[Knights of the Old Republic Retrospective] The KOTOR Experience - Episode 1: Escape! From Taris
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- Опубликовано: 5 авг 2024
- Please do not post spoilers in the comments! I'll have to delete your comment if you do.
UPDATE 05/2024: The success of this video enabled me to enter the RUclips partners program. However, the ~70 seconds of the Star Wars theme at 11:08 makes this 3-hour video completely ineligible for monetization. Any ad revenue goes to Disney. I did this as a passion project, so I never expected to make anything off this but if you wanted to pay back the 3 hours you spent with this video you can make a one-time donation of $3 to my ko-fi page (listed below among the links). Thanks!
Original description:
I've wanted to do a longform video on KOTOR for ~10 years. I hoped this would be one long video, but I discovered what I had written for just Taris was longer than most retrospectives. So here's Episode I of potentially three videos on one of my favorite video games of all-time Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.
If you love Knights of the Old Republic, I hope this video provides some value. But what pushed me to finally make this video was to provide a "virtual tourism" of a game people have never played before - such as my many friends who can't get past the tutorial. Hopefully, one of them will watch this video.
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:04:13 - Part I: Character Creation
00:11:08 - Part II: The Endar Spire
00:39:32 - Part III: Taris
01:07:18 - Part IV: Below Taris
01:44:30 - Part V: The Swoop Race
02:13:53 - Part VI: Secure the Codes
02:39:16 - Part VII: Escape from Taris
02:53:07 - Review of Taris
03:03:49 - Post-Video
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#kotor #knightsoftheoldrepublic #starwars #bioware #kotor2 #kotorexperience #thekotorexperience #kotorretrospective #kotorremake #retrospective #saberinteractive #aspyr #lucasfilm #lucasfilmgames 
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I assumed this was a complete essay, then about an hour through I realized this is a three hour video just on Taris, and I'm totally here for it. Taris is definitely underrated.
Happy to take any feedback on what you'd consider "fat" that could be trimmed, because Episode 2 is already shaping up to be three times as long.
@@ArthurAugustyn Personally I'm a fan of how detailed you are. But if I could think of one thing (without rewatching and making notes) that could be trimmed is some of the ruminating on what the remake will do or should do, not that there's much of that anyway. I think maybe that could be its own separate video or episode of this series, going back through and mentioning what you'd like done better. I enjoyed your idea for changing Mission's introduction, it would feel more natural and impactful.
Also depends on what your next video is covering. Is it just Dantooine? There is a lot of lore, new mechanics, and choices to be discussed on that planet. So I can see why it could be lengthy. I'm glad you are still making this series though. I love your British people are evil and Trask Ulgo conspiracies.
But it's your video and your style, you do what you want. There's a decent size audience for these extremely long reviews, just look at people like PatricianTV. His Skyrim video is over 20 hours.
Me: Oh cool a three hour retrospective on KOTOR
sees "episode 1"
Me: YAAAAAAAY
Loving this, really looking forward to the continuation.
With this being 8 months old I somehow doubt you will be seeing many new episodes any time soon.
Hope to see more
Seriously I know the hard work may not feel worth it, but finishing this series you’ve started will be more than worth it!
I deeply appreciate your comment and support! I continue to be interested and excited to release the next episode later this year.
@@ArthurAugustyn I will await it's arrival, 20th anniversary of kotor 2 this year also, I would be very intruigued in something regarding that as well!
Well one thing u might have missed about T3M4 can't be stunned by force powers, making him basically an automatic counter to the sith governor, preventing your whole party from getting stunned. Pretty sure he also has access to ion beam attachment thingy that lets u destroy the shield if u fucked up disabling it somehow but i honestly don't remember if u get it that early or if it even worked on that shield. Between that and high skills pretty sure it was just meant to be the solution to a problem that is entire sith base.
Not that it's a particularly relevant thing.
Also big Z could never have his life debt to Mission, they'd stop being friends. That was never really an option unless u were prepared to do BIG character developments for them out of nowhere, where she has to un-brainwash him to go from master and a slave (that's what the debt is) back to friends again, Mission would not stand for being a master. But debts are NOT optional. She can't tell him "ur free" and he's free.
