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| Star Wars: The Old Republic: Balance of Power | |
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| Publication information | |
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| Publisher(s) | |
| Genre |
Space simulation |
| Platform(s) |
PC |
| Chronology | |
| Era(s) | |
| Timeline | |
Star Wars: The Old Republic: Balance of Power is a space simulation game developed by Totally Games and published by LucasArts. The game takes place during the Old Republic era and features two campaigns: one for the Sith Empire and one for the Galactic Republic. Both campaigns revolve around the storyline of the factions attempting to take control of the Kathol sector.
Gameplay and features[]
Campaigns[]
Imperial[]
The Sith Empire attempted to invade the Kathol sector in 3,640 BBY to further weaken Republic hold over the Outer Rim and to divert its forces from attacking the Empire. The main character is Melak Gargun, an Imperial Navy pilot who is a member of Hawk Squadron. A task force of ships is put together, known as Task Force Nemesis. It is tasked with the subjugation of the Kathol sector and is put under the command of Admiral Garik Valyn.
- Mission 1 — Establish a Base
The first mission is largely in place as a tutorial for the player. A cutscene shows the Nemesis, a Harrower-class dreadnought, enter the Dolstan system. Admiral Valyn gives an order for the fleet to begin constructing a space station in orbit of the planet Dolstan to use as a base of operations in the sector. But as they begin to do so, a Republic Thranta-class corvette entered the system, deploying ten Liberator-class starfighters. The player, who is flying an ISF interceptor, is ordered to defend the superstructure of the incomplete space station. Flying as Hawk 1, the player is then given an explanation of basic controls and then ordered to engage the enemy fighters. The AI are on easy difficulty in order to allow beginners to learn the controls. Upon destroying the ten Republic fighters, the player is given orders to destroy the Thranta-class corvette, the TCC Vanguard. The player is told how to switch between different types of weapons the ship offers at that point, and is told to select proton torpedoes. The player is then instructed to target the bridge of the Vanguard. After destroying the enemy corvette, the mission is complete and the player returns to the hangar of the Nemesis.
- Mission 2 — Destroy a communications platform
A cutscene shows the Nemesis and two escorting dreadnoughts, the HCD Retribution and HCD Courageous, entering the Paloma system. A Republic communications space station is in orbit around the system's only planet. As the player begins flying his ISF interceptor towards the planet, several Liberator-class fighters leave station and head to intercept. The player is ordered by Admiral Valyn to defend the four B-5 Decimus bombers that are en route to the station. The fighters are on medium difficulty, and are capable of shooting down the bombers. The player has to protect the bombers by shooting down the fighters that attempt to approach. Meanwhile, the bombers eventually reach the station and begin bombing it (the more bombers are lost, the longer it takes). The station deploys several more Liberator fighters, which the player is told to eliminate after the station is destroyed. With the destruction of both the station and all enemy craft, the player returns to the HCD Nemesis, which then leaves the system. The destruction of the communications platform allows Imperial forces in the area to divide and weaken the Republic fleet.
- Mission 3 — Meet the new neighbors
In a cutscene, player is informed that while he was dealing with the Republic communications platform, the Empire had come into contact with one of the Jarell monarchies. The Jarell are one of the most influential native species of the Kathol sector. Some of the monarchies wanted to side with the Empire, others with the Republic. Another cutscene shows the Nemesis travel to the Corjain system, where a Jarell pro-Imperial leader has agreed to meet with Imperial diplomats. The first objective for the player is to escort a shuttle transporting the diplomats to a space station for them to meet at. However, after the diplomats reach the station, three Republic Thranta-class corvettes (the TCC Klagen, TCC Victorious, and TCC Guardian) enter the system. Both the diplomats and the Jarell leader board an Imperial shuttle to leave. The player is given orders to shoot down a wave of FT-6 Pike starfighters. He is aided by four other pilots in ISF interceptors. The player is made to shoot down the Pikes until the shuttle reaches the Nemesis and enters its hangar. Then he is given orders to return to the dreadnought, which then leaves the system after interceptors board it.
