Plot
Events in SW:KotOR proceed in a fairly linear fashion, despite the illusion
of being open-ended. You start on the Endar Spire, then escape Taris, finally
you become a Jedi on Dantooine and learn about the Star Maps and receive the
main quest to find them and locate the Star Forge. From there, you have the
option of visiting four worlds in any order:
- Tatooine: Desert world
- Kashyyyk: Forest world that is home to wookies
- Manaan: Water world
- Korriban: Sith homeworld
It is usually best to leave Korriban for last, because the final area is
tough and you are forced to go solo. On top of that, Bastila is not available
on Korriban regardless of when you visit, so you might as well save it for
last when she's out of your group. My personal preference is Kashyyyk, Tatooine,
Manaan and Korriban. When choosing a sequence, there are a few things to keep
in mind:
- Kashyyyk should be finished before Manaan so Jolee Bindo is in your party
when you visit Manaan.
- There is a high-value merchant on Korriban that is only available to you
after you have collected three Star Maps.
- If you do Tatooine first, you will have to do a lot of running back and
forth that can be avoided if you visit later.
Certain events take place
based on
how
many
Star
Maps
you have
collected.
- When you go to retrieve your first Star Map, you will run into bounty hunter
Calo Nord (for the second time, having encountered him on Taris).
- When retrieving your third Star Map, you will meet
Darth Malak's personal apprentice, Darth Bandon. You'll recognize him from
the
Endar Spire.
- After leaving the world where you collect your third Star Map, you'll be
captured by Admiral Karath on the Sith flagship, Leviathan. A major plot
event unfolds at this point, and you're limited in your options to continue
from
this point.
E.g. you can't go back to Dantooine from now on. Also, while on the ship,
before encountering Darth Malak, take any items you like away from Bastila
or you won't see them again.
- After collecting your fourth Star Map, you will know the location of the
Star Forge. Don't travel there until you're ready to finish the game. Once
you target the Star Forge system, you can't go home again.
Messenger Points
Messenger points are those areas where, if you have reached a certain point
in the plot and have certain characters with you, an NPC will appear to deliver
a message to one of your companions. These messenger points are located near
your ship, and you should try to cross them with each member of your group
as often as possible:
- On Dantooine, the messenger point is directly outside your ship.
- On Kashyyyk, Korriban, Manaan and Tatooine the messenger point is near
the exit from the landing port. On Korriban and Tatooine, this is still close
by your ship. On Kashyyyk, this is near the exit to the Great Walkway. On
Manaan, it is just past the merchant in the docking ring.
Security Spikes
Security spikes (not to be confused with computer
spikes) are devices that are supposed to improve your Security skill when trying
to
open
a lock
(single
use item).
However, they appear to have been disabled, without actually being removed
from the game. And Mission will happily make even more for you on Ebon Hawk.
So, if you are having trouble figuring out how to use those security spikes
on locked items, stop worrying about it and sell your spikes (remember! security spikes,
not computer spikes) for cash.
General Tips & Hints
- My favorite class combo is Scout/Jedi Sentinel. You get a good mixture
of skills, feats, force points, vitality, etc. It makes it a lot easier on
those
occasions
when you are forced to go it alone. You also don't have to spend as much
time switching party members in-and-out to get computer slicing or door spiking
abilities into your party. Since there are numerous areas where you can't
change your party around, being a jack-of-all trades yourself with two combat-oriented
backups is the best way to go.
- On each planet, make sure you leave the ship with each party member. Many
side quests are activated when you have certain companions with you. These
are usually triggered by your position within the plot (i.e. how many Star
Maps you have or where you are in the NPC's conversation tree) rather than
specific worlds; although, you will need to travel to a specific world in
order to
complete
the quest.
- To make the final battle easier, you will need at least one offensive force
power that is not Force Push, Force Whirlwind, Force Wave, Stun, Stasis or
Stasis Field. Throw Lightsaber is a good choice. As are the Stun/Disable/Destroy
Droid series. The final battle can be completed without such a power, but
it's quite a bit harder. (Trust me, I made this mistake the first time through
the game...)
