The first class for Star Wars: The Old Republic has been announced! The Bounty Hunter has been officially named as a playable class in the MMORPG. The official news site has this to say:

“An infamous mercenary of the Star Wars™ universe, the Bounty Hunter’s journey is ruthless yet rewarding. Deadly missions and assassinations are just part of the dangerous tasks involved in choosing the Bounty Hunter career path. With missiles and flamethrowers at arm’s reach, the Bounty Hunter uses the latest in advanced armour and weapon technology to carry out these assignments - gaining not only money, but notoriety as a reward.”

The class was an obvious choice for BioWare, with Bounty Hunters having such a huge role in all aspects of the Star Wars Universe. Film characters like Boba Fett captured the imaginations of many, and this class should prove to be a popular one. Exactly how a Bounty Hunter would plan on taking down a Jedi is yet to be seen, however.

The official bio of the Bounty Hunter class states the following:

“Countless enemies stand in the way of the Sith Empire’s drive for domination. The Empire spares no expense eliminating these threats, offering massive bounties to employ the galaxy’s most lethal hunters. Earning a death mark from the Empire means a life spent in fear, constantly looking over one’s shoulder. It’s never a question if a Bounty Hunter will find you… only when.

Both infamous and anonymous at the same time, Bounty Hunters are far more than mercenaries for hire—they’re heirs to a professional legacy—an ancient brotherhood with a glorious history. Tracking elusive targets across multiple star systems requires expertise, especially when the targets can be prominent, powerful, and often prepared for confrontation. Thrill seekers from all walks of life set out to become Bounty Hunters, but only the most hard-boiled survive in this competitive and deadly business.

The Bounty Hunter’s path lies along the edge—the stakes are always high—and the path only leads two places, to a life of infamous glory… or to a quick and ignominious death.

Imperial Relations

Though the Empire disapproves of the Bounty Hunters’ fierce independence, exceptions are made for those who get results. Few individuals in the galaxy have the gall and the stomach to deliver on the delicate and grim tasks in which Bounty Hunters excel. Nonetheless, no one is irreplaceable in the Empire, and even the most proficient must repeatedly prove their worth. In the bounty business, one’s name is everything, and with each mark a Bounty Hunter takes down, his reputation grows, as does his price.

Affiliations and Loyalties

Bounty Hunters are far from a homogeneous lot—they come from all species and affiliations and each pursues his quarry in his own unique way. Some Bounty Hunters adhere to the rugged Mandalorian code of honour while others answer only to their own moral compass. Some work only on behalf of organizations they agree with, while others have no sense of loyalty.

Despite being kindred spirits, fellow Bounty Hunters cannot always be trusted—among the profession’s most notorious members, competition turns colleagues into the most ruthless of enemies. Even the Bounty Hunters’ employers harbor hidden agendas; the tables are turned quickly when complications arise… and they always do. Shifting allegiances, unbeatable odds, and deadly showdowns are common in the occurrences in the life of a Bounty Hunter.”

The sentence “with each mark a Bounty Hunter takes down, his reputation grows, as does his price.” Is of particular note to this author – is BioWare hinting at some kind of reputation-based progression/experience system? Sounds interesting. Bounty Hunters would also seem to rely on what other MMOs would call “questing”. Of course, disciples of the Old Republic series will know that Bounty Hunters hunted the Jedi *almost* to extinction at least once... That knowledge at least gives me a decent feeling that the odds won’t be too heavily skewed in the robed-ones’ favour.

More information?

“Field Reconnaissance

Bounty Hunters come and go as they wish across the galaxy, some working alone, others in groups. Though not uncommon for them to pursue targets in the core worlds, the majority of any Bounty Hunter’s work takes place in the Outer Rim where wary and elusive targets often seek places where they can ‘drop off the radar’.”

Sounds like fun to me. I’m interested in whether you’ll be able to set bounties on other players. Or have them set on you...

“Outfitting

Preparation is the Bounty Hunter’s best defense, and cutting-edge protective gear is standard equipment for most Bounty Hunters. Artisans spend months and even years hand-crafting the Bounty Hunters’ heavy armor to ensure it offers superior resistance to all manner of weaponry, and that each suit will still allow maximum flexibility and versatility. Offense is just as critical as defense, however, and powerful weaponry is necessary for any Bounty Hunter who might have to shoot his way out of a messy situation. It’s not unheard of for a Bounty Hunter to spend as many credits on an advanced blaster as others might spend to purchase an entire starship.”

Weaponry is always exciting. And so is armour. But I think the one thing that has all the fanboys drooling is the flamethrower, which BioWare seems pretty keen to show off wherever possible. I’m not complaining.

“Combat Tactics

Whether working for credits or principle, the Bounty Hunter pursues his targets with dogged determination and methodical precision. Bounty Hunters are renowned for their versatility on the battlefield and their ability to go toe-to-toe with force-users. Their legendary abilities in this arena have earned them the nickname “Jedi Killers”. Whoever they must face, however, the Bounty Hunter comes armed with the most-advanced weaponry on the black market, packing heavy firepower but always keeping a variety of tricks and gadgets ready to go.”

I guess that answers my question about Jedi fallibility. Are Jedi to be known as BountyBait?

Why are you reading this? Go back to salivating over the flamethrower.