- Mission 4 — Retrieve the Package
The player is told in a cutscene that before their operation can continue, they need to receive more advanced starfighters, as well as other reinforcements. The fleet enters the Charis system, where the meet up is supposed to occur. The Nemesis is accompanied by the Retribution, Courageous, and Vanquisher. When a small fleet arrives, which includes the HCD Eradicator and HCD Zeplin, along with the Terminus-class destroyers TCD Dark Star and Iron Fist, several transports fly out of the hangar of the Zeplin. The player is told to defend them while they make their way to the Nemesis and the other dreadnoughts. Suddenly, two Republic corvettes arrive, the TCC Guardian and TCC Victorious. They both send out FT-6 Pike starfighters, which the player (Hawk 1) is ordered to destroy. He is aided by six friendly AI pilots. He is also ordered to protect the starfighter transports from the Zeplin. Upon destroying the eighteen enemy starfighters, the player is ordered to destroy the corvettes as well. Using proton torpedoes, the player has to first destroy the deflector shield generators, then attack the bridges of the vessels. Both of the corvettes are destroyed. The admiral congratulates the player and tells him to return to the Nemesis.
- Mission 5 — Interrupting a meeting
In a cutscene, the player is told that Imperial Intelligence reported that a meeting is scheduled to take place between pro-Republic Jarell leaders and Republic diplomats in the Pembric system. Aboard the Zeplin was Grand Admiral Yasorion Elakati, who came to advise Admiral Valyn on handling the situation. The Nemesis and four other dreadnoughts arrive in the Pembric system. The player then starts out in a different fighter, flying a Fury-class Imperial interceptor, which arrived with the shipment from the Zeplin. A space station is located some distance away, with two Republic shuttles docked there. As the shuttles notice the Imperials and begin flying off in different directions, the player is ordered to scan them to find the one carrying the Jarell leaders, and destroy it. After doing so, the player and four AI friendly pilots are then forced to fight off fifteen FT-6 Pikes and five FT-7B Clarions (which arrive from the nearby TCC Klagen). Upon destroying the craft, the player is instructed to attack the Klagen, but it leaves before he can reach it. In an end cutscene, the player is told that the negotiations between pro-Republic monarchies of the Jarell and the Republic have been sabotaged successfully. Meanwhile, Imperial Intelligence has discovered the location of a Republic shipyard in the sector that allows them to maintain their ships. That is the next target.
- Mission 6 — Destroying a Republic shipyard
A cutscene shows Grand Admiral Elakati telling the player, who is now promoted to the rank of captain for his skill and courage, that a Republic shipyard has been located in the Brolsam system. The next scene shows the Nemesis arriving and deploying a squadron of Mk. VII advanced interceptors (one of which the player flies in, designated Hawk 1) and a squadron of B-5 Decimus bombers. The shipyard is located near Brolsam. A Republic flotilla, including the TCC Klagen and the Valor-class cruisers VCC Defender, VCC Sentinel, and VCC Liberty, is located near the station. They deploy three squadrons of Pikes and Clarions. The player and the rest of Hawk Squadron are given the orders to prevent the enemy fighters from destroying the bombers. It is similar to the second mission of the campaign, with enemy fighters attacking the bombers and the player (and the friendly AI pilots) defending them as they fly to their target. Once the bombers reach their targets and begin bombing, the player has to continue to defend them from the enemy attackers. They eventually destroy the shipyard and begin retreating back the the Nemesis. To give the Republic a "bloody nose", Admiral Valyn orders the player to use proton torpedoes to destroy one of the Republic cruisers. However, most of the ships retreat to hyperspace, since the shipyard is destroyed anyway. Only the VCC Liberty remains, becoming the player's target. He has to use the proton torpedoes to destroy its shields, then destroy the bridge and the engines. The cruiser is destroyed by that. With the system free of a Republic presence, the player is ordered to return to the Nemesis, which then leaves once he is aboard.
