Having a hard time choosing where to start in Star Wars: The Old Republic?
Star Wars: The Old Republic got a massive new update, titled Game Update 7.1: Digging Deeper. The new content involves a plot involving Darth Malgus and the expansion of Manaan, so it’s a good time to jump in for new players.
The journey to saving the galaxy all starts with picking which excellent Bioware Class Story to go through first. Each Class Story gives several planets’ worth of content, from level 1 to level 50, and then all the timelines merge into the same content for the expansions.
Class story choice is often hard to pin down immediately, so we’ll rank them and take a look at each one in general terms. It’s worth playing through all of them, especially to get that sweet Legendary but some do flow or are executed better than others. Here are the best and worst class stories.
#8 - Republic Trooper
A brave man with a blaster with a whole galaxy to defend from oppressive regimes, the Trooper follows a tale reminiscent of most military shooters and follows the archetype of Commander Rex. The Trooper is a Sergeant of the Republic Army and finds himself recruited into the elite special forces Havoc Squad. But he soon finds himself and the men under his command in Havoc Squad positioned perfectly to save the entire Republic.
- Pros: The trooper’s story starts strong, with a gripping story of betrayal where one stalwart hero has to struggle with the toll the war has had on Republic Army morale. The finale on Corellia is particularly epic.
- Cons: The latter half of the plot doesn’t follow through on many things laid down in the earlier half, and it becomes a generic whack-a-mole of trying to stop threats from destroying the Republic.
- Companions: Of the class story companions, only Aric Jorgan and Elara Dorne are memorable, with both romances being satisfying, likable, and interesting. The rest are pretty one-dimensional.
- Romance Options: Human female Elara Dorne for males, Cathar male Aric Jorgan for females, Human female Lemda Avesta for females and males, Human female Lana Beniko for females and males, Cyborg male Theron Shan for females and males, Human male Koth Vortena for females and males, Human male Arcann for Light Side females and males.
- Voice Actors: Jennifer Hale for female (Female Commander Shepard from Mass Effect, Bastila Shan from SW: KotOR, Samus Aran from Metroid Prime, way too many iconic video game performances); Brian Bloom for male (Varric Tethras from Dragon Age, B.J. Blazkowicz from Wolfenstein)
- Verdict: Trooper is among the weaker class stories, attempting something reminiscent of Master Chief and Commander Shepard but not quite hitting the mark. Trooper is the number one worst class story.
#7 - Jedi Consular
Meant to be the embodiment of the Jedi Order, the story of the Jedi Consular is a tale of politics and intrigue, of rallying allies in preparation for war, and follows the archetype of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Starting as a gifted Padawan sent to stop a threat to the Jedi Order, the Consular soon finds themselves witness to the rippling effects of past atrocities that threaten to make history repeat itself. Their skill at navigating the need to make alliances amidst the scars of betrayal soon sets them on the course to save the Republic.
- Pros: Each victory you earn is hard-fought and satisfying, and Chapter 3 puts you at the forefront of conflict at an epic scale, making or breaking the war efforts. The finale is satisfying, and the arc of the character is one of the most cohesive, with antagonists in Chapter 3 having a link to Chapters 1 and 2. It also populates the ship you use in ways relevant to the plot, which few Class Stories do.
- Cons: The story starts slow and remains somewhat slow until the latter half. While impactful plotwise, the delivery is bland. One of the biggest issues is the Consular themself: male or female as a Light Sider you’re detached from things that should matter to you, and as a Dark Sider, you’re a complete maniac who only retains their place by virtue of plot armour. It’s not a fault of the VAs, and more a mistake by the writers.
- Companions: Qyzen Fess is an interesting character, as Trandoshans are usually slaver ne’er-do-wells whose motivations are money and power, but the journey you go through with him is pretty badass, and it’s a very strong friendship. The only other interesting companion is Nadia, and she becomes your companion far too late in the story despite being present earlier, though she’s at least a decent romance. The romance option Felix is aggressively boring, summed up by being a soldier.
- Romance Options: Human female Nadia Grell for males and much later females, Human male Felix Iresso for females, Human female Lemda Avesta for females and males, Human female Lana Beniko for females and males, Cyborg male Theron Shan for females and males, Human male Koth Vortena for females and males, Human male Arcann for Light Side females and males.
