards to my old swg friends comeback and see what there is you will have a blast if you just give it a shot!!!!