BioWare has pulled out yet another planet for us to salivate over: it’s the lava-covered Ord Mantell. And it looks like one heck of a battleground. Read on...

“The mountainous plains and volcanic islands of Ord Mantell are littered with the ravages of a ruthless civil war. Republic forces are fighting elusive Separatists who are conducting guerilla style strikes against both military and civilian targets. Adding questions to an already questionable situation, the planet's government, though loyal to the Republic, is merely a puppet regime for underworld concerns.

Corellian colonists settled Ord Mantell nine thousand years ago, and the planet became a staging point for Republic military operations in the Outer Rim. Ord Mantell’s strategic value waned over the centuries, however, and after a corrupt admiral sold off the local fleet, the military all but abandoned the planet. Ord Mantell soon became a haven for smugglers, pirates, and bounty hunters, and the local government fell under the sway of the crime syndicates — a dynamic that remains in place to this day.

Though largely uncontested during the war between the Republic and the Sith Empire, things changed after the Treaty of Coruscant. Though many star systems withdrew from the Republic, Ord Mantell’s corrupt governors decided it was better business to stay loyal. Not all of the planet's populace agreed, however, and a Separatist movement began and quickly escalated into an armed conflict.

The marauders began a hit-and-run war to drive the military off the planet and achieve independence. Over the last two years, the Separatist attacks have ravaged the landscape and de-stabilized the corrupt government. Despite the difficult situation, Ord Mantell’s defenses are being bolstered. Crime syndicates backing the local government are bringing in potent black-market technologies from Nar Shaddaa, and the Republic is deploying its most elite forces.

The battle for Ord Mantell is just beginning.”

In plain MMO terms: This should be a lot of fun. To me, it looks like we’ll be seeing a whole lot of action here, both PvP (Player vs. Player) and PvE (Player vs. Environment). We don’t know a whole lot about either in the game so far, but every Star Wars fan loves a good rebellion to get the heart pumping. If the concept isn’t too cliché for you, then you’re probably going to enjoy it a heck of a lot.