SWTOR - Races and Classes

**Sephiroth** · 12-21-2011

Races of Star Wars

CHISS

Racial Ability:
Salute – Prompts nearby allies to stand at attention.

Lore:
As remote and secretive as the distant star system from which they emerged, the Chiss species remains a mystery to most of the galaxy, completely removed from the Republic and the Empire, these blue-skinned humanoids evolved an advanced civilization known as the Chiss ascendancy in the unknown regions of space. Despite constant political power struggles among the ruling class, the ascendancy maintained strict controls over its dominion and the civilization prospered. This is how the Chiss developed socially and technologically in isolation for thousands of years… Until they were discovered by the Sith Empire.During the late days of the Empire‘s exile, the Sith came into contact with the Chiss, and what followed was unique even in the annals of Imperial history. In every previous instance where the Empire had encountered an alien civilization with enough technology and resources to defend itself, the Empire demanded surrender and capitulation to the rule of the Emperor. Each civilization refused and the Sith conquered their worlds and killed or enslaved the inhabitants. The power struggles of the ascendancy are rarely solved with force of arms, however, and the Chiss ruling class surprised the Empire by considering the offer on its merits and asking for a summit. The Empire‘s military leadership, confused, agreed.Behind closed doors the best Chiss negotiators met with a who‘s who of important Imperial diplomats, including the very unusual presence of the commander of the secretive Imperial Guard. Nothing has ever been publicly revealed about that meeting but the outcome is known and now wondered about by diplomats and historians the galaxy over. The Chiss would become the first official allies of the Emperor. Their armies, resources and tax revenues would be freely offered to the Empire. In return the Empire would allow the ascendancy to govern and administer its own planets, and never set foot on the Chiss homeworld of Csilla without permission. Not one political representative, not one noble tourist, not one Sith.

In the years that followed, the Chiss assisted the Sith in the invasion of Republic space and earned the Empire‘s respect and trust as military allies. While in Sith-controlled space, the Chiss submit to Imperial authority without question and a handful of Chiss have even integrated themselves into Imperial society. Nonetheless, the Chiss ascendancy maintains its own forces, separate from the Imperial military, and most members of the species still retain
their characteristic private ways, even when working closely with their heavy-handed Imperial allies. To the Republic, the Chiss continue to be a complete mystery and the species‘ very existence is unknown except in high level political and military circles.

Zabrak

Racial Ability:
Inspire loyalty – Inspires loyalty from nearby allies.

Lore:
Independence, confidence, and ugly determination characterize the Zabrak psyche. Most Zabrak do not consider any challenge impossible, no matter how unfavorable the odds, and look down on the weak who fear defeat. A tradition of intense martial training, a second heart, and resistance to physical pain make them exceptional warriors and explorers. Their physical and mental prowess demand respect. Zabrak have an intense drive to excel in all they do, a drive that carries with it a persistent temptation to use any means necessary to achieve their goals.If Zabrak sometimes seem arrogant, it is only because they have much to be proud of in their history. The inhospitable crags and acid pools of their homeworld, Iridonia, shaped the Zabrak‘s tenacity and strong will. The Zabrak did not merely survive adversity in a hostile environment, they thrived, managing to become one of the earliest known spacefaring races. They had already established several colonies beyond their home system before first contact with the republic. Though similar in appearance to humans, Zabrak are distinguished by their vestigial horns and hallmark facial tattoos. Horns develop as individuals come of age and tattoos are received during a ceremonial rite of passage that occurs soon after they appear. These tattoos vary in design based on the individual‘s own trials and experiences. Zabrak from Iridonia are renowned for developing strict regimens of martial training, and the discipline and perseverance they teach are instilled in all young Zabrak.The Zabrak colonies are situated near vital hyperspace lanes, enticing the naturally inquisitive Zabrak to further explore the galaxy. New worlds mean new challenges to overcome and opportunities to learn, adding to the strength of the species, and now Zabrak can be found amidst the ranks of the Republic and the Empire both, leading troops to victory on the front lines, working from the shadows to shape conflicts, or simply collecting credits as guns-for-hire.