- Voice Actors: Athena Karkanis for female (Female Barbarian from Diablo III), Nolan North for male (Nathan Drake from Uncharted, Desmond Miles from Assassin’s Creed, The Prince from Prince of Persia, way too many iconic video game performances)
- Verdict: While enjoyable, the Jedi Consular suffers from pacing issues and an unsympathetic player character and earns a spot as the second worst Class Story.
#6 - Republic Smuggler
A wacky and light-hearted plot that can at times seem like a gag from Monty Python taken to extreme lengths in the Star Wars setting, the Smuggler class story is probably a familiar one to Star Wars fans, embodying a mixture of the archetype of Han Solo and Lando Calrissian. The Smuggler starts stranded shipless, bested by a rival and unwittingly breaking a contract with a warlord, and ends up making waves in the criminal underworld in a way that helps the Republic. Once contracted as a privateer by the Republic, the Smuggler chases vengeance and redemption in equal measure to become one of the most powerful ship captains in the galaxy.
- Pros: The Smuggler themself is a very enjoyable and charismatic protagonist and reacts hilariously to the insane situations they regularly find themself in. It starts strong and keeps the light-hearted adventure nature of the plot throughout. A strong cast of companions.
- Cons: Corso Riggs. He’s meant to be a peppy likable character who’s brilliant in weapons tech but is instead written as frustrating, chauvinistic, and stupid. Playing the game with the intention of pissing Corso off is more fun than trying to like him. The latter half of the entire plot is executed worse than the first third, and pacing issues hamstring the impact of the plot as a whole.
- Companions: Overall a solid crew despite starting weak. Risha has a great story and is so enjoyable, plus points if you romance her. Guss is consistently hilarious and likable. Akaavi is a more interesting Mandalorian companion than some of the ones from the Class Story where you’re Mandalorian, and romancing both her and Risha leads to a fun scene. Bowdaar is an homage to Chewy and that’s the most striking thing about him, but he relieves the player from having to bring Corso. Bioware hated its female audience in particular with Corso being the female romance option.
- Romance Options: Human male Corso Riggs for females, Human female Risha for males, Zabrak Mandalorian female Akaavi Spar for males, Human female Lemda Avesta for females and males, Human female Lana Beniko for females and males, Cyborg male Theron Shan for females and males, Human male Koth Vortena for females and males, Human male Arcann for Light Side females and males.
- Voice Actors: Kath Soucie for female (Aerie from Baldur’s Gate, Mira Han from Starcraft II, many iconic minor character performances), Maury Sterling for male (no other noteworthy video game credits)
- Verdict: While having one of the more enjoyable crews and a fun plot, it suffers from pacing issues and a weaker executed latter half that earns it a spot as the third worst Class Story.
#5 - Imperial Bounty Hunter
This is the Way. Except, no, let’s not be religious fundamentalists. The Bounty Hunter is an adventure that manages to be both badass and funny and follows the archetype of Boba Fett. The Bounty Hunter starts as an independent contractor seeking to join a prestigious competition for bounty hunters, not knowing that the resolution of that quest would just be the start of increasingly fraught odds and a chance to change the balance of the war.
- Pros: The most compelling crew of companions out of all Class Story choices despite also having the literal worst companion. It’s a satisfying Mandalorian story, which gives you opportunities to live out Mandalorian greatness at the climax. Quite a lot of funny and enjoyable moments.
- Cons: Skadge. Skadge. Skadge. Perish in the airlock of a burning airship crashing into a star, Skadge. If any player you meet in-game likes Skadge, never talk to them again. The writing drops off a little after Chapter 1. The episodic nature of Bounty Hunter work makes the plot a little weaker and less cohesive—it’s no The Mandalorian.
- Companions: We only have four companions instead of the universal five and they’re all great! ONLY. FOUR. After Blizz, there is nobody else. Mako is a great first companion, though her romance doesn’t do her justice. Gault is hilarious to have around. Torian is one of the better romances although the least interesting of the four companions. Blizz is ridiculously adorable, and a great entry for having a Jawa as a companion.
- Romance Options: Cyborg female Mako for males, Human male Torian Cadera for females, Human female Lemda Avesta for females and males, Human female Lana Beniko for females and males, Cyborg male Theron Shan for females and males, Human male Koth Vortena for females and males, Human male Arcann for Light Side females and males.
