[2022] A Note From the Dev Team

Hey folks,

I know the recent announcement is going to take some time for everyone to process. We are right there with you! I've traveled the world with Charles, he attended my wedding, he is a dear friend, and will be sorely missed. Still, I want to take this opportunity to introduce, or even re-introduce some of the names you read about today as you will certainly hear from some, if not all of us, more regularly going forward.

I suspect if you are here in the forums that I am no stranger to you. I started in these very forums as a fan myself over 10 years ago, moved onto the Community Team, became CM, moved into Production, and now I am typing this message to you as Lead Producer. SWTOR continues to be a wild ride for me, one that I have been thrilled to take with all of you. In this role, leading the efforts of the Design team, you should definitely expect to see and hear more from me about what we are doing, when we are doing it, and why.

All that said, I am not the one bringing the creative prowess to the table. For that, you need to look no further than the other incredibly talented folks that are leading up our Design teams...

-eric

Hello! Im Ashley Ruhl and I am now the Narrative Director for SWTOR. I met many of you during this past Star Wars Celebration and I had fantastic conversations with you all about how cinematic storytelling works in the game. Ive been a part of SWTOR several times over the years, including at the games launch, during KOTFE/KOTET, and finally rejoining the SWTOR team for Echoes of Oblivion and beyond, as well as leading the cinematic team on Legacy of the Sith. SWTOR is incredibly special to me, as is this talented team that brings the game to life.

Working with Charles has been one of the highlights of my career. He has led the SWTOR team with courage and compassion, as well as being an incredible storyteller in the Star Wars universe and delivering countless memorable moments for SWTOR fans. I think I speak for the team when I say that we will all deeply miss Charles (and his magnificent beard). These are definitely some big shoes to fill, but I believe that we have been set up for success with many opportunities ahead of us, and Im honored to carry the torch forward. Im so excited for the future of SWTOR and cant wait to share it with all of you!

Hi all. Its been a while!. Im George and Im the Gameplay Design Director. Ive been working on SWTOR for almost a decade now, first as part of the team that built many of the Operations, now working with the teams in charge of player combat and systems. SWTOR has been a big part of my life for these last 10+ years, and Im excited to be able to be a part of its future going forward.

Hi everyone, Im Alan Copeland, UX Director for SWTOR and Ive been working on AAA games for nearly two decades, working on SWTOR specifically since early 2020. My team and I are working hard to make SWTOR more accessible, approachable and understandable for both new users and seasoned veterans of our game. We know that our players have a lot of love for SWTOR, and we keep that sentiment in mind to make the game the best that it can be.

Hey, everyone! Ive posted here before, but its been awhile, so allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Caitlin Sullivan Kelly, and Im now the Lead Writer for Star Wars: the Old Republic. Some of you may remember me sharing my short story, Quite a Story to Tell, but I also had the pleasure of writingamong many other thingsthe Imperial Manaan story for Legacy of the Sith, both versions of the Secrets of the Enclave flashpoint, the All Worlds Ultimate Swoop Rally event, and some major scenes in Echoes of Oblivion. Before I was a Game Writer, I was a Narrative Specialist, and my contributions to the narrative team go as far back as 2014, when I started providing feedback for the expansions story during the development of Shadow of Revan. In every Star Wars: the Old Republic update since then, my primary responsibility has been working with writing, design, art, and cinematics to ensure our story content adheres to a particular standard of quality.

Ive learned so much from working so closely with Charles over the years; hes been an amazing supporter, mentor, and friend. While itll be very hard to see him go, Ive also learned a lot from working with Ashley, and Im so excited to continue supporting her in her new role. We both recognize our teams talent for collaboration and creativity, as well as the passion for the amazing stories we tell: the twists and turns, the characters and relationships, the settings and the lore. I love this game, this team, and this community, and I look forward to continuing our storytelling journey together!

Hi everyone,

I understand that there is a lot to process right now, but I am posting this to remind everyone to be respectful. My colleagues posted here because there is a desire to communicate with the playerbase, and while we do encourage players to speak their mind, I ask that you remember we are human beings. I and the moderation team will not tolerate posts that are made to target, insult, harass or attack a dev or any player in the forums. Please be mindful of the forum guidelines.

Thank you.

Hey casirabit,

Confirming that players' experience reflected in PTS will be what goes live with 7.1. The dailies will unlock after the crit path is completed, so players will need to complete both.