STAR WARS™: The Old Republic™ - Choose Your Side: Imperial Agent vs. Jedi Consular

From the moment we announced the eight classes in Star Wars™: The Old Republic™, fans have been pitting them against each other, arguing who would have the advantage in a one-on-one fight. The hallways of BioWare echo this debate, with the writers, combat designers and other developers all chiming in on which class they feel reigns supreme.
In the latest entry of our series "Choose Your Side," members of the Star Wars: The Old Republic team plead their cases for two iconic Star Wars™ classes, highlighting the many skills and abilities that set each class apart. This time around, Senior Writer Alexander Freed and Designer Ken Dilks argue in favor of the stealthy Imperial Agent, while Writer Jo Berry and Designer Jason Attard speak on behalf of the Force-wielding Jedi Consular.

[@skasktheslod924]

*closes gap between himself and agent then immediately pushed him away*

[@Anolaana]

3:20 for refereance, and lol, the consular narrator didn't seem that great

[@Vaerenn]

Agent. Imperial intelligence never fails.

[@michaelgeorgopulos882]

I give this one to the Imperial Agent because the Jedi Consular is more of a "team player." The agent is better for a one on one fights.

[@FuzzyDoom]

its funny because the consular is widely considered the worst, while the agent is considered the best. Story wise that is.

[@ushakova3101]

Smuggler has the worst story. Not even my opinion, most of SWTOR players think that way.

[@Cipher_Nine]

@@ushakova3101 To me, Smuggler is slightly better than consular

[@puffin-onehandedgamer1164]

@@ushakova3101 in my opinion. the non-force user stories are better than the force user ones. So the Agent is number one, followed by the bounty hunter followed by the trooper followed by the Smuggler. For the force users I really think they are quite equal, except for the Consular which is in last place. So it goes like this: Agent > Bounty Hunter > Trooper (fantastic story, terrible ending) > Smuggler > Sith Warrior = Sith Inqusitor = Jedi Knight > Jedi Consular. the Sith inquisitor might be above the other 2 because its good both as light and dark side. Light Side warrior feels wrong. oth the jedi stories are the same, no matter if you are light or dark. the only differnce is, you don't officially get granted the title of Master if you are Dark, but since you get the title regardless because, game mechanics, you get the title of general or something instead. At least as a Jedi knight. haven't played a Dark Consular yet yet, but I assume its the same?

[@darthportus]

@@puffin-onehandedgamer1164 Yeah well non force sensitive clases cease to be revelant past rise of the hutt cartel.

[@sgtbrunope]

trooper has a pretty bad story

[@Barrobroadcastmaster]

This was Sage vs. Sniper but what about Shadow vs. Operative? Depending on spec, I would think that match would be closer.

[@ereder1476]

they both go into stealth and~ ... their're gone

[@ScarletCypher]

No one is better fighting wise that the immortal agent by far, especially a sniper.

[@Weezier]

I've tested the Imperial Agent class and I have to say that his storyline quest is very interesting and getting more and more indulging as the story progress. My advice: avoid spoilers for best experience of IA.

[@blackphillip5757]

If bioware were as good in balancing the game as they are in marketing campaings...

[@noway6633]

+pete smawds so you cry because your bad? its possible to beat any class with any class in this game any good player knows that

[@dktitanx2773]

+Pryrrus Lightkiller while that's true it's undeniable a sage is op compared to an operative

[@blackphillip5757]

Pryrrus Lightkiller you're*. And no, dumbass, it has nothing to do with being bad or good, if a class is easier to use than another class that is an unfair advantage and literally the meaning of a balance issue, and that takes fun away from the game, wether or not you suffer from this you know, being so darned good and all.

[@arcticfrost5577]

i have to give my verdict to the agent as they said sniper has the longest range in the game. and also operative that can make it in close combat fights using stealth and vibrioknifes.

[@Barrobroadcastmaster]

/)

[@arcticfrost5577]

Barrobroadcastmaster /)*(\

[@kevinz2496]

In the new 3.0 update sages and sorcs melt away every class, especially Balance Or Telekinetcs.

[@MannyXVIII]

2:42 "The marksmanship Agent has the furthes range for his attacks" was roughly what he was telling...and it is true. while every other ranged class has an attack radius of 30m you got 35m. so don't let you be fooled...In PvP and mostly ind PvE there is no advantage you get from these 5m... the only time it is useful is against stationary targets like a manned turret where you can sit at a distance and pump shot after shot after shot in the head of the guy manning the turret without him giving the slithest f*ck about it and just waits for him to die.

