Our dissection of the Star Wars: The Old Republic content released during E3 is now online. As in our prior dissections, we will add new content in as we find it, so keep checking back. Feel free to let us know if you notice something we missed, and we will be happy to add it to our dissection with credit. Note: If something is mentioned in a prior dissection, then we do not reiterate it again here. Low bandwidth users should note there are numerous images contained in this article.

Gamespot posted an exclusive hands-on article of Star Wars: The Old Republic. The link to the article is located below.

Highlights after the jump.

Politics play an integral role throughout the Star Wars universe. We recently took a close look at the Mandalorians, one of the minor factions players may encounter in Star Wars: The Old Republic. This week we are looking at a faction that is very different from the honor-bound warriors: the eternally criminal Hutts.

BioWare recently revealed a new section of the HoloNet titled Inhabitants. This section of the Star Wars: The Old Republic official site is dedicated to the NPCs and mobs we will encounter in-game, broken up into three subcategories: Creatures, Droids, and Humanoids. In addition to new screenshots and animations, each entry contains few paragraphs dedicated to the mob's defining traits and features. We took a closer look at the writing on these pages (both English and Aurebesh), picking specific statements that inspired gameplay speculation.

The official Star Wars website posted an original short story today by Rob Chestney entitled Smuggler's Vanguard. Rob Chestney previously brought us the Threat of Peace webcomic. The story focuses on Hylo Visz, a Mirialan smuggler known to us from the timeline series as the leader of the smuggler fleet that broke the Mandalorian Blockade.

There are many interesting references in the story. Planets referenced include Corellia, Talus, and Nal Hutta, as well as Hutta's moon, Nar Shaddaa. Hylo's ship is called the Crimson Fleece, and the supporting characters include a Nikto named Musk, Barrga the Hutt, and an unnamed Weequay.

The story contains a mix of action and subterfuge and fits the concept of the Smuggler to a tee. For more details, follow the link to the full story below. Hat tip to Jedidsm on the heads up.

Darth Hater was recently invited out to LucasArts' home base in San Francisco to get a look at the newest class in Star Wars: The Old Republic, the Imperial Agent. During our time at the studio we got to ask Jake Neri a few questions and we also saw a live demo focusing on some of the combat abilities utilized by this Sith sniper. Throughout the event we hastily scribbled notes, attempting to get a real understanding of how the Imperial Agent works, and we came away with some interesting discoveries.

Nal Hutta is a fitting starting planet for the Bounty Hunter. The now native Hutts have transformed this once lush, vibrant world into a barren toxic waste dump, leaving the native life mutated or irreparably damaged. The current population is made up of rival gangs, struggling to survive, and anyone willing to take advantage of dangerous, yet profitable, situations. It is on this planet that you will start to seek your fortune as best you can.

Well with PAX coming to a close, it is a sad day Mainly because I had to leave the "Oh so beautiful Seattle, Washington". There is MUCH to cover, and instead of covering JUST the demo, I would much rather cover my experience at PAX

The demo walkthrough was just posted:


We should have the dissection up in a couple hours, currently doing it right now.

I might be making a leap but it seems quite possible that Pazaak tables might have been shown during the Holonet Hutta video:


It's curious that in the picture of the scene shown above two people are always seen standing by them, never more than two, which is the way Pazaak is played. The table also has similar lighting as seen in the Kotor table image. At this point it's only speculation but am I grasping at straws here or am I onto something? Comment and let us know what you think.

Hutt, the word brings up memories of Jabba and all the fun that came with it. Giant space slugs that have a tendency to turn towards crime. In the past Kotor games we all saw these beings sitting around, often near swoop tracks. Now we will be going to their adopted home planet of Nal Hutta, the Glorious Jewel. Much like the overlords of the planet, it is a swampy and nasty place to go.



The main source of power for these creatures is an incredibly long lifespan. Hutts live over 1000 years and are considered children up to the age of 130 years.(Speaking of children, all Hutts could have babies as they had both male and female organs.) Hutts live on the philosophy that states that if something is out there to have, might as well belong to you. Because of this there are few morals within society and planets under their control are often filled with criminals, as well as their bounty hunter predators.

There is a very good chance you will run into these bloated slugs. We will walk on their home planet, enter their palaces, and screenshots have been made showing these guys. They will likely be quest givers as they are not very mobile making it difficult to imagine fighting them.



The only problem I have with these guys in the game (very minor) is the eye size. Unlike what everyone else seems to complain about (big hands, big lightsabers) this Hutt has tiny eyes. When you look at Jabba his eyes are huge. Of course this guy could have normal eyes and just a big mouth, adding to the list of over-sized things in the game.

Lets hope we will see more of our slug overlords soon.

We all know Nal Hutta will be the starting planet for Bounty Hunters, and possibly for other classes. With Coruscant the capital of the Republic, it is possible this moon could serve as the major metropolis for the Empire. With its history of being within the Kotor series as well as being in orbit of a confirmed planet, Nar Shaddaa could very well be seen within The Old Republic.


Nar Shaddaa is a vast metropolis, similar in scale to Coruscant orbiting its parent planet Nal Hutta. It features towering skyscrapers across the planet, covering its entire surface. While it is a massive city, its history is far different from the Republic counterpart.

When the Hutts evacuated their home planet of Varl and arrived on Nal Hutta, the native Evocii stood in their way. As a result, the Evocii were enslaved and forced to the nearby moon. Here they were forced to start construction of starports for this newly growing trade hub. Upon completion of their labor they were forced into the lower portions of the city, similar to the society of Taris prior to its destruction.

As trade routes slowed, crime grew. Nar Shadaa became a home for all forms of criminals, from slavers to smugglers. This rampant crime gave Nar Shadaa the nickname "The Smuggler's Moon." Think of this moon as a giant Mos Eisley, as Obi Wan said "a hive of scum and villainy." Its current state is much like it was in Kotor II, a bunch of slums with crime lords every 3 feet. If it enters the game I could see this being a major gathering point for trade and spamming.