Star Wars: The Old Republic

==General==
Star Wars: The Old Republic, often shortened to SWTOR or TOR, is and MMORPG created by BioWare and is a sequel to their Knights of the Old Republic series. It is set in the Star Wars universe, approximately 3500 years before the events portrayed in the movies. It was officially released on December 20, 2011, though some players were able to access the game earlier.
==Game World==
The Sith Empire and Galactic Republic forces established a fragile peace following the Great Galactic War; the game takes place 10 years following the signing of the treaty that officially ended the war.
Races
As of patch 1.1, races are restricted by class and include Human, pure-blooded Sith, Chiss, Cyborg, Rattataki, Twi'lek, Zabrak, Miraluka, and Mirialan.SWTOR: Species Selection. Accessed March 15, 2012
Game Classes
The two sides have similar classes, though the names are different. Each class is further divided into two separate Advanced Classes, which open up once the player completes the first part of the main storyline. On the Sith side, players can choose to be a Sith Inquisitor, a Sith Warrior, an Imperial Agent, or a Bounty Hunter. The Republic options are Jedi Consular, Jedi Knight, Trooper, and Smuggler.SWTOR: Classes. Accessed March 16, 2012
Companions
Like their Dragon Age and Mass Effect series, BioWare's SWTOR includes companions that can travel with the playable character. Each class has five main companions who join the player over the course of the main storyline. Each party includes at least one member that can be romanced by the player. While all the party members' romance options are heterosexual, the expansion released in 2013 introduced same-sex romances with NPCs in the new questline.Same-Sex Romance Coming to The Old Republic. Accessed March 16, 2012
Shortly after the game's release, Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, made a broadcast about the "threat" of anti-homophobic practices.Family Research Council Attacks Star Wars: The Old Republic for Same-Sex Relationships, posted January 27, 2012. Accessed March 26, 2012.
In a new Star Wars game, the biggest threat to the empire may be homosexual activists! Hello, I’m Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C. In a galaxy not so far far away, Star Wars gamers have already gone to the dark side. The new video game, Star Wars: The Old Republic, has added a special feature: gay relationships. Bioware, the company that developed the game, said it’s launching a same-sex romance component to satisfy some complaints. That surprised a lot of gamers, since Bioware had made it clear in 2009 that “gay” and “lesbian” don’t exist in the Star Wars universe. Since the announcement, homosexuals have been celebrating the news, but parents sure aren’t.Rebel Fleet Surrenders to Gay Empire. Accessed March 26, 2012. 
On March 20, 2012, the Florida Family Association released a statement against SWTOR:Family Values Group Rails Against Hypothetical Transgender Darth Vader Video Game, posted March 21, 2012. Accessed March 26, 2012.
Should BioWare bow to the demands of these LGBT activists by adding such action characters to Star Wars video games they certainly would not create game rules that would allow regular players to prohibit entry into their games by these social agenda characters. That would be discrimination (sarcasm.) There were no LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) characters in any of the Star Wars movies. So if BioWare, the maker of Star Wars video games, adds LGBT characters for kids to select as their action figure it could be something like Darth RuPaula, a combination of Darth Vader, one of the most popular Star Wars characters, and RuPaul, the renown transgender cross dresser.Will the makers of Star Wars video games create Darth VaPaula, a (mock) transgender version of Darth Vader - RuPaul, for kids to choose as their action player?, posted March 20, 2012. Accessed March 26, 2012.
==Fanworks==
===Fanfiction and Fanart===
===Podcasts===
The Mos Eisley Radio Network hosts three podcasts: Sunny's Diner for the casual player; Ossus Academy, which discusses lore; and Mos Eisley Radio, which covers news and in-depth analyses.
=== Challenges ===
* SWTOR Secret Santa (2021-2023)
* SWTOR Summer Exchange (2023-2024)
==Communities==
*SWTOR: Community
*SWTOR Wiki
*TORSyndicate Community
==References==
Category:Star Wars: Expanded Universe
Category:Star Wars: The Old Republic