With SWTOR slated for Q1 2011 many of us are already within its
“force grip”, so to speak. I have friends that ask me on a weekly basis
what class and specialization I plan on playing, so I figured I may as
well make a list for those that haven’t yet decided what to roll. Enjoy
my insomnia. Big thanks to SWTOR’S main site as well as Wookiepedia.com for helping me compile this information at the crack of dawn.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Jedi Consular
Consular seems to favor light armor and can wield a “Darth Maul”
style double bladed light saber. They appear to be of the DPS or
support/healing variety depending on how you spec later in your career.
That being said, I think all Consulars can heal regardless of
specialization. “Concentrating on mental refinement through study
and meditation, Consulars sought to perfect the art of diplomacy and
mediation, hoping to calm a tense situation or mend hurt feelings
through civil discourse, reasoning, and parley, rather than drawing
their lightsabers and cutting down an attacker.”

• Advanced Class – Shadow – “These Jedi
  shadows specialized in stealth and dealing high amounts of damage to
  enemies in melee combat. They were known to primarily wielddouble-bladed
  lightsabers in combat, and were adept at concealing themselves with the
  Force. Working directly under the Council of First Knowledge, Shadows
  were sent to destroy everything and anything connected with the Sith and
  their followers.”
  
• Advanced Class – Sage – These Jedi specialized
  in Force healing and Telekinesis. Jedi Sages were known to primarily
  wield one single-bladed lightsaber in combat, and were adept at ranged
  attacks with the Force.
  

Both the "Priest" and "Rogue" class.. neat

___________________________________________________________________________________________
Jedi Knight
The old standby. What kid (or adult) has not wanted to be a Jedi
Knight at least once in their lives? Jedi Knights often wear the
traditional Jedi robes, but can also wear heavy armor when going into
battle (Think Kenobi with his trooper armor on during the Clone Wars) .
From what I gather Jedi Knights wield a single light saber, but can
duel wield when they specialize. In terms of roles, they seem to be both
TANK and DPS depeding on advanced class choice.

• Advanced Class - Jedi Guardian – From what I’m
  reading the Guardian will most likely play like the paladin class. You
  will have the ability to “buff” your party as well as take an absurd
  amount of damage. “Perfect concentration
  and use of the Force allows smooth movement even in heavy armor–making
  the Guardian a hard target to take down. Leaders on and off the
  battlefield, Guardians are known for inspiring allies to amazing feats,
  making them invaluable for conflicts of any size.”
  
• Advanced Class – Jedi Sentinel – Shifting from protection and party buffs to pure DPS is the Sentinel. ”Control
  and focus are the hallmarks of the Sentinel. Through years of training
  the Sentinel learns the art of using two Lightsabers simultaneously to
  create an intricate web of damage that is almost impossible to evade.
  Manipulating the Force, the Sentinel can
  see holes in the enemy defense, potential flaws in their own technique
  and how best to plan for both.While they possessed adequate combat
  skills and had somewhat extensive knowledge of the Force, Sentinels
  blended both schools of teaching and amplified them with a series of
  non-Force skills, such as in the fields of security, computers, stealth
  techniques, demolitions, repair or medicine.”
  

_________________________________________________________________________________________
Smuggler
The kids that didn’t want to be a Jedi Knight wanted to be Han Solo.
From what I understand SWTOR places you in control of one of the most
respected smugglers in the galaxy. A true rogue class for those that
like quick and stealthy gameplay and probably living in the moral gray.
The part I find to be the most exciting is that Smugglers get their own
cover mechanic. So unlike many of the other classes
that have to wade into battle, the smuggler can dip in and out of
shadows behind cover… cool! DPS and support roles.

• Advanced Class – Gunslinger – “A gunslinger was
  a type of smuggler that appeared during the years of the Great Galactic
  War and the Cold War that followed it circa 3,653 BBY. Master of the
  trick shot, the first to dive for cover and willing to take advantage of
  every opportunity, the Gunslinger and his dual blasters are the perfect
  team. The Gunslinger can shoot out a man’s
  legs to keep him from charging, blind him so he can’t get to his
  weapons or inflict serious injuries for maximum distraction. There’s a
  right target for ending every disagreement and the Gunslinger knows them
  like the inside of his ship.”
  