Twilek

Racial Ability:
Parlor dance – Perform an unique cultural dance.

Lore:
Often stereotyped as slaves, dancers, and criminals, the truth is that Twi‘lek are represented in all walks of life. Naturally quick and cunning, they excel in both physical and cognitive skills, and Twi‘leks can generally perform feats of dexterity that significantly surpass other species‘ capabilities. Their human-like qualities and varied skin pigmentations have earned them a reputation as some of the most beautiful beings in the galaxy. Though this has clearly increased their value as slaves and contributed to the exploitation of their species, many free Twi‘leks have learned to use their natural beauty and charm to great effect.One of the most striking aspects of the Twi‘leks‘ exotic physical appearance is their ‗lekku‘ or ‗head tails‘ which are far more than simple cosmetic appendages. The lekku serve as extra-sensory organs, giving Twi‘leks heightened awareness and a greater capacity to master the arts of communication. Historically, Lekku and skin color were symbols of social status among the Twi‘leks. In fact, to some extent, skin pigmentation appears to be linked to certain personality traits. Twi‘leks with red-colored skin, for instance, are generally expected to have volatile and violent natures, but just as with any other species, despite such genetic predispositions, character traits are varied depending on the individual.The distant Twi‘lek homeworld of Ryloth has a tragic history. Though it‘s a cold, rocky planet, the Twi‘leks had adapted to the environment and lived in relative harmony for many centuries. Several thousand years ago, however, Ryloth was discovered by the Republic and soon after found to have rich stores of the rare and valuable Ryll spice. Still new to the Galactic economy, the Twi‘leks were unable to leverage the natural resources to their advantage. Instead, control of the Ryloth mining operation fell into the hands of Hutt criminal enterprises who enslaved the Twi‘leks and put them to work in their own mines.Because of their beauty and their skills, Twi‘leks were also sold as slaves on the open market, and today they can be found in almost every system in the galaxy. Though many remain slaves, countless others have achieved freedom and assimilated well into the Galactic population. Despite the number of free Twi‘leks across the galaxy, there has never been any credible attempt to liberate Ryloth. This is likely because after generations in slavery across the galaxy, most free Twi‘leks have little connection to each other as a species and even less connection to a homeworld.

Sith-Pureblood

Racial Ability:
Punish – Punish your companion for his or continued failures.

Lore:
Descendants of the original sith species, the red-skinned Sith purebloods inherit a legacy long intertwined with the dark side. The ancient sith were warlike, competitive, and ambitious, and they performed arcane rituals to create powerful force artifacts. For those sith in whom the old blood still flows strongly enough to be seen, there exists a strong current of innate darkness, making the rate of force sensitivity among purebloods near one hundred percent.Three thousand years ago, dark jedi, fleeing republic space after the second great schism, discovered the Sith species on Korriban. they were surprised to find that the comparatively primitive species displayed knowledge of the dark side that the Jedi themselves had never encountered. The dark Jedi resolved to subjugate the sith and wrest their knowledge from them. Though the Sith struck back in an attempt to protect their dark side secrets, they were ultimately outmatched by the superior training and technology of the invaders. The Sith were enslaved by their dark Jedi overlords. Over hundreds of generations, the two groups intermingled. The dark Jedi found that Sith society and culture suited their philosophy well.Before long, the elite ruling class of Korriban consisted almost entirely of hybridized offspring of the dark Jedi and the high priests of the sith. This hybridization resulted in an ambitious, ruthless race with a natural strength in the force. Genetically speaking, the term ―pureblood‖ is a misnomer, as all modern sith are hybrids, a product of the unions between the ancient dark Jedi and the original sith race. However, the term is useful in distinguishing those who carry enough of the blood of the ancient race to still be evident in their features.

Rattataki

Racial Ability:
Shadowbox – Perform a series of mock blows, blocks and counters, warming up for the fight to come.