I disagree. It's said in Legends continuity that Chewie stays by Hans side because he has a life debt to him. This obviously isn't canon anymore because of the Solo movie 😒 but it sets the precedent that a Wookie can indeed be friends with someone to whom it owes a life debt to since I'm sure everyone would agree that Han and Chewie are absolutely best friends.
This also explains why he specifically tells Chewie in Empire Strikes Back that he has to take care of Leia, he was transferring life debt from himself to Leia.
Honestly, I love that you give so much necessary context. It's both a retrospective, deep-dive, narrative exploration, and critique. It's fantastic.
I accidentally played KOTOR. I was playing the Dark Forces / Jedi Academy series, and assumed this was an fps/3ps like they were. I was so disappointed, but used all my kid money to buy it so I was committed. It became the best game I ever played.
This video brought me from 0% invested in Trask Ulgo to 120% invested in about 3 hours. Marvelously done.
I'll be keeping up with this series, I very much appreciate the insights! This is incredibly helpful for a KOTOR enjoyer, Star Wars fan, and player/DM like me.
A criminally low viewcount for a video essay this comprehensive. Keep the series going!
I think it will get more views in the coming months. It just showed up in my feed today, and I'm sure for others as well.
Same will you do one for kotor 2?
Found myself confused that someone who isn't a Star Wars fan and doesn't love the movies would enjoy this game so much and sufficiently to create such a massive retrospective. But, fair play to you. It's in my Top 20 favorite games of all-time. 👍
I’m looking forward to the next episode. Keep up the good work!
Awesome! I've started writing the next episode on January 1 and I'm making decent progress. Hope you'll subscribe to stay updated.
Amazing video and as good a retrospective of KotOR as any to be found on RUclips. Totally agree about Taris, I love the way it grounds you in familiar iconography. Can't wait for part 2!
This video is exactly the kind of thing I love watching, I would love to see the full series
I spent many an hour playing this back in the day, I loved how characters such as Misson and Zaalbar are important at the start but then not so much (T3-34 just exists just to open a door!), but the temptaton exists just to play as Jedis....which is a mistake!
Yes! It is interesting to see how prominent characters fade in and out of the main narrative. I do wish Mission had more of a role later on but it’s also kind of smart they make room for the later party additions. Just another reason to replay it!
First time I played I failed to redeem Juhani and her absence later in the game is a huge hole. @@ArthurAugustyn
Interesting bit about the promised land arc: according to SWTOR, they canonically find the promised land. But they essentially get trapped there and over the course of generations, their population dwindles down to nothing. And over that time, they lose all knowledge of how to make their tech function and even how to speak well. By the time your PC gets there, there’s nothing left of them but droids and recordings of their devolution.
This was a great way to re-experience the game for me. I played it 3-4 times myself over the years and while you say this game is better experienced, I would argue once it's been experienced, it's better analysed like you do. I'm not sure if you will ever make part 2, but if you do, I'd watch it :)
Such a great retrospective, it's by far the best I ever saw. Thank you for your hard work.
Watched all the way through! Glad to see all this attention to detail on a great game. I totally agree about Taris. It's just fun to play starwars with a blaster for a little bit before getting the lightsaber. It reminds us that Jedi aren't the only characters that matter. Hope to see you make parts 2 and 3. Making me want to replay.
Lots of people replaying KOTOR lately. The reddit community has grown a lot in the past 5 years. I can certify it's just as good as when you were younger, but short of actually replaying it I hope this series scratches the itch. Thanks for watching.
Very thorough. I like the observations made around the accents, and that datapad for the rancor.
Keen for the next episode
This is super well done! Thanks for putting this together. Excited to see the next parts!
As someone who just recently started playing KOTOR for the first time, I'm glad Taris exists, and I totally agree that wielding a lightsaber and being a jedi should start as this mystical idea that you have to earn. I'm really looking forward to watching the rest of this series, as it's made me have a better appreciation for the making of this game. So thank you for the hundreds of hours you've poured into this one video alone!
I have played this game probably since it came out, I have NEVER seen the swoop platform room before
I agree Taris is quite enjoyable for first time player if I remember correctly. Certainly more enjoyable then Kotor 2 Paragus station... and Telos citadel... and Telos surface... and Telos academy... Actualy Telos citadel is probably on par with Taris, it's pretty good time for the first time but I remember playing it second time and it was like... Oh geez when all of this will finally be over so I am free to play?