• Advanced Class – Scoundrel – “In addition to
  his trusty blaster the Scoundrel packs a stealth belt, a scattergun and a
  med pack–everything he needs to get in, knock the enemy for a loop and
  get out alive. Being invisible works best, but even when Sith fly
  through the air waving Lightsabers all they get to do is look surprised
  as the Scoundrel’s scattergun sends them back the way they came. The
  Scoundrel always shoots first.”
  

Always shoot first

_________________________________________________________________________________________
Trooper
I don’t think that many people were excited about the Trooper class
until that last trailer dropped. Playing the story from the perspective
of the best solider in the Republic may indeed be an amazing adventure
(+ Jennifer Hale! ). The trooper will be a hearty ranged DPS class that
has the capacity to Tank if you choose the Vanguard class. So your
choices will be, dealing massive damage, or taking massive damage.

• Advanced Class – Commando – Able to withstand a
  beating and able to carry the biggest weapons in the game, this class is
  a no-brainer for those that like a more gritty story and high
  explosives. Trained in advanced assault tactics and weaponry, Commandos
  charge battlefields with massive blaster cannons, overwhelming their
  enemies with brute firepower.
  
• Advanced Class – Vanguard - Oddly enough, a ranged “tanking” class for the Republic -
  “A vanguard was a type of trooper that appeared during the years of
  theGreat Galactic War and the Cold War that followed it circa 3,653 BBY.
  These steadfast soldiers ignore personal risk, deliberately stepping
  into the line of fire to divert danger from allies and innocents.
  Though their tactical role is inherently dangerous, Vanguards have
  an uncanny survivability due to their expert defensive tactics and
  the advanced technology at their disposal.”
  

For the Republic?

_________________________________________________________________________________________
And now for the “bad” guys..
SITH EMPIRE
Bounty Hunter
No doubt destined to be a mega popular class the term “bounty hunter”
was made cool by Star Wars and Star Wars alone. Iconic characters such
as IG-88, Aura Sing, and Boba Fett radiate cool and badassery. Who
doesn’t want to fly around the galaxy working for the highest bidder and
have no moral code? In terms of game play Bounty Hunters appear to
slide into the ranged DPS and Tanking archtypes. That being said, they
also appear to have a variety of support roles on the battlefield…oh,
and they can fly.

• Advanced Class – Power Tech – This advanced class
  specializes in defense, utilizing their custom-made armor, and absorbing
  damage in battle. From what little information has been released about
  the PowerTech class, we do know that this will be the Sith’s “ranged
  tanking” class and will utilize a heavy personal shield to absorb damage
  while drawing aggro.
  
• Advanced Class – Mercenary - Think Jango Fett. Personal jet pack, body armor, wrist mounted flame thrower, duel high power laser pistols… yep.
  “During the years of the Great Galactic War and the Cold War that
  followed it circa 3,653 BBY, the term “mercenary” was used to refer to a
  specific breed of armored bounty hunter. These mercenaries
  served the resurgent Sith Empire and were known for their use of
  dual-wielded guns, missile launchers, and dealing high amounts of damage
  in battle.”
  

_________________________________________________________________________________________
Imperial Agent
Imperial agent is the “rogue” class for Sith Empire. Utilizing sneak
attacks, stealth and gadgetry, Imperial agents will fill the roll DPS
and support while grouping. Depending on which path you choose an
Imperial Agent can rain down orbital strikes, or use a stealth generator
to get in close and break necks personally. Imperial Agents can also
generate cover and utilize a similar cover mechanic to the smuggler.
Something tells me this class will just be a lot of fun.

