Set in the years following the Treaty of Coruscant (3653 BBY)—which formally ended the Great Galactic War—Star Wars: The Old Republic unfolds during a fragile and volatile armistice between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire. This era, known as the Cold War, is defined by espionage, proxy conflicts, political maneuvering, and restrained yet ever-present military tension, as both powers quietly prepare for an inevitable return to open war.

The Jedi Order, devastated by the Great Galactic War and blamed by many within the Republic for perceived failures, withdrew to Tython after the Treaty of Coruscant in a deliberate effort to rebuild its ranks and spiritual foundations. Once seen as unquestioned guardians of peace, the Jedi now face a galaxy that doubts both their authority and relevance, forcing them to redefine their role amid widespread uncertainty and public disillusionment.

Meanwhile, the Sith Empire—long hidden within the Unknown Regions—has re-emerged as a dominant galactic power, strengthened by its wartime victories yet internally divided by ambition and ideological rivalry. Though victorious in many respects, the Empire remains far from unified. Sith Lords and Dark Council members constantly scheme against one another, driven by ambition, ideology, and ancient rivalries, even as they prepare for the inevitable collapse of peace.

Beyond the Republic–Empire divide, neutral factions and emerging powers exploit the instability. Mandalorian clans, criminal syndicates, mercenaries, smugglers, and corporate interests maneuver in the shadows, reshaping regional conflicts and personal destinies alike. Across the galaxy, the Force itself feels increasingly unsettled, as though events are converging toward a greater reckoning for the galaxy. 

In this age of tension and transformation, every choice carries weight. Heroes, villains, and those who walk the line between will all find opportunities to influence the fate of worlds.

Will you preserve a fragile peace, hasten the return of open war, or forge your own legacy in the space between empires?

📌 Canon & Dating Note:

Star Wars: The Old Republic establishes clear chronological anchor points for major historical events and expansions. However, BioWare intentionally avoided publishing a rigid, year-by-year calendar for all post-launch story content. As a result, dates beyond primary expansion milestones are presented here as approximations, intended to support narrative clarity and roleplay consistency rather than functioning as absolute canon. 

📜 Canon vs. Roleplay Interpretation:

This hub distinguishes between established SWTOR canon and roleplay-focused interpretation.

Canon refers to events, factions, locations, and characters explicitly depicted in-game or confirmed through official BioWare sources, including codex entries and developer statements.

Roleplay interpretation includes inferred timelines, community-adopted date markers (such as BTC/ATC), extrapolated political conditions, and narrative connective tissue that supports consistent storytelling across characters and eras.

Where exact dates or motivations are not explicitly defined by canon, this resource adopts broadly accepted community interpretations to preserve continuity while still allowing creative flexibility.

Dates during the Eternal Empire era (Knights of the Fallen Empire and Knights of the Eternal Throne) are inferred from dialogue, narrative gaps, and character progression rather than explicit canonical timestamps. As such, all dates listed for this period should be understood as approximations intended to support roleplay continuity.

📅 Timeline Reference:  BTC and ATC are community-adopted roleplay reference markers used for clarity and consistency; BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin) remains the primary canonical dating system used across Star Wars media.

• BBY: Before the Battle of Yavin is the primary canonical dating system used across Star Wars media, including reference works and official timelines.

• BTC: Before the Treaty of Coruscant is a community-adopted reference marker commonly used by SWTOR roleplayers to provide clearer context within the Old Republic era. 

• ATC: After the Treaty of Coruscant is a community-adopted reference marker commonly used by SWTOR roleplayers to provide clearer context within the Old Republic era.
  
  

🕰️ Pre-SWTOR Era:  Covers lore from 3681 BBY through the outbreak of renewed war in 3641 BBY, including the Great Galactic War and the post-Treaty uneasy truce commonly referred to as the Cold War. 

• • 📆 3681 BBY | 28 BTC

    • The Sith Empire openly emerges from deep space, triggering the Great Galactic War against the Galactic Republic.

  • 📆 3653 BBY | 0 BTC / 0 ATC

    • The Sacking of Coruscant forces the Republic to sign the Treaty of Coruscant. 

    • The Great Galactic War ends; the Cold War officially begins.

  • 📆 3653–~3641 BBY | 0–~12 ATC

    • The post-Treaty uneasy truce, commonly referred to by the community as the Cold War, follows the Treaty of Coruscant (3653 BBY) and is generally understood to erode into open warfare by around 3641 BBY, when open warfare between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire resumes. 
      
      

🚀 SWTOR Launch Era (v1.0): Expansion released December 20, 2011

• • 📆 ~3643 BBY | ~10 ATC

    • The class origin stories broadly begin. Class story Acts I–III broadly span the final years of the Cold War through the outbreak of renewed war (approximately 3643–3641 BBY), with individual class pacing intentionally staggered.