- Voice Actors: Grey DeLisle for female (Viconia DeVir from Baldur’s Gate, Jeanette and Terese Voerman from Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, Azula from Avatar: The Last Airbender games and show), Tom Spackman for male (no other noteworthy video game credits)
- Verdict: Despite a strong and enjoyable companion crew, a weaker story overall places the Bounty Hunter at just barely getting a spot as the fourth worst Class Story.
#4 - Sith Inquisitor
A more creative dive into the destructive powers of the Dark Side of the Force, the tale of the Sith Inquisitor is one of rags to ruinous power, an exploration of the contradictions of the Sith Empire, and follows the archetype of Galen Marek. The Inquisitor is born as a slave, which is especially poignant if the player chooses a non-human species to play as in the Pureblood/human supremacist Sith Empire. The future Inquisitor manages to rise above all their peers despite all the disadvantages placed explicitly in front of them and soon finds secrets of the Force that will let them rise to power as one of the strongest Force users in the galaxy.
- Pros: A tale of rising from the lowest to the highest, one of the class stories where your character has the most initiative, free will, and personal agency, an amazing power fantasy, and a satisfying finale.
- Cons: The Indiana Jones schtick of Macguffin fetch quests can become repetitive. The companions can be hard to care about. The character also does not do anything of note within their Class Story that would influence the larger conflict throughout the galaxy besides rising to power in the Sith Empire.
- Companions: Khem Val by far stands out as the most engaging and amusing companion, and his fate can go in two very different ways. Ashara can come across as whiny, though a Light Side Inquisitor romancing her would probably find her the most sympathetic. Andronikos as a romance and as a character is a bit one-note. Talos is quite an enjoyable companion, probably the easiest to care about after Khem.
- Romance Options: Dashade male Khem Val much later on for females and males but only if you picked to keep him, Human male Andronikos Revel for females, Togruta female Ashara Zavros for males, Pureblood male Cytharat for males, Human female Lana Beniko for females and males, Cyborg male Theron Shan for females and males, Human male Koth Vortena for females and males, Human male Arcann for Light Side females and males.
- Voice Actors: Xanthe Elbrick for female (no other noteworthy video game credits, nominated for Tony Award), Euan Morton for male (no other noteworthy video game credits, Tony Award winner and Hamilton cast member)
- Verdict: An enjoyable adventure, with one of the most beloved companions in the game, Khem Val, puts Sith Inquisitor just barely eking out a spot as the fourth best Class Story.
#3 - Sith Warrior
It is very simple: you want to play Darth Vader, you play Sith Warrior. It’s a tale of power and the shifting webs of Sith allegiance, one that promises a power fantasy and delivers it masterfully. The Sith Warrior begins their tenure in the Sith Academy as a promising acolyte and manages to beat their competitors in true Sith style, leading them to be noticed by a Darth. They become that Darth’s apprentice, not knowing they are prophesied to become one of the strongest Sith the galaxy has seen.
- Pros: Wield the awesome and awful power of the Force, strike down the enemies of the Empire, and claim your place at the top of the hierarchy of the Empire. An engaging mentor in Darth Baras, a gripping betrayal in the cards, and a story full of badass moments. Of note, Light Side Sith Warrior plays just as amazingly as Dark Side, not a claim all classes can make. The showdown when it happens is a long time coming and is very satisfying.
- Cons: Not for those who find power fantasies one-note. It can become very predictable if you understand the Sith as portrayed by Bioware.
- Companions: Vette is easily the best and most engaging companion, and is voiced by the same VA as Mission Vao from SW: KotOR, and your relationship with her is a fun one. Malavai Quinn is a bit one-note, and as a romance isn’t very engaging. Jaesa Willsaam however is one of the most dynamic companions in the game, as you can actually turn her to the Dark Side, or help her stay in the Light Side, and her personality dramatically differs for each path.
- Romance Options: Twi’lek female Vette for males, Human male Malavai Quinn for females, Human female Jaesa Willsaam for Dark Side males and much later for Dark and Light Side females and males, Pureblood male Cytharat for males, Human female Lana Beniko for females and males, Cyborg male Theron Shan for females and males, Human male Koth Vortena for females and males, Human male Arcann for Light Side females and males.
- Voice Actors: Natasha Little for female (no other noteworthy video game credits), Mark Bazely for male (no other noteworthy video game credits)
- Verdict: Though less directly connected to the main story compared to the Knight, Sith Warrior is still satisfying and takes the third spot on best Class Story.