• Advanced Class – Sniper - Need I say more? The
  class is called “sniper” meaning that you’ll probably be doing a lot of
  shooting people in the face from far away. ”After extensive
  training, the Sniper’s long range blaster rifle becomes a weapon of
  exacting precision, allowing him to target enemies’ vulnerabilities and
  strike at the perfect moment to turn the tide of battle.“
  
• Advanced Class – Operative – This advanced class is
  sort of the “wild card” of the bunch because nobody really knows
  exactly what they’ll be doing at any given time. They can heal their
  party, they can go stealth and eliminate targets, they have access to
  combat droids and have orbital strike technology (kitchen sink anyone?).
  My brain is telling me that they will play a lot like a “pet” class in
  other MMOs’, meaning they let their minions do their dirty work for
  them.
  

Not a Dark Elf... I promise

___________________________________________________________________________________________
Sith Inquisitor
More Darth Sidious than Darth Vader, the Sith Inquisitor will be a
lightly armored DPS machine that can use both ranged force powers and
light saber combat. However, my money is on them not being able to take
a ton of damage on the battlefield. This class should probably be
chosen by those who like to inflict as much pain as possible. Sith
Inquistors will also have access to duel bladed lightsabers and
according to wookiepedia “Sith Inquisitors were able to drain life
from their opponents and use Force Lightning, but were also skilled with
the lightsaber. They were known for their ability to spread fear and
terrorize their opponents simply with their presence”

• Advanced Class – Sith Sorcerer – Ranged DPS
  machines. These Sith specialized in ranged attack abilities with the
  Force, such as Force lightning and Force drain. Sith Sorcerers were
  known to primarily wield one lightsaber in combat, and were adept
  at variant applications of Force lightning in combat.
  
• Advanced Class – Sith Assassin – That just sounds
  bad right? I mean Sith alone denotes that you’re an evil killer, but
  saying you’re a Sith assassin is like saying you’re a cannibalistic
  child eating evil killer. From what I gather Sith Assassins will be a
  stealth melee class, making them most like the “rogue” class that we’re
  used to. They will utilize stealth, mind control and a duel bladed
  light saber to kill enemies before they’re ever seen.
  

The Wizard and Rogue class mushed into one.

___________________________________________________________________________________________
Sith Warrior
Darth Vader, Darth Bane, Darth Maul, Darth Tyrannus… You too can be a
Darth. The Sith warrior will be a heavy armor wearing melee machine
that can either be melee DPS or a Tank. If you have fantasies of force
throwing and force choking your enemies into submission, than this will
probably be your class. While at first glance they don’t appear to have
much in terms of “bells and whistles”, what they do excel at is light
saber combat and being tough as nails.

• Advanced Class - Juggernaut – Seemingly unstoppable
  the Sith Juggernaught will be your damage absorbing melee Tank. What
  SWTOR promises is that tanking will now be fun, and even tanks will deal
  damage. The Juggernaut will wear heavy armor (think Vader) and will
  wield a single light saber (again think Vader). “Through diligence
  and clarity, the Juggernaut shapes the Force to his will to become
  nearly invulnerable. Damage that would destroy others is shrugged off,
  and futility fills the Juggernaut’s foes with doubt and despair.
  Protecting their allies and punishing their adversaries, they charge
  into the thick of any fray, and take the brunt of the assault and are
  even able to drain the energy of their enemies to further strengthen
  their resolve”
  
• Advanced Class – Marauder – The Marauder will be
  for melee DPS lovers and people that like to get up close and dirty when
  they fight. Seemingly wearing lighter armor than the Juggernaut and
  wielding two light-sabers, the Marauder seems to channel the essence of
  Darth Maul… only not as cut in half.
  

DPS and Tank

Bounty Hunter
Powertech Specialization
Firebug tree


Vanguard Tree


Shared Specialization




Imperial Agent
Operative Specialization
Recon Tree


Sniper Specialization
Marksmanship Tree


Shared Specialization
Engineering Tree




Sith Inquisitor
Assassin Specialization
Deception tree


Malice Tree


Shared Specialization
Madness Tree