  • 📆 ~3643–~3640 BBY | ~10–13 ATC

    • Early flashpoints and operations occur primarily during the latter half of, and immediately after, the class stories (approximately 3643–3639 BBY), with sequencing intentionally loose.
      
      

🐉 Rise of the Hutt Cartel (v2.0):  Expansion released April 14, 2013

• • 📆 ~3638 BBY | ~15 ATC

    • The Hutt Cartel moves to seize Makeb.
      (The Dread Masters’ storyline spans multiple expansions, beginning earlier and culminating later on Oricon; dates are approximate.)
      
      

🕶️ Shadow of Revan (v3.0):  Expansion released December 9, 2014

• • 📆 ~3637 BBY | ~16 ATC

    • Revan re-emerges, orchestrating large-scale conflicts across Rishi, Yavin IV, and Manaan, drawing both the Republic and Sith Empire into a joint crisis.

    • Late 3637 BBY (approx., immediately following the Shadow of Revan campaign): The Sith Emperor reveals his continued existence and devastates Ziost, marking a major turning point in the galaxy’s understanding of the Force and the nature of the Emperor himself.

👁️ Knights of the Fallen Empire (v4.0):  Expansion released October 27, 2015

• • 📆 ~3636 BBY | ~17 ATC

    • The Outlander is captured and frozen in carbonite by the Eternal Empire.

  • 📆 ~3631 BBY | ~22 ATC

    • After several years in carbonite (commonly interpreted by the community as approximately five years), the Outlander awakens and begins forming the Alliance against Zakuul.

👑 Knights of the Eternal Throne (v5.0):  Expansion released December 2, 2016

• • 📆 3629 BBY | ~24 ATC

    • The Eternal Throne is reclaimed. The Alliance becomes a dominant power in the galaxy.

    • Conflict erupts between major galactic powers on Iokath.

    • The Alliance confronts internal betrayal on Umbara.

    • Political tensions and covert conflicts involving the Chiss Ascendancy unfold on Copero.

  • 📆 3628 BBY | 24 ATC

    • The Nathema Conspiracy is exposed.
      
      

⚔️ Onslaught (v6.0):  Expansion released October 22, 2019

• • 📆 ~3626–3625 BBY | ~25–26 ATC

    • A new Jedi crisis emerges on Ossus.

    • The Jedi Order attempts to rebuild on Ossus as Republic–Imperial war resumes.

    • Open war resumes between the Republic and the Sith Empire on Onderon and Mek-Sha.

    • The assault on Corellia (Objective Meridian) escalates the galactic conflict.

    • Early signs of the Hidden Chain’s covert influence begin to surface, later escalating into broader destabilization across the galaxy.

    • Late Onslaught era: “Echoes of Oblivion” serves as an epilogue to the Eternal Empire storyline, exploring deeper mysteries of the Force.

    • “The Secrets of the Enclave” flashpoint reveals ancient Jedi lore on Dantooine amid renewed Republic–Imperial tensions.

    • Tensions among Mandalorian clans intensify.
      
      

🧬 Legacy of the Sith (v7.0):  Expansion released February 15, 2022

• • 📆 3625 BBY | 26 ATC

    • Darth Malgus resurfaces, driven by a mysterious agenda centered on ancient Force experiments tied to Darth Nul.

    • Explorations begin at the Ruins of Nul, tied to Darth Nul’s ancient experiments.

    • Republic and Empire forces return to Manaan.

  • 📆 3624 BBY | 27 ATC

    • “Showdown on Ruhnuk” intensifies the war as conflict erupts on Ruhnuk.

  • 📆 3623 BBY | 28 ATC

    • “Old Wounds” leads players back to Voss.

    • “Chains in the Dark” unveils the Hidden Chain on Ord Mantell.

  • 📆 ~3622 BBY | ~29 ATC (approx., ongoing story arc)
    (These events represent an evolving narrative rather than a finalized or rigidly codified historical record, as official story content continues to develop over time.)

    • The Hidden Chain escalates covert operations, emerging as a destabilizing force operating beyond traditional Republic–Imperial conflict structures.

    • “Galactic Threads” emphasizes cross-faction intrigue and ideological fractures within both governments, particularly involving Sa’har and emerging reformist-traditionalist tensions.

    • “Master’s Enigma” deepens the mystery surrounding Darth Nul’s legacy and the Hidden Chain’s manipulation of ancient and experimental Force-sensitive technology.

  • 📆 ~3621 BBY | ~30 ATC (approx.)