I loved Telos because the situation on the Citadel is so interesting. You're essentially homeless, stuck on a station among the masses of drifters and refugees, and seeing the tension brew while you're investigating a mystery not many other people care about. The whole atmosphere is kinda... tired, melancholic and cynical, and very very interesting.
I also loved Peragus.
@@antonioscendrategattico2302the TSF gives you an appartment though
@@keklord4128 Well yeah, but a temporary one. You never get the sense that you intend to stay there, you're still on the move.
@@antonioscendrategattico2302Being on the move is the whole game. You're tryna survive the first Jedi Purge.
@@antonioscendrategattico2302It was the same for me initially but the second play through onwards, with mods or whatnot, those places were very tedious, unless I took a multiple year break, then they were slightly tedious as I have forgotten or discovered new parts.
Thank you for the time to create this.
This game has always been a gem. Looking forward to the next episode
This is certainly the best video made yet on Kotor, I really enjoyed it. I just completed a playthrough recently, and I'd love to watch a follow-up. I also enjoyed Taris quite a bit, and I honestly wouldn't have minded if it was a bit longer. The atmosphere was good, especially the feeling of being fugitives on an enemy-held planet, and although being a sort of extended prologue it had a quite interesting self-contained story of its own.
This is great. Please keep it going! I've gotten through taris twice and became a Jedi once but never was able to put in the hours to get further. I missed my chance to play it as a kid. Please keep it going!
Commenting for the algorithm, but seriously I hope you continue this series!
I’ve watched this video multiple times now since I first discovered it a couple months ago, I have it on in the background while working. I love KOTOR, it is my favorite video game of all time, and I really enjoyed listening to your analysis of the first chapter of the game. I love everything about KOTOR, even the stuff I don’t like, if that makes sense. Thanks for your hard work in putting together this amazing video. I hope you are able to continue making these videos for the other planets in KOTOR. Thanks!!
Taris gives me the same nostalgic “home” feeling that peaches castle in super mario 64 does. For that reason I could never dislike it, flaws and all.
@@joshuaferrington9990 100%. Every time I exit the apartments to that walkway I feel at home.
I am two minutes into the Taris section and the Taris slander is crazy. Its one of my favorite parts of the game
The haters must be stopped!
Yeah, at worst it pisses off min-maxers who will feel compelled to do every single sidequest to get all the loot/experience and chosen light/dark side points while never leveling up to save all those levels for their jedi class on dantuine.
@@RipOffProductionsLLCha this is exactly what I do. But I enjoy Taris because there is so much to do and it makes the game more difficult to try to maintain at a low level for more force powers
26:30 It is so strange you mention this because back in 2004, when I first bought KotOR, I was one of those that never knew about turn based combat and I started playing, got into the first fight on the Endar Spire, and I actually turned the game off and set it aside. KotOR sat in my game shelf for nearly a year and I was pulling out old games to sell and grabbed KotOR and as I looked at the cover, I said to myself, as a lover of all things Star Wars, let me give this game a real shot. Let me get used to it ands see if I can sell it or not. This decision literally changed my life. I found my favorite video game of all time! And to think, it sat for a year on my shelf and was nearly sold to buy some new skinned version of Call of Duty.. Thanks for the memory lane trip!
I love KOTOR and I love hearing people talk about it. I really enjoyed this retrospective and I`m looking forward to the next video(s).
I had no Idea people acctually disliked Taris so much, they even made a Mod to skip it entirely.
To me, Taris feels like comming home, because I had played it so many times as a kid. The ambience, the music, the side-characters you meet and the different buildings you enter.
Except the slums, that shit was tedious.
Also in all these years I had no idea there`s a shortcut in an apartment to the swoop-race front-desk. I acctually learned something new today.
Thanks for the video! I've been trying to figure out what game to play for awhile and this helped remind me of my love for the Kotor games. I look forward to your next video!
Honestly an excellent video for an excellent video game. Great work, looking forward to the next segment!
Kotor is one of my favorites, I have played them every way and still enjoy playing it.