#2 - Jedi Knight
The classic Jedi on a hero’s journey, writ large as the saviour of the galaxy, this storyline most closely ties into the main plot and follows the archetype of Luke Skywalker. The Knight begins their story being thrown into a wild situation alone as a Padawan, albeit that they’re one of the strongest the Jedi Order has seen in centuries, and soon finds themself charged by the Council to decide the fates of entire planets, and unknowingly, the entire galaxy.
- Pros: A strong opener, and the capacity to follow through on being a badass Jedi who goes around kicking ass. Kira is an enjoyable companion and pseudo-protege and their relationship regardless of whether romance is pursued is one that’s memorable and touching. There’s a moment in Corellia where the main story comes a-knocking, and the showdown is epic.
- Cons: It is a bit of a cliche. While Bioware has done excellent on making it their own, it’s not the most novel concept and can be predictable.
- Companions: T7 is the classic Artoo type, and is always sassy. Kira is enjoyable and has a personality, but the only other companion that shares those qualities is Lord Scourge, and you don’t get him until late in the Class Story. The female romance option Doc comes across as a bit pushy but is a good romance with a former bad boy if you can get through it.
- Romance Options: Human female Kira Carsen for males and much later females, Human male Doc for females, Pureblood male Lord Scourge much later for females and males, Human female Lemda Avesta for females and males, Human female Lana Beniko for females and males, Cyborg male Theron Shan for females and males, Human male Koth Vortena for females and males, Human male Arcann for Light Side females and males.
- Voice Actors: Kari Wahlgren for female (Ashe B'nargin Dalmasca from Final Fantasy XII), David Hayter for male (Solid Snake and Metal Snake from Metal Gear, Nick Reyes from Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare)
- Verdict: Jedi Knight is the classic Star Wars story most will be familiar with, and gets the most main story tie-ins to the expansions. A great story with great heroic (or antiheroic) moments, Jedi Knight makes it at number two for the best class story.
#1 - Imperial Agent
A gripping tale of espionage full of betrayal, switched sides, muddied allegiances, and the conflict between duty, orders, and ideals, the story of the Imperial Agent is some of the most enthralling writing to come out of SWTOR. It doesn’t quite follow any classic Star Wars archetype but clearly follows the archetype of James Bond. The Agent is a recruit of Imperial Intelligence of the Sith Empire, and has trained all their life to rival even the Sith in ruthlessness and capability. What starts out as a tale of espionage and diplomacy snowballs into learning truths that could hold the entire galaxy hostage.
- Pros: Easily the most gripping Class Story, the twists and turns of which never relent and never falter. An Agent that's a member of the Chiss species by the player’s selection has an added layer of nuance to the tale of cross-purposes. Initially, the fact that the plot becomes frustrating at times was going to be listed as a con, but it’s on second thought a testament to the writing quality: it’s frustrating because you become invested. The finale is powerful and explosive and has the most endings out of any.
- Cons: Some portions become predictable and cliche within the realm of spy thrillers. Chapter 1 can seem a bit disconnected from the rest of the storyline.
- Companions: One of the Class Stories where most of the companions are interesting. While polarizing, Kaliyo is at least universally captivating, whether to garner scorn or praise. The second companion, Vector, is also in the same league of being unnerving and yet fascinating, and his allegiance to you becomes very clear later on. Doctor Lokin is also a rather novel concept only made possible in The Old Republic, and while you probably can’t trust him, he is an engaging character. Raina Temple is the one you can trust the most, but even she’s got her own agenda and her thoughts on the right way of doing things.
- Romance Options: Rattataki female Kaliyo Djannis for males, “Human” male Vector Hyllus for females, Human female Raina Temple for males, Pureblood male Cytharat for males, Human female Lana Beniko for females and males, Cyborg male Theron Shan for females and males, Human male Koth Vortena for females and males, Human male Arcann for Light Side females and males.
- Voice Actors: Jo Wyatt for female (Female Hawke from Dragon Age, Ciri from The Witcher 3), Bertie Carvel for male (no other noteworthy video game credits, Tony Award winner)
- Verdict: The Imperial Agent is the best Class Story by far, as it takes the most creative risks that often pay off, and it doesn’t let up on the quality of writing.
As always, may the Force be with you. Cue Star Wars credits theme song!
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