Welcome to the galaxy of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic! This guide will equip you with the knowledge needed to navigate its rich story, complex characters, and challenging gameplay. Whether you're a seasoned Star Wars fan or new to the Old Republic era, understanding the basics is key to your success.
The Premise
Set approximately 4,000 years before the events of the Star Wars films, Knights of the Old Republic places you in the role of a Force-sensitive individual caught in a galaxy-wide conflict between the Galactic Republic and the resurgent Sith Empire. Your journey begins with amnesia, and as you regain your memories, you'll uncover a deep conspiracy and a threat that could doom the galaxy.
Character Creation
Your adventure starts with creating your character. You can choose your appearance, gender, and one of three starting classes: Soldier, Scoundrel, or Jedi. Each class offers a different starting point and progression path. You'll also allocate points to core attributes like Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma, which influence your combat effectiveness, Force powers, and dialogue options.
Core Gameplay Loop
Knights of the Old Republic combines real-time combat with a tactical pause system. You'll explore diverse planets, engage in dialogue with a memorable cast of characters, and make critical choices that shape your alment (Light Side or Dark Side). Your party will consist of yourself and up to two companions, each with their own unique skills and backstories.
Combat Fundamentals
Combat is turn-based, though it appears real-time. You issue commands to your party members, and actions resolve in a sequence. Understanding your character's abilities, Force powers, and your companions' strengths is vital. Special combat moves like 'Flurry' or 'Power Attack' can be activated to deal more damage or attack more rapidly.
Alment System
Your actions and dialogue choices will shift your alment towards the Light Side or the Dark Side. This not only affects your character's appearance and available Force powers but also influences how NPCs react to you and ultimately determines the game's ending.
Exploration and Quests
The game world is vast, featuring numerous planets to explore, each with its own unique environments, inhabitants, and side quests. Completing these quests will earn you experience, credits, and valuable items, all crucial for your progression.
This introduction will serve as your starting point. As you delve deeper, this guide will provide detailed information on everything from combat strategies and companion management to item databases and lore deep dives.