Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the BT-7 Thunderclap. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out crazy Sith and defiant Hutts, to boldly go where no Gungan has gone before.

Have I officially created a tear in the fabric of space and time by doing that? Universe ending catastrophe aside, Star Wars: The Old Republic is just as much about space as it is about mono-climate planets and the Force. We have our fair dose of the latter two in TOR, but currently space only serves as a supporting role in the grand scheme.

These are the kinds of madcap, slap yo mama space battles that can take place in open space

Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the space missions that currently populate The Old Republic. I’ve played all of my currently available ones multiple times and have no problem with the on-rails aspect as a diversion to the main game. Having said that, I would like to see more out of space than is currently being utilized. So let’s all put on our speculation hats and dream of days to come in the expanded space world of The Old Republic.

As it stands, I like to compare Star Wars: The Old Republic to Star Trek Online. Now I know sweeping generalizations have always caused eye rolling in the past but I assure you fellow TORWarriors that I am not insinuating anything other than my following statement. I feel that where STO focused more on space and less on planets, TOR focuses more on planets and less on space.

Is this a bad thing? Absolutely not. The planets are where we get our richest stories and most control. I would not take that away in two rotations of a Tatooine sun(s). I also understand that feature creep can cause a game to go woefully off-track and create massive delays. Fortunately, we now have a wonderful game and can toy with it as we see fit.

Ahh the BT-7 Thunderclap. She may not be as nice as the USS Enterprise, but she has the same number of syllables so it’s a natural fit

I find TOR to be a wonderfully immersive game. From the voice acting to the stories to the little details on the planets; TOR pulls me in. That is why I can see the point of a more expanded and open space. Having the space around planets and combat zones to fly freely only helps to keep that immersion in the universe.

TOR is about many things and one of them is exploration. TOR rewards you for being an explorer by giving you optional missions, datacrons, lore entries, and Easter eggs. Expanding space also expands the exploration by a monumental amount. Searching asteroid fields or finding hidden space routes. Happening upon a derelict ship or even a secret moon base. Space is ripe with unexplored content waiting to be unlocked.

Expanding space would also help to bring in more subscribers and assist in keeping the current ones. I love all the planet action, but sometimes I just don’t feel like talking to the needy farmer about his damn womp rat problem. Open space provides a welcome and lasting alternative that is more than a mere distraction. People can play the game they want. Do they want to spend all of their time in space fighting battles and exploring hidden regions? Well now they can for longer than the few minutes it takes to finish a current space mission.

EVE Online is a very unique MMO that takes open space to a different level. Now I am certainly not advocating for something as expansive as that but EVE has done something that few MMOs can attest to – it has maintained itself as a subscription based game for a multitude of years without collapse or falling into the realm of free-to-play. Having a more open space in TOR could possibly bring some of those hardcore space fans into the fold.

EVE may not appeal to everyone, but it sure makes open space look purdy (pic eveonline.com)

I think open space would bring more customization to our ships. A bigger focus on space goes hand-in-hand with a bigger focus on the spacecraft that populate it. Currently, ships are static and have a few options for upgrades to their combat and defense systems. With open space comes the possibility of more customizable ships, inside and out. In addition, it also might lead to ship changes with expanded looks and skins much like they have for the companions at this point.

Finally, open space serves a much better format for unlocking space to multiplayer. TOR is an MMO yet space is currently a one person job. Having an open space would make it much easier to facilitate having multiple player ships in an area. All of a sudden, space is alive with ships moving here and there, combat is taking place on the fringes of your map, and NPC ships are traveling in and out of the system to bring new life to the space around a planet or station. Open space creates a world of PvP space battles, joint operations, and combined Flashpoints or missions where a battle starts in space yet finishes on the planet. Now a story can include both aspects without it feeling detached.

I have thrown around a lot of ideas here and I’m certain there will be just as many detractors as there are supporters. I know BioWare has said from the beginning that TOR is a theme park and not a sandbox. However, I feel that a balance can be struck here. Space doesn’t have to be an endless void. It can be a tightly defined explorable area like many of the current planets.

Also, quick travelers need not worry. The current travel between planets could remain intact. Imagine a system similar to the taxis on the planets. You can spend the money to take a taxi between areas or you could take a little more time, save a few credits, and get to your destination through running or speeders. Now of course you can’t fly from Tatooine to Hoth directly but there could be an edge of space where hyperdrive kicks in or something of that nature.

I am not looking to turn TOR into something it is not. I very much enjoy the game in its current form. But I feel a carefully implemented expansion of space can lead to some wonderfully immersive content that will serve to make the game better, more engrossing, and easier to get lost in. Open space expands mission ideas, content, and ultimately makes it easier to put out diverse material on a regular basis.

Think how much more fun this would be with multiple players and open exploration

The Old Republic is an amazing game with several systems in place to divide your attention. Fan of open space or not, it would add another element to an already great experience. I know I will have my fair share of comments that are torch-and-pitchfork about it but I only ask that you consider the benefit it would do for the game. Even if you never touch it, PvP still adds to the game as a whole in other ways like items on the GTN or customers for your crafted gear. Invariably, even if you never see one frame of open space, it will impact your other interests in a positive way.

Of course this is all just a dream at this point. This may be a long way off or it may never come. I am here simply to share my thoughts and open a dialog. Like it or not, excited or indifferent, rage-filled or calm, I welcome your thoughts. Does it make sense? Are you on board but feel my ideas need tweaking? Am I bat-poo crazy? Should we be able to fire Gungans out of our missile tubes? One of the best things about TOR is its ability to create hearty debate – I for one love that about The Old Republic. Here’s hoping to see you all in space.