Star Wars: The Old Republic was released in 2011 and has since received many updates and expansions. We at MeinMMO want to summarize the most important sections of the story so that you can dive perfectly into the new expansion in 2022.
SWTOR is still a popular MMORPG on the market more than 10 years later. However, the story can be quite overwhelming for new players, as well as for returnees. Therefore, we want to introduce you to the most important key points and characters again in more detail.
The Backstory
In 3,963 BBY, that is, 3,963 years before the Battle of Yavin, in which Luke Skywalker destroyed the first Death Star with his rocket, the Mandalorian Wars took place. Mandalorians and the Republic fought each other. However, all of this was orchestrated by the Sith Darth Vitiate, also known as Valkorion or Tenebrae.
But the two Jedi Revan and Malak managed to defeat the Mandalorians and the Sith Empire. However, Valkorion was able to interfere with the thoughts of the two Jedi and sow discord. From Revan came Darth Revan. This ended in a Jedi Civil War that almost wiped out the entire Order.
However, Revan was found by Jedi after a battle and his memory was wiped. Thus, Revan found his way back to the light side of the Force. But in his fight against evil, he was captured by a Sith and held captive for decades in a fortress.
In 3,681 BBY, the Great Galactic War followed. Valkorion managed to unite the Sith and gather them on the planet Dromund Kaas. From there, they unexpectedly attacked the Republic and the still weakened Jedi.
However, the war dragged on for a long time, and after 28 years, there was still no victor. Valkorion then developed a sneaky plan. Darth Baras met with representatives of the Republic on Alderaan to negotiate a peace treaty.
At the same time, the Sith Darth Malgus attacked the capital of the Republic – Coruscant – in a surprise attack. This attack forced the Republic to sign the treaty with the Sith and cede many systems to them.
This happened 10 years before the events of SWTOR, leading to a period of Cold War.
The Base Game of SWTOR
The story of SWTOR begins in 3,643 BBY, more than 300 years after the Mandalorian Wars. The Jedi Order is still recovering from the attacks as the Sith devise new plans to overthrow the Republic.
The exact story unfolds slightly differently, depending on which class you have created. However, the Republic and the Empire are constantly trying to undermine each other behind the scenes:
- As a Jedi Knight, you will encounter a Sith in the story who attacked the planet Tython and its inhabitants.
- As a Jedi Consular, your story revolves around an artifact of the dark side that has been stolen.
- As a Sith Warrior, you have to eliminate another Sith, your direct rival.
- As an Imperial Agent, you infiltrate a Hutt base.
After your first missions, you enter the capital of your respective faction – Coruscant or Dromund Kaas. There you will face various challenges.
The Republic, for instance, has built a special weapon designed to protect a planet from attacks. But the plans were stolen by a thieves’ guild. It turns out that the action was orchestrated by Eli Tarnis, a hidden Sith Lord. The Jedi defeat Tarnis, but his father, Darth Angral, then declares war on the Republic.
The Sith, in turn, experience the awakening of a dark power that they cannot control, which cost the lives of a group of arrogant Sith. Additionally, intrigues and power struggles began within the Dark Council. The Emperor, Valkorion, disappeared after a confrontation with a Jedi, and Darth Malgus took command after his triumph on Coruscant.
Throughout time and story, there are repeated clashes between Sith and Jedi, Empire and Republic. On the desert planet Tatooine, a race took place for a powerful artifact that the Sith wanted to control and the Jedi wished to destroy.
A tragic event occurs for the Republic, as the Queen of Alderaan and her son died. A struggle for succession occurs on the planet, which several houses claimed.
Meanwhile, Darth Angral planned several attacks on the Republic. In one of these attacks, however, Darth Angral was killed by the Jedi. Consequently, the peace treaty from Coruscant was dissolved, leading to all-out war.
During the wars, Jedi Master Oteg is visited by a mysterious force spirit. It informs him that a powerful Jedi is located in the Maw and is being held captive by the Emperor.
It turns out that it was Revan, the hero of the Mandalorian Wars. The Jedi free him, and he decides to obliterate the Sith Empire forever. To do this, he assembled his own fleet. Moreover, with his mental connection, Revan managed to confuse the Emperor and divert him from his war plans.
However, Revan’s fleet fell into an ambush by Darth Malgus, who defeated Revan. Revan himself then disappears in a flash of light.
The war continued, with a new enemy drawing attention. Darth Ikoral, a Sith Lord who attacked both the Republic and the Empire. Both factions then tried to attack Darth Ikoral, and they succeeded in destroying his ship, the Red Reaper, and killing the Sith himself.
Darth Malgus seized control of the Empire. The Emperor had been missing for years, and the involvement of Revan led to Valkorion not giving any sign of life. The “New Empire” under Malgus aimed to finally end the disputes among the Sith Lords. He then captured the Emperor’s space station and claimed it for himself.
