TOR Playable Species, What Is And Isn't Possible.

So. I like the Knights Of The Old Republic games. Specifically, I like KOTOR1. I didn't think the second one was very good compared to the first. But that's because Bioware left the series and the second one fell into the hands of others. It was good, the gameplay was a step up from the first, but overall the writing, which was the big draw of the first game was not.

So I'm very excited for the new MMO sequel to the games, "Star Wars: The Old Republic". So much so, that I've become a semi-active member on the TOR forums. My name is Zuldim, in case anyone cares to look me up on there.

Now, there's been a lot of talk on there, because while a lot has been reveal on the game (scheduled for Spring 2011 release), playable species have not. They've been confirmed to be in the game, but no specifics have been given. I've seen a lot of speculation on what species will and will not be in the game, so here is my opinion on what is likely, what is possible, and what is unlikely. (Most of my research was done on wookiepedia)

*Spoilers for KOTOR and KOTOR2 follow*


Humans
Duh
Likelyhood: Confirmed


Twi'lek
Twi'lek played a big part in KOTOR, are widely popular with fans, appeared many times in the movies, are known to have connections with the force, and can speak basic. I would be shocked if they were not playable.
Likelyhood: Almost a given.


Zabrak AKA Iridonians
You had an Iridonian companion in KOTOR2, Bao-Dur. Iridonians are well known because of Darth Maul, and they can obviously have a connection with the force. They can also speak basic.
Likelyhood: Probable.



Wookies
Everyone loves Wookies! Unfortunately, they cannot speak basic, due to their physiology, and all the classes are confirmed to have the same voice for each race. All classes are also confirmed for each race, and Wookies cannot have a connection with the force.
Likelyhood: Highly unlikely.



Gand
Gand are a popular fan favorite among the TOR forums, but they're relatively unknown outside of the hardcore KOTOR fans. They can have a connection with the force, and speak basic (I think) though.
Likelyhood: Unlikely.


Jawa
There is only one Jawa known to have had a connection with the force, or be able to speak clearly for that matter. It's possible they could be in as the "short race" ala Dwarves in WoW, but they only ever wear those same robes, so armor would be a problem.
Likelyhood: Very unlikely.


Selkath
In KOTOR Manaan, homeworld of the Selkath was an entire planet you visited. I liked Manaan, and the Selkath were kind of cool I guess, but they really seemed to value neutrality. They've been known to have connections with the force, but I don't recall one ever speaking basic. They may have given up neutrality in the past 400 or so years since KOTOR though, and it's possible some can speak basic and choose not to.
Likelyhood: Possible.


Droids
Droids can't use the force, and cannot have a moral compass with which to make decisions.
Likelyhood: Not gonna happen.


Rakata AKA "The Builders"
The Rakata were one of the first races to discover the force, and used it to conquer the galaxy with unspeakable acts of evil (they were the ones who turned Tatooine into a desert planets, from the lush planet it used to be). Eventually, however, the dark side corrupted them, and they fell. Since then, only a few remain, they have regressed to tribal days, with little to no technology, and have lost connection to the force.
Likelyhood: Extremely unlikely.


Kel Dor
Kel Dor can speak basic, and use the force. The character narrating the timeline videos that are being released is a Kel Dor, which could be interpreted as a hint. The only thing about this is that they aren't well known enough.
Likelyhood: Possible

Other races not worth mentioning: Tusken Raiders, Ewoks, Sarlacc (THAT WAS AN APRIL FOOLS JOKE AND YOU ALL KNOW IT), Whatever the heck Yoda is.

Breaking Down the 11th Doctor Trailer

Alright, let me preface this by saying I am the biggest 10th Doctor fan you will ever find, and I'm seriously going to miss him as The Doctor.

Doctor Who is one of, if not, my favorite shows, and I have not seen, as of the time of writing, The End Of Time Pt. 2. I'm an American so it airs tomorrow night.

However, this lovely little trailer popped up tonight:



Did you see what I just saw? Because I've watched this trailer 4 times now and I'm still in amazement. Congratulations Matt Smith, I'm compelled even further to watch Season 5.

But what's really going on here? Well, let's break it down.


The trailer opening is very nice, as matt stands there asking what the TARDIS has in store this time.






What indeed, as the next few seconds are a roller coaster ride, featuring explosions, swords, and the doctor punching someone. (Looked like a woman to me, but I couldn't tell.)


But then at :08 you see an explosion in The Doctor's hand... And if you look closely, it's his sonic screwdriver.


Now let me say this is probably nothing. He's probably using it for deus ex machina like always.

But, let me put a small what-if into your head. What-if... He doesn't have his screwdriver anymore? What if, in this new, grittier Stephen Moffat era (writer of The Doctor Dances/The Empty Child, and Blink, among others.) he removes the magic wand. He makes The Doctor rely on wit alone, instead of his magical sonic screwdriver. Just a thought.


And then there's 0:11. And that was when I started really geeking out about it.
A bunch of guys are in a cave, or a certain basement with flashlights...

Suddenly the camera turns around, and you better hope none of them start blinking.



That's right. Return of the weeping angels.

Now let me just say I consider Blink the best single Doctor Who episode of the new series. It is amazing. So the fact that the weeping angels are back, that's fantastic.

Now, I suspect that Stephen Moffat taking lead instead of Russel T. Davies has a lot to do with them being back, as I have a feeling Moffat had as much fun writing that episode as I had watching it. I will eagerly await seeing the angels return, and hopefully it'll be it's own episode, heck, I'm hoping the angels can become the first real reoccurring enemies in the new series. So far, think about it, the main reoccurring enemies are:

The Daleks
The Cybermen
The Master

And all of those are classic series enemies. It's about time new Who got it's own iconic enemy.

But, moving on:

From 0:11-0:14 we see vampire ladies, and some demented mask, not sure what either of those are.

But at 0:15 we see this:


Oh yay, more Daleks. Aren't they supposed to be dead or something? Not that I don't like watching Dalek episodes, I just hope they come up with something that at least kind of makes sense for them to be back.

The shot itself shows The Doctor hitting the dalek with a hammer, pretty violently. Quite interesting.

After that we see The Doctor and his new companion kissing.
Then we see some aliens with ray guns, some explosions, another Dalek shot, more swordfighting, and some other various stuff. Then we see some soldier backing up, and some flickering lights, an explosion, in the dark... and well...



More angels! Yay!

Then, what is possibly, but I hope not, the new Doctor's catchphrase:

GERONIMO!

Then his companion is scared, and he jumps off of something.


Then more montage, and "Coming Spring 2010... The End... Is just the beginning..."

Ooh, The Doctor using a gun. Edgy.
Seriously though, I have no problem with him using a gun, especially if they do take away the sonic screwdriver, which they PROBABLY will not. It's also probably just an editing trick, he may just be shoot a rope lowering a cage full of, uh, I dunno, orphan puppies? Yeah. He's freeing the Orphan Puppies.

Finally: Trust him. He's The Doctor.


In conclusion: Big changes are in store for Doctor Who. It's a darker feel, yes, but that's expected with Stephen Moffat in charge, who's written some of the best new series stuff. I eagerly await to see the new season. Matt Smith has big shoes to fill, but I believe he can fill them. Maybe.

Tune in next time for my review of Doctor Who: The End of Time (Parts 1 and 2)

Maybe.

If I get around to it.