About Us
SWG Awakening - where your Star Wars Galaxies experience will truly awaken…
We know that’s a bold promise, but Awakening lives up to it. Built by passionate and experienced developers well-versed in Pre-CU SWG, Awakening sets itself apart:
- Everyone starts off equally, the new player experience is true to Pre-CU. We don’t give away items or boost players with bonuses that harm long-term balance. All you will start with is a measly pay-out from the Imperial Navy and your grit and determination, where you go is only limited by your imagination and drive.
- High-end loot is exactly that, it will take commitment and skill to gather rare items and top-tier crafting components. Our loot system is tuned to value risk versus reward; you won't find server-killing weapons in the hands of every player. The drop rates of DoT weapons, legendaries and exceptionals have been finely tuned to make them match the namesake.
- We carefully vet and test every feature before adding it, ensuring it upholds the true Pre-CU experience.
- We have an automated backup system to protect your data and time spent on Awakening within our vibrant galaxy “just in case.”
Our goal is to recreate the genuine Pre-CU experience for the community, whilst adding in some additional quality of life (QoL) changes and extra content/systems that don't change the core of Pre-CU SWG.
What Makes Awakening Different?
- We launched in 2014 and are still going strong, without compromising long-term stability. Unlike many servers that hand out bonuses to attract players, we believe in earned progression and a healthy, sustainable economy.
- Our Jedi unlock system is earned, mysterious, and challenging - no shortcuts, no CSR handouts. This isn’t NGE; it’s Pre-CU+.
- Bounty Hunters get a small edge against Jedi - a slight lightsaber defense, better tracking and Master Bounty Hunters are able to use Ranger traps in combat with Jedi - without breaking balance. It adds depth while preserving fairness.
- All core professions are available (JTL is still in development by SWGEmu). The global experience rate has a 2x multiplier applied to it on Awakening. We add only aesthetic or thematic new content - never undermining established systems.
Combat
Our combat mirrors original SWG Pre-CU, but with minor tweaks: Bounty Hunters have increased survivability, and PvE creatures have slight stat boosts to discourage AFK camping and encourage engagement. We've also introduced powerful new boss mobs and significantly enhanced original ones - all featuring unique, custom loot. Overall, both PvP and PvE feel authentic yet refreshed.
Buffs
Doctor and Entertainer buffs were a hallmark of Pre-CU gameplay and remain vital on Awakening. Buffs require resources, skill, and strategy. We’ve introduced Enhancement Droids in starter zones which provide minor buffs to help new players progress even if player Doctors and Entertainers are offline. Make no mistake - the Enhancement Droids will not help you when it comes to anything beyond starter content.
Crafting
We preserve the original Pre-CU crafting and resource systems. We believe SWG Pre-CU has the premier crafting system in any game to date. Profession progression is earned, and no one gets shortcuts. We do introduce new cosmetic options, like NGE-style houses and speeders, to enhance immersion - crafted by players along with some other craftable items.
On Awakening, Anti-Decay Kits (ADKs) are disabled. This decision reflects the value we place on our vibrant crafting community. ADKs are widely recognized as harmful to the long-term health and sustainability of the Pre-CU SWG crafting economy, and their absence helps ensure a more dynamic and rewarding experience for both crafters and players alike.
Player Housing
Housing remains faithful to Pre-CU rules, though we’ve added additional NGE-style houses for variety. These features enhance the world without compromising fairness.
Player Cities
City mechanics mirror Pre-CU functionality but are adjusted based on server population. Any updates or threshold changes will be announced to the community in advance.
The Force
Jedi are integral to the Star Wars experience. Our Force system addresses that with mystery: each character’s affinity is set at creation. Becoming Jedi involves genetics (luck), hard work (no hints given), and in-depth galaxy knowledge. It’s random, rewarding, and earned - true Pre-CU spirit.
Bottom line...
Awakening isn’t an “easy-mode” server. We attract players who appreciate challenge, community, and earned accomplishments. We believe in a risk-versus-reward economy and strong player-driven systems - yet we welcome suggestions and community feedback at every step.
Community Run & Player Supported
Awakening is entirely free to play. There are no subscription fees or pay-to-win mechanics. The project is built and maintained by a team of passionate volunteer community members who believe in preserving the magic of Pre-CU Star Wars Galaxies for everyone.
If you enjoy your time on Awakening and want to help keep the galaxy thriving, you can contribute by making a donation. Every bit helps cover costs like server hosting and software. Visit our Donations Page to learn more - thank you for your support!
We’re always looking for skilled, enthusiastic, and community-minded players to join the Awakening team. Whether you're a developer, event coordinator, moderator, artist, or just someone who loves the game and wants to contribute, we’d love to hear from you.
Check out the Staff Recruitment forum to view current openings. Your time and talent could help shape the future of the server - join us in keeping the galaxy alive!
SWG Awakening is a Pre-CU-based Star Wars Galaxies server powered by SWGEmu. Our server code is open source and licensed under the GNU AGPL. The Awakening codebase is available at our GitHub Organisation.
