My Dark Side vs. My Light Side

Yesterday, BioWare announced their upcoming Dark vs. Light “event”. I put event in quotes because it’s not really an event per se. At least not in the same vein as the Gree or Rakghoul events. You know, things that when they were introduced to the game were new content.

I’m not going to go into exact detail about what the event covers, mainly because it’s rather involved. Seriously, it reads like one of those long TOS agreements that you “peruse”. And by peruse, I mean don’t read a single word, but just blindly click the box and then wonder why your inbox is suddenly filling up with all sorts of unsolicited e-mails.

No, I really don’t want to buy a Fist-O-Matic 3000. In fact, why don’t you take your Fist-O-Matic and shove it up… Oh, never mind.

To BioWare’s credit, they were not light on information and even included guides to help you get started. Here are some official links to all the information you need to know about Dark vs. Light.

In short, the event can best be summarized as think of anything and everything you could possibly do in-game, and now imagine doing all of those things in a 3-5 month period on brand new characters. That’s characters plural by the way. It would have been easier for BioWare to list the activities that aren’t part of the event, which I believe is only that PvE mini-space game. Remember that thing? Didn’t think so.

I’m very conflicted about this event and am wrestling with my dark and light sides.

My dark side is all like,

kylo-ren-has-a-temper-tantrum-over-losing-bb-8

and my light side is all like this.

bb8_thumbsup

My dark side is going, let me get this straight. You want me to do all of the things it took 4 and ½ years to complete and do them all again in 3-5 months on multiple new toons? Umm, Hell no! This is utter bantha poodoo! I’m done. That bike I was thinking about getting? It’s totally happening now and I’m going to step away from the keyboard and spend the Summer outside.

My dark side is thinking who is the genius that thought that having players reboot themselves is a good idea? That’s what this is. If I want to get the full experience of the event I have to create and level at a minimum eight characters. I have to run them through Flashpoints, stories, Operations, and Battlegrounds. I have to get all the crafting crew skills to max level. I have to hunt new datacrons and participate in recurring events. I even have to do Galactic ‘Effin Starfighter.

All of this so I can get an armor set that, wait for it, helps you level more ‘Effin toons. Not even joking.

My light side, on the other hand, is going, let me get this straight. You want me to do all of the things it took 4 and ½ years to complete and do them all again in 3-5 months on multiple new toons?

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

Mounts, armor sets, companions, decorations? I love this stuff. I am all about the cosmetic rewards. I bust a big grin every time I break out my Sith Juggernaut with his Sith Recluse armor set and Defiant Vented Lightsaber; even if it’s just to farm crystals and herbs.

My light side is making plans to get this done. I’m thinking about which new characters I want to level. Mercenary for the Empire and Smuggler for the Republic are my initial thoughts. If I decide to shoot for the Endor moon, I’ll need one of each class, of course.

I’m already crossing my fingers that I’ll score a Revan Reborn armor set, a black/black, and white/white armor dye out of this.

In short, my light side is all in. I’m ready to stock up on Mountain Dew and Doritos, lock the door and go to town.

I get why people are bent out of shape, especially the long-time players. They’ve already done this stuff on multiple characters. It’s their legacy and they’re about to have nothing to show for it.

I myself just finished leveling two new toons from 1-65 in April and May. I have a level 25 Smuggler and level 39 Consular that won’t count towards this event. I have 20 characters on my main server and no free slots. I’ve done most of the Operations, World Bosses, and Flashpoints. I’ve done all of the class stories and other storylines multiple times. I have every crew skill at max level.

The timing of the event is terrible. At worst it should have happened in November or December while we were waiting on Chapter X, and at best it should have happened when the Legacy system was released in 2012.

I will participate in the event, and I actually look forward to getting more stuff. I don’t plan to achieve the Legendary level, but Eternal, which unlocks the new companions is quite doable, and that will be my goal. Like most thing with this nearly five year old MMO, I’m not as excited as I wish to be, but I keep on keeping on.