During SOE Fan Faire 2007, the Star Wars Galaxies team shared a preview of Chapter 7 during the Galaxies Gathering session. If you didn't make it to Fan Faire this year, here's your chance to get an early look at the exciting new features planned for the next Chapter! Heroic encounters, a collection system, species origins, and more are all on deck for Chapter 7.

Heroic Encounters

A heroic encounter is a high-level challenge for a group of players looking to earn a huge reward. These encounters will take place in an instanced zone where players will take on challenging foes in epic battles like no other.

During the Galaxies Gathering, the team gave panel attendees a sneak peek at Axkva Min and her protectors.

Players who complete a quest or a series of quests can gain access to the underground caves where Axkva Min has been sealed after falling out of favor with the Nightsisters. The group of up to eight players will encounter multiple protectors, each with their own abilities, creating a series of boss fights culminating in a grand battle with a newly re-designed Axkva Min.

In these heroic encounters and quests, high level players can not only confront Axkva Min, but also a legion of Tusken warriors, as well as other familiar faces in the Star Wars universe.

These challenging quests center around the Township of Aurilia on Dathomir. Paemos is the new mayor of this growing community. Aurilia has become a hub of activity for adventurers looking for allies to take on some of the strongest and most dangerous creatures in the galaxy.

The Township will be a gathering spot for all players to prepare for heroic encounters. Groups will be quickly transported from the Township of Aurilia to the entrance for these extraordinary quests, making this the ideal location for everyone to gather and coordinate their efforts.

Collection System

Galactic adventurers and explorers alike will enjoy gathering special items across the planets as part of the new collection system coming in Chapter 7. Players have collected in-game badges since the launch of Star Wars Galaxies, and the collection system expands this idea on a grand scale.

Players will not only gather badges, but will also be able to "collect" kills of specific creatures, as well as various items scattered across the galaxy. Rewards for completing a collection can range from credits, to more exotic and rare rewards yet to be revealed.

Species Origins

In Chapter 7, every character will have the chance to reflect upon their humble beginnings in the galaxy. A human who grew up serving the Empire? An orphaned Twi'lek raised by Wookiees in the jungle village of Kerritamba ? Or perhaps an Ithorian smuggler with a weathered mentor who showed her the ropes long ago?

With the origins system, players will be able to craft their own background stories to receive a special one-time bonus. For example, traders can choose an origin that leads to bonuses in experimentation, while other choices might even lead to a new ability. It's all up to you to choose a story and history that best suits your character and play style.

Other Chapter 7 Features

The Imperial series of quests will be revamped, similar to the Rebel Theme Park changes in Chapter 6: Masters of the Wild. The new content will be aimed at higher level players looking for new challenges from the upper echelons of the Galactic Empire.