Lore:
The pale-skinned Rattataki are made for battle. Centuries of constant warfare have weeded out the weak, shaping the remainder into proud, passionate, and deadly combatants. Even entertainment for this violent species is combat; the gladiator pits of their home planet, Rattatak, are the planet‘s most popular amusement, well-known for being the most brutal in the galaxy. Exposed to their species‘ competitive culture from birth, Rattataki develop into fearsome warriors.Deep in the Outer Rim, the Rattataki species evolved in bleak isolation for thousands of years, clinging to existence in sprawling caverns beneath the planet‘s surface. They were driven underground by monstrous beasts they believed were gods and savage storms that made the land nearly uninhabitable. In their subterranean exile, the Rattataki tribes fought amongst themselves incessantly over scarce resources, and many tribes even resorted to cannibalism. The weak and the sick were sacrificed so that the strong might survive and one day claim the surface world.Eventually, the mighty warlord Rattatak managed to unite his people long enough to drive back the horrible beasts on the planet‘s surface and establish mighty fortresses amidst the mountainous terrain. Though his life was lost in the struggle on the surface, Rattatak‘s name lived on. the unification of the Rattataki was brief, and tribes settled back into their constant infighting, but at long last they had emerged from their dark exile and contact was made with the greater galaxy. This led many Rattataki to settle on other worlds, becoming sought after mercenaries, bodyguards and bounty hunters.
Shortly after the empire returned to republic space, the young Sith Lord Darth Vich took notice of rattatak and it‘s people. Eager to make a name for himself, he journeyed to the planet and, casting aside 1000 years of anti-alien tradition, recruited a hundred tribes of Rattataki to populate his own personal army. Their prowess in battle made them a dangerous force, and the dozens of force sensitive among them became his personal acolytes. With the Rattataki at his command, Darth Vich made a play for power in the Sith Empire that ultimately failed. In the wake of this failure, the Dark Council enslaved or killed all of Rattataki who followed Vich. Rumors about a small group of Rattataki acolytes who helped betray Vich and were fully accepted for Sith training remain unsubstantiated.

Mirialan

Racial Ability:
Focusing Ritual – Undergo a focusing ritual to rest and recuperate spirit.

Lore:
Hailing from the planet of Mirial, Mirialans are near-human with skin color ranging from dark green to a pale tone similar to that of some humans. Mirialans are very fast and agile, making them hard to best in any combat.Mirialans are a religious species who only hold a weak understanding of the concept of the Force. They believe that a person‘s actions contribute to their destiny. A geometric tattoo is often placed on their face or hands to signify that an important milestone has been reached. The number of tattoos is thus a good indicator of a Mirialan‘s age and/or experience.Mirialan children are taught early to maintain a calm and reasonable attitude, giving the species a reputation for great skill in negotiation. They also believe that each person‘s actions not only affect the individual‘s destiny, but also influence the fate of their people. From this view, a Mirialan‘s efforts to improve personally are also a contribution to the entire race. This motivation prompts them to intense mental and physical training: an upbringing that helps Mirialan youth excel when considered for Jedi training.

Miraluka

Racial Ability:
Sense Force Alignment – Senses the target‘s alignment with the Force.

Lore:
Though sharing common genetic history with humans, Miraluka have evolved into a significantly different species because they are born without eyes. On their home world of Alpheridies, the only source of light is a red dwarf star which emits light only in the infrared spectrum. Over the centuries, the Miraluka adapted and developed the ability see their surroundings through the Force. Though they retain vestigial eye sockets, Miraluka wear decorative veils and generally have little trouble assimilating into human society.Miraluka have lived primarily in isolation over the millennia, but because of their Force sensitivity, they have had relations with the Jedi and some Miraluka have even joined the Order. That
relationship has grown even stronger since Jedi Civil War when the Sith Lord Darth Nihilus destroyed the Miraluka colony on the world of Katarr. The only survivor of that attack—a Miraluka named Visas Marr—was known to have traveled with the Jedi Exile and later to have helped rebuild the Jedi Order.In the years of the Great War, Alpheridies has remained an independent system, but many Miraluka have rallied to the Republic‘s cause. Those who have joined the Jedi Order have proven to consistently be strong in the Force and exceptionally skilled in the martial arts. Some Masters speculate that it is precisely because of their trust in the Force rather than their eyes that they fight so fluently with Lightsabers. Regardless of where and how they serve the Order, the presence of the Miraluka within the Jedi ranks has been a boon. Many Sith Lords have learned the hard way to see that Miraluka can be dangerous foes.

