The Voss: SWTOR's exception to the rule?

Furry walking carpets are actually tree loving warriors. Cocky gunslingers are from a planet staunch in its independence. The desert planet of Tatooine used to be a thriving jungle world. These are all tidbits of information the movie goer or gamer would never know by watching their favorite film or playing an MMO. However, Daniel Erickson, the Principal Lead Writer for Star Wars: The Old Republic, and his crew consider these types of thing for every planet, species, and character.

Very few people, even game designers who work for LucasArts, get to add to the Star Wars canon. Bioware is in this exciting position, but like any good writing team they have to consider the existing universe. "Now to be clear, the first thing we do when we decide to add a "new" world to the vast Star Wars mythology is to do our research and see if there is a world that already exists and will fit our needs. Is it the right type of climate? The right place in the galaxy? Does it have next to nothing written about it? Awesome, it's ours," says Erickson. Enter the Voss. This species of Mystics lives outside the Republic or the Empire. The Jedi find them dangerous, and the Sith cannot deceive them. The Voss's story explores the fringes of politics and religion: The exception to the rule.

Read more about how Daniel Erickson combs the depths of storytelling in this week's SWTOR Developer's Blog: Creating Worlds