[@PsychoticSorcerer666]

MannyXVIII Yeah, but even as an engineering sniper I can have an Orbital Strike and plasma probe do that too if it's a Champion turret. Though marksmen are better in that regard because the basic attack doesn't cost anywhere near as much energy, or that you'd ever have to enter firing range at all.

[@generalstonestar]

HOW DO YOU GET THE FULL FACED HELMET?! (sniper)

[@darthcahdek279]

"The Marksmanship Sniper has the longest ranger in the game". 'scuse me, but, uh....Have you heard of a Gunslinger?

[@PsychoticSorcerer666]

Darth Cahdek I'm a little miffed that they only talked about the Marksmanship Sniper, while overlooking the Virulence Sniper and Engineering Sniper. I main an engie, and I love that I can have Plasma Probe, Orbital Strike, and Suppressive Fire AoE DoT's down at the same time.

[@SmellyUnfortunate007]

Don't forget lightning sorcerer and telekinetic sage.

[@EscorpioShadow]

@Powermachine123 which one is the paladin then? The melee healing tank

[@thrillprime3264]

Agent shot first...

[@LoFiLouis]

how did you guys get the consulars suit

[@AzureSkyCiel]

Another thing people forget is that even Marksmen snipers has a surprising amount of damage mitigation up their sleeves. The coverscreen gives them a dodge bonus, entrench makes them immovible, evasion and shield probe give more protection, smoke grenade will ruin the accuracy of any foe that doesn't know to move fast, a melee stun, a ranged stun (not sure flashbang does work on players though), and it does go on a bit. But all my experience as an agent is in PVE.

[@AzureSkyCiel]

appending this: one problem these days is that sorcs/sages now have panick bubble that basically makes them immortal, allowing them to force the fight to be entirely on their terms.

[@Saufs0ldat]

@Keianoo Telekinesis is the ability to move things from afar, without actually making physical contact. How exactly is levitating rocks and hurling them at your opponent not a telekinetic power?

[@DathanielTDK]

The thing I love most about these videos is that they're all showing a Force using class vs a non-force using class, thus showing that Yes, those without the Force are a match against those who do have it and can win! Hopefully should help break some of the assumptions I'm sure a few Star Wars Forcefanboys will have in thinking their Jedi or Sith will auto-pwn any agents, troopers, bounty hunters, or smugglers in the game. Next video is Sith War vs Smuggler. Should be a total Ballbreaker!

[@cripplehawk]

Did a PVP match the other day with my Sniper (Marksmen DPS)...Up against Jedi Consular. I was able to dispatch them with relative ease... The only time I get killed is when a Jedi Sentinel comes to his aide and proceeds to inflict heave damage forcing me on the defensive... However on one on one..A Republic Commando or a Smuggler Gunslinger pose a serious challenge...But this is from my experience

[@lxstshinobii9121]

+cripplehawk FINALLY!! SOMEONE THAT IS SMART!!

[@EscorpioShadow]

Is the consular the paladin of swtor? If so I know what roll now

[@jessicanegrete6273]

Conventional weapons are nothing compared to the Force.

[@Commander1991NOR]

that sniper shot at the ends signifies the end of the sage's life

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

10 Years later.

[@minuano3051]

They made this look so sick

[@SorcererBiggz]

@Keianoo Telekinetic is moving objects with your mind. The Force is an entity that is able to be used to bend objects to the user's will. Therefore, telekinetics and the force can be combined together. For example, Sith Warriors normally utilize the Force with their body, not their mind.

[@stanleyuzoigwe5485]

what body type is the imperial agent

[@42Chewbacca]

sniper wins"!!

[@Hamptoncltn]

@HMulan you do know the jedi has a skill that breaks that stun right?

[@chaosfire321]

2:48 Leg Shot the sage? Damn looks like even the agent plays Skyrim! :D

[@seriousdraw]

If I remember properly, I opened up with a Sleep Dart, which enabled Eviscerate, then Debilitate to root him in place, then Backstab... It's a tactic I tend to repeat on the sheer principle that it works. But it doesn't work when I get spotted. You do have to get real close to use Sleep Dart.

[@Crayven95]

why did they put the consular vs. the agent?

[@minitwins2000]

I think it depends if he has the aim the empire is famous for then no contest counselor but if he can hit the broadside of a star destroyer it could be close

[@reddog418]

@Keianoo That's a good point.... how did they hire these writers if they don't know that the Force is really telekinetic ability?

[@hammer326]

Could see where the Consular would come out on top. Given my experiences as an agent last weekend, I'd call it VERY close.

