I’ve compiled my best tips and recommendations for deepening immersion in SWTOR, along with ideas gathered from fellow fans and players.
I’ve been playing Star Wars: The Old Republic for over 13 years. I know its strengths and weaknesses inside and out. Like many of you, I’ve played and replayed every storyline, farmed (and continue to farm) Dailies, tackled the Endgame group content.
It can sometimes be difficult to stay focused on what matters most – this is a video game. And fully immersing yourself in it can dramatically enhance your enjoyment.
I have compiled a collection of my personal favorite tips and recommendations for how to best immerse yourself when playing SWTOR. And I’ve included a few ideas I have gathered from fans and followers.
How to create an immersive UI
Starting with what I consider to be the strongest tip – an Immersive Minimalist UI. A few years ago, I decided to create a Minimalist UI to try and give the old content a new look for myself. I found it to be a huge success. So, I am recommending you do the same.
MMOs typically have invasive UIs. SWTOR is no exception. It has one major advantage over many other titles – its non-endgame content is ridiculously easy. You don’t need the UI clutter for the majority of the game’s content.
While I still use the standard Vulkk UI for group content today, this new immersive UI allows me to experience some of the old content in a new way.
If you strip your screen from all of the excessive toolbars, menus, chat windows and tabs, you will rediscover the game in a fresh way.
SWTOR is 13 years old, but its looks still hold up. This is especially true for the new and revamped environments and the recent character art modernization efforts.
There are moments when the game shows its graphical age and if you have learned or try to learn to accept these weak spots, this will be a huge step toward achieving the perfect immersion!
About a year ago, I created this short video (below this paragraph) demonstrating my method of designing a Minimalist UI. Its role is to allow me to enjoy the easy parts of the game where I am not required to make split second decisions like we are often required to in the Endgame.
Steps to enhance and improve your Immersive UI:
- Change the camera distance,
- Remove as many UI elements as you can afford,
- Play a role you are familiar with (more on that later),
- Don’t use a Minimalist UI in challenging Endgame content
Lately, I started experimenting with removing the mini map. It works perfectly for most of the areas as I know them very well and I don’t need to look at the map, but when I am chasing a less popular side quest’s marker, I find myself often having to open the big map to see where the marker is. Broadsword could improve on the orientation and uniqueness of the environments, so we can use some key landmarks for navigation.
If you have a qualifying Nvidia RTX video card and HDR screen, I recommend you give RTX HDR a go. I have been using it for SWTOR for months and am very happy with the results. It produces consistently improved colorful and bright images. I do not recommend using the integrated Windows Auto HDR feature.
Your Environment matters
I’ve always preferred a dark room when I play a video game and SWTOR is no exception. Regardless of your screen type, model and size, a dark environment will always enhance image quality.
If you have multiple monitors, consider dimming the side screen(s). I use a program called DisplayFusion. Set the side screen(s) to something between 70% and 90% and allow your eyes and mind to focus on the game.
A dark room is cool, but a quiet dark room is amazing. If there is a constant noise you cannot get rid of, consider using Headphones.
Slight detour to briefly talk about headphones vs headsets
I used a lot of “gaming headsets” years ago. Until I finally opened my eyes (and ears) to the truth about quality vs marketing. When 2/3 of the product’s budget goes to marketing and promotions instead of builds quality, the result is often discomfort and poor sound.
Most SWTOR players today prefer to play the game solo. Consider investing in good headphones to improve your expensive instead of choosing a flashy headset with a mediocre mic. You don’t really need a mic to play solo. For the rare occasions when you do speak, you are asked to repeat most of what you say because on the other side it often comes out as buzzes and blips.
One more entry in the “more expensive purchases” department – your chair. If or when you find yourself on the market for a new chair, I wholeheartedly recommend and beg you: don’t buy a “gaming chair”. Do your body a favor and get a real chair. You don’t need a Herman Miller or Steelcase. Even something like the Ikea Markus is far superior in built quality and comfort than any “gaming chair”. Your bottom and back will thank me later.
Lighting is often a key part of a gaming setup. I personally have never been a fan of flashy LEDs distracting me from what I deem most important – the action on my main monitor; I prefer and recommend a dark environment.
However, if it doesn’t bother you and you want your gaming room to look cool, go ahead! Here is an amazing example of a Revan-themed gaming room. It fits perfectly too. There is hardly a more famous character from the days of the Old Republic than Revan. Well, maybe Malgus. D’OH!
Strategic use of game mechanics
This section is more relevant for experienced players. However, if you’re focusing on the story, you can apply many of these tips.
Playing or replaying a combat style and story you like and know will make you feel right at home. But this time around, experience it from a different perspective. Make different choices to see how the outcome will change as you steer more toward the Dark or Light side.
Being familiar with the combat style and discipline, will allow you to benefit greatly from the Minimalist UI I recommended at the top of this guide. You will not be required to learn a brand-new rotation or priority system and you will be familiar with the abilities you have, their effects and cooldowns.
If a combat style or discipline is not to your taste, you risk losing interest and getting bored. This is counterproductive for immersion building. Try a different spec. Or check a Guide to see if maybe you can improve your skills. We offer incredibly detailed Combat Style Guides and Solo Build Guides you can use.
I mentioned earlier that SWTOR is considered stupid easy. Like every rule, this one has its exceptions. Some encounters (Eternal Championship, Dragon’s Maw, Vaylin, to name a few) can be disproportionally difficult compared to preceding content.
Understanding how difficulty works in SWTOR is important. The game has various systems in place that govern difficulty. Some work in the background, others require your direct participation in choosing a setting.
| What affects difficulty | When you can do it |
|---|---|
| Manually selected difficulty tier | You can select a predefined difficulty tier for various types of instanced (usually group) content |
| Your Equipment | Fleet Vendors offer gear upgrades. While leveling you should upgrade your mods every 4-8 levels |
| Level Sync | The game automatically scales your level to match the predefined setting of the content you are playing. |
Don’t try to reinvent Star Wars. This is an established universe with rules and incredibly rich lore. Don’t go against the lore. Use it.
Stop from time to time to read the Lore Object your character just discovered and catch up on the various background stories of the areas you explore and characters you interact with.
Being almost a teenager at this point, SWTOR has accumulated tons and tons of cosmetic outfits for you to dress up your Space Barbie or Space Ken the way you like.
One of the tips in my Immersive UI suggests dragging the camera closer to your character. This is where you reap the benefits. Wearing a stylish outfit will deliver a much-desired eye candy for your eyes to feast upon. Check out our guide on designing unique character outfits or role-playing famous Star Wars heroes and villains.
Other Immersion Tips
This segment is for complimentary tips and ideas that I have gathered from fans, followers and players. Thank you. If you have more, share them in the comments below.
Music! SWTOR has an excellent soundtrack, but listening to it extensively for years on end, may make it feel stale. Spice up your gameplay by turning off the background music or lowering its level and listen to something equally epic that inspires you.
If you lean heavily into role-playing scenarios and want to expand your solo adventures into the endgame or just share them with a like-minded soul, join a RP Guild.
Have you heard people recommending that you stop rushing from Point A to Point B? How about not using a mount and instead travel on foot?
While this may work great for games such as The Witcher 3 or Cyberpunk 2077, it does not successfully apply to SWTOR. SWTOR’s environments aren’t always built to human scale. Some interiors, like Alderaan’s oversized castles, feel absurdly vast.
Each gamer finds something that works for them. I’d love to hear how you achieve your perfect immersion with SWTOR.