    • Ongoing story updates further explore the Hidden Chain, Darth Malgus’s agenda, and emerging ideological tensions.

    • Sa’har’s role becomes more central as tensions rise between reformist and traditionalist factions within both governments. 

    • Darth Malgus remains at large, with evidence suggesting his actions may be part of a broader attempt to reshape the nature of the Force itself rather than pursue traditional political power.

    • The conflict increasingly shifts away from large-scale open warfare toward ideological, strategic, and covert struggles involving the Hidden Chain, Darth Malgus, and competing visions for the future of the galaxy—marking a transitional era defined as much by philosophy and influence as by military force.

🎯 Recommended RP Default Era:

For general community roleplay, this hub adopts a flexible default setting centered on the period spanning approximately 3630–3620 BBY, encompassing the post–Eternal Empire era, the Legacy of the Sith storyline, and the emergence of the Hidden Chain. This timeframe supports interaction between characters of varied backgrounds, allegiances, and experience levels, while remaining compatible with current in-game story developments. 

Roleplay is not restricted exclusively to this period; rather, it serves as a shared narrative baseline that encourages continuity, accessibility, and collaborative storytelling across the community.

🌐 Galactic Powers:

• • 🟦 Galactic Republic – A bureaucratic Senate, a fractured Jedi Order, and defenders of democracy.

  • 🟥 Sith Empire – Dark Council rivalries, a martial tradition, and power through fear and strength. 

  • 🟨 Eternal Empire – A former third superpower under Valkorion’s rule, defined by Zakuulan dominance and the civil war between Arcann and Vaylin. Though no longer a unified political entity, its legacy continues to shape galactic politics through instability, power vacuums, and unresolved consequences. 
    
    

🧩 Major Subfactions and Groups:

• • 🧘 Jedi Order – Enclaves, spiritual trials, ancient Force philosophies.

  • 🔥 Sith Order – Bloodline conflicts, rival ideologies, pursuit of power.

  • 🛡️ Mandalorians – Clans Ordo, Vizsla, Lok; honor, conquest, and ancestral codes.

  • 💀 Syndicates – The Exchange, Black Sun; masters of crime, control, and underworld politics.

  • 🏢 Corporate Powers – Czerka Corporation, biotech arms races, ruthless profiteering.

  • 🕯️ Cult Movements – Order of Zildrog, Cult of the Emperor, the Hidden Chain; dark rituals and Force fanaticism.

🟦 Republic-Aligned Worlds:

• • 🏛️ Coruscant – High-stakes Senate politics, Jedi enclave diplomacy, and a seething criminal underworld hidden beneath the city-planet’s gleaming surface. Ideal for political intrigue, undercover ops, and street-level RP. 

  • 🧘 Tython – Sacred home of the Jedi Temple. Ancient ruins, Force echoes, and spiritual trials shape the path of initiates, masters, and seekers of balance. Perfect for mentorship arcs, mystery, and inner conflict. 

  • 💣 Ord Mantell – A Republic-aligned world torn by separatist rebellion. Expect front-line troops, black-market arms dealers, and constant instability. Ideal for military RP, espionage, and warzone storytelling. 

  • 🌿 Ossus – A vital post-Onslaught Jedi enclave and rebuilding site. Excellent for Jedi politics, ideological conflict, training arcs, and debates over the future of the Order.
    
    

🟥 Imperial-Aligned Worlds:

• • 🏛️ Dromund Kaas – Seat of Imperial power. Dark Council machinations, a suffocating surveillance state, and jungle-shrouded cults define this brooding capital. Sith apprentices and agents alike claw for power under constant scrutiny. 

  • 🗿 Korriban – Cradle of Sith legacy. Its tomb-littered valleys echo with blood-soaked trials, Force specters, and ruthless rivalries. A proving ground where only the most brutal acolytes survive the path to Sith ascension. 

🟨 Contested & Hot War Zones:

• • ⚙️ Balmorra – Republic resistance clashes with Imperial industry. Expect active warzones, factory sabotage, and corporate espionage. Ideal for military operatives, saboteurs, and power struggles in a polluted landscape.

  • 🧊 Belsavis – Beneath the icy surface lie ancient Rakata vaults, alien super-prisons, and Force-warped anomalies. Ideal for escapees, jailers, archeologists, or Force-centric mystery arcs.

  • 🏙️ Corellia – A vital trade hub in chaos. Urban warfare, orbital conflict, and resistance uprisings tear the cityscape apart. Perfect for ground assaults, smuggler networks, and high-stakes missions.

  • 🌾 Dantooine – A quiet agricultural world with hidden Jedi secrets and old ruins beneath rolling fields. Excellent for pastoral, introspective RP or mystery-driven exploration.

