Portal

And the next class reveal is…

For those of you who may have attended or read reviews from the Electronic Arts European Press Tour that happened earlier this week, you already know the answer to this. It’s the Imperial Agent!

The Imperial Agent is heavily inspired by several classic Star Wars characters such as Zam Wessel and Grand Moff Tarkin. Imperial Agents work behind the scenes to get the work of the Empire done. Specializing in high-tech gear, the Imperial Agent always has the right tools at the right time. They use abilities of subversion and subterfuge to infiltrate and assassinate enemies of the Sith Empire with deadly efficiency. Players who choose to be Imperial Agents in The Old Republic (TOR) will see the underbelly of the Empire in a whole new light.

Stay tuned for the Imperial Agent’s HoloNet update next week. In the meanwhile, join the speculation on the Imperial Agent’s class forums!

Let’s start this blog off with an introduction. My name is Drew Karpyshyn. I was the lead writer on the original Star Wars™: Knights of the Old Republic™ game, as well as the author of several Star Wars™ novels. And I’m here to tell you about the Jedi Knight character class.

Now, anyone who’s familiar with my novels Darth Bane: Path of Destruction, Darth Bane: Rule of Two and the upcoming Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil might be surprised to hear I’m working on the Jedi Knight class. But I was excited to step away from the dark side so I could embrace the challenge of writing the “good guy”. (Or “girl,” of course.)

And let’s be honest: the Jedi Knight is *the* iconic character in this universe. Nothing says Star Wars like a brown-robed figure brandishing a shimmering energy blade of righteous destruction. The Jedi Knight is the classic take-charge, smite-evil, save-the-girl action hero. We’re all familiar with Luke Skywalker, of course. But he wasn’t the only lightsaber wielding champion of virtue to flip, spin and somersault his way across the big screen. Young Obi-Wan Kenobi and Mace Windu both proved you can kick ass and take names while still valiantly battling to uphold the ideals of the Jedi Code.

Ah, the Jedi Code. That’s where things get interesting, isn’t it? Because the Jedi are more than just unstoppable Force warriors. They’re symbols; they embody an ideal. The Code dictates that a Jedi’s actions must be driven by logic and reason. There is no emotion, there is peace.

Nice theory. In practice, however, it’s never that simple. Jedi Knights strive for mental, physical and spiritual perfection, but they’re still human. (Well, not just human, but you know what I mean.) They’re not infallible, and meting out justice in a dangerous galaxy sometimes means getting your hands dirty.

You see, combat is never a problem for the Jedi Knight. Acrobatic lightsaber moves, unleashing devastating Force attacks and back-round kicking opponents in the face are second nature. But what happens when a sworn enemy surrenders and begs you for mercy? You *know* letting him live is going to come back and bite you. Unfortunately, slicing an unarmed opponent in half sort of violates everything the Jedi stand for. So, do you let him live? Or do you bend the rules – just this once – for the greater good?

Suppose you don’t kill him. What if he offers you power in exchange for letting him go free? You can use that power for good. Make the galaxy a better place. The Jedi Council might disapprove, but they’re not out here on the front lines fighting for their lives day in and day out, are they?

Maybe that’s what the Jedi need. Someone with a bit more of an edge. Someone willing to push the limits. Someone willing to cross the lines and battle the Sith on their own terms.

Only once you start down that path, it’s sometimes hard to turn back. Maybe the true heroes are the ones who resist the easy way out. Maybe the Code is what gives the Jedi their enduring strength. Maybe honoring its tenets under all circumstances is the only way to achieve ultimate victory over the dark side.

But the path of uncompromising virtue is a hard road. Take the whole “Jedi must avoid emotional attachments” thing. Love, romance – the Council has decreed these feelings must be denied. Yet after the heat of battle, is it so wrong to seek comfort in the arms of another? Is it better to live a life of solitude and loneliness, or to admit your true feelings and keep your secret affair hidden from those who would pass unfair judgment?

These are the kinds of questions you will face when you play the Jedi Knight. The galaxy needs a savior. The light side needs a champion. What kind will you be? Are you a paragon of virtue; the shining example the Council holds up to show the rest of the galaxy? Or are you a renegade, defying both Code and the Council as you purge Sith from the galaxy?

Whichever path you choose, just be sure to keep your lightsaber handy. I have a feeling you’re going to need it.

Drew Karpyshyn
Senior Writer