Hyperspace Beacon: Human High Culture part 2

Human High Culture is the Imperial idea that humans are the most important species in the galaxy -- the master species, if you will. Some people who like to study Star Wars canon say that the reason you see only humans on board the first Death Star in A New Hope is that this Human High Culture. In fact, according to Star Wars lore, the political party Commission for the Preservation of the New Order (COMPNOR) feeds off the belief that humans are superior.

However, Star Wars: The Old Republic lore suggests that Human High Culture existed long before Emperor Palpatine's reign. The roots could date all the way back to the first Jedi exiles who landed on Korriban after the First Great Schism.

Whatever the case may be, it leads to interesting dynamics in possible species you will be able to play on your Imperial characters. As I mentioned last week, it does not make a lot of sense for Rattataki to be Imperial Agents because of the sigma of alien species being high-ranking Imperial citizens, but it is more than appropriate for Rattataki to be slaves. Since the Sith Inquisitor story starts a player out as a slave, the Rattataki are a likely choice for that class.

After the break, I cover three more species and the Imperial classes I feel they are most suited for in Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Zabraks, as you know, have been announced as one of the playable species for the Sith Inquisitor. My guess is that BioWare is wanting to draw from the films by having a character that can resemble Darth Maul. However, personally, I am on the fence regarding this species and its fit with the Inquisitor class.

I want to note that Zabraks are a proud warrior species. There is no way they would subject themselves to slavery. Iridonia, the Zabraki home world, is a hard, desolate planet with savage, wild creatures. The humanoid inhabitants of the world would have to be hard and warrior-like just to survive on the planet for the billion or more years of species evolution. These people would not allow themselves to be taken as slaves.

However, on second thought, the canon surrounding the Zabraks would suggest otherwise. This is obviously not the first time an entire culture has deviated from its original path. We all remember what happened to the Mandalorians once the Clone Wars cartoon series latched on to their popular lore. A similar thing happened with the Zabraks and their attachment to the Witches of Dathomir. Just being a part of that culture meant the males were slaves. Perhaps this suggests that despite the proud culture of the Zabraks, they are predisposed to being slaves, maybe like some (though certainly not all) historical gladiators.

Personally, I would rather not see Zabraks as slaves of the Empire and Sith Inquisitors, but canon doesn't exactly deny it. Plus, who wouldn't get excited about playing a Darth Maul-type character?

In PC Gamer UK, Twi'leks were named as a species available for the Sith Inquisitor. However, BioWare has not yet announced this species from the planet Ryloth as a species for that class. BioWare did say that Twi'leks will definitely be available for the Smuggler, and various game demonstrations at conventions have shown us that Twi'lek is a playable species for the Jedi Consular, as well. But the Inquisitor is the only Imperial class this species been listed for, albeit unofficially.

Twi'leks as a culture are predisposed to the Force and slavery; it is certainly not a stretch to see them listed for the Sith Inquisitor. In my mind, this also makes them very iconic. Darth Talon became the most recognized Sith from the Legacy series of comic books by Dark Horse. She was a Lethan Twi'lek, meaning she had red skin, and her entire body was covered in black tattoos. She was pretty much the Darth Maul of Twi'leks. I hope that if Twi'leks can be Sith Inquisitors at launch, the designers supply a Darth Talon "look" in the character creator.

BioWare lists Miraluka as a Jedi Knight-playable species, and PC Gamer listed them as playable by the Jedi Knight and the Jedi Consular. But this doesn't make any difference to us here, because we are strictly talking about Imperial-playable species. The Miraluka have not been listed as playable for any Imperial class, but I would like to see that happen. The Miraluka Visas Marr is the most iconic Miraluka in all of Star Wars. She was a companion of the Exile and an unwilling servant to Darth Nihilus. Jerec from Dark Forces: Jedi Knight was also a Miraluka and a Sith acolyte. It's curious that two of the most iconic Miraluka were Sith, yet in Star Wars: The Old Republic, the Miraluka are not an available species for any Sith classes.

I propose that Miraluka be made available to Sith Inquisitors as well. If she wishes, a character can play out the unwilling servant similar to Visas Marr or possibly the blind seer like Kreia. Maybe the Jerec-type is more to your liking -- an archaeologist and Sith Inquisitor on a quest for power.

Many of you have thought about species and class combinations. What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments.

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!