[@Crayven95]

OMG i just realized this video looks like a Deadliest Warrior type thing :D

[@eDDyL666]

Wikia for The Force has a pic and under it is a caption that reads "Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi use the Force to telekinetically push at each other." The End

[@seriousdraw]

I wouldn't know about that... An Operative can be quite a trick devil to beat. I once caught a Consular (the double-bladed variant, I forgot the name) unaware with a stealth ambush, and I took off a good chunk of their health before they could even react. And when they tried to heal, I used a Flashbang. I would dare to say the winner of an equal bout depends on who gets the first strike - And I rarely get the second.

[@TheAmiak]

@Commander1991NOR there was also a force push sound....l2 listen

[@itsbeiko]

Funny these are the two classes I was going to play

[@thefatalisk66]

1:17 thats a cool race!

[@MrCurbinator]

Yes I realized that after the post. Sorry I tried to put a secondary explanation which made it clear that I was talking to you. Other than that, it really does matter. Proper English is just another form of slang. You need to be able to speak it as well as any other type to move smoothly through the ranks of those who use it (the particular group in question tends to have a lot of money and power).

[@DiddyBohlen]

This would be a whole new discussion after 4.0. Sniper is worse in nearly all aspects. Balance does more damage than Engineering, Telekinesis more than Lethality and Marksmanship (By far). Snipers have become the ranged version of the Guardian/Juggernaut. Vigilance/Vengeance was nerfed into probably the worst single target melee dps spec. Sure, snipers are still totally viable but they used to be the best ranged dps. Now they are behind the others. Even if Engineering does more damage than Arsenal and Madness, the sniper is still worse because the rotation is harder and you don't get the benefit of self heals or super easy rotation.

[@thank814]

agent as snipes is no question asked, they have a higher range and a amazing dps rate, plus their cooldowns do imune to damage for 3 sec, imune to knock backs stuns and interupt for 23 sec, plus a 10 sec of absorb.

[@FiendMatadorSlayerOfNoobs]

The SNiper and the Operatiive(And the Republic SMuggler) are far by the most underestimated classes in PVP,and thus, perhaps more dangerous adverseries to meet in warzones.

[@DarthAlphaTheGreat]

Agents distance is easily covered with Force Jump from a Warrior/Knight.

[@rumia3691]

JeremyCuddles That is correct.

[@DarthAlphaTheGreat]

JeremyCuddles Oh, right. So the best way is probably saber throw, tank a short distance, force push (break shield( then jump, then choke/some stun skills. But one do have to take some damage. Imperial Agent can counter by shooting the leg, however, the Sith can put up a shield to reduce damage long enough to do the combo above. Mmmm the metagame just exploded XD

[@Themadwollf]

@Kronaras13 Actually, if you're trying to match classes, then it would be Imperial Agent vs Republic Smuggler. And they're not facing off the opposite classes because one, they're trying to make the game more balanced, and two, they're trying to get 2 characters with different gameplay styles. If you faced off the Agent and Smuggler, they would have in essence the same abilities and therefore create a boring fight with 2 classes with the same advantages and disadvantages.

[@xkanpai]

@Saufs0ldat You don't get my point, they shouldn't call it telekinetic, just Force imho.

[@harryhollomby823]

Was the advanced class an operative or a sniper

[@mylespryor9692]

The Golden H sniper

[@TheDestruction69]

Richoshet bullets using the force.. Like a boss.

[@dontwantahandle69]

@ChrisCa1601 and the cruisers? totally from movies (I guess these are another version of the clone ones)

[@Samio352]

4:00 Hey wait I can't hit you at this range aaaah.

[@carrastealth]

@HMulan unless the Jedi uses the ability that all classes get to break stuns X_X

[@horusrage]

@DarkKing009 Your right there its Master Vandar a Character we see in KOTOR 1 and 2.

[@AzumGaming]

@nixonplumber This is long before that. And then I mean very long before that.

[@THEDARKSIDE95]

@Kronaras13 no it would be agent vs smuggler and trooper vs bount hunter

[@SoulerVids]

Except that one of the key characteristics of force users is premonition, AKA the spider sense.

[@bjht92]

Note that they're assuming that the Consular is a Sage, not Shadow, which would've made things way different.

[@xkanpai]

@Ediranii have you ever seen in a Star Wars movie/game or whatever they called using a force a telekinetic ? neither did I.

[@Ediranii]

@Keianoo well this is what the force rly is the ability to control and manipulate your surroundings which is kinda what telekinesis is :)

[@ThodeLOL]

3:15 why does project look so awesome... mine doesnt :(

[@MrMikeStoleMyBike]

i want that consular armor though !

[@commiedeer]

Agent, not because of mechanics but because I like the stories for the normals more then the force-users. That and anyone who takes a gun to a Force fight and still comes out on top has some serious balls.

[@acnex]

All we need right now is wow in space...

