One of the most common requests related to the Pentastar Alignment has always been for more heroes, since they were limited to four in previous releases. Because of how little attention the Alignment gets in lore, this isn't always easy, however we've managed to flesh out the hero roster in ways we think most people should be happy with, including some changes to the existing ones which should free us up in some other ways. So, here's a quick look at who you'll be playing with in 2.2, starting with the three unchanged ones.
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h283/DArbiter/FactionhighlightPA_zpscbgvqwpd.png)
(http://s67.photobucket.com/albums/h283/DArbiter/I_Button_Kaine_zpsxnhi7p1f.png)Grand Moff Ardus Kaine - Space: Executor-class Star Destroyer, Reaper
Kaine, the leader and founder of the Pentastar Alignment, will be essentially unchanged from previous versions. He'll still be a big source of early power for the Alignment from the bridge of the Reaper, which will itself be making a few more appearances in the mod.
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h283/DArbiter/I_BUTTON_GRANT_zpsxwrudkem.png)Grand Admiral Octavian Grant - Space: Imperial-class Star Destroyer Oriflamme
Octavian Grant has always been regarded as a brilliant tactician, although his lack of desire to play the political games required for success in the Empire left him without a significant following after the Battle of Endor. Rather than carve out his own warlord state as many of his Grand Admiral peers had tried, the pragmatic Grant sought refuge within Kaine's Pentastar Alignment while the other Grand Admirals were picked off by each other and the New Republic, despite having been marked for death by the other Grand Admirals. Grant would eventually defect to the New Republic, trading immunity for Imperial intel. He would seek to aid the New Republic in defeating Grand Admiral Thrawn, although he was declined the opportunity out of mistrust for his motives. In Operation Shadow Hand, however he played a key role in the New Republic's ambush of Grand Moff Kaine by feigning allegiance to his old colleague and luring him into a trap.
(http://s67.photobucket.com/albums/h283/DArbiter/I_BUTTON_GREGOR_zpszwjp4vwo.png)Commerce Master Commissioner Gregor Raquoran - Galactic only
Raquoran rose to the position of master commissioner through years of proving himself to be a capable businessman, as well as demonstrating a significant level of political acumen within the Velcar Free Commerce Zone. After Endor, he believed the Velcar zone to be relatively safe, but after Kaine called for the Pentastar Talks in 7 ABY, he recognized the prudence of Velcar joining the Alignment. Ingame, he provides significant cost reduction bonuses.
(http://s67.photobucket.com/albums/h283/DArbiter/I_BUTTON_JEREC_zpswncs6uxi.png)Zenithal InQuestor Jerec - Ground
Jerec was initially a Jedi Master who then became a feared Inquisitor within the New Order. After the Empire's collapse, he styled himself Warlord; however, he ultimately decided to align himself with Grand Moff Kaine's Pentastar Alignment, taking up the mantle of Great InQuestor of Judgment, the Alignment's version of Inquistitors. While he was still ostensibly serving the Alignment, Cronal, who was with the recovering Palpatine on Byss, reached out to secure Jerec's cooperation in the search for the Valley of the Jedi. Jerec will be remaining the same on the ground, however he will not automatically spawn with Vengeance.
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h283/DArbiter/I_Button_sysco_zpsrf2gcevn.png)Captain Sysco - Space: Vengeance-class Star destroyer Vengeance
Rather than keep Jerec as a free jedi hero with his own SSD from the start, Vengeance and Jerec have been separated, with the former being given as its own hero to Captain Sysco, the officer who commanded the ship under Jerec. Sysco and Vengance will not be spawned at the start of GCs; instead, he will need to be recruited into your fleet. This allows us to play some more with other areas of strength within the Alignment, since with two free SSDs, they could foetn be overbearing.
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h283/DArbiter/I_Button_Halmere_zpsjvli7rhp.png)Great InQuestor Halmere - Ground
Halmere was one of the few surviving force-sensitives after the Clone Wars. He was chosen by Darth Vader for training, and worked his way up to the position of High Inquisitor by the Battle of Yavin. Like many other inquisitors, Halmere was recruited into the service of the Pentastar Alignment by Jerec. After Jerec's death at the hands of Kyle Katarn, Halmere took his place as the Zenithal InQuestor of Judgment.
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h283/DArbiter/I_Button_dekeet_zpsvnvwsikt.png)Governor Ib Dekeet - Galactic, Space: Praetor II-class Star Battlecruiser
Dekeet was an Imperial governor stationed in the outer rim. He was present at the Pentastar Talks, and ultimately signed on despite initial hesitance.
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h283/DArbiter/I_Button_Besk_zpsybe1wha8.png)Elta Besk - Galactic, Space: Interdictor-class Star Destroyer Dynamic
Elta Besk came from a rich family and inherited the company Dynamic Automata from her father Metron. As head of DA, she was invited by Kaine to the Pentastar Talks along with the four other dignitaries and captains of industry. She agreed to join out of concern for possible slave revolts in her workforce if the New Republic were to get a foothold. On the Galactic map she provides a cost reduction to units with significant droid parts.
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h283/DArbiter/I_Button_Otro_zpskq967lti.png)Wyrn Otro - Galactic, Space: Enforcer-class Picket Ship, Enforcer
Otro was invited to the Pentastar Talks as a representative for Galentro Heavy Works, which would join and produce the iconic Enforcer-class picket ship for the Alignment, along with various other types of arms. Jaemus Shipyards was a subsidiary of the company.
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h283/DArbiter/I_BUTTON_SARISS_zpszhdxao9a.png)Sariss - Ground
Sariss was the daughter of Cronal, and served undercover as the "Prophetess" on Tatooine before the Battle of Endor, serving as a spy for the Secret Order of the Empire. After fleeing Tatooine, she became an apprentice of Jerec. She was also killed by Kyle Katarn in the search for the Valley of the Jedi.
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h283/DArbiter/I_Button_Yun_zps0glyp5km.png)Yun - Ground
Yun was the son of a mineral baron. After becoming infatuated with Sariss, Yun joined her in the service of Jerec. Upon finding Kyle Katarn unconscious and defenseless after the Moldy Crow crashed, Sariss tried to kill him, however Yun deflected her attack which then killed Yun, who said he believed Kyle deserved the opportunity to defend himself.
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h283/DArbiter/I_Button_Trelix_zps8m2mqhb6.png)Krassis Trelix - Space: Firespray-class Patrol and Attack Craft, Indenture (Can be recruited from Gabredor III)
Krassis Trelix is a slaver in the employ of the Karazak Slavers Corporation as a highly respected pilot. The KSC, although not strictly members of the Pentastar Alignment, would often be contracted by them when it was deemed necessary, as in one case when some of its members were tasked with the capture of the children of Cantras Gola's ambassador after they had discovered the planet's desire to secede and join the New Republic.
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h283/DArbiter/I_Button_Reikas_zpskft62nfj.png)Rei'kas - Ground (Can be recruited from Gabredor III)
Rei'kas is a Rodian slaver working for the KSC as a strike team leader, a position he achieved due to extremely violent tenancies and determination.
And that should do it for 2.2. Hopefully that should provide some more variety for Alignment players. We're also at a point where, in addition to articles, I'm going to start playing through some of the new content on my stream (http://www.hitbox.tv/coreyloses). For those interested, the first time for this will be Sunday September 4th (tomorrow) at 3pm EST. After the streams I'll also be putting them on my youtube channel, Corey Loses (https://www.youtube.com/c/Corey_Loses), for those who can't make it.