Such a thoughtful retrospective on a timeless classic. Commenting for this gem to get picked up by the algorithm!
this was one of the best videos i've seen in years, i can't wait for part 2! i never thought about the ulgo connection
Please Continue this series. This was an amazing retrospective on Act 1. Considering I've been on my own nostalgia journey with this game, this game at a good time. I like star wars, but this game is why I LOVE Star Wars. I can't say I agree with every thing in the video, but I still loved it. Can't wait for the follow ups :)
Great video. You almost lost me at “heteronormative,” but please make the subsequent videos! Taris is great. You are absolutely right.
Amazing video. Hope you complete the retrospective of the whole game (and maybe even the second!)
Great video essay! Just wanted to let you how much I’m enjoying it and would like to see more from you. :)
great video man, I hope you continue with the series.
Thank you so much! I’m committed and excited to keep going.
Love the video man. Subscribed. Can't wait for more but please take your time.
This is a really interesting video. I picked up KOTOR on switch last year and bounced off it after spending a few hours on Taris. This video has encouraged me to try it again and give it another chance.
Looking forward to part 2!
This is a wonderful thing to read. The goal of this video was to make this classic more accessible to people who haven’t played it (or it’s too old to enjoy). I hope your second shot goes well!
I was in my videogame prime, 19 yo, when KOTOR came out. I was a massive Star Wars fan back then, not beaten down yet from Disney cash grabs and awful story writing of the recent years, and I owned the game. However I never played it for more than just an hour. Watching videos like this is the closest I'll ever come to playing it as I don't play games at all anymore. So I thank you for giving me the experience I always wanted, but never had.
@@tannerslomko exactly the person and purpose I hope to serve. Thrilled you liked the video 🫡
Man, I already liked Trask Ulgo but 18.5 minutes in and I would fight my way through hell for this man.
This is a masterpiece. I love long form analysis, and love the kotor series even more. I hope you choose to keep doing what you’re doing, because you may have a bright future in the long form content genre.
As someone who is a fan of Kotor and who wants to do video essays. Well done, this is a fantastic video and really gets down to the core of what makes these games great! I appreciate all your hard work and can't wait for the next one.
Amazing video and very informative, Taris definitely feels like a slog to get through because you’re just waiting to be let off the leash.
This was excellent. I can't wait to see your analyses on the next planets, in howevermany episodes it would take!
I will take the blow and stand up for T3. He says "dwoo" when he's sad and seeing that written out next to the sad droid sound always made me laugh. I still sometimes say dwoo when I'm sad
hey dude, just wanted to drop by and say this vid is great. kotor is my favorite game, and to see someone with this much passion is amazing. it’s like, violently in depth and i truly hope that you continue!
I hope you come back with another video. This was great and I appreciated your thoughts on how to improve it
Yo, this essay was a blast to listen to as I played through the last chunk of Taris; I’m def subbing to get notified when the next part is released!
This was awesome! Thank you, hope you make a part 2.
Fantastic video sir. Eagerly awaiting the next part!
Great video! I started replaying kotor, because of your video.
Great video! I was surprised to find that a piece of work with this amount of detail did not have more views, hope that will change soon. Keep up the good work!
Fantastic quality content- and production-wise
Good shit. Looking forward to the next part
kotor is one of my favorite games of all time. i’ve beaten it more times than i count. such a fun and immersive experience every time. i loved the video, excellent work and deserves more views!
I have watched this multiple times, its very good.
I had KOTOR on xbox and it was amazing!
Absolutely incredible video, thank you for your hard work! We will watch your career with great interest
Excellent work. Keep it up!
I loved this video and it was how I found your channel! :)
I bought this KOTOF for my buddy and still couldn't get him to spend more than 10 minutes to ac give it a shot. I loved KOTOR so much that I've spent north of a thousand hours playing SWTOR.
so glad i found this channel so early on, keep this quality up and i can def see u at 100k by next year
I appreciate your vote of confidence! I hope to keep creating and get the video in front of people who like this sort of thing.
One thing I think you got wrong about Zaalbar is the significance that being enslaved had to him. His brother, later information I know, was selling other wookies into slavery. Big Z got so angry that he used his claws to attack his brother. This is why Big Z ended up on Taris. The Kashyyk section also really shows how bad the slavery issue had gotten there. So, while he may have been there just a couple of hours. Death would have been preferable to slavery for Big Z. Mission asking you for help establishes that she could not have released him on her own. This is why Big Z swears the Life Debt to you and not Mission.