Human

Racial Ability:
Rally – Rallies nearby allies.

Lore:
Humans are known to be a more politically dominant species, as well as the more numerical. Due to their widespread nature and lacking a known homeworld, it is hard to pin down a human culture. Widely adaptive and versatile, human cultures vary from location to location.Despite lacking a centralized culture, it should be noted that on predominantly human planets, it is easy for humans to fall prey to arrogance, leading some to pro-human sentiments and label themselves as a superior species. Though this is rarely -if ever- the view of the entire population of the planet, occasionally such views spread to be the majority view. It is, after all, the human species that invented the term ‗alien‘ to describe any non-human. This can spread to professional work, and companies such as the human-led Czerka Corporation even enslaved entire non-human populations.However, humans if nothing else are known for their versatility, and on many planets humans and non-humans share a thriving relationship. Indeed, even marriage between humans and non-humans is well-known to occur.Human records have been found dating back before 200,000 BBY. It is unknown exactly which planet is the original homeworld of the humans, but it is assumed that humans evolved on one of the Core Worlds near the center of the Galaxy. It is believed by the humans that this planet is Coruscant, though there are many scientists who debate this. The human race has played a key role in the Unification Wars, and it is also responsible for the forming of the Galactic Republic.

Cyborg

Racial Ability:
Scan target – Scans target with a critical cybernetic eye.

Lore:
Humans that have undergone cybernetic enhancements or replacements of various body parts and organs.

Classes

Classes
In Star Wars: The Old Republic there are 2 factions: Imperial and Republic. Each faction has 4 base class. These base classes are mirrors of their counter part on the opposite faction:

Sith Inquisitor = Jedi Consular
Sith Warrior = Jedi Knight
Bounty Hunter = Trooper
Imperial Agent = Smuggler

At level 10 you choose between 2 Advanced Classes. Once you choose you cannot switch, or choose again.

Just like the base classes each advanced class has a mirrored version of it on the opposite faction:

Sith Inquisitor & Jedi Consular
Sith Sorcerer = Jedi Sage
The Sorcerer/Sage is a long range Force user. They utilize spells to either damage their enemies or heal their allies. While they carry a single bladed light sabre they never use it except to deflect blaster fire or as part of their casting animation.

Sith Assassin = Jedi Shadow
The Assassin/Shadow is a hybrid melee and short ranged class. They can be a DPS or a Tank. Their tanking relies heavily on avoidance as opposed to withstanding lots of damage.

Imperial Agent & Smuggler:
Sniper = Gunslinger
The Sniper/Gunslinger is a pure ranged damage class. While they have lots of utility for crowd controlling and debuffing targets they can only fill the DPS role.

Operative = Scoundrel
The Operative/Scoundrel is a very sneaky class, using stealth and dirty tricks to take down their enemy. They can also be a healer, and their healing often requires them to also be involved in damaging the enemy.

Bounty Hunter = Trooper:
Mercenary = Commando
The Mercenary/Commando is ranged DPS or healer. Many of their healing relies on preemptive planning as opposed to reactive healing. In other words they do better if they know when their allies are about to take damage.

Powertech = Vanguard
The Powertech/Vanguard is a short range DPS or Tank. Unlike many tanks they can actually stay at 10 meters while tanking. They specialize in AoE tanking, or tanking many smaller mobs. They can hold their own against bigger mobs though.

Sith Warrior & Jedi Knight:
Juggernaut = Guardian
The Juggernaut/Guardian is a melee DPS or Tank. Using Shields and one handed Lightsabres they resemble and act like a futuristic Knight.

Marauder = Sentinel
The Marauder are a duel Lightsabre wielding cannon ball. In your face, close range melee DPS.