- Mission 7 — Ambushing a convoy
The player is told by Admiral Valyn and Grand Admiral Elakati of their new mission. Their Jarell ally, King Faniir, informed the Empire of a Republic convoy that was going to pass through the Corjain system. The Imperial fleet was on its way there. The player starts out near the Nemesis, some distance away from Corjain. A Republic fleet, which includes the TCC Klagen as well as the VCC Sentinel and VCC Defender as escorts, enters the system a minute later. The fleet also included six Wanderer-class transports (the WCT Plentiful, Pride of the Republic, Rejuvenator, Far Star, Tatooine Sun, and Stratus). As the Imperial flotilla approached, they released fifteen Pikes and Clarions. The player (flying an S-12 Blackbolt) is told to destroy the enemy fighters, with assistance from eleven friendly pilots of Hawk and Alpha Squadrons. After destroying several fighters, the player is instructed to go for the transports. The S-12 held more than the usual amount of proton torpedoes, allowing the player to take out all six transports if torpedoes are used correctly. Destroying at least four would allow the player to pass the mission. If three or more escape, then it is considered a failure. The three escort ships leave the system after the destruction of the transports and the fighters. The Nemesis leaves the system after that operation is over. An ending cutscene shows Admiral Valyn informing the player that they received contact from an ancient, powerful creature on the planet Kathol that said it could provide them with help–the DarkStryder.
- Mission 8 — Establishing contacts
A cutscene shows the Nemesis and two other dreadnoughts enter the Kathol system. There, they find Kathol itself guarded by the Klagen. The player is released from the Nemesis and ordered to take out the twelve Liberator-class fighters, along with four other pilots. After the Republic fighters are destroyed, another cutscene shows the Nemesis destroying the Klagen with its guns. However, another corvette, the TCC Dauntless arrives, along with the cruisers VCC Sentinel and VCC Defender. They twenty FT-6 Pikes and ten FT-7B Clarions, which the player is told to hold off, with an additional five Imperial pilots joining him. After five minutes, an Imperial shuttle returns to the Nemesis, having met with the DarkStryder. Regardless of how many starfighters the player destroyed by that point, he is ordered to return to the dreadnought along with the other Hawk Squadron pilots, who then depart from the system.
- Mission 9 — Defending a space station
In a cutscene, Admiral Valyn tells the player that the DarkStryder tricked the Imperials. It attempted to steal their shuttle when they landed and left it, but they were able to keep the DarkStryder from getting it and escapted. But as the Imperial officers planned their next move, the pilots were sent to a small space station in the Aaris system. A supply station was established there by the HCD Eradicator and the HCD Zeplin. The last part of the cutscene shows a Republic force emerge and begin to attack the space station. The station's crew contacts the Nemesis, but it would take them a while to get there. The player flies out of the hangar, and is instructed to fight off the enemy fighters (along with ten other friendly pilots) until the Nemesis arrives. The Republic fleet consisted of the VCC Interloper, which launched ten Liberator-class fighters, and the VCC Defender, sending out five Pikes. The player holds off the enemy fighters and keeps them from destroying the station for three minutes, until the Nemesis arrives. At that point, the fighters and the other Republic ships retreat. An ending cutscene shows Admiral Valyn tell the player that Intelligence has informed them about a buildup of the Republic fleet in the Charis system. They theorized that it planned on ambushing Task Force Nemesis, and Valyn decided to attack them first and take them by surprise.
- Mission 10 — Final triumph . . . ?
A cutscene shows the Imperial fleet (at full strength) entering the Charis system and taking the Republic fleet (which is in full strength as well) by surprise. A battle begins between the fleets. The player flies out into the battle and is ordered to take out as many corvettes as possible. After destroying two corvettes with proton torpedoes, he is then ordered to attack the Republic cruiser Star of the Senate, the flagship of the Republic admiral commanding the task force. However, much of the Imperial fleet is destroyed, as it is outnumbered, although it manages to take much of the Republic fleet with it. Before the player can destroy the Senate, a cutscene shows the Nemesis ram itself into the Republic flagship. Admiral Valyn was so angry at losing his task force that he at the very least wanted the Republic admiral to go down with him. Grand Admiral Elakati, taking command, orders the player to fight off a squadron of Pike starfighters that attempts to attack his flagship, the Eradicator. After destroying the Pikes, the Grand Admiral orders the player to get into the Eradicator, which then leaves the system with other surviving Imperial vessels.