Fair points. Thanks for the in-depth comment.
This was an awesome listen while I worked!
Excellent analysis! I'm really excited for the next part. Thank you for doing this!
Amazing work. Wow. Instant subscribe
LOVED this video! And I would love to hear your thoughts on the rest of the game!
This was incredible, can’t wait for the next episode!
I’ve probably played this game as much as you so a video like this from someone seasoned with familiarity is refreshing.
Stellar video! So excited for the continuing saga.
Like other comments say; not everything in the video might be *exactly* the way I would've done it, but there is obviously talent and the viewcount is *criminally* low for such a good piece of work. I cannot do more than like, subscribe and comment, but I'm definitely looking out for more content!
Every bit helps! Feel free to share any critiques you have. The feedback is useful for future videos.
Please tell me the part 2 is coming out soon! This came up on my recommended videos and i want more!
the sith governor is one reason why I brought T3 M4 (the irony) since he can't stun lock a mech. kept using the flame thrower and Bendak blaster
I never even thought about that. Thanks for sharing!
Great video about one of the best games of all time, looking forward to part 2!
Hope you get blessed by the algorithm man, this video was insanely good and i hope you will do the whole of kotor in this style!
Thank you so much! And yes, that's the plan. Providing free monthly updates on patreon for anyone curious on the progress.
5 minutes in while building a massive Ikea shelving unit and all I can say is I am excited about this! I have played through both games all the way through at least 100 times. I can say this is my fave game series of all time and I am stoked to hear your thoughts on it! 🎉
Did you make it the remaining 3 hours? Did the shelving unit? 📚 Thanks for watching!
This is still hands down the best game I've ever played. The story is unmatched by newer games. I really really hope the remake gets done
Great video dude! Excited to hear more.
I saw this on TikTok and had to come watch the full thing, the algorithm works!
😮 finally the social media god is benefiting us
A good video!
On the flashback idea...
Considering Revan would have probably won but got blindsided by Malek, a better way to do it would probably be something like...Play as a Jedi Master escorting Bastila, fighting off Sith. Then once she starts her Meditation you switch to Dark Revan and you CURBSTOMP them all. That is the allure of the Dark side after all, it's power, let the player FEEL the power. But once everyone except Bastila is killed he starts to advance on her, disarms her easily...and then cut away.
If I remember correctly i did not understand how to properly kill the rancor, but found another work around. If you place all your mines at the time on one spot and lure the rancor into them, they are sufficient to one shot the beast before it can kill you. But my memory's shaky.
Looking forward for the next episode!
Great video, excited for Episode 2!
Amazing video! No joke I had been workshopping my own idea for a bit of a personalized retrospective video series down the road for not just Kotor 1, but kotor 2, swtor, and talking about the media that came before the games (the original comics) as well as some of the intermediary content (the mostly un-liked Revan book that covers the timeframe leading up to Swtor...), and found this video in my search to passively work on a script over time that doesn't hopefully step over too many other creators toes for things they've already touched on!
Your narration is incredibly detailed and I really love your overall take on Taris. Making the choice to also try playing the game with the Restored Content Mod for kotor 1 is also an interesting take that most other retrospective videos haven't even touched on (although like you said, unlike with the majority of the content in the kotor 2 RCM being cut content because it was unfinished or too buggy, the cut content from kotor 1 was almost exclusively cut with purpose, because it was mostly just superfluous stuff or cut to try and limit confusion and bad game design). That being said, some of the things you brought up within part 4 onwards, like with being able to go to the swoop racing track, or talking about locals in the lower city being armed and such is actually only 'because' of the Restored Content Mod, these things aren't present in the original release of the game.
There's definitely some stuff that is in the RCM for kotor 1 that I think were cut unfortunately, like the quest where you go into the guys appartment in the lower city and access his footlocker via answering 5 personalized questions from his datapad, in the original game there is no Vulkar in there, and the guys body is not present, it's just an empty apartment room, which kinda just gives the implication that you're breaking into someones home who isn't even there and robbing them blind, where as in the RCM you at least get to feel like you're at least taking stuff from someone who unfortunately won't need it anymore because they're dead. Maybe that was removed just because it was darker than they wanted it to be, but who knows.
Anyway, amazing video! Can't wait to see you continue this later.