However, many of Malgus’ supporters died in an attack on Fort Barrow, including his lieutenant Darth Severin. Subsequently, Sith and Jedi allied to defeat the traitor Malgus.
However, the Empire emerged from this battle greatly weakened. Although they could dominate large stretches of the war against the Republic, the loss of Malgus and his forces was a significant setback.
At the same time, a vengeful scientist unleashed the Rakghoul plague, a virus that led to a quarantine on some planets. Neither the Empire nor the Republic initially understood the role the scientists and the plague played.
Rise of the Hutt Cartel
In the expansion, the story revolves around the Hutts, who want to take advantage of the weakened situation of the Empire. Toborro, the new leader of the Hutts, planned a campaign across various systems to expand the influence of the Hutts. A particularly strong energy source on the planet Makeb would help.
However, it spiraled out of control, and the Republic intervened, promising support to the world. After a battle on the planet, the Republic emerged victorious, and other Hutts rebelled against Toborro. An alliance forms between Hutts and the Republic.
Meanwhile, the Dread Masters continued to spread. The scientists built an army on the desert planet Darvannis. At this time, everyone believed that the Dread Masters were working for the Hutts. But that was not the case.
Forged Alliances
The Dread War was a brief interlude where the Empire and Republic fought against the Dread Masters together over time. The Dread Masters worked for a small group of insane Sith Lords who wanted to plunge the entire galaxy into chaos.
Afterward, the Empire and Republic refocused on their war. Independently, they attacked the planets with their respective academies. The Sith attacked Tython, while the Jedi targeted Korriban.
On the ocean world Manaan, there was an incident involving a Selkath scientist. Meanwhile, one also encounters the members of Revan’s Order. These followers are very radical and are part of both the Republic and the Empire.
During a battle for the Temple of the Ancients, Revan intervenes in the proceedings, having been reborn after his defeat by Darth Malgus.
Shadows of Revan
This expansion revolves around Revan, who had amassed a hidden fleet on the planet Rishi. The fanatical Revanites aimed to finally destroy Valkorion, the Emperor. Revan knew that he was still alive but without a physical body.
To make Valkorion vulnerable again, they planned a huge catastrophe that would equally destroy both the Empire and the Republic. However, they managed to prevent this plan and avert the catastrophe.
However, Valkorion reemerged after remaining silent for such a long time.
Knights of the Fallen Empire / Knights of the Eternal Throne
The Republic and the Empire then joined forces once again to stop the Sith Emperor, who had obliterated all life on the planet Ziost shortly after his return. Under the leadership of Darth Marr, the trail of the Emperor was followed into Wild Space.
There, however, they encountered Prince Arcann of the Eternal Empire. He was the son of Valkorion. Arcann captured Marr, and Valkorion attempted to sway Marr’s troops to his side. However, the Emperor was attacked by the player and seemingly killed. Darth Marr also died in the battle.
The troops from the Republic and Empire managed to escape, but the Eternal Empire, now under Arcann’s rule, reigned with an iron fist. Neither the weakened Empire nor the Republic could do anything against it. As a player, you were a prisoner of Arcann.
All hope seemed lost until the player managed to escape from prison and took command of the Alliance, a coalition of members from the Empire and Republic. However, Valkorion influenced some members of the Alliance, hindering the campaign against the Eternal Empire.
After Arcann was defeated, his sister Vaylin, who was even more tyrannical than he, took over. After a hard-earned victory over Vaylin, the player traveled to the home world of the Eternal Empire – Zakuul – and took control of the fleets.
However, the bodiless Valkorion then attacked the player and attempted to break his will. But he failed and appeared to be finally defeated.
Onslaught
However, the influence of the Alliance was only short-lived. Without a common enemy, tensions arose again among the members of the Republic and the Empire. Meanwhile, a shady order secretly took over the communication means of the Alliance and destroyed a significant part of it.
The player had to decide whether to support the Republic or the Empire with the Alliance.
Meanwhile, Darth Malgus returned and won a battle against the Republic on Corellia. Whether he is loyal to the Empire from now on or is pursuing his own agenda again was not entirely clear.
However, there was no time to address Malgus, as the members of the Alliance, influenced by Valkorion, sensed his presence again. A battle ensued against three versions of the Emperor simultaneously. The players are supported by the spirit of Revan.
The Legacy of the Sith
Before the new expansion Legacy of the Sith, we find ourselves at an interesting point. The Alliance is weakened by the latest acts; the Sith occupy the ocean planet Manaan, and the Republic is trying to free the planet from occupation.
Meanwhile, Darth Malgus is searching for ancient relics. What exactly he is up to, however, remains unclear.
The story of SWTOR continues with the new expansion, set to be released on February 15. You can find all the information about the story and contents of the expansion here:
SWTOR: All about the new expansion Legacy of the Sith – Release, content, and story
