Making an MMO is tough work but Bioware may be in for a bigger challenge trying to convince Star Wars fans that the Jedi and Sith classes should take a back seat to Smugglers, Bounty Hunters, and Troopers in some aspects of the game.

 

In most Star Wars literature Jedi and Sith have been portrayed as the dominant combatants in the galaxy. Geonosis and Order 66 showed us that Jedi (and by extension Sith) are vulnerable to ordinary combatants, however, Star Wars fans still consider Force Users demigods. As we've seen in other MMOs, Star Wars fans hold the belief that Jedi and Sith should be the best at every aspect of the game, and though this is clearly bad logic from a balance perspective, Bioware will still have to effectively plan for and manage the emotions of the fans who believe that a Smuggler should never be able to outperform a Jedi in combat.

Angst regarding the balance of the Jedi and Sith classes will likely reach full force when players begin to participate in PvP. While Jedi and Sith should be able to stand toe-to-toe with enemies, Jedi and Sith PvPers may have a hard time coming to terms with the fact that they wont be able to steamroll other players, and likely wont top damage charts. In the typically egocentric PvP environment, these players may have particular problems when Boba Fettish or xXHansOloXx manage to overcome their defensive capabilities and kill them while playing lowly Bounty Hunters and Smugglers.

As is classic of MMO players, the indignation caused by being bested by a non-Jedi class may manifest itself, for some, in posts of outrage over how underpowered Jedi are and how un-star warsy the game is because of it. Biowares arguments on class balance and the heroic nature of every class will likely hold little weight as Jedi and Sith players advocate for class improvements while the rest of the community rebuke them. What occurs in this situation is a rift between Jedi and Sith characters, who feel they should be more powerful, and the larger community who feel that Jedi and Sith are appropriately balanced as part of the overall game mechanic.

The challenge for Bioware, in this case, is overcoming the popular myth surrounding the Jedi and Sith as invincible warriors in order to create a class that is both balanced, yet powerful enough to satisfy Star Wars fans. The ability or inability of Bioware to effectively implement the Jedi and Sith classes has wide ranging repercussions that will affect not only the TOR Community but also the critical success of the game overall.

Only time will tell if Bioware will succeed in this endeavor but the challenge is huge and if the past is any indication, not easily overcome.