  • ❄️ Hoth – Wrecked starships lie buried in the ice. Salvagers, mercenaries, and opportunists scour the frozen wastes amid skirmishes and survival challenges.

  • 💎 Ilum – A sacred Jedi-Sith battleground over Adegan crystals. The Force resonates through its snowy cliffs, making it ideal for epic war RP and spiritual conflict.

  • 🌊 Manaan – A diplomatic tinderbox submerged in tension. Republic and Sith factions vie for influence among the Selkath, with underwater intrigue and cartel entanglements always in play.

  • 👑 Onderon – Royal courts and jungle borders simmer with tension. Republic loyalty, Imperial sabotage, and dynastic politics collide in a struggle of tradition versus technology.

  • 🪓 Ruhnuk – A rugged Mandalorian world of clan trials, arena combat, and feral beasts. Dominated by tribal politics and raw physical strength—perfect for honor-bound or survival RP.

  • ☣️ Taris – Ruined cities and toxic overgrowth conceal Rakghoul outbreaks and pirate activity. A survival-horror setting perfect for scavengers, engineers, and those desperate to rebuild.

  • 🌑 Yavin IV – Dark temples and jungle ruins pulse with primal Force energy. Revanites, seekers, and relic hunters alike are drawn to its mystical unrest.

⚖️ Neutral & Independent Worlds:

• • 👑 Alderaan – Royal intrigue, noble house rivalries, assassins in the court, and ancient traditions clashing with modern ideologies. Ideal for political RP, betrayal plots, and aristocratic drama. 

  • 🧊 Copero – The heart of Chiss Ascendancy operations. Expect military precision, covert missions, family honor disputes, and high-stakes diplomacy. Great for stealth or disciplined RP. 

  • 🐍 Hutta – Toxic swamps and corrupt Hutt politics define this cartel-run cesspool. Mercenaries, slavers, and shady brokers make their fortunes in the shadows of sleaze. 

  • 🧠 Iokath – An ancient world of AI rebellion and philosophical conflict. Explore superweapons, post-organic creators, and debates on identity, purpose, and control. Great for deep sci-fi RP. 

  • 🌋 Makeb – A crumbling paradise of corporate elites and Hutt warlords. Earthquakes, sabotage, and seismic instability make this a ticking time bomb for disaster-driven narratives. 

  • 🎲 Nar Shaddaa – The galaxy’s criminal playground. Gang wars, spice dens, glittering casinos, and slicer dens create a neon-soaked backdrop for crime, corruption, and underworld diplomacy. 

  • 🕯️ Nathema – A dead world steeped in Force-null horror. Ideal for dark rituals, corrupted Force experiments, or unraveling the legacy of Vitiate’s nihilism. 

  • 🌀 Odessen – A neutral sanctuary for Force-users, rogues, and dissidents. Balances diplomacy, espionage, and the constant tension of factional coexistence. 

  • 🏝️ Rishi – Tropical strongholds, pirate enclaves, and salvaged tech await. Smugglers, mercenary crews, and raiders navigate ever-shifting allegiances in the lawless archipelago. 

  • 🏜️ Tatooine – Endless dunes hide ancient secrets and local justice. Krayt dragon legends, Tusken rites, and Hutt muscle dominate this harsh frontier. 

  • 🔮 Voss – A land of prophecy and cultural complexity. Voss Mystics, offworld diplomats, and tense factional visitors navigate sacred visions and misunderstandings. 

  • 🧟 Ziost – A ruined Sith world haunted by the echoes of Vitiate’s devastation. Force-corrupted zones, broken architecture, and cult remnants linger in the ashes. 

  • 🌌 Mek-Sha – A neutral cartel-controlled asteroid station. One of the best modern RP hubs for smugglers, spies, mercenaries, and cross-faction intrigue.

  • 👑 Zakuul – Former capital of the Eternal Empire. Ideal for post-war fallout, refugees, cult remnants, and legacy-driven storylines.

  • 🛰️ Asylum – A remote Zakuulan settlement beyond the core. Excellent for displaced populations, secrecy, and fringe survival RP.

🧬 Character Creation Tips:

• • Define your backstory, cultural background, and moral alignment.

  • Choose your species and faction to enrich your narrative.

📝 RP Etiquette & Best Practices:

• • Use /e and /me for narrative immersion.

  • Always establish consent before engaging in sensitive content.

  • Keep out-of-character chat separate and respectful.

🤝 Collaborative Storytelling:

• • Build alliances and rivalries through iconic settings.

  • Anchor scenes in SWTOR environments (e.g., Taris underworld).

  • Support others’ arcs while maintaining lore consistency.