"Star Wars: The Old Republic" MMO Trooper Class Announced

Space opera fans that remain hooked on that "Galaxy, far, far away," as well as sci-fi and MMO fans in general are patiently waiting, but with baited breath for the Bioware/Lucasarts PC game release of Star Wars: The Old Republic. As always seems to be the case, it is a good ways off, but BioWare has started to release information on the character classes that will be available. The latest is the Trooper:

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Overview: Honor, Duty, Defense of the Republic
Not all heroes carry Lightsabers. Some just have the will to fight. For decades, the armed forces of the Galactic Republic defended their civilization against the seemingly unstoppable Sith Empire. Despite countless setbacks, the men and women of the Republic military never backed down until the Senate ordered them to do so. These brave souls remain ready and willing to lay their lives on the line today. (more)

Field Reconnaissance
Deployed to the hairiest battlefields in the galaxy, Republic Troopers generally travel in small, specialized squads. It is not uncommon, however, to see a Trooper engaging enemies on his or her own. Whether operating solo or in groups, members of the Republic Special Forces have become intimidating opponents to their enemies.

Outfitting
The Republic’s experiments with a new generation of heavy blaster rifles have proven successful, sparking a galaxy-wide trend towards larger, more powerful and more versatile armaments. It takes a great deal of strength and training, however, to wield these war machines, so they’re rarely used outside the military. Republic engineers have also worked overtime fashioning new defensive gear for the Republic’s most elite soldiers, armor suits that provide maximum protection and flexibility in multiple environments.

Combat Tactics
Whether fighting as part of a small strike squad or at the forefront of a larger force, the Trooper can unleash unrivaled firepower against his enemies. A Trooper’s rifle is his best friend, and the military is constantly challenged to design faster, more powerful and more reliable blaster rifles every year. Wielding such rifles and wearing protective battle armor designed by the Republic’s top engineers, the Trooper will not hesitate to step right into the crossfire. Whether storming a base or a battlefield, the Trooper charges into the fight, blaster-rifle blazing, to clear a path for freedom and justice.

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I've said it before, and it remains as true as ever. By initial appearances it looks like this game could be VERY good. There's been no in-depth gameplay looks yet, so this is definitely tentative at best at this point, but if enough attention is given to MMO gameplay, as well as perhaps the single player campaign this may hold true. Regardless, it will be exciting to see.

The Trooper class was the second revealed. If you are interested, you might also want to check out the Bounty Hunter class, which was the first to see the light of day.

–Hobson's Choice