Gonna followup on that last post, cuz I hadn't finished watching the video yet.
It's honestly really refreshing seeing someone show some appreciation for Mission, I feel like she is typically ver underappreciated by players, by video essayists, or in lets plays. I feel you picked up on the writing themes with her in full, and yes although her general combat use is more limiti g, her capabilitity to be more of a glass canon damage dealer thanks to Sneak Attack is nothing to scoff at.
Zaalbar, although this is just coming from a place of presumption rather than any specific behind the scenes knowledge, is probably as underdeveloped as a character as he is because he isn't a voiced character, and as such they probably did not want to give him too much effort on a writing front when there are several other companions who could be developed instead (I'll get to T3...). Now I don't think thisis a great answer though given their rather liberal useage of non galactic basic speaking aliens across the whole game which you begin to notice at times is usually moreso to cut corners when it comes to the need for voice acting (and as such can remove some writing limitations in some areas).. but I think just because Wookies growls and roars get a bit repetitive quickly, that probably has more to do with it (evident by the fact thaf Kaashyyyk is usually not reviewed too favourably compared to other planets, obviously save for one Manaan section).
As for T3.. Yeeeah I don't know, he is an unfortunate case in this game. Which is funny because Obsidian greatly fixed the issue with him in kotor 2, he is a FANTASTIC party member in that game, and despite having no written dialogue in the traditional sense, actually has noteable story agency, which is impressive. It's almost like a flex on their end to say that they handled the character vastly better because he has zero significance in the game that introduced him, he is basically a key to open a door, and that is it. The only other droid in the companions is insanely better than him on all fronts in kotor1.
Love this video don’t much appreciate the jade empire joke 😂😂 on of my favorite games of all time
I also hope to see more ideas from you about what the remake should do. That was one of the best parts of this video.
Great video!!!
Dang. This was great. I was excited for the next one.
I bought my PS5 when i saw KOTOR Remake announced... One of the best games ever made...
Fantastic video, love the Trask bit
Fantastic video, commenting to hopefully juice the algo because the hard work is apparent.
I 100% agree on a remake cutting the Undercity would be addition by subtraction. At a narrative level it also seems unlikely that the lawless undercity would force the outcasts to remain segregated since all sorts of people are coming and going. And the entire Rakghoul thing is an odd body-horror detour in the otherwise urban crime focused Taris. As a result the doctor quest would need to be tweaked to be about something besides the serum, maybe just a more mundane disease.
The only point I'd add would be that the sewers would also benefit from downsizing because I suspect most poll respondents saying they dreaded replaying the Undercity had mentally lumped it together with the sewers. It's fine, just too much, especially right before the gang's base, just having it be a corridor with a dozen Gammoreans would again reduce that saggy middle of Taris.
love this..... i"m still playing Kotor 1 and 2 in 2024
I think the solution for the looting situation is simply to have one of the people who's apartments you're going through beg you not to take something that's highly valuable to them, even if it's not necessarily something useful to us. Youd still be able to take it without a fight, but the player would be more likely to think about the fact that they're essentially just robbing these people.
I really like to min/max and try start Jedi training at lvl 2...but not when I'm a Scoundrel! I love playing a lvl 7 Scoundrel and then becoming a Jedi Guardian. OVERPOWERED Force Leap. It can be done again in KOTOR2 with a Guardian/Watchman.
I think I know why that particular male portrait is so overwhelmingly popular: it's used in the teaser trailer that plays when you boot the XBox version of the game.
At least, that's why I consider that face to be the "canonical" face of [player character name here]
Fire video bro, love the amount of details you put into this. And I totally agree that Kotor is one of the best games of all time. Arguably one of the best pieces of Star Wars media.
Edit: Also you can easily cheese the fight with the Sith governor by planting a bunch of mines in front of the door before you open it and trigger the encounter.
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and subscribe. I appreciate the encourage. Happy to detail why this game is deserving of love.
@1:44:25 You CAN kill the rancor ! It does require gimping it at the doorway though. Keep 2 ranged behind the door, use stealth char to trigger aggro if he breaks, and just let them rip on him. If stealth dies, they get back up when the rancor combat breaks, so other than maybe letting Mission repeatedly die to the rancor, you can kill it using weapons. You lose XP for this though as the datapad way gives you the kill XP + a quest XP bonus.