The 3rd. Faction

Ok if you had it YOUR way would you still have included a 3rd. Faction? If so what would have it been and what do you think it could've offered TOR?

Yes - but it's very weak YES with huge, long, horselike IF!

First thing: I love conflict in MMO. I couldn't last long at LOTRO (even if it's RP heaven) because lack of fraction conflict. This is the reason why I was so hooked up to Warhammer and for long time to WoW (as long as the conflict was visible - it all started to blur in Burning Crusade and was ruined in WotLK).

So IF there would be the third fraction, it should be hostile to both Republic & Empire. There are some possibilities in Star Wars universe but not much. Let's face it - it's universe based on dualism. Dark vs Light side. Republic(Rebellion) vs Empire. Democracy&Tolerance vs Totalitarianism&Racism. Old Saga vs Prequels

The third player on the chessboard should be someone like Yuuzhan Vong, with separate goals that include eradication of other fractions.

Of course, I like the idea of the "Grey side" of the galaxy, but creating a separate fraction for pirates,smugglers, bounty hunters, hutts cartels etcetera is risky. First thing: it's not logical for such individuals to cooperate on such high level. Second thing is, even if you gather all the "galactic basterds" you still can't really do anything in frontal confrontation with ruthless and efficient Empire military or much larger forces of Republic, with endless resources and recruit pool.

So it would be weakest fraction that theoretically would play minor role in the history. In practice, it would gain biggest player pool, because it's cool to be badass mercenary (!!!).
The balance of the Star Wars Universe is not ready for it.

So YES - IF BioWare would create something special, something that would go beyond "criminals separatists" or "mandalorian invaders" (that where beaten to a pulp by republic and few renegade Jedi - pfyf). Maybe some new part of the galactic would join the conflict.

But would it be still "story Driven Star Wars MMO that takes what is best from Lucas Universe"? And how many MMO there have 3 different fractions really?

As for me, I'd have like an Unfactionned faction. I quite agree with Witya's arguments but there is nothing against a civilian or neutral faction, like we have in SWG. (Sorry to mention that to all the SWG haters ^^,)

I voted No.

I do actually believe what the devs say. This is a game about the conflict between two major sides. Sure there are people flipping in the middle and pursuing there own agenda, but as Witya said, they would hardly collaborate to the point where they could be seen as threat as large as the other factions and trying to represent this would be game breaking. As Witya said (again), the only plausable 3rd faction would be the Yuuzhan Vong or something similar but I don't think they belong in the game. At least not for the time being.

I voted yes, because I am mercenary at heart and a "neutral" faction would have suited me.

But hey-ho!

I say as was said earlier; it wouldn't work. The SW Universe is all about the conflict between the Light (Jedi, republic) and Dark (Sith, empire) side. Sure there are many factions that do not belong to either side, but these are mostly minor ones with no real goal or agenda, and those that are different (i.e pretty much only Mandalorians and Yuuzhan Vong) would not fit as a 3rd faction in this game imo.

Besides, you can still be gray without there having to be a complete faction for it.

I agree with Caryington. I think a neutral faction could work, but only if it's not really a coherent, organized faction. Criminals, corporations, neutral planets, heterodox force traditions, etc, could be contained in this faction.

Sharasvar? I love you