Senior Writer Hall Hood has written a developer blog entry explaining exactly what makes the Smuggler class stand out from the rest in Star Wars: The Old Republic, and he paints an enticing picture for anyone who wants to create a character more like Han Solo or Lando Calrissian than Luke Skywalker.

Hood emphasizes Smugglers don't follow the rules. Instead, they "make things up as they go." Players who choose this class get to focus on humor and romance while leading a life of adventure. Even though Smugglers may break a law or two, you won't find them working for the Empire. "The pay’s lousy, the hours stink and the clients are creeps," Hood explains.

You'll get to use some unorthodox combat moves, too. After all, Smugglers always shoot first (until the Special Edition comes around and changes everything, of course). So if any part of you wants to play a Smuggler in SW:TOR, keep reading the blog entry below.

Try this hypothetical scenario… you’re relaxing at the local cantina when three trigger-happy Rodian mercenaries pick a fight with the most attractive Jedi Knight you’ve ever seen. After the smoke clears, the Rodians are carried outside and the Jedi apologizes to everyone for making a scene. Do you:

1. Crack a joke to relieve the tension;
2. Demand the Jedi buy you a drink to replace the one that got spilled during the fight;
3. Smoothly invite your new friend back to a private booth to get better acquainted.

The answer, of course, is (d) All of the above. What’s that, you say? “All of the above” wasn’t among your options? Consider that your first taste of the Smuggler lifestyle. It’s time to make your own options and never limit yourself to just one. Strict adherence to rules and regulations is something other people do. Smugglers make things up as they go.

Now wait a minute, I can hear you say. Nobody successfully flirts with Jedi Knights. There’s no point even trying. The Jedi Code forbids romance, they wield the most lethal conversation stoppers in the galaxy… and they’re kind of stuck-up. A Jedi would never accept an invitation from a scruffy-looking free trader, right? Wrong! Smugglers have remarkable track records for romancing people way out of their leagues. Just ask them.

Of all the stories in our game, the Smuggler ones are specifically written with an emphasis on humor and romance. If you’re playing this class, you get to say the funniest things (usually at the least appropriate times), and are always on the lookout for people who find charming rogues irresistible. You’ll be flirting with or laughing at the most exciting personalities in the galaxy: crime lords, gamblers, Bounty Hunters, senators, nobles, spies, Jedi and even Sith.

It’s not all witty one-liners and romantic conquests, either. Smugglers lead lives of high adventure, taking on jobs no one else is crazy enough to do and answering to no authority but their own. They also don’t have to risk their necks for free. Unlike pious Jedi or duty-bound Troopers, Smugglers are never out of line demanding a fee for their services. The Republic needs rogues to hit Imperial convoys? Sounds like fun, if there’s profit in it. The Hutts want illegal technology slipped past military blockades? No problem, as long as they pay in advance.

Are there Smugglers working for the Empire? Not really. In the Empire, the pay’s lousy, the hours stink and the clients are creeps. The Empire is all about controlling people. If Smugglers wanted to be told what to do, they’d get real jobs.

Not all of these spirited adventurers are mercenaries, of course. Some have hearts of gold and don’t worry about retiring to their own private moon. These heroes of the hyperlanes use their special talents to help the poor and downtrodden. It may not pay as well, but “honest” Smugglers make lots of friends. And when gangsters with informative names like Rogun the Butcher try to kill you, it’s nice having a few people you can rely on.

The most successful Smugglers surround themselves with trusty companions who are handy with a blaster when deals go sour. Han Solo had Chewbacca as backup, and Smugglers in our game will have their pick of several memorable sidekicks.

That’s not to say you can’t handle yourself. Smugglers are notorious for outwitting and outmaneuvering more powerful opponents. In a galaxy full of Lightsaber-wielding demigods who can lift starfighters with the power of their minds, most people underestimate “ordinary” folks armed only with blasters. That’s a big mistake. Smugglers are the best shots in the galaxy, and they can avoid being noticed until it’s time to make a big entrance. When they finally show themselves they have a variety of, shall we say, unorthodox combat moves that leave their enemies reeling. Jedi may see things before they happen, but Smugglers always shoot first.

The Old Republic™ is the first Star Wars™ video game to let players truly live the dream of being Han Solo or Lando Calrissian. Other games have let you engage in a bit of smuggling for profit or simulate “scoundrels” as a collection of stat bonuses, but none come close to delivering the humor, romance and just plain fun of being a wisecracking Smuggler who triumphs against all odds. Every member of The Old Republic team is committed to crafting the defining rendition of the Smuggler archetype.

Our combat designers have outdone themselves inventing powers to leave your fellow players laughing out loud and asking how you pulled off that stunt. The animation team is creating custom movements that perfectly evoke the sheer bravado and lightning reflexes Han Solo displayed when he took three (three!) shots at Darth Vader on Bespin. World builders tirelessly create dens of scum and villainy, populating them with the galaxy’s most notorious criminals. Artists craft all the small details that tie everything together, from sweet-looking blaster pistols to flashy outfits that put Lando’s wardrobe to shame.

Last but not least, the writing team has invested its tremendous love for snappy dialogue, outrageous characters and insane story twists into every aspect of playing a Smuggler. If you’re teamed-up with a Jedi or Trooper and chat with a NPC, you’ll always get to rattle off the best one-liners. If those other classes are looking to earn a few extra credits on the side, they’d be fools not to let you do the negotiating.

Well, looks like closing time at the cantina. Your new Jedi friend mentioned some high-risk, high-reward work in the Outer Rim. Those new Corellian engines everyone’s raving about are expensive, and credits don’t grow on trees. Besides, the job sounds simple enough. What could possibly go wrong?

Strap yourself in, Smuggler — you’re in for another exciting ride.