Republic[]
The Galactic Republic is under attack by the Sith Empire in the Kathol sector, a territory which the Imperials could use to attack other Republic sectors in the Outer Rim. The main character is Okren Bavris, a Republic Navy pilot who is a member of Razor Squadron. The Republic puts together a fleet of ships, known as the Sixth Fleet, which is deployed to the Kathol sector in order to defend it. It is under the command of Admiral Taron Vemper.
- Mission 1 — Defending our allies
The first mission is largely in place as a tutorial for the player. A cutscene shows the Star of the Senate, a Valor-class cruiser, enter the Oon Tien system. The local Jarell monarchies, who were some of the most influential political leaders in the sector, agreed to work with the Republic. But to interrupt this alliance, the Empire deployed a small task force. A Terminus-class destroyer, the Superior, entered the system and deployed ten Mark VI Supremacy-class starfighters. The player, who is flying a Liberator-class starfighter, is ordered to eliminate every Imperial ship. Flying as Razor 1, the player is given an explanation of the basic controls and then ordered to engage the enemy fighters. Upon eliminating the ten Imperial fighters, the player is given orders to destroy the Terminus-class ship. He is told how to switch between different kinds of weapons that his fighter possesses at that point, and is told to select proton torpedoes. The player is then instructed to target the bridge and the main engines of the Superior. With those destroyed, the the Superior explodes and falls apart. The mission is then complete, and the player returns to the hangar of the Star of the Senate.
- Mission 2 — Ambushing an Imperial convoy
In a cutscene, the player is told by Admiral Vemper that the Jarell of Oon Tien are thankful for Republic defense of their world from the Empire. They gave the Republic fleet information that an Imperial transport convoy would be passing through the nearby Sebiris system soon. The Republic fleet, consisting of the VCD Star of the Senate, the VCC Damocles, and VCC Tenacious, went there and waited at the far edge of the system for the convoy to arrive. The player leaves the hangar when four Gage-class transports (the GCT Hand of Ragnos, GCT Imperator, GCT Emperor's Coffer, and GCT Harpax) enter the system. They are escorted by the destroyer TCD Death's Head, which deployed fifteen Supremacy-class fighters upon entering the system. The player is ordered to engage and destroy the fighters, along with seven friendly AI pilots of Razor Squadron. After destroying the Imperial fighters, the player is instructed to use proton torpedoes to destroy each of the four Imperial transports. The AI pilots also take part in the task, since the player's fighter does not have enough torpedoes to destroy every transport. Upon the destruction of the transports, the Death's Head leaves the system. The player returns to the hangar of the Star of the Senate.
- Mission 3 — Protect an ore facility
- Mission 4 —
- Mission 5 —
- Mission 6 —
- Mission 7 —
- Mission 8 —
- Mission 9 —
- Mission 10 — Final triumph . . . ?
Craft featured[]
Republic starfighters[]
Imperial starfighters[]
- Mark VI Supremacy-class starfighter (ISF)
- Fury-class Imperial interceptor (IIF)
- Mk. VII advanced interceptor (ISV)
- S-12 Blackbolt (SBL)
- FT-6 Rycer (FTR)
Bombers[]
Capital ships[]
- Harrower-class dreadnought (HCD)
- Valor-class cruiser (VCC)
- Terminus-class destroyer (TCD)
- Thantra-class corvette (TCC)
Transports[]
- Imperial shuttle (ISH)
- Gage-class transport (GCT)
- Wanderer-class transport (WCT)
- Rendaran-class assault shuttle (RAS)
Appearances[]
| Characters | Creatures | Droid models | Events | Locations |
| Organizations and titles | Sentient species | Vehicles and vessels | Weapons and technology | Miscellanea |
Characters
Events
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Locations
Organizations and titles
Sentient species
Vehicles and vessels