**IMPORTANT** Note that there are a total of ten (10) re-spec charges (opportunities), but one is "used-up" on the initial transition, so players will then have nine charges left after choosing their initial iconic profession.

How do the iconic profession paths work?
As part of the transition process you will receive 9 options to try out the nine different new professions. There is also an in-game video that highlights each of the special skills and abilities of the selected professions (also available on our web site in the new player section).

Once you have decided on a profession, simply select it and re-allocate/"re-spec" your existing skill points (for current players) within your new chosen profession. From there, you can begin taking quests and earning experience (XP), you can then use to purchase the next skill on your path.

In the event you aren't happy with your chosen profession, don't worry - you can "re-spec" your existing skill points up to nine times, excluding your initial chosen profession.

Can anyone become a Jedi?
Yes, anyone can follow the path of the Jedi but like all professions mastery will require time and experience. The new Jedi profession will be equal in combat effectiveness with the other professions. It will still however deliver on the promise of the Star Wars Jedi mystique and will allow players to "live" as Jedi in the world of Star Wars Galaxies.

II. New Fast-Action Combat

What do you mean by "fast-action"?
Combat is now more action-oriented and feels like the action-packed combat depicted in the Star Wars movies - the new system is about 4 times faster than the current combat interaction. Movement speeds are fast and weapons fire at incredibly high rates of speed. These high rates of speed for movement and combat bring the Star Wars Galaxies combat experience to life and put players in control of every move and swing of a weapon.

However, ranged combat is not the only way to enjoy this great feature - melee combatants will also attack in similar fashion using the same keyboard and mouse functionality.

How will I control my character with this new type of combat?
To engage a target you will simply left-click on the target and right-click to use a special-attack, command, or item.

In combat, what view can I use?
Players can enjoy all existing camera views including First-Person and Isometric (overhead), plus now players can choose to the exciting new Third-Person (over-the-shoulder) view.

III. More Loot!

When you say, "We're adding more treasure and loot to SWG", what do you mean?
The best reward for completing quests and adventures in addition to XP is loot! Now, many quests will yield rewards that will aid players in the next leg of their journey, such as a more powerful weapon or piece of armor that will help them better hold their ground against the tougher challenges ahead. Additionally, the rewards and loot will often be tailored to your chosen profession. However, not all quests will yield such rewards, but many will.

What is "special effect-based creature loot"?
"Special effect-based creature loot" is a new type of item that can be looted from, you guessed it -- creatures.

This is a new category of loot available to all characters and includes special effect buffs, cool damage effects, and other benefits that add variety and value to the loot pool. At first, this will only be on the new loot items.

IV. New Veteran Player Loyalty Rewards
We are offering current active characters several loyalty bonus items in recognition of their status in the game community as valued veterans.

Elder Buff - Increases to combat abilities, this buff can be shared with new players.
Elder Title - In recognition of your status in the game as a valued veteran player.
Profession Re-Allocation Option - All characters active prior to the introduction of the new game enhancements will receive a total of 9 re-allocation options or charges attached to their character to allow the player to test out each of the new professions once before choosing the final path.
Jedi Bonus Items - Power-enhanced Jedi Robe and Lightsaber color crystal and the opportunity to play as transcended blue glowing Jedi character.
10 Additional Combat Levels - New combat levels to explore from level 80 - 90.

V. New Ways to Earn Experience (XP)
There are now 3 simple types of experience points to acquire: Combat, Crafting and Social.

You said, "the three fundamental types of experience points are Combat XP, Crafting XP and Social XP". What does that mean?

Previously in Star Wars Galaxies, there were many different kinds of experience points and multiple ways to develop skills in different professions all at once. This system was confusing and made it hard for players to see the pay-offs in any one specific skill area.

We have since refined the XP system, now there are 3 ways to earn XP: combat, crafting, and social activities. So, engaging in any type of combat will earn you combat XP, crafting something will earn you crafting XP and when you engage in game related social activities you will earn social XP. The game play focus is on fun and this new XP system motivates players to spend less time wandering around and more time interacting with others and having fun!

VI. No More Item Decay
Item decay has been completely removed from the game.

Can you explain a little more about how Damage and Decay will work?
This part of the death penalty has been removed from Galaxies.


CURRENT PLAYER TRANSITION INFORMATION

I. General Questions

Why are you making such dramatic changes to a live game?
Enhancements to a live game are never easy to introduce or implement. We have received feedback over the years through research, focus groups, community forums and anecdotal encounters that our game was very complex - many people never made it past the early levels. For that reason, we embarked on this significant redesign of our beginning game to make it more fun and more of a true Star Wars adventure. Once those changes were completed the results were so startlingly positive, in terms of the game play experience that we wanted to bring this level of fun to the rest of the game.

We want current players to stay with us and play through the new systems. To make this happen we are offering current players several exclusive loyalty rewards including the opportunity to try the new content paths, receive profession specific bonus items, explore 10 new advanced levels and an Elder Buff. This is a journey that we believe is necessary to grow the game and we want our community to understand why we feel that way and we want them to "try" the enhanced game before making any final decisions.

How will these changes affect the veteran players?
Research and focus group testing shows that these changes are exactly what players want - more Star Wars adventure - more fun! Players want to focus on the game play and not the game mechanics and interfaces. What we've heard from high level players is that they want fewer obstacles to advancement and more opportunities - the new special abilities, the introduction of 10 new levels to advance through and master, the inclusion of a more loot and item rewards, more directed, story-driven questing and the streamlined progression path all offer these types of improvements. The wide-range appeal will help us continue to grow our community which offers veteran players a more vibrant game world in which to play. The more players there are in the game, the more PvP opportunities, the larger your guild can be, the more players you can adventure with and the possibilities go on from there. We feel confident that if our current players try the new systems they will stay with us.

How will these changes affect my character's in-game items?
Your in-game items and collectibles that are non-combat related won't be affected at all. Player housing, vehicles, collectibles and other items will remain completely intact and transition with your character. Some of your combat related items may change with respect to the relative value of their stats based on your level and the profession path you choose to pursue. Most in-game items are being converted so that they fit with the new fast-action style of combat and overall gameplay and we have made our best effort to ensure these items' existing effectiveness is equivalent once you transition to a new path.

Are you going to host a server with the original rules set?
No.

Without Bio-Engineers how will players disable GCW bases?
Bio-Engineers are no longer required in order to disable GCW bases.

Will I still earn Faction points the same way?
Yes, you will earn faction points for engaging in combat with your enemies

Why don't we use skill trainers to buy skills anymore?
The primary goal of the new game enhancements is to increase the fun factor and bring the Star Wars adventure alive in-game. The Trainer experience is not one that maximizes either fun or Star Wars excitement and therefore we put the focus on questing, adventuring and socializing to help players advance and earn skills.