BioWare has released more information on Star Wars: The Old Republic's Republic Trooper class in the form of both a trailer and details on the class, proving they won't need a lightsaber to make a difference on the battlefield.

On the front lines, the Republic Trooper serves as a powerhouse of offense that can specialize in excelling in either heavy weapons or heavy armor. Contrary to what many may think, women and even aliens made up the forces of Republic Troopers. Take a look at the trailer to see what kind of individual it takes to serve as a Trooper:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWXXeLC9yCM

The specialization classes a Trooper can pursue are the Commando and the Vanguard. The official synopsis of the Commando?

"Trained in advanced assault tactics and weaponry, Commandos charge battlefields with massive blaster cannons, overwhelming their enemies with brute firepower. Whether taking out an enemy bunker with focused fire or driving back an Imperial charge with a hail of concussive bolts, the Commando's high-powered hardware dominates the scene, laying waste to all unfortuntes who fall within its range. Many of the Republic's greatest military victories can be credited to the decisive actions of a Commando in the field."

If charging ahead and doing some real damage in the form of powerful weapons and taking care of business sounds like fun, the Commando might be for you. The Commando specialization will be good for dealing heaps of damage at once, and will be right at home in either a supportive role or as part of an offensive. If that doesn't sound appealing, then maybe the Vanguard class will be a better fit:

"Unstoppable and utterly fearless, Vanguards wade into battle wearing advanced heavy armor. They are the first and best line of defense in the Republic military. These steadfast soldiers ignore personal risk, deliberately stepping into the line of fire to divert danger from allies and innocents. Though their tactical role is inherently dangerous, Vanguards have an uncanny survivability due to their expert defensive tactics and the advanced technology at their disposal."

Drawing aggro? Sounds like an ideal role for a tank. There is something special about being able to wade into the middle of combat while remaining incredibly hard to kill that's very gratifying. For those who enjoy that kind of thing, a Vanguard might be the class to play when The Old Republic releases.

Interestingly, the Jedi and Sith classes both contain a "tank" role and "DPS" role, showing that BioWare won't alienate anybody who doesn't want to play as lightsaber-wielding character, and proving that players will be able to fill party roles with ease. As fun as it is to engage in epic lightsaber battles, perhaps the Republic Trooper will show that it's still unhealthy to bring a knife to a gun fight.

In addition, the Trooper class (like every other class) will have access to companions who will aide the player in different ways, perhaps even making their big gun even bigger, and that's never a bad thing.

What class are you planning to play in The Old Republic?

Star Wars: The Old Republic battles for the Republic sometime in Spring 2011 on the PC.

Source: BioWare