- Jedi can add their Dexterity bonus to lightsaber attacks, so a high-DEX
character is preferable since you can't use some force powers (Force
Armor, Speed, Lightning, etc.) while wearing armor.
- You can "finish" each world after Dantooine without retrieving the Star
Map. In this way, you can get all, or most, of your side quests finished
and then run around actually getting the maps. There are some advantages
to doing this (especially if playing Light Side), which I may detail later.
Increasing Jedi Powers
To maximize Jedi powers,
don't level up on Taris, or, only level up one or two times. If you can
muddle through Taris without levelling (even though
you have earned the experience), you can get up to 18 Jedi levels. If you
level every time you have the opportunity, you will typically be level
8 before
switching to a Jedi class, only allowing 12 Jedi levels. The additional
6 levels of Jedi would give you more force points as well as 6 additional
force
powers (8 if Consular). Doing this can be very difficult, because you'll
need to rely almost solely on your associates on Taris. The trick is to avoid
most
of the
side
quests and only run through those areas that are necessary to reach your final
goal. When I did this, I was only level 7 when I reached Dantooine, so it took
longer to reach level 20 (but still easily before the game's finale). In this
situation, Zaalbar is a very good companion for his melee skills. Give him
one or two vibroblades and watch him chop your opponents to pieces. (Of course,
you have to rescue him first...)
On the whole, you don't really need those extra Jedi levels. All the Jedi
classes are optimized for 12 levels. By 12th level you will have received all
your automatic bonus feats. You will have more than enough force powers (13
for Guardians and Sentinels, 15 for Consulars). Whatever you do, do not advance
past level 8 on Taris. Losing one Jedi level will significantly impact your
abilities (you lose +2 Defense and your Master-level unique feat). After playing
through a few times, I think a 4/16 split or 8/12 split are the "optimal" builds.
Obviously, your mileage may vary, but these two splits have worked well for
me.
Light vs Dark
Most of the time, the choice between light and dark will be self-evident.
Light will always refuse rewards, help innocents and try to turn those who
have fallen back to the light (even Darth Malak). Dark will abuse innocents,
threaten people for greater rewards and suppress all who stand in their way.
Many situations have a light solution, a dark solution and a neutral solution;
however, not all events have all three solutions.
Whichever side you choose, you should try to reach Mastery, which provides
bonuses and enhancements for your character.
- Achieving Light Side Mastery or Dark Side Mastery gives your
character bonuses based on your Jedi Class:
- Light Side Guardian: +3 Strength
- Light Side Sentinel: +3 Constitution
- Light Side Consular: +3 Charisma
- Dark Side Guardian: +1d8 damage
- Dark Side Sentinel: Immune to poison
- Dark Side Consular: +50 force points
- In addition, when you reach Light or Dark Side Mastery, force powers from
your side cost 50% less, while force powers from the opposite side cost
75% more.
Universal powers always cost the same.
(See the descriptions of the force powers on the Classes
page to see which powers
fall in which categories.)
I have found, if I am concentrating on earning points, I can easily reach
either Light Side or Dark Side mastery by the time I have recovered the second
Star Map. From there on, it's a piece of cake maintaining mastery. Overall,
with the exception of the epilogue movies, the play experience is almost identical.
You experience
the
same events, do the same quests and fight the same (or very similar) battles.
Yavin Space Station
If you examine your Galaxy Map on Ebon Hawk, you will note a Yavin Space Station.
You can travel there to buy high-end equipment from the sole occupant. The
space station is literally nothing but a long hallway and a single merchant,
so I haven't bothered with a map. After retrieving all the Star Maps and visiting
the station at least three times, you will have to save the proprietor from
the attack of a band of Trandoshans. He will then sell you some very special
items, including a couple of super-powered lightsaber
crystals.
Save
all your
money
(live off
the loot)
until you get
to this point so you can shop 'til you drop at his store. Additionally, if
you can beat him ten times at Pazaak, he will give you a 20% discount on all
items he sells.
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