All the theories and predictions that the next class to be revealed is going to be the smuggler were dead wrong. The class to emerge from the revolution torn world of Ord Mantell is none other than the Republic Trooper. Now remember kids, this is not your Imperial trooper clone. This is thousands of years before Darth Vader’s Storm Troopers. They might look alike but they are the good guys – defending the Republic alongside the Jedi. The official announcement reads as follows:

We are excited to reveal the next playable character class in Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ – the Trooper!

The Trooper is an elite combat specialist in the Republic military armed with heavy blaster rifles and nearly impenetrable armor designed by the military’s top engineers. Trained to beat almost any odds, the Trooper battles deep behind enemy lines to carry out precise, hard hitting strikes against the enemy, with a barrage of blaster-fire and a few carefully aimed firebombs. Even Sith Lords are wise to think twice before engaging in combat with the Trooper—this is what it means to be one of the Republic’s finest.

Check out the latest screenshots in our gallery below (including the walpapers). The official page presenting the Trooper is here, while in conjunction there is an interview with the SWtoR’s principal lead writer Daniel Erickson and lead combat designer Damion Schubert going deeper into the creation of the Trooper.[PSGallery=wd24q7ade]