[@Paicheman]

Depends on whether you consider that the boulder will keep it's trajectory once the jedi has died. Is the rock moving due to a force push or was the jedi directing it. In the second case, Id say once the jedi dies, the rock simply drops as there is no more power directed towards it. So agent wins.

[@Kronaras13]

Shouldn't it have been Imperial Agent vs Republic Trooper and Sith Inquisitor vs Jedi Consular?

[@WeirdGamer20555]

I normally go for the light side, but this time...well the agent is just way too cool!

[@Runeclaw]

I already picked my side: Imperial Agent - Sniper. I played and loved that class in the beta. You get a luxury ship, get paid to lie and manipulate others and can call in an orbital strike on the enemy. What is not to love?

[@antoshahorosha]

@jakascott21 I agree, in PvP, you cannot run away from that sh*t, the only thing you can do is basically just do as much damage before death...

[@ShutUpGabee]

I'm still rolling bounty hunter on lunch but to be honest imperial agents are extremely fun with the take cover and sniper shots lol.

[@laxbrian15]

If the consular is playing like that... definitely the agent. Something about not moving towards the agent or around his cover makes me wonder if they're trying.

[@YearZer02022]

@KylinEphax Wrong. Games need to have classes that counter other classes to create a more tactical gameplay style.

[@MarxistJediist]

"MM Sniper has the longest range in the game". Is this still true, or did they tweak that? I've seen a lot of MM and Lethality, but rarely Engineering.

[@arcticfrost5577]

i had a Engineering sniper and it went very well for me and yes Sniper has the longest range of 35m while the closest range is sorcerer with 30m at least what i think.

[@abebrat]

last scene: The agent shoots first... unless against a smuggler, because then Lucas himself interferes :D

[@Jjackson5970]

I'm going smuggler.. Show one of those fighting :) Republic FTW!!! :D

[@phykasilverbird9245]

Should I make a Sage or a Op?

[@cuntayylmao1734]

Republic Special Forces Squad 326 Operator

[@scorpination]

@FuryanJedi13 I can tell you as someone that has played it that there is a flashpoint(dungeon) with Revan in it as a final boss so this game is not at all without him.

[@Xgendude14]

Its the Shadow. You serious? How did you do that?

[@Sith90lord]

@143rdShadowARCunit yeah... i loled at that "smart" move -_-

[@Persianpride683]

I would personally prefer the agent! Looks fun!

[@michaelklemundt6990]

0:31 That guy looks like Snape from Hairy Potter.

[@Fdzzaigl]

@Maelstrom301 Yeah, as far as last beta weekend goes, consulars got a lot of little big holes when facing a sniper :p

[@farispie1]

@astraxanoeoe That may be the case for the sniper, then an operative has loads off stealth and cc attacks to make you into minemeat.

[@derekgornall]

Flashbang, backpedal, interrupt flash bang effect to use normal blaster fire.... The Elitists are rolling in their graves. P.s. missing that old project.

[@p.h.dstudios7944]

Cool video but... HAVE YOU SEEN SNIPERS IN PvP?! They win every time!!!!!!!!!

[@Travide]

is this game going to be pay to play?? I never heard of this game until now and it looks super fun

[@CharlieFullyCaffeinated]

The Imperial Agent has that British accent about him/her that makes me think, that is one silent killer (no fart reference).

[@allabtMando]

I played both to fairly high levels during Beta. And both are pretty great. But I'll be choosing IA over JC.

[@Prodigiousguy8]

@FranzMal15 Imperial agent is more like a rogue or druid if you choose the operative advanced class.

[@Fdzzaigl]

@Naoiji Have you ever heard of intentional wordplay? :p

[@RogueScholarBlue]

@artix273 Yeah...that's a really concise argument you have there *rolls eyes.* Also, it's "Consular." Spell Check is your friend. So is looking at the title of the video.

[@Killuminati911]

@BBallentyne23 you did

[@hazteddy9037]

The Jedi consular throws a rock to his face and force blasts him fights over

[@mayachan4799]

My first character in SWTOR is an Imperial Agent charming women, I liked the storyline

[@narutoinpink]

Consular: "I was able to take out an Imperial Agent until I took a laser shot to the knee."

[@dontwantahandle69]

@TheGreyKnightXx the old guy in revenge of the sith said, thats its first galatic empire

[@runnergunner42]

I like how in the 1st clip in the fight the IA guy is bragging and yet the cons is winning -_-

[@ElderDrake123]

rofl, I thought the same thing when I saw this pop up and after having played both.

[@Skinner0816]

@NigelGriff It DID sound like that, didn't it?

[@starkiller23610]

Amazing!! I going to be bounty hunter

[@Corsair512]

I found both sides were fairly mature. Just from my playthough, however, i like the Republic side more then anything, esp my TROOPER!