SWTOR: When do I get...?
BioWare has created an enormous world with Star Wars: The Old Republic. Over and over again, developers explained that this is absolutely™ the biggest single project BioWare has ever undertaken. This also means that it is the most complex, and not everything you want to know about the game is easy to find.
Every week for the last three years, the community team at BioWare has released tidbits of information, and sometimes when the information trickles out over that span of time, it's hard to keep track of it all. Therefore, the crew here at Massively decided it would be a good idea to compile some of the more common questions that have been asked about SWTOR, all in a single place. Catch all the questions and answers after the break, and if you have any other (serious) questions, feel free to ask them in the comments -- we will do our best to get them answered for you!
When do I get my spaceship?
Like most major events in SWTOR, your ship is a part of your story questlines. If you're Imperial, you receive your ship at the end of the Dromund Kaas storyline. If you're Republic, then you receive it at the end of the Coruscant storyline.
When do I get my first companion?
Like so many other things in SWTOR, your companion comes as a part of your storyline. Now if you're Jedi Knight, you retrieve T7 at about level 3, but don't let that fool you. You have to give him up for a couple of levels. Everyone gains a companion permanently about level 8. He (or she, in the case of the Warrior and Agent) joins you on the last leg of your starter world questline.
When do I get my second companion?
Just like the first companion, the second companion comes as a part of the storyline, but different classes gain a different companion at different times. Jedi Knights receive their second companion first, at about level 13. However, some classes, like the Imperial Agent, do not get another companion until about level 30. Most companions come later rather than sooner.
When do I unlock the legacy system?
The legacy system is also part of the storyline. There is a point in everyone's story when the timeline moves up a bit and a major galaxy event happens. (That's all the spoiler information you're going to get.) That is referred to as Chapter 2. For the majority of players, this happens about level 30 or at the end of the Alderaan storyline.
When/how do I get my offhand weapon/double-bladed lightsaber?
Fortunately, you receive your off-hand weapon or double-bladed saber when you gain your advanced class at level 10 after you leave the starter world. The unfortunate caveat to this is that not just anyone can have an off-hand weapon, nor does everyone have the same kind of off-hand weapon. Scoundrels carry a shotgun blaster; Gunslingers and Mercenaries carry a second pistol; Imperial Agents use vibro-blades; and Sith Marauders and Jedi Sentinels carry two lightsabers. Everyone else carries some sort of device or relic which augments his stats but has no direct offensive value.
When do I get to talk with my companions?
Technically, you can talk to your companions any time you see them. In fact, most you talk to for some time before they actually become your companions, but I don't think that answers the question. The first time you have a talk with your companion is when you step onto the main level of either Carrick or Vaiken Station. You will always know that your companion wants to talk to you because he or she will have the quest icon above his or her head. Be aware when you speak to you companions that these little conversation to add or take away favor with them. After you gain your ship, most of the companion conversations will happen there, except during battle (when you sometimes wish they would just shut up).
When can I start tanking for groups reliably?
Depends, how good are you? OK, that's not a fair question. Both the melee tanks (Jedi Guardian and Sith Juggernaut) and ranged tanks (Vanguard and Powertech) get their first taunt at level 16. However, they still have to rely on DPS to generate most threat. In my opinion, the ranged tanks start to feel like real tanks a bit sooner than the melee tanks. Taunts and hate generating abilities start to flow in about level 22 for the ranged tanks, but at about level 30, all players really start to feel like real tanks, specifically during the Taral V instance. In fact, I'd say that everyone -- tanks to DPS to healers -- has fallen into his role by level 30.
When do I get to take part in PvP?
Finally, an easy question! Everyone can begin to queue up for warzones at level 10. However, you do not run into your first open-world PvP zone (Outlaw's Den) until you land on Tatooine at level 25.
When do I get skill points?
You earn your first skill point at level 10, and you earn one point for every level thereafter. However, you cannot spend a point any points until you have chosen an advanced class.
When can I start crafting?
Crafting begins as soon as you have a companion and you have visited your first trainer. You can find the crafting trainers on Dromund Kaas, Coruscant, or the fleet stations. Personally, I recommend learning your first crew skill on the station. This should happen about level 10.
When can I first go to the fleet?
Just after you have finished the starter world quests, you will be given a quest to go to the fleet. This happens about level 10.
When do I get to iconic planets (Tatooine? Coruscant? Hoth?)
Several iconic planets pepper the SWTOR landscape. However, the truly iconic ones like Tatooine are reserved for higher levels. You do not visit the (literal) sandbox of Tatooine until level 25; Alderaan (the future home of Princess Leia) comes into play after Tatooine, at level 28. You visit Hoth's snowy desert at level 40. The only exceptions to this are Korriban and Coruscant. The birthplace of the Sith is the starter world for the Sith Warrior and Sith Inquisitor classes. And the center of the Galactic Republic is the second planet for all Republic classes.
When do we get to our first mailbox/bank/auction house/guild creation dude?
You run into your first mail box right off the boat, so to speak -- Fort Garnik for the Troopers and Smugglers, the Gnarls for the Jedi classes, the Poison Pit for Bounty Hunters and Agents, and the Sith Academy for the Sith classes. However, the bank, auction house (Galactic Trade Network), and guild creation vendor are reserved for Carrick and Vaiken Stations.
When do I get to meet Luke or any of the Star Wars notables?
Unfortunately, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Darth Vader have not been born yet. In fact, they will not be for another 3,000 years. However, that does not mean you will not run into well-known characters from Knights of the Old Republic and the Star Wars expanded universe. Sith classes visit the tombs of Naga Sadow and Marka Ragnos. Jedi Consulars speak with a holocron of Bastila Shan. We have all seen HK-47 in one of the trailers. There is a complete questline on Dromund Kaas that deals with Revan. In fact, it is very possible that Revan shows up later around level 30 -- hint, hint.
Where's Blind Mary?
World of Warcraft. Thank goodness we will not have to deal with pop-culture references in Star Wars: The Old Republic.
Star Wars: The Old Republic is finally here, and the Force is with Massively! We've prepared a Hutt-sized feast of class introductions, gameplay guides, lore roundups, and hands-on previews to help you navigate the launch period and beyond. And don't forget our weekly SWTOR column, the Hyperspace Beacon!
