Would Luke Skywalker have survived his journey without Han
Solo, Princess Leia, or R2-D2 and C-3PO? What would have become of Anakin had he
not been influenced by the goodness of Obi-Wan or pulled to the dark side by the
chancellor?  It is these supporting characters and their storylines that draw us
into the Star Wars lore and exactly the depth that BioWare intends to bring to
Star Wars: The Old Republic.

For the movies, these companion personalities made the
story so much more amazing and I would expect no less from the companion system
in SWTOR. For those that have played the KOTOR games, you are already familiar
with what companions can add to your gameplay experience. For those who have not
yet played the KOTOR games (shame on you!) we have dug up all the essential
information on the companion system and the reasons why you will never want to
play without your trusty sidekicks ever again.

What are Companions?

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Luke's companions are one of the most memorable trios in history

Just as the term suggests, companions are NPCs that are
meant to complement and enhance your experience in SWTOR.  They fight by your
side, offer advice, and lead you through quest lines that give insight into
their own background. They go far beyond “pets” from traditional MMORPGs and
really add a depth to your play experience that you’d expect in any good RPG but
really have yet to experience in MMOGs.

BioWare has stated that early on in the game players will
get a companion to work with but as time goes on and we progress through the
game, more will join our cause and eventually a player will have a large
selection of companions to choose from.  In KOTOR you could typically have two
companions with you at any given time, and you could always change companions by
visiting your ship. This allowed players to customize their battle force based
on their current needs and demands of the mission at hand. SWTOR will allow you
to utilize one companion at a time, but I would expect to see the same level of
flexibility in choosing which companion you would like to accompany you.

More than Just Cyber Partners

Yeah, you might be able to grab your companions butt
without fearing an incoming sexual harassment lawsuit, but they have far more
uses than a quick tickle and giggle.  Companions will be specifically tailored
to your class with their own complimentary skills and abilities. If you choose
to play ranged damage class, a companion might specialize in melee skills that
will offer protection in battle or a fighter may be joined by a companion that
has healing skills aiding in your survival.  They will also open up quests and
storylines for you to follow making them a very important part of even basic
gameplay.

How your companion responds to you will heavily depend on
the relationship that you build with them.  Through an “affection” system, you
decide what sort of interaction you want to have with your companions. A heavy
handed Sith may be able to demand nothing but unquestioning loyalty while an
open minded Jedi could rely on his companions for honest advice and thoughtful
support.  The ass grabbers aren’t left out though as you can also build a more
loving relationship if you choose to and if your companion is so inclined.
Giggity.

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Meatbags never had it so good with this companion

Yeah but, What About Groups?

The biggest concern regarding companions is that they will
interfere in the grouping aspect of the game if players have a built in duo. I
don’t believe this will be a problem at all and for a couple of reasons. First,
BioWare is not implementing a new system special to SWTOR.  Companions are a
feature in a few of their games and they have been balancing their impact for
many years, likely gaining some insight to how they might function in a
multi-player environment.  Second, SWTOR is being built from the ground up
keeping in mind that all players will have companions available to them. If you
think of them as abilities rather than player replacements, you might find the
concept close to what other games have available.  It wouldn’t be unusual for
MMORPG fighters to pick up heal skills or a priest to have DPS skills and
certainly pet classes in other MMORPGs do not negate the need for groups in
group intended content.

I expect companions to be another tool in each player’s
arsenal as well as a large part of the story that BioWare has excitedly boasted
since the game’s announcement a couple of years ago. Currently, only a few
companions have been announced:  Jedi   knights will have a droid available to
them, Smugglers get a Wookie, and Sith Warriors will enjoy a sexy Twi’lek
companion.  As we get closer to launch, expect more companions to be revealed,
however, a good part of the fun will be discovering them in your own journey
through the Star Wars universe.

BioWare has been cashing in on the companion idea across
many of their titles, each game offering multi-dimensional favorites for
players.  My own favorite is the very popular HK-47 and if you spot my signature
on the SWTOR official forum you’ll notice that it reads “Answer: Indeed. I am
most eager to engage in some unadulterated violence.” in honor of the malicious
companion robot.  It is this bond and fond recollection of completely unique and
memorable characters that the developers of SWTOR intend to bring to the game
and part of what will make SWTOR a unique experience for all.


To read the latest guides, news, and features you can visit our Star Wars: The Old Republic Game Page.

Last Updated: Mar 29, 2016

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